Cruise holidays are on the rise for us Brits, a record 1.9 million holiday makers from the UK & Ireland took an ocean cruise last year (2016) up from 1.78 million the previous year according to the CLIA. (Wow that is a lot of cruise passengers!)
Not surprisingly the Mediterranean was the most popular cruise region, however, fewer people flew to the region to embark on their cruise, preferring instead to sail from the UK & Ireland which is great for our ports!
Why are they so popular now – these are my thoughts
- The main one i would say is value for money when comparing to a good standard land based holiday, lot’s more included with a cruise such as meals, entertainment and even drinks in some cases.
- Most cruise lines are continuing to invest in new ships and new on board and ashore experiences which is great.
- Only unpack once but wake up to a new destination almost every day.
- Entertainment on board – from casinos to Broadway style shows.
- Food – Fantastic food included with lots of places to dine on most ships and also the option to dine in Celebrity chef inspired restaurants.
- Something for all ages, gone are the days when cruising only appealed to the older adults, now you will see a range from families with young children or teens, couples of all ages, groups of people and solo travelers.
- Ships are like floating cities, today’s vessels are outfitted with WiFi, phone service and TV’s so you can stay in touch with the real world. On board shops sell the toiletries you forget to pack, medical centers can provide medicine or a doctor if needed. Of course there’s also the fun stuff like gyms, movie screens, spas, swimming pools, theaters and discos!
So looking at that there’s no surprise as to why cruise holidays are on the rise, I’ve heard people say ‘Once you’ve tried it you’ll get the bug, you’ll never want to holiday any other way’ – i also agree!
What’s your thoughts, are you a first time cruiser looking to take your first cruise? Have you cruised numerous times and now have the ‘bug’??
If you would like a chat i am more than happy to help you find your dream cruise.
Thanks for reading x