Disney Cruise

Cruising has become something of a phenomenon over the last 10 years. It can no longer be thought of as an over 60’s activity that only the super-rich can afford and were everybody learns how to waltz somewhere in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. Cruise companies have diversified and now offer not only a much larger range of destinations but also theme, length, price, quality and demographic. What this has meant is that more people are able to enjoy a cruise these days…and they certainly are, with more cruise goers than there have ever been before.

The UK are those at the forefront of this move off of terra firma. There has always been a history of boat lovers in Britain and it seems that this tradition is still going strong as residents booked a massive 1.6 million cruise booking just this last year. This makes up a staggering 30% of all cruise bookings from the whole of Europe. Only Germany has a vague chance of challenging this title with a total of 21% market share according to results from a study conducted by Silversea Cruises at the Seatrade cruise convention in Miami.

The most popular cruise destinations for Europe as a whole are the Atlantic Islands and the Mediterranean. Which is strong evidence to suggest that sun and clear waters are still the biggest sellers. You don’t actually have to leave the boat these days to enjoy a fun-filled vacation. Most modern luxury cruises are equipped with multiple swimming pools, dining halls, theatres and even golf courses.

“The European cruise industry has seen an impressive 66% growth in the number of cruise passengers in the last five years…a trend that is set to continue” says chairman of the ECC and CEO of Oceania Cruises, David Dingle.

There are 20 new ships being built as we speak according to Dingle, all of which are bound for the European markets and all hitting the water by 2012.