Cruise market makes an even bigger splash

The ocean cruise industry is expected to attract more than 24 million passengers this year as the market continues to beat expectations.

US-based Cruise Lines International Association (Clia) predicts that 24.2 million people will take an ocean cruise in 2016 – an increase of more than four per cent on last year’s figure of 23.2 million passengers and a figure that beats previous predictions.

Clia unveiled the upgraded forecasts at the 2016 Cruise360 conference, which took place in Vancouver, Canada from 1-6 June.

Cindy D’Aoust, Clia president and chief executive, said: “The success in 2015 demonstrates the cruise industry’s continued strength in the overall travel sector. This is a direct result of the amazing work and commitment of our community of cruise lines, executive partners and travel agencies and agents.

“With the highest satisfaction rates among all leisure travel segments, it reflects that a cruise holiday is the holiday of choice for travellers around the world.”

Much of the growth in global cruise numbers is being fuelled by the Asian market, which saw a 24 per cent rise in passengers in 2015 to more than two million ocean cruise travellers.