Cruise ship orderbook highlights 'significant' growth potential, say industry leaders

Cruise industry leaders hailed the “significant growth opportunity” in the UK market during a panel discussion at the Abta Travel Convention.

 

The leaders of three major cruise lines pointed to the number of cruise ships on order in the coming decade to highlight the sector’s potential, in a session hosted by Travel Weekly editor-in-chief Lucy Huxley.

 

Seventy-four cruise ships are expected to be built across the globe in the next 10 years – an orderbook equating to about $51 billion.

 

“If you want to go and build a cruise ship, you’re going to struggle to get into the shipyards before 2035 – they’re all booked ahead [until then],” said Paul Beale, UK and Ireland vice-president of sales for Oceania and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

 

Regent Seven Seas Cruises will launch its newest ship, Seven Seas Prestige, in 2026, followed by a sister ship in 2030, while Oceania Cruises is set to welcome four new-build Sonata Class ships between 2027 and 2035.

 

Celebrity Cruises’ international vice-president Giles Hawke said the industry as a whole has improved at “making cruise look more attractive” as a holiday choice, which has played a role in the sector’s expansion.

 

Hawke said: “It’s great to see growth continue in the UK and Ireland market and we’re a long way off the actual cruise penetration we see in the US market; we see a significant opportunity for further growth from the UK market.

 

“We’re doing a better job of constantly letting people know how good cruise is as a holiday option, which is great news for us but also for anyone involved in the cruise value chain, whether it be a travel agent, OTA or airline.”

 

Hawke said Celebrity Cruises typically starts planning its new ships six years before they are delivered and estimates them to have a lifespan of about 35 years.

 

“We’re thinking a long way ahead and planning for a market that is going to be there; we have futurologists in our team who can see how big the growth opportunity is, so we’re committing that money,” he said.

 

Celebrity Cruises will launch Celebrity Xcel, the fifth Edge Class ship in its fleet, in November. It is also launching a fleet of river ships with the first due to begin sailing in 2027.

 

Eithne Williamson, Princess Cruises’ vice-president of sales for the UK and Ireland, pointed to continued investment in existing ships on top of new vessels being built.

 

“Of course, every ship has to go through dry dock but there’s actually bigger investment happening,” she added. “I think we’ll see a lot more investment into existing fleets, as well as the building of new vessels.”

 

Williamson referenced Clia data which shows the biggest growth group is people aged 18-34, which she described as “a really good sign”.

 

“Fifty per cent of those cruising in the UK are under 50,” she added. “There’s a perception that cruises are all older people but it’s been really good getting the message out that it’s [also] a really good experience for younger people.”