StarClass Cruises, the leading luxury cruise brand in Spain, has conducted the first study of its kind to date, aiming to provide a comprehensive overview of the sector. The study's findings are complemented by data from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA Spain) on the industry's global trends.
The StarClass study confirms that revenue from luxury cruises in Spain has increased by 20% over the last two years. These passengers spend an average of €5,387 per person on a 10-day cruise, which equates to approximately €538 per day per passenger. Another key finding is the number of annual passengers, exceeding 5,200, representing roughly 1% of all cruises sold in Spain in 2018.
The study presents a profile of boutique cruise passengers, highlighting that the average passenger age has decreased from 65 to 61 years in 2018. It also confirms that the lead time for booking cruises has increased from 127 days in 2016 to 167 days in 2018, a figure that is increasingly approaching the behavior of other markets in Europe.
Regarding the main destinations, the Mediterranean remains the most popular cruise, accounting for 26% of sales, followed by Northern Europe at 17.5%. The remainder is divided as follows: Asia and the Pacific 17%, the Caribbean and the Panama Canal 8.6%, South America 6.1%, World Cruises and related segments 4.8%, Expeditions 4%, Alaska 5.5%, Africa 2.4%, Canada and New England 2.4%, Australia and New Zealand 1.6%, River Cruises 1.5%, Eastern Atlantic 1.0%, and Transatlantic Cruises 1.0%.
One of the most significant findings is the increase in luxury expedition cruises, which have risen by 158%, as well as river cruises, which have increased by 123%. The report also confirms the boom in Alaska, which has seen the most growth with an increase of over 101%.
Juan Rodero, CEO of StarClass, states: “This study shows us the long-term potential of boutique and expedition cruises in Spain and their limited market penetration, which reaffirms StarClass's commitment to this product range.”
CLIA Spain, the association that brings together the world's leading cruise lines, has indicated what the global outlook will be for the coming years according to the recent study published by Cruise Industry News, indicating that there are currently 11 cruise lines that offer luxury and expedition cruises in the world, five of which will account for more than 75% of the global market in capacity in 2028.
The industry will receive 43 new ships, 15 of them expedition vessels, with an average investment per ship of $340 million and a total of $12.5 billion worldwide. “Between 2018 and 2027, the number of berths on luxury cruise ships will double, increasing from 19,204 to 42,974 beds,” states Alfredo Serrano, Managing Director of CLIA Spain. CLIA also notes in the Cruise Industry News study growth in some operating areas for luxury cruises worldwide, such as the Mediterranean (23%), Northern Europe (19%), the Caribbean (13%), and Asia/Pacific (12.5%).
