by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 6:05 AM ET, Tue September 16, 2025
Americans increasingly feel behind on their travel goals, especially when compared to their peers, according to new research commissioned by Scenic Group, the company behind Emerald Cruises and Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, and conducted by Talker Research.
Travel Dysmorphia is Real and Prevalent
The new study found that 69 percent of Americans feel “travel dysmorphia,” which includes heightened feelings of dissatisfaction with trips still left untaken. Of those feeling travel dysmorphia, one in three Americans feel dissatisfied at their lack of travel, and one in five (19 percent) also feel embarrassment. A larger portion, at 69 percent, say they haven’t seen enough of the world, with 41 percent doubting whether they’ll ever achieve their travel goals.
By comparison, only 10 percent of Americans report feeling a sense of achievement at having taken the travel milestones they’ve wanted to take at their stage of life.
So what’s holding people back? Nearly 31 percent of Americans don’t know where they’ll travel next, and time constraints, decision fatigues and finances are big factors. Seventy-two percent of Americans know that travel has a positive impact on their emotional well-being.
The Living List Pass: A New Way to Combat Travel Dysmorphia
Emerald Sakara (Photo Credit: Emerald Cruises)
To help with travel dysmorphia, Scenic Group has launched the Living List Pass, available in a limited quantity through December 31, 2025.
The Living List offers three flexible pass options, which all include a set number of cruise and land tours that can be taken over multiple years, all for one price.
“At the heart of travel dysmorphia is the tension between aspiration and action. Our research shows travelers aren’t lacking the desire — they’re held back by time, planning stress, and cost,” said Ken Muskat, President of Scenic Group USA and LATAM.
“The Living List removes those barriers. No time? We’ve mapped it out. Don’t know where to begin? We’ve customized the most sought-after journeys,” continued Muskat. “Think it’s out of reach? Each pass locks in multi-year access to luxury travel at a fixed rate so guests can plan with confidence. Scenic has always delivered once-in-a-lifetime memories. Now we’re making them easier to say yes to.”
The Journey Pass, for example, starts at $86,000 per cabin for two guests and includes five trips over the next five years. These can be river cruises, ocean or yacht cruises across brands: one Scenic river cruise up to ten nights; one Emerald river cruise up to ten nights; and one Emerald Mekong journey up to 12 nights; one Emerald Caribbean cruise up to seven nights and one Scenic Eclipse Signature non-expedition voyage up to 13 nights.
The Legacy Pass starts at $240,000 per cabin for two guests and doubles the number of trips taken to ten trips in the next five years. This pass includes two Scenic river cruises, one Emerald river cruise, one Emerald Douro river cruise, one Scenic Mekong trip, one Scenic Eclipse Signature non-expedition yacht cruise, one Emerald Caribbean trip, a Scenic Eclipse expedition cruise, one land journey and one Emerald Seychelles cruise and safari.
For a more affordable option, the Explorer Pass allows for guests to take three trips over the next five years for $44,000 per cabin, double occupancy. Passholders will receive one Scenic and one Emerald river cruise, both in Europe, plus an Emerald Caribbean yacht cruise.
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