Leading independent cruise travel agency Planet Cruise (planetcruise.co.uk) has witnessed a significant rise in cruise holiday sales this summer, up 25% on the previous year, suggesting 2016 could be another record year for cruise holidays.
Mediterranean cruise holidays are the most popular destination amongst sun starved British holidaymakers this summer, accounting for almost half of all bookings (44%).
However, whilst cruise holidays to the rest of Europe are the second favourite, bookings are up more than 100% on the previous year.
Cruise holidays to Norway and the Fjords are the third most popular choice amongst cruising Britons this summer, accounting for 11% of all bookings.
Bookings over the summer period at the cruise travel agency also shows an increasing appetite for luxury cruise holidays, with bookings up 14% on the same period last year.
Leading the way in terms of destinations are European cruise holidays, with bookings up by almost 600% on the previous year.
The cruise travel agency which in 2015 launched River Cruises, also report a dramatic rise in River Cruise bookings this year with Europe, Asia and Africa the most popular destinations.
Emerging destinations
Research conducted by Planet Cruise also highlighted the top emerging destinations for cruise holiday lovers with Australasian cruises showing the biggest increase in bookings up a whopping 950% on the previous year.
Africa is named the second emerging destination for cruise holidays with bookings up 183% on the previous year, with the Arctic completing the top three emerging destinations list, up 131%.
Top five emerging cruise holiday destinations (showing the biggest year on year increase in bookings):
1.Australasia
2.Africa
3.Arctic
4.Far East & Asia
5.Caribbean
Simone Clark, Managing Director at Planet Cruise comments: "Cruise holidays are becoming more and more popular and this year could be a record year for passenger numbers. Luxury cruise holidays continue to grow in popularity and we expect to see this continue as new ships enter the market, and over the next 12 months, we will see more people heading to exotic destinations such as Australasia and Africa.”
