cruise price trend

Cruise prices surge 43% amid post-pandemic travel boom

Cruises are making a major comeback since COVID — and fresh demand is sending ticket prices to new heights.

Popular cruise operators Carnival and Royal Caribbean have set some ticket prices even higher than they were pre-pandemic — more than 40%, according to one closely watched monitor — and prices could continue to climb, according to industry experts.

The average price of a five-night cruise in the Caribbean this December will run travelers $736 per person — a whopping 43% higher than the same time in 2019, according to data from Cruise Critic, a cruise review site owned by Tripadvisor, reviewed by CNBC .

December’s average cruise costs also mark a roughly 37% increase from last year, when cruises were still being shunned as “super spreader” gatherings, according to the site.

Coming out of the pandemic, “cruising was always going to be the last one people realized was safe or not,” hence why people were quick to “realize that airline tickets and land-based resorts have gotten more expensive,” but “the ocean’s just now rising,” said former Carnival executive Carlos Torres de Navarra.

Though cruise lines have had to “implement price increases just like everybody else,” vacations by cruise ship boast discounts that are “recession-proof in some respect,” de Navarra said in an interview with The Post.

“Travel agencies have quoted cruises offering somewhere between a 50% and 70% discount to land-based vacations,” said de Navarra, who’s now the principal of cruise port destination developer Azul Destinations.

Take it from retired Australian couple Marty and Jess Ansen , who’ve been at sea for 500 days — longer than most of the crew, including the captains — after realizing it’s cheaper to cruise around the world for two years than pay for a retirement home.

“If the cruising experience was impaired coming out of the pandemic, then I think there would have been a different concern,” de Navarra said. “Clearly, that’s not a concern.”

Cruises’ popularity has also seen many Americans booking cruises for the first time.

This group — which de Navarro referred to as the “first-timer market” has opened up an “additional audience [and] that demand gives cruise lines the ability to start raising prices,” de Navarro said.

“Over 70% of people in US have never cruised before,” he noted.

And while the rising cost of oil is certainly a “headwind,” de Navarra said, it’s not the culprit for the price hikes, especially since cruise lines are putting a greater focus on the Bahamas and Caribbean markets — which are closer to America’s East Coast and therefore call for less fuel.

“They’re raising prices naturally — fuel or no fuel, the demand is there for them to be raising prices,” Truist Securities analyst Patrick Scholes told CNBC.

“The cruise industry right now is focusing on: ‘How do I create and improve on destinations that are close to where my ships start and end to mitigate this fuel issue?'” de Navarra said.

The answer appears to be “investing in destinations” closer to the US, like Nassau, Bahamas, where Royal Caribbean just announced it would open a 17-acre Royal Beach Club resort come 2025, according to de Navarra.

Historically, cruise lines have spent as much as $500 million to build ports that they believe will generate demand.

Now, projects like the Calypso Cove development in Long Beach, Bahamas offer even more economic value to cruise ships.

This cruise port has all the usual bells and whistles — like beaches with cabanas and retail destinations — but caters to an array of operators who don’t need to spend as much on port development and still have the ability to generate revenues with on-shore add-ons like “cabanas and other excursions,” de Navarro said.

Azul Destinations’ Calypso Cove — which tapped merchant bank AMA Capital Partners to help raise over $250 million to fund — will start accepting as many as 1 million passengers per year from any cruise line that invests in the development.

“The cruise industry started getting outside of its core business of cruise experience and got into destination experience,” de Navarro said.

Now, “the challenge is that they [cruise lines] have a ton of debt that they have to deal with that they didn’t have before,” he added, referencing the millions in debt cruise operators took on to get through the pandemic.

But lucky for cruise lines, “debt will be paid off faster because ticket prices are higher,” de Navarro said.

Cruise Pulse

Cruise Pulse™

Our proprietary database tracks daily ticket prices at the cabin category level from 10,000 annual world wide cruise sailings from 16 different cruise companies and 190 cruise ships * .

