CRUISE CONSUMERS LOOK TOWARDS LUXURY IN 2023
BY ERIN ENGLISH
erin@nitravelnews.com
IN RECENT years, Luxury Cruising has been on the rise amongst the travelling public. There has been an evident shift in travellers’ priorities as many begin to seek more space onboard vessels. Over the course of the past decade, the luxury industry has boomed with statistics
cruise
revealing that the sector has grown by over 119 percent. In 2012, there was an annual capacity of 324,512 passengers’ onboard luxury cruise vessels. A figure which has more than doubled, with the 2022 figures revealing a whooping annual capacity of 721,078 passengers. These figures are only set to grow, coinciding
with the rising public interest in luxury cruising. It is estimated that passenger figures for the luxury cruise sector will increase to 1.2 million passengers by 2027. During the pandemic, passengers began to re- evaluate their travel needs and desires. Research suggests that in this re-evaluation, two travel desires stood tall amongst the rest for passengers - Space and Adventure. This desire for space and adventure reinforces the rising interest in the Luxury Cruising Sector. Despite luxury and expedition cruising ships
being smaller than other cruise-liner vessels, passengers booked on for itineraries on a luxury liner are guaranteed to have double the personal space, whether it be cabin or dining space. Passenger’s desire for space has been a trend noticed by many other cruise-liners - not just luxury cruise liners. Many cruise companies have reported an increase in passengers booking balcony cabins or even deluxe suite packages to
Ambassador Cruise Line updates Covid-19 Protocols
AMBASSADOR Cruise Line has advised that pre-departure Covid-19 testing will not be required on most sailings from 3 April onwards. The company’s policy remains to follow the guidance set out by the EU Healthy Gateways recommendations, and it has made this change after careful consideration and discussions with its independent advisors and London Port Health Authority. In line with the updated policy, adult guests who have received two doses only of a UK- approved vaccine will now be able to freely travel, with no requirement for guests under the age of 18 to have been vaccinated. Guests displaying Covid-19 symptoms within 72 hours of departure are encouraged to take a test at home as a courtesy to their fellow travellers and to contact their travel insurance provider if results are positive.
Guests testing positive will be required to self-isolate until they have tested negative for two consecutive days, and, while social distancing and mask-wearing remains at our guest’s discretion, the cruise line politely requests that measures continue to be respected and adhered to where possible.
reap the benefits of the extra space on their much- needed cruise holidays. The pandemic has also increased the public’s
thirst for adventure. Travel was suspended for two years over the Coronavirus Pandemic. In this time, the public’s bucket list grew longer and longer. With more obscure and hard to reach locations suddenly becoming a dream-come-true destination. The market for expedition cruises, a smaller segment of the luxury cruise market, has had the largest growth over the past ten years. Expedition Cruising has had an expansion of almost 450%, figures reveal that only 67,000 passengers chose to embark on an expedition cruise in 2012. A figure which pales in comparison to 2022 annual report in which 367,557 passengers decided to embark on an expedition cruise. The rise in bookings of expedition cruises
reveals how the desires of the travelling public have shifted over the course of the past decade. Expedition cruises enable travellers to reach areas of the world which previously would have been out of reach by plane or any other means of transport. With expedition cruising, passengers can set sail to see bucket-list destinations such as Antarctica, The Galapagos Islands, Alaska, and many more destinations. Research by Panache Cruises predicts that small
ship numbers will double by 2023 to meet soaring public demand. Therefore, as 2023 continues to develop and passenger demand continues, things are looking bright for the luxury cruising sector. All research and statistics collected by https://
www.panachecruises.com/
WINDSTAR CRUISES TO LAUNCH HIGH-SPEED STARLINK INTERNET ACROSS GLOBAL FLEET
satellite service, Anuvu, for internet services. The addition of Starlink technology will amplify Anuvu, delivering more reliable and faster internet to Windstar’s guests. Starlink is the world’s first and largest satellite constellation with a low Earth orbit using lasers so communication can happen further away from ground based stations. “I am thrilled to be working with Anuvu and
WINDSTAR Cruises has announced the launch of its Starlink Maritime high-speed, advanced broadband satellite internet capabilities. Windstar Cruises will provide guests one of the most developed high-speed connections in the world both while sailing and when in port. Windstar launched the new Wi-Fi technology on
Star Pride during a recent Caribbean voyage and plans to implement Starlink across most of its global fleet by mid-2023. Star Legend will offer the service this spring, followed by Wind Surf, Wind Star and Star Breeze. Wind Spirit will activate the new technology as soon as it’s available in French Polynesia. Currently, all Windstar Cruises use geostationary
Starlink to offer our guests the latest in satellite technology,” said Gregg Wagner, technology director, Windstar Cruises. “When the ships are inside the service area, faster speeds will alleviate much of the frustration felt at peak use times.” “Starlink is yet to be available worldwide, but Windstar Cruises is excited to be among the first in the cruise industry to offer this cutting-edge technology. The addition of high-speed internet service with our current geostationary satellite service will enable guests to stay connected to family and friends.” Starlink will be available on select Windstar voyages where the service is active; not all global destinations are available. View Starlink’s current maritime coverage and progress map here. For further information and reservations call 0808 178 2233 or
visitwww.windstarcruises.com
MARELLA Cruises has announced the relaxation of its vaccination requirements on board its cruises, meaning customers travelling on sailings from 1st May 2023 will no longer have to provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination. The change will apply to all its cruises, except for destinations that require proof of vaccination as an entry requirement to the country as set by local authorities, such as the USA and US territories. Arrival of a ship in port is considered as entry to the destination, regardless of whether a passenger disembarks the ship. For any customers travelling on or before 30th
April 2023, Marella Cruises’ existing vaccination rules apply, which require everyone aged 12 and over must be fully vaccinated to travel. Children aged 2 to 11 must follow the entry requirements for the destinations on their cruise.
Marella Cruises Announces Removal of
Vaccination Requirements
Celebrity Cruises Becomes The First Cruise Line To Earn Forbes Travel Guide Stars
CELEBRITY Cruises has once again raisied the bar as it becomes the first ocean cruise line to ever earn prestigious Forbes Travel Guide (“FTG”) Star Awards. The recognition is made more wonderful as
Celebrity’s ships join an elite and exclusive group of fewer than 20 land-based properties with over 1,000 rooms in the world to ever receive the coveted recognition. FTG is the global authority on luxury hospitality and the only global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants, spas and now, the new ocean cruise category. Their professional inspectors travel the world to anonymously evaluate the finest hotels, restaurants, spas, and ocean cruise ships
based on hundreds of exacting standards that determine their annual Star Ratings. The five inaugural resorts at sea Star-Rated
ships are Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Flora, Celebrity Millennium and Celebrity Summit. The remainder of the line’s 15-ship fleet will be evaluated in the year ahead, except for the line’s smaller Galapagos ships. “We always reach for the stars at Celebrity Cruises, whether it’s in our exceptional level of service, our innovative ship design, or the highest quality of relaxed luxury experiences we provide onboard. To now be Star-rated multiple times over is such an incredible honour from the Forbes Travel Guide team. It’s confirmation that with our resorts at sea, our guests truly sail on the world’s best places to the world’s best places,” said Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo. “I’d like to congratulate the entire Celebrity family, both at sea and shoreside, for this special recognition. I celebrate each and every one of you and thank you for your dedication and commitment to delivering the best vacations at sea.”
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