Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has published its statistics for the UK and Ireland market, which shows that the market generated around 1.7 million cruise passengers, nearing pre-pandemic demand levels.
The figure stood at 1.99 million passengers in 2019, but, this was a slight decrease from 2.01 million in the previous year.
In data published CLIA said that:
* In 2022 British and Irish holidaymakers took around 1.7 million cruises, up from 479,000 the previous year.
* The Mediterranean remains the number one destination for cruise travellers from the UK and Ireland.
* Of the top three destinations in 2022, 38.4% of passengers travelled to the Mediterranean, 29% to Northern Europe and 10.6% to the Caribbean.
* The UK and Ireland markets accounted for 29% of all European source passengers.
* Globally, over a quarter (27%) of those who sailed for two or more nights in the last 12 months travelled in a party consisting of three or more generations, a sign that cruise holidays offer a great experience for all ages.
* The average age of UK & Ireland cruise guests last year was 55.8 years, as cruising continues to diversify and attract holidaymakers of all ages.
* The average length of a cruise by British or Irish holidaymakers in 2022 was 9.7 days (down slightly on 2019).
* Intent to cruise is stronger than ever. 85% of cruise passengers from the UK and Ireland say they intend to take a holiday at sea again (a 6% increase from 2019) and 60% will do so in the next two years (up from 53% in 2022).
* Strikingly, 70% of those who have never cruised before would consider a cruise in the next few years (up from 68% in March 2022), showing more people are open to trying a cruise than ever before.