With an unique window into virtually every sailing, every day (including Carnival Corporation ( CCL ), Royal Caribbean Cruises ( RCL ), Norwegian Cruise Line ( NCLH ), Viking Ocean Cruises, MSC and Disney Cruise Line ( DIS )) our growing client list of equity analysts and new ship build financing banks view cruise ticket price trends, world-wide capacity allocations and itinerary changes in near real time.

In addition to the Cruise Pulse™ report subscribers also download data directly or manipulate it interactively via our analytical tool kit. Clients discover year over year pricing patterns by parent company, cruise line and ship, emerging regional trends and gain insight into forward quarterly revenue and net yields with our statistically modeled estimates. To subscribe to your own custom publication, see a sample or schedule a presentation get in touch with Cruise Market Watch today. &nbsp

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Cruise Price Trends: A Guide to Getting the Best Cruise Deals

• › Cruise Price Trends
• Introduction

Cruise holidays offer an unforgettable experience, with a myriad of destinations, amenities and activities to enjoy. However, with a constantly fluctuating market, it can be challenging to navigate cruise price trends and secure the best deal. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the factors influencing cruise pricing, the impact of seasonality, and top tips to ensure you get the best possible price for your dream cruise holiday.

Our price comparison tool ensures that you never overpay for your cruise. Typically we save subscribers on average 32%* on their cruise holiday. We constantly update our prices to provide you with the most up-to-date prices and deals.

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Understanding Cruise Pricing

The impact of seasonality on cruise prices, top tips to secure the best cruise deals, monitoring cruise price trends with cruise prune, key features of cruise prune.

Cruise pricing can be complex, with multiple variables contributing to the cost of your holiday. To provide tangible insights into cruise pricing trends, we have gathered real-life examples and data from various cruise lines, using prices in (£) to illustrate our points. Key factors include:

Ship Size and Age

Larger, newer ships often command higher prices due to their state-of-the-art amenities, superior entertainment and dining options, and cutting-edge technology. Smaller, older vessels may be more affordable but could have limited facilities.

P&O Cruises' new ship, Iona , launched in 2020, offers state-of-the-art facilities and experiences. Prices for a 7-night Norwegian Fjords cruise on Iona start from £799 per person for an inside cabin. In contrast, a similar itinerary on P&O's older and smaller ship, Oceana, starts from £649 per person, highlighting the difference in pricing based on ship size and age.

Accommodation Type

Cabin choice significantly impacts cruise pricing. Interior cabins are typically the most cost-effective option, while oceanview, balcony, and suite cabins carry a premium.

On Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas , a 7-night Mediterranean cruise offers a range of cabin options with varying prices:

• Interior cabin: £699 per person
• Oceanview cabin: £849 per person
• Balcony cabin: £999 per person
• Suite: £1,499 per person

These examples clearly demonstrate how accommodation type can significantly impact cruise pricing.

Itinerary and Destination

The popularity of the destination, the distance travelled, and the number of ports visited can all influence cruise prices. Popular routes may come at a higher cost, while off-the-beaten-path itineraries could offer greater value.

Cunard's Queen Mary 2 offers two different 7-night itineraries, illustrating the influence of destination and itinerary on pricing:

Transatlantic Crossing from Southampton to New York £899 per person (inside cabin)

Norway and Northern Lights: £1,299 per person (inside cabin)

The Northern Lights itinerary commands a higher price due to its unique experience and increased demand.

Seasonality plays a significant role in cruise pricing, with fluctuations observed throughout the year. Key seasonal trends include:

A 7-night Caribbean cruise with Celebrity Cruises illustrates the impact of seasonality on pricing:

• High Season (December): £1,199 per person (inside cabin)
• Shoulder Season (October): £999 per person (inside cabin)
• Low Season (September): £799 per person (inside cabin)

Travellers can save up to £400 per person by opting for a low season cruise, with the trade-off of potential weather disruptions and limited amenities at some destinations.

