by Donald Wood
Last updated: 9:35 AM ET, Mon December 4, 2023
A new report from United States cruise operators and travel
agents found that bookings for 2024 voyages are expected to reach
record levels and surpass pre-pandemic totals.
According to Reuters.com, travelers across all income and
budget levels are reportedly booking cruises at a record pace, as the open sea
vacations “are still cheaper than land-based alternatives.”
Passengers are advised to book now, though, as cruise
lines plan to increase prices to take advantage of occupancy levels
approaching pre-pandemic totals. Truist Securities analyst Patrick Scholes
revealed that cruise bookings will still hit record levels in 2024.
“Overall, the market is extremely strong, especially the top
end of the market in terms of the most high-end luxury cruises,” Cruise Compete
CEO Bob Levinstein said.
The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) announced
that an estimated 35.7 million travelers are expected to cruise in 2024, up
from 31.5 million in 2023. The 2024 estimates would be a six percent increase
from the record levels set in 2019.
Scholes also said that cruise
bookings in November for next year were about 20 percent higher compared to
the same period in 2019. Demand is so high that some cruise lines are running
out of inventory and have been forced to open bookings for 2026 and beyond to
satisfy customers.
“Demand for 2024 has continued to accelerate with bookings
consistently outpacing 2019 levels by a wide margin,” Royal Caribbean CEO Jason
Liberty said.
Major cruise lines in the U.S. are also reporting a rise in
first-time passengers, as well as repeat customers doubling in some cases. Even
online travel companies are taking advantage of the cruise boom by launching
new platforms to capture growing demand.
“Cruisers are loyal, with the data showing the majority of
people who have cruised will cruise again, making it prime for continued growth,”
Booking.com managing director Ben Harrell said.
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