4 minute read
Cruise Trends
Cruise Forecast
From waves of younger cruisers to plant-based dining and emissions-reducing technology, here’s a look at the trends sailing into a new year of travel.
By Aimi Mayne
PLANT-BASED DINING SETS SAIL
Stir-fried portobellos with soy-maple sauce, roasted and glazed celeriac steak and an indulgent cappuccino pot de crème — these are just a few of the new plant-based dishes you can look forward to tasting on board cruise ships next year. Vegan menus are coming to Princess Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line dining rooms as both aim to give cruisers new veggie options beyond the salad bar. And with a seven-course plant-based tasting menu — the industry’s first — the exclusive Eden Restaurant on Celebrity Cruises’ new Celebrity Ascent is a vegetarian’s heaven on Earth. Also available à la carte, dishes such as golden beet-tomato ceviche and ajoblanco panna cotta highlight ingredients acquired from sustainable sources and pair nicely with a glass of vegan wine.
YOUNGER GENERATIONS JUMP ON BOARD
Forget the days when cruising was just for retirees and families seeking an easy holiday: Gen Z and millennials — two younger generations that prize experience over material luxury — are eager to come aboard. The Cruise Lines International Association even forecasts Gen Z to be the industry’s most valuable consumer demographic by 2028. “When planning family vacations, Gen X parents often look to their Gen Z kids for inspiration,” says Annette Diaz, vice-president of global brand marketing and communications at Celebrity Cruises. “Younger guests are surprised to discover how cruising can take their vacation to a whole new level.”
NET-ZERO GOALS
Hydrogen fuel-cell technology and liquefied natural gas (LNG) engines are keeping the cruise industry on track towards its 2050 netzero goal. The first ship to test a hydrogen fuel-cell system (this technology combines hydrogen and oxygen to generate clean energy) was the Viking Neptune. Launched in 2022, it secured Viking Cruises’ plans to expand the size of fuel-cell systems on its future ships. Meanwhile, Explora Journeys’ Explora V (pictured) and Explora VI, launching in 2027 and 2028, respectively, will use this green technology to power all portside operations. These ships, along with Explora III, debuting summer 2026, will be equipped with engines powered by LNG — fuel that is cooled to a liquid state, maximizing its power by volume and generating up to 20 percent fewer carbon emissions than traditional marine diesel.
NEW APPROACHES TO EUROPE’S TOP CITIES
Moving cruise traffic away from crowded city centers to neighboring ports is introducing travelers to lesser-known experiences and hidden gems, all while supporting sustainable tourism efforts. In 2021, Venice moved largeship docking from the Venetian Lagoon to nearby cities in order to preserve the structures supporting Italy’s floating city. So, disembarking at Trieste, up the coast from Venice, means you’ll have the chance to try espresso brewed in the Italian coffee capital before your scenic train ride to the city of canals. In October, the Port of Barcelona — the busiest cruise port in the Mediterranean — relocated all cruise docking from the Old Harbor to Moll Adossat pier, closer to a panoramic cable-car ride atop Montjuïc and only a short shuttle-bus ride from the center of the Catalan capital.
CRUISING WITH A SIDE OF CULTURE
Cruisegoers are preferring longer stays to make the most of destination stops, rather than spending less time in more places, and the 2023 Global Travel Trends Report by American Express revealed that 85 percent of travelers want to experience local cultures. Whether that means connecting with communities or tasting regional specialties, embarking on a culturally immersive cruise opens those doors. Regent Seven Seas Cruises recently introduced 128 new culinary-focused shore excursions in the Mediterranean, such as a cooking class teaching you how to make adana lamb kebabs with a Turkish chef in Dikili. Azamara Cruises has also added four culturally immersive voyages that feature extended overnight stays, including the opportunity to experience the Lunar New Year in Ho Chi Minh City, hopping off the Azamara Journey to celebrate late into the night.