High Season

High season typically falls during school holidays and summer months, when demand is at its peak. Cruise prices can be higher during this period, and early booking is advised to secure your preferred itinerary and cabin.

Shoulder Season

The shoulder season occurs just before and after the high season, with moderate demand and more attractive pricing. Travellers can often find excellent deals during this period, with the added bonus of fewer crowds at popular ports of call.

Low season, typically during the winter months or hurricane season in some regions, presents the most affordable cruise options. However, travellers should be prepared for potential weather disruptions and fewer amenities at some destinations.

To ensure you get the best value for your cruise holiday, consider the following strategies:

Early booking, particularly for high-demand itineraries and cabins, can yield significant savings. Cruise lines often offer incentives for early bookings, such as discounted fares, onboard credits, or complimentary upgrades.

An example of an early booking deal from Princess Cruises includes a 14-night Mediterranean cruise, with prices starting from £1,499 per person (inside cabin) when booked 12 months in advance, compared to £1,799 per person when booked three months prior to departure. Conversely, a last-minute deal for a 10-night Canary Islands cruise with MSC Cruises saw prices drop from £1,099 per person (inside cabin) to £699 per person when booked just four weeks before departure.

These examples emphasise the importance of monitoring cruise pricing trends and leveraging early booking or last-minute deals to secure the best value for your cruise holiday.

Be Flexible

Being open to alternative dates, itineraries, or cabin types can result in considerable savings. Cruise lines frequently offer discounts or special promotions to fill remaining capacity on less popular sailings or accommodation options.

Flexibility can lead to considerable savings. For example, a 12-night Mediterranean cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line in July costs £1,499 per person (inside cabin) when departing from Barcelona. However, by choosing an alternative departure point, such as Rome, the same itinerary is available for £1,299 per person (inside cabin). Similarly, if you're willing to travel in June, the price for the same itinerary from Barcelona drops to £1,299 per person.

Use a Travel Agent

Experienced travel agents have access to exclusive deals and insider knowledge that can help you secure the best possible price for your cruise holiday. A travel agent secured an exclusive deal for a 14-night Baltic cruise with Holland America Line, offering a £200 discount per person and £100 onboard credit. The original price was £1,999 per person (inside cabin), but through the travel agent, the price dropped to £1,799 per person, demonstrating the benefits of working with travel professionals.

Monitor Pricing

Regularly check cruise prices, promotions, and availability to ensure you are aware of any fluctuations or last-minute deals.

A traveller monitored the pricing trends of a 10-night Alaska cruise with Celebrity Cruises for several months. Initially, the price for an inside cabin was £1,799 per person. Over time, they observed several fluctuations:

• A promotion offering a £200 discount per person
• A one-day flash sale with a £300 discount per person
• A last-minute deal offering a £400 discount per person

By monitoring cruise price trends, the traveller was able to secure the best possible deal for their holiday.

Cruise pricing can fluctuate rapidly and frequently, making it difficult and time-consuming to track trends and compare prices across cruise lines. That’s where Cruise Prune comes in - a dedicated web app designed to help you monitor cruise pricing trends with accuracy and ease.

Cruise Prune focuses on three of the largest and most popular cruise lines - P&O, Cunard, and Princess. By gathering real-time pricing data from these cruise lines, Cruise Prune provides valuable insights and up-to-date information to help you make informed decisions when booking your cruise holiday.

