Cruise passenger numbers beat predictions
Figures released this week show 24.7 million people took a cruise last year, more than the 24.2 million predicted.
According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) next year is expected to see further growth to 25.8 million, based on new ships and regional deployment.
"Much of the industry’s growth can be attributed to the continuing development of the Asian market, with ocean capacity in the region rising to 9.2% in 2016, a 38% increase from 2015," said CLIA.
"The increased capacity, combined with travellers in this region going on shorter, and more frequent cruises, has kept this marketplace at the top of emerging markets within the cruise industry."
Nine new ocean ships and 17 new river vessels brought the total number of CLIA ships to 458 last year, adding an extra 28,000 passengers to the overall capacity.
Top cruise destinations last year were:
1. Caribbean (35%)
2. Mediterranean (18.3%)
3. Europe w/o Med (%)
4. Asia (9.2%t)
5. Australia/New Zealand/Pacific (6.1%)
6. Alaska (4.2%)
7. South America (2.5%)
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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