6 cruise trends set to be huge this winter

As they say in the industry, if you don’t like cruising, you just haven’t found the right ship.

With niche hobbies and interests going mainstream, and smaller luxury ships coming onboard, cruising is evolving beyond the traditional holiday at sea.

“It’s appealing to people who might never previously have considered it,” says Gilly Bachelor, travel consultant, Not Just Travel.

“There’s an enormous difference between an intimate yacht-style ship, an expedition vessel exploring Antarctica and a family cruise ship. They’re all called cruises, but the experiences couldn’t be more different.

“People are choosing the experience first, rather than deciding they want to go on a cruise.”

The British cruise industry continues to enjoy rising passenger numbers, with Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) boasting a 7% year-on-year increase – especially among younger people.

“We’re seeing solo travellers in their 40-50s now, while 10 years ago, it would have been the 65-75 [age group],” says Colum McLornan, founder of Friendship Travel. “A decade ago it was more expensive and it suited retirees with a higher budget. More ships and more competition means prices have come down.

“Most cruise ships don’t expect you to dress up, and younger people don’t want to wear a jacket and a tie every day on holiday, so that has helped.”

The heatwaves have taken their toll as traditional river cruises holidays have suffered from changing river levels, and travellers are looking to escape to cooler destinations.

“As it gets hotter, travellers are looking to get away from big crowds and busy cruise ports, to find more clement weather,” says McLornan.

Bachelor adds: “We’re also seeing customers reconsider European river itineraries. Both high and low water can disrupt sailings, and clients are increasingly aware that their planned river cruise might involve coach transfers.”

More ships also means over-tourism pressures in big ports. McLornan explains: “Some of the big ports are too busy, so ships are being redirected. For example, rather than using Barcelona, ships are using Tarragona. It spreads the load a bit.”

Here’s what to expect this coming season…

1. Event cruises

Local tourist hotels often can’t cope with an influx of fans for big sports and rock concert events, but event cruises can sail right into the heart of the action and are becoming very popular.

“MSC Cruises spotted a gap in the market for getting fans to big events, and now they have mega vessels taking fans to racing or rock concerts,” says Mark Barton, a cruise expert with Avanti Travel Insurance.

“During a big tennis tournament or motor racing in say Monaco, hotels and flights in and out are expensive, but if you can position a cruise vessel near the event, you’ll fill your cruise vessel.”

2. Hobby cruises

Smaller ships can offer more niche activities, and as demand for immersive travel grows, themed cruises will keep growing, too.

“Hobby cruises and activity holidays are more popular, especially among single travellers,” says McLornan. “Whether it’s reading, painting, and walking, different activities, it’s a trend that’s growing.

“Travellers read a couple of books together on our book club cruise, and on our painting cruise, holidaymakers paint with an artist for nine nights.”

Cruise Nation founder Phil Evans says: “Travellers want cruises that feel personal and unique, and we’re seeing that across everything from astronomy sailings to hobby-led and expedition voyages.

“Themed cruises let guests turn a passion into a holiday, sailing alongside like-minded people, whether that’s a true crime voyage or a literary festival cruise. They also tick the boxes customers consistently tell us matter most: accessibility, variety and value.”

3. Expedition cruises

The well-travelled are looking to go further afield for extraordinary experiences.

“The Blue Planet generation is going to sea,” says Jo O’Connell, co-founder of Jo and Jo – Not Just Travel. “People want to get closer to nature and there’s a significant increase in wildlife holidays to the Arctic and Antarctic. Polar waters have always been the hardest of these places to reach, but now ‘safaris on ice’ are possible.

“Also the total solar eclipse on 2 August 2027 will only last six minutes but nothing that long has happened since 1991, and the next won’t be until 2114. Many cruises to see the total eclipse are already sold out.”

Bachelor adds: “I forecast more interest in expedition cruising from people looking for something genuinely different. Whether that’s sailing around Scotland’s wild islands or as far away as Antarctica, the Arctic and the Galapagos.”

Paramount Cruises has also seen a rise in bucket list cruises. Marketing manager, Jess Adhyaru says: “Cruises to South America or Antarctica look expensive but offer value for money because so much is included. People are booking much further ahead to give them more time to save.”

4. Solo cruising

The beginning of the end of the dreaded single supplement is making cruising attractive to solo travellers.

According to data from Friendship Travel, there’s been a 25-30% increase in solo cruisers over the past decade.

McLornan explains: “We work with smaller cruise ships who offer a more personalised service, which works better for singles because it’s easier to meet other people with 200-300 onboard.”

He adds: “More cruise lines are waking up to it now, and offering cruises with a reduced single supplement for a proper cabin – not one over the engine room or anchor!”

Cruise Nation’s Evans agrees this will be a big trend for 2027. He says: “Solo cruisers are also finding their sea legs, as more lines cater for them with dedicated cabins and social events.”

5. Mega yachts

Even the super-rich are getting in on the cruising scene. “At the very top of the market six-star cruises are selling well among the millionaires and billionaires,” says Barton. “The Ritz-Carlton fleet of luxury mega yachts are for people who don’t want to spend £10 million on buying a yacht but are happy to spend £50,000-£100,000 a week on a cruise.

“Even in this cost-of-living crisis, they’re selling really well – after all, nobody can see you spending all that money!”

Bachelor adds: “While ultra-luxury brands like Ritz-Carlton are attracting attention, we’re seeing a growing interest in more accessible smaller yacht-style ships which offer a different experience from traditional cruising, with fewer guests, more relaxed atmosphere and access to smaller ports that larger ships can’t reach.”

6. Cruise-and-stay

Combining a sea voyage with a hotel stay or shore tours is another big growth trend.

“People don’t just want to sail from Southampton,” explains Adhyaru. “They’re adding the pre and post stays, the flights, the hotels, an all-in-one package, so the cruise is just a part of that holiday, rather than it being the whole holiday.

She adds: “Japan is becoming a really popular destination. Again as part of that bigger holiday, people are tagging on stays before in Tokyo and maybe doing a bit more of a land holiday after they’ve done a cruise around all the different Japanese ports.”