Cruise Holidays - Attheta Travel

I am proud to be certified by CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) as an Elite Cruise Counselor. The Cruise Counselor Certification Program is CLIA's most comprehensive training which requires agents to successfully complete a number of compulsory training courses and exams, attend cruise conferences, and conduct ship inspections. Anita Thompson, Attheta Travel, dba Cruise Holidays.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

2014 Cruise Trends

Where will cruisers be headed in droves in 2014? For that, you’ll need to look not only to the turquoise blue waters of the Caribbean, but also the deep blue seas and the rivers of Europe. Here are some of the most interesting cruise trends of 2014 being highlighted by the cruise-specialty agency, Cruise Holidays International. The data was drawn from a survey of more than 130 Cruise Holidays professionals, as well as actual booking data by more than 600 Cruise Holidays cruise experts.

 

Top 10 Cruise Destinations

The Caribbean continues to enjoy the top spot in cruise bookings for the year ahead, by a wide margin. Thanks to its nearly year-round sunny weather and convenient access from the southern and eastern United States, the Caribbean drives the majority of all cruise bookings. Here is the full list of the top 10 cruise destinations being booked by Cruise Holidays professionals across North America:

 

1. Caribbean (includes Bahamas)
2. European Ocean Cruises (includes Mediterranean, Baltic, Scandinavia and Greek Isles)
3. Alaska
4. European Rivers
5. Bermuda
6. Panama Canal
7. Trans-Atlantic
8. Hawaiian Islands
9. South Pacific (includes Australia/New Zealand)
10. Canada/New England

 

Overall, there is little change in the list of top 10 destinations year over year. This is the first time European rivers have been broken out as their own category in this report, but had it been done in 2013, European rivers would have ranked fifth, just behind Bermuda. This year, they placed fourth, just ahead of Bermuda. In the Caribbean itself, Western Caribbean sailings are most popular, followed by Eastern Caribbean and Southern Caribbean, respectively.

 

“The enthusiasm over river cruising, particularly in Europe, continues to add a new dynamic to the vacation market. Even travelers who have never cruised before seem particularly drawn to river cruises as an attractive alternative to a land tour,” said Kevin Weisner, Senior Vice President, Cruise Holidays International.

 

River Cruising Continues to Rise in Popularity

Cruise Holidays analyzed data from across its network of agencies to see where most river cruise passengers are heading in 2014. The windmills and tulips of The Netherlands, as well as cruises along the Danube and “Grand Tour” cruises of the Rhine, Main and Danube lead the way in popularity. Below is a list of the top five river cruise cities, where voyages either begin or end.

 

1. Amsterdam, Netherlands
2. Budapest, Hungary
3. Paris, France
4. Basel, Switzerland
5. Nuremberg, Germany

 

Most Anticipated Ship

While river cruising proliferates, interest in large, new ocean-going ships is also soaring. In fact, when Cruise Holidays experts were asked which new ship they are anticipating the most in 2014, the overwhelming response was Royal Caribbean International’s Quantum of the Seas. This ship will not debut until November 2014, but it opened for booking in May 2013 and bookings have been very impressive, according to Cruise Holidays.

 

Best Value in Cruising

Cruise Holidays experts were asked the question: “In which region do you anticipate the best value in cruising during 2014?” The Caribbean again placed first, with European ocean cruises and European river cruises following. Alaska and the Pacific Northwest sit comfortably in fourth place, followed by trans-Atlantic cruising.

 

For more information about the top cruise trends of 2014, contact Anita, your personal cruise expert.

 
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