Cruise Prune offers an array of features to help you stay informed about the latest pricing trends and deals, including:

• Cruise Prune maintains an extensive database of cruises from P&O, Cunard, and Princess, ensuring you have access to a wide range of itineraries and pricing options.
• The web app monitors cruise prices in real-time, enabling you to stay up-to-date on the latest pricing fluctuations and promotions for your preferred cruise lines.
• Cruise Prune allows you to set up custom price alerts, so you receive notifications when prices for your selected cruises change. This feature ensures you never miss an opportunity to secure the best possible deal.
• Cruise Prune's advanced search filters enable you to tailor your search based on your preferences, such as departure dates, destinations, cruise lines, and accommodation types.
• The web app offers access to historical pricing data, allowing you to analyse past trends and make informed decisions about when to book your cruise for the best value.
• Utilising Cruise Prune to monitor cruise price trends offers several advantages:
• Cruise Prune provides a one-stop platform for tracking cruise prices, saving you time and effort in researching deals across multiple websites.
• The web app offers accurate, real-time pricing information for P&O, Cunard, and Princess cruise lines, ensuring you have access to the most up-to-date deals.
• Cruise Prune's customisable search filters and price alerts allow you to tailor your experience to your specific needs, ensuring you receive relevant and targeted information.
• By providing historical pricing data and real-time price tracking, Cruise Prune enables you to make data-driven decisions when booking your cruise holiday.
• Using Cruise Prune to stay informed about pricing trends and promotions gives you a competitive edge, helping you secure the best possible deals for your cruise holiday.

In conclusion, Cruise Prune is an invaluable tool for monitoring cruise price trends and securing the best deals for your P&O, Cunard, and Princess cruise holidays. By leveraging the platform's real-time price tracking, customisable search filters, and historical pricing data, you can make informed decisions and maximise your holiday budget.

Understanding cruise price trends and employing effective strategies to secure the best deals is crucial for planning your dream cruise holiday. By staying informed about current pricing fluctuations, being flexible with your travel plans, and leveraging the expertise of travel professionals, you can maximise your holiday budget and enjoy a truly unforgettable experience at sea. That's why we have created Cruise Prune . A small mobile application and website notifying you and telling you of the very best cruise prices based on accurate data, reporting prices and providing you with a much more insightful experience to secure a great cruise price deal everytime

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Cruise Price History: How it can Help You Save

We love to combine big data and cruises. That’s the reason we do analyze the cruise price history of all trips every day and every second. We have done this for years and have amassed a treasure trove of data on the cruising industry.

Our data collection gives us great knowledge of the price itself and how it fluctuates over time. This can be a great help to you when booking your cruise!

How does the cruise price history help me?

No one likes the feeling of booking their cruise at yesterday’s best price and then discovering that others have booked it much cheaper.

We can help you avoid that situation. One thing we do is compare websites and prices in real-time to get you the best deal available. But we have also found that the biggest savings come from booking at the right point of time. We can save you a lot of money by showing you the best time to book.

Our cruise price history is unique per ship. To see it in action and learn how it can help you save money, just click the linked ship’s name and go to the “price history“ layer in our ship selection.

You will get a graphical representation of the cruise price history for the given ship, by cabin type. It will look something like this:

sample picture of cruise price history for carnival magic

The price points shown always start at 100% to the left signaling the initial pricing. Anything below 100 is a price reduction, everything above 100 is a price increase versus the original price. The best time to buy would be at the time this curve is at its lowest.

How Do I Use the Cruise Price History Feature?

Start by identifying the set of cruise trips that are relevant to you. Our detailed search offers you more than ten filter criteria, including Types of Cruise, Ship Size, Good Deal, and more.

Once you’ve made your selection, you‘ll see a short summary in our search.

Click on the “Show Details button” to reveal more insights. Now you can see all the relevant information for this trip, including ship details, itinerary, photos, prices, and reviews. The relevant information for “Price History” is shown in the “Price Analysis & History” tab at the bottom of this page.

How to use our cruise price history

In this example, the original price for a suite was $1,799 and the former price was $3,499. But we also know that it decreased to $1,649 in the last 24 hours. This attractive price is one of the reasons we label this an exceptional deal. It even includes a comparison to other ships. It’s clear from what we have here that now is the right time to book!

