TRAVELSAVERS Canada reports “dramatic increase” in ocean cruise sales

TRAVELSAVERS Canada is reporting a “dramatic increase” in ocean cruise sales – especially to exotic destinations.

According to a press release Wednesday (March 27), the organization said its ocean cruise bookings were up 34 per cent in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year.

While sales to popular cruise destinations, such as the Caribbean, Alaska and Europe are growing, the strongest increases are for less typical itineraries, the consortium says.

For example: the organization’s premium cruise bookings show Asia up 148 per cent and South America up 57 per cent over 2023.

READ MORE: Skyrocketing cruise sales & France’s 452% increase: Virtuoso shares latest trends at T.O. Forum

This also aligns with a recent TRAVELSAVERS Canada survey, which found that exotic travel ranked second as a top emerging travel trend in 2024.

The update comes as 2024’s wave season draws to a close.

"Canadians are definitely getting more adventurous when it comes to selecting their cruises. This wave season has inspired travellers to book trips to destinations that weren’t as accessible in the past,” said Jane Clementino, senior vice-president and general manager at TRAVELSAVERS Canada. “People are also realizing that cruises provide exceptional value for their holiday dollar with special offers, shipboard credits and other inclusions, which probably helps with their decision to splurge and go global.”

Luxury cruise sales are also experiencing momentum for 2025 – TRAVELSAVERS Canada statistics show bookings for next year are up 24 per cent over 2024.

“We are a country of cruisers”

The positive cruise news mirrors similar statistics recently shared by Virtuoso.

At the luxury consortium’s Canada Forum in Toronto in February, Virtuoso Canada said its cruise sales last year saw a significant spike, growing by 48 per cent.

Future cruise bookings, meanwhile, are up 32 per cent, which outpaces the luxury consortium’s global average of 30 per cent.

Virtuoso Canada has it broken down by segment: ocean is up 48 per cent, river cruising is up 87 per cent, yacht is up 38 per cent while expedition is up 42 per cent.

“We are a country of cruisers,” said Úna O’Leary, general manager of Virtuoso Canada, at a press conference last month.

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