Data found that global capacity is predicted to grow by 19 percent to more than 746,000 berths from 2022 to 2028. Research also showed that 85 percent of those that have cruised will sail again, six percent higher than pre-pandemic totals.
North America remains the most significant source market, but the industry as a whole has seen a major upswing, with the Mediterranean seeing a massive increase and the Caribbean remaining the top destination for cruise passengers.
“While I applaud the findings of the CLIA State of the Cruise Industry Report, I remain troubled that the price of cruising is at an all-time high,” Scott Lara of TheCruiseGenius.com said. “My concern is that the price of cruising may be out of reach of many Americans.”
“If cruise lines stop increasing prices, I feel that cruising will be a great vacation option for singles, couples and families,” Lara continued.
The CLIA study revealed the future of the cruise industry is the younger generations, with GenX and Millennials being the most enthusiastic about planning a voyage. Younger travelers are also using travel advisors to book cruises at a higher rate than other generations.
As part of an industry-wide effort, cruise lines are using technology, infrastructure and operations to decarbonize, with multiple pilot projects underway and new propulsion technologies being planned and tested.
Data also showed that 60 percent of the ships scheduled to debut between 2023 and 2028 would rely on liquefied natural gas (LNG) for their primary propulsion
