This year has already shaped up to be a record-breaker for cruise sales, but which destinations in particular are most resonating with potential travelers?
A new study from AllClear Travel Insurance reports that 66% of global citizens are considering a cruise for their next vacation. After analyzing international search data, the travel insurance company generated a map that illustrates the most targeted locales for cruisers from the United States and abroad.
U.S. Cruisers Dream of Alaska (and More)
For U.S.-based travelers, Alaska is the cruise destination that people most want to experience. Rounding out the ranking of top 10 regions for Americans is then the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the Mississippi River, Antarctica, Hawaii, the Panama Canal, Transatlantic, the Seine River and the Rhine River.
State-by-state interest varies, as well (besides the majority preference for Alaska), as residents in Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi and Wisconsin most seek a Mississippi River cruise, and those in Michigan most desire a Great Lakes sailing. Otherwise, residents of Indiana, Kansas, North Dakota, Ohio and Rhode Island most aspire to visit the Caribbean.
The Caribbean Tops the List of International Favorites
Altogether around the world, the Caribbean leads the list of most-desired cruise destinations, according to more than 2.8 million searches over the past year for the specific region. Right behind are searches for the Mediterranean, Alaska, the Nile River, Antarctica, the Seine River, Norwegian fjords, the Danube River, the Mississippi River, Hawaii, world cruises, the Rhine River, the Greek Isles, the Douro River and the Panama Canal.
Cruise Preferences Around the World
Cruisers in Canada also match Americans in their desire to visit Alaska, whereas in Mexico, Central America and the bulk of South America, cruisers are most inclined to seek out the Caribbean. Brazilians, however, most wish to head to Antarctica, as do Australians and New Zealanders, given their closer proximity to the icy continent. Similarly, proximity to the nearby Mediterranean makes the region the highest contender among cruisers from France, Spain and Norway, though it’s also a top choice for residents of China.
As the Asian cruise market rebounds, Japanese travelers rank a world cruise as their No. 1 selection, according to searches.
Otherwise, river cruising is at the forefront of international travelers’ minds over traditional ocean sailings. The Nile River leads interest in Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria and Italy, while other waterways of interest to Europeans include the Danube and the Seine rivers.
Cruise Preferences in the United Kingdom
As for cruisers from the U.K., AllClear’s study lists the Caribbean as the No. 1 cruise holiday destination, and a different study from the travel experts at Seine River Cruises agrees. For Brits, the latter company lists the Caribbean as No. 1 among searches before the Mediterranean, Norway, Iceland, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, the Baltics, France and Barbados.
And yet according to a third study from luggage storage company Bounce, the Mediterranean actually leads for 2024, especially the port of Santorini, Greece. Other top cruise destinations include Cartagena, Spain; Valletta, Malta; Phuket, Thailand; Mykonos, Greece; Rhodes, Greece; Sydney, Australia; Lanzarote, Spain; Dubrovnik, Croatia; and Corfu, Greece.