For more information on a cabin level (e.g. Royal Suite, Family Suite), click on the link below the room pictures.

Will I Have to Check Prices Every Day?

Not at all. We offer a next generation alert service. Simply choose your relevant set of cruise trips or cabin types and then define when and why you want to receive alert messages. We can send an alert, for example, only when the cruise trip now offers its best price ever or when we award it a Good Deal rating.

Click on this service link  to check out the functionalities and join MyCruisewatch for free.

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Cruise bookings are soaring — and that means higher prices are on the way

Remember those $26-a-day cruise deals we saw a few months ago? They might not be coming back anytime soon.

Cruise line executives say bookings have been soaring since the start of " wave season " — the period beginning in January when large numbers of cruisers book trips for the year — and that means cruise brands will likely be able to raise prices in the coming months.

In fact, pricing for cruises is already on the rise, chipping away at what executives say is a large differential between the cost of a cruise and the cost of a land vacation when comparing like-for-like experiences.

"I'm encouraged by the ability now for us to increase our pricing even more, which I think will give us the opportunity to close that gap," Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty said Tuesday during a conference call with Wall Street analysts.

Liberty said Royal Caribbean Group had experienced the seven biggest booking weeks in its history in recent weeks. This should contribute to occupancy on ships returning to normal levels by the spring and allow the company to raise the amount of revenue it brings in per passenger.

Royal Caribbean Group is the parent company of the world's largest cruise line, Royal Caribbean , as well as Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises . It also owns a partial interest in German lines TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.

"We expected a strong wave season, but what we are currently experiencing has exceeded all expectations," Liberty shared.

Liberty and many other cruise industry leaders believe cruise vacations are currently priced at about a 30% discount or more to land-based resorts, the highest differential in the history of the business.

The differential, which executives for years said ran around 20%, widened during the COVID-19 pandemic as cruise lines weren't able to raise prices nearly as much as hotels, resorts and airlines, in part because they remained shut down for a large chunk of the pandemic.

Related: Bookings for Icon of the Seas are on fire

In a research note in late September, Truist lodging and leisure analyst Patrick Scholes said his firm's proprietary data analysis showed that cruise fares at the six biggest cruise brands were down in the "low single digits" as compared to pricing levels in 2019, the last normal year before the pandemic.

Room rates at U.S. land-based resorts, by contrast, were up more than 25% from pre-pandemic levels at the time, he said.

Now that differential may be starting to reverse. In a research report released Wednesday, Bank of America Securities said pricing for Royal Caribbean Group sailings had increases 3.1% on average in just the month since its last pricing analysis. Pricing at other cruise companies was up, too, the firm said.

In addition to higher ticket prices, Liberty noted Royal Caribbean Group is seeing big gains in how much it makes from passengers once they're on board ships.

The company said the amount it's taking in per passenger from onboard spending was up 30% from 2019.

"I'm excited about what we're seeing on the onboard side, which also helps us close that gap," he said.

Royal Caribbean on Tuesday was the first of the three big publicly traded cruise companies to hold a quarterly conference call with Wall Street analysts since the start of wave season —and thus the first to officially comment on recent bookings trends in a major way.

Related: A line-by-line look at wave season offers

But some other cruise lines have signaled that wave season bookings are running strong, too.

Holland America recently said bookings in the third week of January were the highest on record for any January week in its history, which is notable considering the line downsized significantly during the pandemic . P&O Cruises and Aida Cruises also reported record booking weeks.

"Seeing this level of booking is a great sign for Holland America Line and for the industry," Holland America president Gus Antorcha said at the time in a statement. "Travelers are clearly excited to get back to cruising."

Holland America, P&O Cruises and Aida Cruises are three of nine brands owned by Carnival Corporation, which won't report quarterly earnings and discuss booking trends until March. The company also owns Carnival Cruise Line , Princess Cruises , Seabourn and Cunard Line .

