5 cruise trends to watch in 2025

We ask industry experts what cruisers are looking for in 2025?

With more cruise lines targeting the high-spending, family-orientated Middle East market, we asked industry leaders to shine a spotlight on the kind of offerings that are attracting and satisfying these customers, making them more likely to become repeat customers. 

Value for money cruises
Lee Haslett, CEO, Celestyal says: “As we head into 2025, we’re seeing cruise travellers prioritise authentic destination immersion, seeking deeper connections with the places they visit and opportunities to travel like a local. Small- to mid-sized ships like ours have the flexibility to call at lesser-known ports alongside marquee destinations. Celestyal’s four-night Iconic Aegean cruise, for instance, takes in the well-known islands of Mykonos and Santorini as well as hidden gems such as Patmos and Heraklion. Value for money is another key driver, with travellers looking for high quality at competitive prices."

Agents have seen huge demand for our Desert Days sailings in the Arabian Gulf, which start from US$590 for seven days, including meals, soft drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities

Expedition cruises
Lynn Narraway, Vice-President UK, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Seabourn says: “Travellers are increasingly looking for experiences that connect them with their destination. We’ve seen the booking curve lengthen as they wish to research these adventures early on and enjoy the anticipation. Polar (Antarctic and Arctic) voyages remain popular and we are seeing younger, ‘working wealthy’ passengers choose the shorter 11- or 13-day Antarctica voyages. We’ve also seen more demand for warm-weather expeditions in the less-visited South Pacific islands and Australia’s Kimberley region, where – as well as incredible scenery and experiences – travellers can interact with Indigenous communities. The level of expedition business we are now seeing indicates that guests are prepared to choose an ultra-luxury operator such as Seabourn in order to enjoy the best and most authentic experience possible.” 

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Small ship cruises
Stefan Shillito, Managing Director, Sovereign Cruise Club says: “Many of our wealthier clients with private yachts moored in the Mediterranean during the summer and the Caribbean during the winter are selling up and using the money to spend more time cruising on small, ultra-luxury ships. They are often booking many months at a time in the top suites and enjoying the freedom and significant cost savings this gives them. It’s a trend we expect to continue as the ultra-luxury lines can offer personal service, large suites and excellent dining, and such a variety of destinations, whereas owning a yacht is getting more and more expensive due to mooring fees, maintenance and running costs, and can be a hassle due to the difficulties of sourcing and retaining experienced crew.”

No-fly cruises
Christian Verhounig, Chief Executive, Ambassador Cruise Line says: “Even in the short time Ambassador Cruise Line has been in operation, we’ve seen demand for our no-fly cruises grow and this trend will continue in 2025 and beyond as travellers look for cost-effective ways to explore the world effortlessly and sustainably. We are also seeing a rise in the number of guests who previously cruised with luxury brands join our sailings as the cost of living continues to increase and play a key role in the holiday decision-making process, especially as inflated airline prices add to the cost of fly-cruises, particularly for those travelling long-haul." 

Many customers are spending a little less on their holidays but getting an affordable, quality cruise that meets or exceeds their expectations

Longer cruise durations
Louise Craddock, Sales Director, Oceania Cruises says: “We are seeing lots of interest in our Grand Voyages, which are three weeks or more, as guests prioritise meaningful travel and [want] to spend longer in various destinations to delve deeper into their culture and heritage. We have a diverse array of these sailings to the islands of the Mediterranean, the beaches of the Seychelles, and the mighty Amazon River – and they give our guests the opportunity to explore all corners of the world at their own pace. More overnight stays at various ports and enriching shore excursions enable guests to connect to the authentic experiences of the location.”

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