Opinion

The death of cruising was greatly exaggerated – it’s bigger than ever

Brian Johnston brings you the latest news and issues, as well as answering the most common questions about cruising, in Traveller’s new cruise column.

Brian Johnston

February 29, 2024 — 5.00am

Reports on the death of cruising were greatly exaggerated, with its post-COVID-19 recovery exceeding all expectations.

How the naysayers gloated at the height of the pandemic as they watched the struggles of the cruise industry and predicted its imminent collapse. The cliched headlines just kept coming about it being in deep water. Or out of its depth. Or facing stormy seas. Or adrift.

Holland America’s Rotterdam is back to full operation.

I was never so sure. This is far from the first crisis overcome by a very resilient industry. Cruising also took major hits during the first pandemic (Spanish influenza), two world wars, and the oil crisis and rise of cheaper airfares in the 1970s. But, to use another cliche, fair winds always picked up.

Now the latest figures released by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) show that in 2023, some 31.5 million passengers boarded cruise ships – an increase of nearly 6 per cent on 2019 pre-pandemic figures.

In contrast, the travel industry as a whole has yet to fully recover, with figures about the same percentage below pre-pandemic levels.

Cruise demand for 2024 is hot. Carnival Corporation, which owns more than 90 cruise ships under brands such as Cunard, Holland America, P&O, Princess and Seabourn, announced its peak booking season started early and was robust. Volumes in November 2023 reached an all-time high, and Carnival says the first half of 2024 is almost fully booked.

Icon of the Seas, the biggest cruise ship ever, was launched this year.

CLIA estimates that 35.7 million passengers will cruise this year, a handsome increase of 13 per cent driven by pent-up demand, a widening cruise demographic and emerging markets such as China and India. By 2027, nearly 40 million passengers are expected to sail.

There are a few other reasons for the boom. Big business is driven to make money, so cruise lines quickly adapted to the COVID-19 world. And I reckon travellers have short memories and a need to be on the move. Paradoxically, many began to look at revamped cruising as the safe, easy option in an increasingly volatile world.

What’s more, pricing (especially at the budget end) remained competitive compared to rises in airfares and land-based holidays, as cruise companies lured passengers back on board. Don’t expect that to last, though.

Cruise lines are running out of cabin capacity. A notable uptick in bookings from new cruisers will add to the squeeze. Most people who try cruising will book again, and with demand comes price hikes.

With cruise fares set to rise, you might want to get in early with your cruise bookings. Last-minute bargains – or even cabins – are a fading dream. Bookings have been strong for this year and next, and some cruise lines are open for 2026 reservations.

The cruise industry dead in the water? No (despite a recent hiccup with the Red Sea). So much for all the pundits writing up obituaries. Take it as a reminder that cruising will overcome other looming problems too, most notably tourism overcrowding and sustainability. Break out the barrel of rum, and anchors aweigh – there’s life in the old seadog yet.

Everyone asks: Is paying for a balcony cabin worth the extra money?

I find cruise-ship balconies overrated, if not next to useless. Most are too small, too hot, too cold or too windy to be comfortable. I seldom use balconies, since ships have a multitude of nicer or more entertaining places to sit.

The balcony – worth the extra expense?Credit: Bloomberg

Balconies won’t get you immersed in scenery, either. You’re best out on deck for port arrivals or scenic sailings because top decks benefit from 360-degree views. Or best in an observation lounge, where you get an elevated forward outlook – and drinks.

That said, there are sun-lovers, fresh-air fiends and anti-social types who love perching on their balconies like guillemots on a cliff face, so whatever floats your boat.

You pay a premium for balconies, however, so ask yourself if you’d be better off without – or would rather spend the extra on something else. The key question is how much time you’re really going to spend on this tiny real-estate space.

If you’re keen to chitchat, pool-splash, bar-hop and buffet-browse, the answer is probably not much. If you’re always out exploring on shore, ditto. You could use the same criteria to judge what cabin category to book: is the upgrade a needless spend?