3% of Logitravel cruise customers take 2 or more cruises per year
The average amount per booking increased by 2.5% compared to 2014
isconfirmed. According to Logitravel.com, the average booking value rose by 2.5% in 2015, reaching approximately €2,050. This data comes amidst a decline in cruise capacity for the Spanish market, which Logitravel estimates at around 4%, with an overall figure of approximately 435,000 passengers.
+21% Logitravel Cruise Revenue
Logitravel.com will close a positive year in which it has increased its cruise revenue by 21%. According to Joan Balaguer, Logitravel's Cruise Director, "Offering impeccable service to our customers and earning their trust is a key pillar of our cruise strategy, and I'm sure it's behind this 21% growth. The appeal of cruises as a holiday choice and the high rate of repeat business among our cruisers also play a role. Three percent of Logitravel customers take two or more cruises a year, a very positive figure."
The average amount is increasing
Further evidence of the positive trend in the Spanish cruise market is the increase in the average booking value, which rose by 2.5% in 2015 to €2,050. "In the years leading up to the crisis, there was an oversupply of cruise berths for Spaniards, which, once the crisis hit, resulted in a sharp drop in prices. Since ships weren't filling up in advance, companies had to resort to aggressive last-minute offers to make sales. In recent years, this trend has been correcting itself, balancing the number of berths offered with demand, and consequently, recovering the reasonable price level necessary to make the business profitable for both cruise lines and travel agencies," explained Joan Balaguer.
One-week Mediterranean cruise, the most popular
Regarding the chosen destinations, the Mediterranean has experienced a slight increase, both in cruises through the eastern Mediterranean and those sailing through the western Mediterranean, to the detriment of northern Europe, which has decreased by -1.5% in passenger volume.
The most popular cruise duration is the classic 7-8 day cruise, although the rise of mini-cruises, which accounted for 13% of the total in 2015, is noteworthy. Increasingly, cruise lines and passengers are opting for cruises lasting between 2 and 6 nights. Joan Balaguer commented on this, saying, "Although week-long cruises remain the most common, they are no longer the only option on the market. This year, 0.8% of cruise passengers sailed for just one night."
Main ports of embarkation
In 2015, the main embarkation ports by passenger volume were Barcelona, Venice, Athens, Valencia, and Palma de Mallorca, with the latter experiencing the greatest increase that year, a sharp rise of 142% in Spanish passengers. Barcelona leads the Spanish embarkation ports with a 41% market share. Its location and facilities have made it one of the most important port facilities in the Mediterranean.
Top 10 favorite destinations
Logitravel.com has compiled a list of the most popular cruise destinations for Spaniards, based on its 2015 cruise sales. The top 10 destinations are Rome (Civitavecchia), Naples, Athens, Venice, Santorini, Mykonos, Florence/Pisa, Istanbul, St. Petersburg, and Dubrovnik. The Eternal City of Rome leads the list as the most popular destination.
Book 3 months in advance
Regarding booking lead time, the average is 89 days, 6 days more than in 2014. 25% of travelers booked their cruise between 2 and 4 months before departure, and 20% booked it two months before sailing. 15% booked their cruise just two weeks in advance, while 14% booked more than 6 months in advance.
Compared to 2014, this year has seen an increase in bookings made well in advance (more than six months) and those made at short notice (two weeks). The extremes are growing, while the average advance booking time has decreased by about two months.