Royal Caribbean Group's Liberty said the company was seeing particularly strong booking trends for North American-based sailings, which account for nearly 70% of its capacity for 2023.

"From a cumulative standpoint, these itineraries are now booked at the same load factor as they were in 2019 and at higher prices," he noted.

For the fourth quarter of 2022, Royal Caribbean Group reported occupancy levels across all its ships at 95%, which still is below normal. Cruise lines typically report fleetwide occupancies above 100%, something that is possible when more than two people stay in a cabin.

However, Royal Caribbean Group said Caribbean sailings in the fourth quarter ran at 100% occupancy, with holiday sailings at 110% occupancy.

Liberty suggested sailings in Europe also had begun booking at a more normal pace and at better rates than in the past — a notable development as bookings for Europe cruises were hurt in 2022 due to the effects of the war in Ukraine.

Related: The ultimate guide to picking a cruise line

While the recent strength in bookings initially was for North American itineraries, "we have been very happy to see over the past two or three weeks that elevated demand now move into Europe as well," Liberty said.

That's led to the company's brands raising prices for Europe sailings and, so far, consumers aren't flinching at the higher prices, Liberty suggested.

He noted the removal of COVID-19-related cruising restrictions in the fall of 2022 as a big factor in boosting Europe bookings and allowing for price increases, and he said the surge in bookings was coming from both veteran cruisers and newcomers.

"We're able to raise price across these different products and really [are] not seeing a pullback from the consumer as we continue to do so," he said. "And that is really a reflection of what we've seen since our last earnings call, or really since the announcement of the [COVID-19] protocol being dropped — just acceleration [in bookings] and the propensity to cruise ... has returned."

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Our alerts are totally free - all you need to do is register for an account, which is also free. We’ve got something of a pattern going on here.

You need more information or want to get into the details? Find out how to activate price alerts or explore our cruise price monitoring for more insights.

What’s New in Cruising in 2024

Months-long world cruises, better food, more remote destinations, and luxury sailings designed with families in mind—these are the top cruise trends of 2024..

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World cruises were further propelled into the spotlight when Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise went viral on TikTok.

Courtesy of Josiah Weiss/Unsplash

Cruise ship itineraries in 2024 will span the globe like never before, on ships that are more environmentally friendly and luxurious than ever.

Cruisers are looking beyond the one-week itinerary, sometimes a lot more. Blockbuster, months-long world cruises are attracting both increased interest and attention—as those who are following along on TikTok the adventures of Royal Caribbean’s 274-night Ultimate World Cruise well know. Cruisers are getting younger, too. Whether due to social media or other factors, more Millennials and Gen-X travelers are cruising in 2024 than in the past, even if they have never cruised before, according to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).

With cruise lines putting a stronger emphasis on exploring more far-flung destinations, offering better, more sustainable food options, and courting families even on more upscale ships, it’s going to be an exciting year out on the high seas—regardless of your age. More than 300 ships will sail the world’s oceans in 2024, according to CLIA, and these include the first cruise ship ever to be outfitted with engines ready for green methanol, and the new largest cruise ship in the world, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas , able to carry more than 7,000 passengers.

Here are five cruise trends to watch in 2024.

World cruises become even more popular

Royal Caribbean’s current Ultimate World Cruise on the 2,490-passenger Serenade of the Seas may be the current star of TikTok, but it is hardly the only choice for cruisers looking to see the world on an epic, multimonth sailing. World cruises continue to sell out well in advance, so plan now for 2025, 2026, and beyond. Oceania Cruises offers popular 180-day itineraries ; Cunard’s traditional world cruises on real ocean liners are legendary for their posh British style; and ultra-luxury lines such as Seabourn , Silversea , and Regent Seven Seas Cruises deliver the world with a side of champagne and caviar. Or check out Viking’s world cruises , which include excursions in every port and are value priced from about $55,000 per person.

