Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) recently released its 2025 State of the Cruise Industry Report, providing a comprehensive review of where the market is heading. To further understand the state of the industry right now, we went directly to the trade.
Matthew Eichhorst, president of Expedia Cruises and the recipient of TravelAge West's 2025 Legend of the West award, sat down with us to discuss current trends, evolving sales strategies and what advisors should know for the year ahead.
What current trends are you seeing in the cruise market (either related to or beyond the CLIA report)?
We’re seeing a few key trends reshaping the cruise industry today. First, there is a shift in the demographics of cruise travelers; younger generations are increasingly choosing to cruise, especially with contemporary brands like Royal Caribbean, which offer a wide range of modern amenities and entertainment options. Cruising now offers something for every demographic.
Matthew Eichhorst, president of Expedia Cruises
Credit: 2025 Expedia Cruises
Another major trend we’re seeing is continued growth and outperformance in the expedition, luxury and river cruise categories. River cruising continues to expand with destinations like Portugal’s Douro River and Egypt on the Nile. Even the Amazon and parts of Africa are becoming more accessible via custom-built, small river ships designed for immersive destination experiences. While iconic rivers like the Danube, Rhine and Mekong remain popular, these newer routes are generating growing interest among experienced travelers seeking unique journeys.
We’re also seeing significant investment by cruise lines in private, curated island destinations. Royal Caribbean has set the standard with its Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas and is expanding with new experiences like a Beach Club in Nassau and Perfect Day Mexico.
Carnival is launching Celebration Key in the Bahamas, and other lines like MSC, Disney and Norwegian are also enhancing their Caribbean offerings with exclusive island developments. These private destinations consistently receive higher guest satisfaction ratings than traditional ports of call, thanks to their tailored experiences and elevated service levels.
These trends show how cruise lines are diversifying their offerings and elevating the guest experience to appeal to a broader and more adventurous audience.
Are global uncertainties affecting overall interest, cruise rates and bookings much or is it relatively smooth sailing?
Travel has always been a force for good, and the cruise industry continues to demonstrate resilience in the face of global uncertainties. While there are the occasional bumps when major events occur, the overall trajectory remains strong. The industry has shown an impressive ability to rebound quickly and responsibly, and we’ve seen no significant slowdown in the core cruising markets.
With travelers showing continued confidence in cruising as a reliable and rewarding way to explore the world, it’s been relatively smooth sailing.
How can travel agents best leverage these trends to increase their sales numbers?
At Expedia Cruises, we emphasize the importance of our Vacation Consultants staying informed and up to date on training and industry trends. By sharing updates on new cruise innovations, itineraries or private island experiences, they can spark interest and uncover opportunities that clients may not be aware of.
For this reason, it is important to proactively reach out to clients and not just wait for the phone to ring. We have seen that presenting options and educating travelers helps build trust and often leads to increased bookings.
What role are advisors playing in driving high cruise satisfaction, and how can they continue to deliver that value?
Advisors play a crucial role in delivering exceptional travel experiences. Many are travel enthusiasts themselves, and can offer insider tips, destination expertise and personalize recommendations that make trips more memorable and stress-free. Being local to their clients, they also provide a personal touch and serve as a single point of contact throughout the planning process.
Our Vacation Consultants scour countless options to find the best fit, saving clients time, money and stress. They also have access to over 100,000 Expedia Exclusive Staterooms annually, plus perks like onboard credits, member pricing and pre-paid onboard gratuities. Best of all, their expert service is completely free. From helping with last-minute changes to recommending the best rooms and excursions, their support and knowledge contribute directly to higher levels of satisfaction and repeat bookings.
