Twenty-two new ships will join the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) fleet this year, representing an investment of €3.555 billion.
CLIA reveals the seven most important industry trends for 2015.
The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) yesterday released its annual State of the Cruise Industry report, which forecasts strong growth for 2015. This year, 23 million passengers to embark on a cruise. Furthermore, 61% of travel agents belonging to CLIA North America reported that bookings for 2015 are up compared to last year.
Cruise lines are attracting more and more travelers by offering approximately 1,000 ports of call, including new and exotic destinations, primarily in the rapidly growing Asian market. CLIA also reported that its member cruise lines will launch 22 new ships , representing a total investment of over $4 billion (€3.555 billion).
Furthermore, the cruise industry will have a significant global economic impact this year. In 2013, the cruise industry's global economic contribution exceeded $117 billion (€103 billion), supported nearly 900,000 jobs , and generated $38 billion (€33.6 billion) in wage compensation.
“We are experiencing a unique moment for the cruise industry and for passengers thanks to the opening of new ports around the world and CLIA cruise lines’ investment in new and innovative ships,” said Adam M. Goldstein, CLIA Chairman and President and Chief Operating Officer of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “This year the industry will take another step forward as our members continue to strive to make cruising the ultimate vacation experience,” Goldstein emphasized.
CLIA has identified seven trends for the cruise industry in 2015 (based on several studies):
- Cruises continue to thrive. Cruise passengers intend to continue sailing and are highly satisfied with their previous onboard experiences. In fact, 62% of cruise passengers plan to return on a cruise, and 69% rate cruises higher than land-based vacations. Globally, the number of cruise passengers is projected to reach 23 million in 2015, a 4% increase over the 2014 estimate of 22.1 million.
- Size doesn't matter. Five years ago, the world's largest cruise ship could accommodate 6,300 passengers. With 22 new cruise ships set to sail this year on seas and rivers, the trend is shifting away from size and toward offering unique designs and amenities.
- Specialty cruises continue to grow. CLIA's specialty segments, which include sophisticated ships, luxury yachts, glamorous ocean liners, and the latest river cruises, continue to grow by more than 10%. In fact, it is estimated that these cruises grew at an annual rate of 21% from 2009 to 2014.
- The Caribbean remains king. The Caribbean continues to reign supreme in the cruise industry, holding more than a third of the global market share of deployable capacity in 2015. But at the same time, cruise travelers are expanding their horizons. The Mediterranean continues to grow as a destination, as do other regions such as Asia and Australia. In 2015, 52 ships will offer 1,065 cruises from Asia, with a capacity for 2.17 million passengers.
- The new destinations we'll be visiting. The cruise industry is seeing a rise in passengers seeking global experiences. As a result, cruising has made the world more accessible than ever. CLIA members offer nearly 1,000 ports around the world, including many UNESCO World Heritage sites.
- Travel agents are key to the industry. Although the internet and mobile devices have changed the way consumers shop, travel agents remain the best and most popular channel for booking a cruise. In fact, seven out of ten travelers (70%) use a travel agent to plan and book their cruise vacation.
- Passengers are at the helm. When it comes to travel, consumers are more in control than ever before. That's why the cruise industry is responding to consumer needs with key innovations such as ship-wide Wi-Fi, mobile connectivity, services tailored to each generation of passengers, and themed or culinary cruises.
About the investigation
The Travel Agent Pulse Survey was conducted among 482 CLIA-certified travel agents via an online survey between November 7 and 23. Meanwhile, the 2014 North American Cruise Market Profile Survey was conducted in collaboration with market research firm TNS and cruise industry consulting firm Bob Sharak & Associates. From a panel of more than 1 million households, the online survey was conducted between August 12 and 26, 2014, gathering opinions and data about cruises from 1,600 residents in the United States and Canada. This report includes data on travelers over the age of 25 with an annual income greater than $40,000.
Other sources used
- CLIA Passenger, Capacity and Deployment Surveys
- Global Economic Contribution of Cruise Tourism 2013 for CLIA by Business Research & Economic Advisors, September 2014
- Asia Cruise Trends, 2014 Analysis, Assessment, Appreciation Summary of Capacity & Deployment, CHART Management Consultant, CLIA Southeast Asia
