Fareham in Hampshire has retained its position as the “UK’s number one cruise booking hotspot”, according to a survey conducted by cruise.co.uk.
As in 2022, the town’s residents booked more cruise holidays per head this year than those in any other town or city, the retailer said.
In second place was Southampton, home to the UK’s busiest cruise port, followed by Chichester in West Sussex, which saw a “surge in popularity” in 2023, moving from 15th place in 2022 up to third position this year.
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In fourth and fifth places were two northern coastal towns: Barnsley in south Yorkshire and Chorley in Lancashire.
Both towns “regularly appear” in cruise.co.uk’s booking hotspot list, showing a “marked trend rather than a one-off”, according to the retailer’s managing director Tony Andrews.
He said: “There’s no doubting the popularity of cruise in Fareham. It’s the booking capital of the UK and clearly its residents know just how enjoyable a holiday at sea is.
“It’s no surprise to see Southampton appear high up on our list with such a wonderful range of cruise ships so close to hand. And word has clearly spread in Chichester with the city one of our biggest movers to land third place.
“The popularity of a cruise among Barnsley and Chorley locals is less obvious but clearly there is significant demand for a sea escape, even in areas with no obvious coastal connection.”
He added: “Holidays at sea offer the ideal escape as they combine a sense of adventure and exploration from travelling across multiple countries with the opportunity to relax and sample great food and top-class entertainment on board.
“We’re expecting more people in the UK to have taken a cruise in 2023 than ever before with our top five booking hotspots leading the way.”