World cruising to new records

MORE people than ever before are taking cruises globally, according to the Cruise Lines International Association’s annual State of the Cruise Industry report for 2025.

A record 34.6 million people took an ocean cruise worldwide during 2024, a 9.3% increase over 2023, CLIA says. Passenger numbers are forecast to continue to grow, rising to 37.7 million in 2025 and 41.9 million by 2028.

The intention to cruise among international travellers remains strong. Of those who have cruised in the past, 82% say they will cruise again. Of those who have never cruised before, 68% say they would consider taking a cruise.

Generation X and Millennials are the most enthusiastic cruisers, CLIA says. Of Gen X who have cruised before, 84% say they will cruise again. Of Millennials who have cruised before, 83% say they will cruise again.

The number of first-time cruisers continues to increase: 31% of cruisers over the past two years were new to cruise, up from 24% in 2019.

Eleven new ocean-going ships will be released by CLIA cruise lines during 2025, worth more than US$10 billion. A total of 56 new ships are on order for CLIA cruise lines through to 2036, worth US$56.7 billion. For the first time the total fleet exceeds 300 ships, currently standing at 300.

In the Asia/Oceania region 4.03 million passengers cruised in 2024, a 9.8% increase on 2023’s 3.67 million. However, this is still 20.8% down on the pre-COVID year of 2019, when 5.09 million set sail.

Australia/NZ/South Pacific rated seventh in the list of top 10 cruising destinations in 2024, attracting 1.33 million passengers, a 3.8% increase over 2023.

CLIA says there is plenty of room for growth: Cruise is currently only 2.7% of the international travel and tourism sector.

“With consistent and steady growth over the past 50 years, the cruise industry has proven to be more resilient than other sectors through downturns,” CLIA says. “Cruise is one of the safest ways to travel—and is becoming one of the most responsible and best ways to see the world—with cruise lines advancing an ambitious sustainability agenda.”