Cruise FIGURE 75: GLOBAL OCEAN CRUISE PASSENGERS
10 15 20 25 30 35 40
0 5
2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 37.1 34.7 31.7 28.5 25.2 19.1 16.3 20.9 22.3 20.4 29.7 38.8 39.7
due to launch in 2025, adding almost 39,000 berths. The new ships vary in size, reflecting the composition of the existing fleet – with 30% of the fleet by 2028 able to accommodate more than 3,000 passengers while about one-third will be below 1,000 berths. Efforts to develop a more sustainable
5.8 4.8 2020 2022 2023 2024* 2025* 2026* 2027* *2024 figure estimated, forecast figures for 2025-27 Source: Clia FIGURE 76: GLOBAL OCEAN CRUISE CAPACITY 800 730 700 677 656 625 600 500
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025* 2026* 2027* 2028* *Forecast capacity Source: Clia
FIGURE 77: UK & IRISH OCEAN CRUISE PASSENGERS
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
2.28 1.97 1.7 1.53 1.34 0.96 1.07 1.73 1.79 1.99 582 590 604 701 737 745
fleet are progressing, with Clia recording 32 pilot projects using biofuels, fuel cells or tri-fuel capable engines in its most recent Environmental Technologies and Practices Report. But with just four ships using biofuel in 2023 out of a global fleet of 300, and seven more on order, there is a long way to go to achieve the industry target of net zero by 2050. The increasing use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) produces less sulphur and particulate emissions, reducing pollution in port, but retains a large carbon footprint. The largest cruise ships continue to
grow in size, with the title of world’s largest cruise ship changing three times in the last five years. The latest title holder, Icon of the Seas, launched in January 2024 with capacity for 7,600 passengers and 2,350 crew. The price of cruising has fallen in
real terms as ships have grown – with average fares today an estimated five times cheaper than in the 1980s. Partly this is due to economies of scale, but in large part also to cruise lines operating under flags of convenience which allow them to employ workers from anywhere in the world at minimum wage rates well below those in the biggest cruise markets. The largest ships are now too big to
0.48
2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021 2023 Source: Clia
pass through the Panama Canal or to enter many popular destination ports. The ability of smaller destinations to cope with the volume of passengers, particularly in the Caribbean, has led to the growing development of private ‘islands’, such as Royal Caribbean’s CocoCay in the Bahamas. In August 2023, Clia reported the opening of five new private islands or beach clubs in the next two years.
Travel Weekly Insight Report 2025 53
Passengers (million) Berths (thousand) Passengers (million)
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