Cruise & Cruise Line

New Survey Reveals Promising Outlook for Cruise Travel in 2021

Image: Cruise ship docked in Rhodes, Greece. (photo via titoslack/iStock Unreleased)
Image: Cruise ship docked in Rhodes, Greece. (photo via titoslack/iStock Unreleased)
Patrick Clarke
by Patrick Clarke
Last updated: 3:25 PM ET, Wed August 26, 2020

A majority of travelers who don't plan to travel this year are targeting international destinations for 2021, with at least one in five eyeing a cruise vacation, according to a recent Allianz Partners survey.

The study of more than 1,000 customers who purchased a policy through a travel advisor or other retail distribution partner between June 1, 2019, and February 29, 2020, found that 60 percent of customers who are putting off travel until next year due to the COVID-19 pandemic are considering taking a trip abroad in 2021, with at least 20 percent planning to get there on a cruise ship.

Cruising in the U.S. won't resume until this coming fall at the earliest; however, the industry is beginning to resume operations with enhanced health and safety measures in place in other parts of the world, including the Mediterranean.

Looking ahead to next year, only hotel and resort stays are more popular (50 percent) than cruising. Trailing cruise vacations are staying with friends and family (13 percent), vacation rentals (8 percent), a personal vacation home (4 percent) and RVs, tents or cabins (2 percent).

"Travel will continue to evolve in response to the unfolding of global events. Meanwhile, we are discovering that our customers are more open to taking trips to overseas destinations once again," said Joe Mason, Chief Marketing Officer at Allianz Partners, in a statement. "One area where we are expecting to see an increasing interest in the year ahead is in international cruise travel."


For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.

Topics From This Article to Explore

More From TravelPulse

Patrick Clarke

Patrick Clarke

Senior Editor

A Maryland native and wanderer who has lived across the U.S. from North Carolina to SoCal, Patrick Clarke graduated from Towson University with a B.S. in journalism. He previously worked for Bleacher

Grow Your Travel Business With Certified Courses

Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Majestic Resorts Specialist ProgramDiscover all-inclusive luxury at Majestic Resorts in paradise.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Los Cabos Specialist ProgramSell the magic of Los Cabos: luxury, adventure, and endless sunshine.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Allianz Specialist ProgramProtect every journey with Allianz Partners Travel Insurance.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Majestic Resorts Specialist ProgramDiscover all-inclusive luxury at Majestic Resorts in paradise.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Los Cabos Specialist ProgramSell the magic of Los Cabos: luxury, adventure, and endless sunshine.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Allianz Specialist ProgramProtect every journey with Allianz Partners Travel Insurance.

Don't Miss These Travel Agent Events and Trainings

Upcoming Webinar
Every Island Tells a Story: Part 2 – Selling the Caribbean Through Immersive ExperiencesWednesday, August 19, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Continue the journey in the second installment of our Every Island Tells a Story webinar series. This...
Upcoming Webinar
The Art of Destination Recommendation: Alternative Destination Strategies for Travel AdvisorsTuesday, August 18, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
What if your next best sale is a destination your client hasn’t considered—and you’ve never visited?...
Upcoming Webinar
From Interest to Booking: Selling HANKYU × PONANT Japan CruisesFriday, August 21, 2026
4:00pm Eastern
Take the next step in selling HANKYU × PONANT Japan cruises with a practical, advisor focused look at...
Upcoming Webinar
Every Island Tells a Story: Part 2 – Selling the Caribbean Through Immersive ExperiencesWednesday, August 19, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Continue the journey in the second installment of our Every Island Tells a Story webinar series. This...
Upcoming Webinar
The Art of Destination Recommendation: Alternative Destination Strategies for Travel AdvisorsTuesday, August 18, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
What if your next best sale is a destination your client hasn’t considered—and you’ve never visited?...
Upcoming Webinar
From Interest to Booking: Selling HANKYU × PONANT Japan CruisesFriday, August 21, 2026
4:00pm Eastern
Take the next step in selling HANKYU × PONANT Japan cruises with a practical, advisor focused look at...