The cruise industry is growing in leaps and bounds. The global numbers are in for the 2025 sailing season. An impressive 37.2 million passengers sailed last year. That is a very large number! Post pandemic many people tried cruising for the first time and are hooked. This created a lot of competition.

Several companies are making big changes in the coming years. You have seen Celebrity jump into the river cruising market, NCL continues to build mega size ships, MSC is building another private island in Freeport Bahamas, Princess will be building three more larger ships and Holland America is reimagining it’s fleet with new venues and experiences. The trend going forward is to provide unique destinations, experiences and venues. Specialty dining is at an all time high as demand exceeds space.

What does that mean for you? The possibilities are endless and the choices are vast. With so many people cruising, it means you need to make plans for where you want to go. Truly, the world is your oyster. The best fares and cabin locations are found when new itineraries are released. If you don’t like the thought of the large ships sailing with 5000+ passengers, there are smaller more sophisticated lines such as Azamara, Oceania, Silver Seas and Seabourn. While you may feel they are more expensive, but honestly you get a totally different vibe and a lot more intimacy.

Maybe you are not interested in cruising at this time, but are thinking about land touring. There are many companies that provide escorted tours to as many places you could dream. What about rail travel? The Rocky Mountaineer is always a great way to see some glorious sights.

This coming week I will be sailing on Celebrity’s newest addition, the Xcel. I will let you know what it is like. I am reachable for booking your next travel destination, even if I am on a ship. I am glad to help.

Cheers,

Kathy Hays