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, Hungary3. 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.
