Cruising has become something of a phenomenon over the last 10 years. It has managed to shake off the old conception of being something only enjoyable to those who have retired and have a bit of money to burn, rather than leave it to anyone in their will. Cruise companies have diversified and now offer not only a much larger range of destinations but also theme, length, price, quality and demographic. This has made cruising a great deal more popular with previously-uninterested groups, and has also meant that more people are choosing to book one than ever before.
The UK are those at the forefront of this move off of terra firma. Britain has also been a sea-loving nation and it seems they have been proving it by racking up a huge 1.6 million cruise booking just this last year. Out of the total cruises booked in Europe, this makes up a whopping 35%. Only Germany has a vague chance of challenging this title with a total of 21% market share according to results from a study conducted by Silversea Cruises at the Seatrade cruise convention in Miami.
The most popular cruise destinations for Europe as a whole are the Atlantic Islands and the Mediterranean. This highlights just how much people value a bit of sun and some crystal clear waters to swim in. You don’t actually have to leave the boat these days to enjoy a fun-filled vacation. Most good luxury cruises are equipped with multiple swimming pools, dining halls, theatres and even golf courses.
“A rise of just under 70% has been seen over the last 5 years, in the European cruise markets alone…a trend that is set to continue” says chairman of the ECC and CEO of Oceania Cruises, David Dingle.
According to Dingle, there are currently 17 new cruise ships being constructed for European companies and will all enter the market by 2012.
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