Kimberley in Western Australia is among the sought-after cruise destinations of 2024.

Photo by Shutterstock

Expeditions explore even farther

As travelers continue their post-COVID quest to embrace new experiences, the expedition cruise market is booming. Cruisers are getting more adventurous, and new destinations are emerging. HX Expeditions (formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions), for instance, just finished its first season of sailings combining Senegal, the Cabo Verde islands, Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau’s rarely visited Bissagos islands, with additional sailings in West Africa planned for later this year and next. Beyond increasingly popular Arctic, Antarctica, and Greenland trips, destinations such as Madagascar, the Seychelles, and Indonesia’s Raja Ampat are also becoming more common stops on the cruise map. Kimberley in Western Australia is a 2024 hot spot, with more ships than ever bringing cruisers to the region’s red-rock cliffs, waterfalls, and crocodiles. In Antarctica, Lindblad Expeditions is the latest company with a seven-night fly-in and cruise option that lets you skip crossing the notoriously rough Drake Passage.

As part of Holland America Line’s Global Fresh Fish program, chef Masahuru Morimoto is hosting pop-up restaurants onboard HAL ships showcasing fresh, locally caught seafood.

Courtesy of Holland America Line

Food-driven experiences (on land and sea)

Cruise lines are more focused than ever on bringing sustainable products onboard from the places they are visiting. Holland America Line , for instance, recently launched a Global Fresh Fish program, with 100 percent fresh sustainable seafood being incorporated fleetwide. As part of the program, the line’s “fresh fish ambassador,” Masahuru Morimoto of Iron Chef fame, is hosting pop-up restaurants onboard, where guests can order a crispy fried whole fish with a side of wasabi mashed potatoes, among other featured menu items. For its West Africa cruises on the 280-passenger MS Spitsbergen , HX Expeditions has brought a chef from Togo on the vessel, where he’s preparing such local dishes as jollof rice. Food tours on shore have become increasingly popular, too. British line Cunard will launch its 3,000-passenger Queen Anne this spring with such exclusive shore excursions as a Norwegian “fjord safari” to visit a goat cheese farm.

Focus on the environment

As the cruise industry pursues net-zero emissions by 2050 , there’s a huge push to invest in and use more renewable fuel sources. More than three dozen trials with biofuels made from such items as manure and vegetable oil took place on ships in 2023. There will be more in 2024. With a focus on better energy efficiency, and using onboard desalinization plants for water, cruise ships and their operations are becoming more sustainable and efficient every year. Of the 11 major new oceangoing ships in 2024, six are powered by liquified natural gas (LNG), considered the cleanest fossil fuel. Most new ships can use shore power hookups without running engines in ports. Significantly, in 2024 the world will see the first cruise ship able to operate on green methanol when it becomes available at scale. For now, the Mein Schiff 7 , part of German line TUI, will operate on low sulfur fuel. Future methanol-ready ships are on order for companies such as Disney, Celebrity, and Norwegian Cruise Line.

Explora I is designed to feel like a luxury land-based resort, complete with a kids club.

Courtesy of Ivan Sarfatti/Explora Journeys

Luxury with kids in mind

When it comes to cruising, family travel is getting more love, especially multigenerational family travel. Luxury line Explora Journeys , which will launch a second 922-passenger ship Explora II this year, has a staffed children’s program where activities include a focus on marine education, plus suites designed for families (and even amenities that include kid-size bathrobes and slippers). Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s second ship, the 456-passenger, LNG-operated Ilma , debuts in 2024 as well with features that include a Ritz Kids program (for a fee). And when Disney Cruise Line’s upcoming 4,000-passenger, LNG-fueled ship Disney Treasure launches this year, it will have a restaurant themed around the Disney movie Coco , a live show based on Moana , and a pair of extravagant, two-bedroom suites, one inspired by Aladdin and the other by the Jungle Book .