“ Guests want variety as they choose their next cruise” Cruise lines are navigating a period of rapid evolution as guest expectations shift and fleets expand to meet growing global demand. According to Cruise Lines International Association’s (CLIA) State of the Cruise Industry Report 2025, the number of cruise passengers worldwide is expected to exceed 35.7 million in 2024 – more than a six per cent rise compared to the record set before the pandemic. This growth is being fuelled not just by returning travellers, but also by a widening range of new guests discovering the appeal of life at sea. CLIA’s data shows the demographic profile of cruise travellers is steadily broadening. The average age of guests globally has declined from 46.7 years in 2018 to 45.6 in 2024, with marked growth among younger adults and multigenerational families. Millennials now make up around 22 per cent of cruise travellers, while nearly onethird of all passengers cruise with children or extended family members. The report also highlights that 83 per cent of millennials and 76 per cent of Generation X travellers who have cruised intend to sail again – clear evidence of deepening engagement across age groups and lifestyles. Ugo Savino, senior director of deployment and itinerary planning at Carnival Cruise Line, notes that this growing diversity of guest expectations is reshaping how the industry plans its voyages. “Guests want variety as they choose their next cruise,” he says. “They have always looked for enriching experiences with their family and friends, and that’s certainly still true, and while many still desire short, classic Caribbean cruises, we now see increasing interest in longer cruise options as well. Our latest deployment plans reflect this, with a wider array of options than ever and more Carnival Journeys voyages – special, unique cruises of nine days or more.” This appetite for variety is reflected in the widening breadth of destinations available to visit in itineraries, with lesser-known ports joining perennial favourites such as Miami, Nassau, The Bahamas, Barcelona, Spain and 7
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