Cruise Travel Trends: Booking Horizons Extend Through 2029

The survey results indicate that cruise enthusiasts are no longer content with near-term planning. While 78.2% of respondents have trips locked in for 2026, the horizon stretches significantly further, with 13.6% booking for 2028 and a small cohort already planning as far out as 2029. Royal Caribbean International currently leads the pack in bookings at 29%, narrowly outpacing Carnival Cruise Line at 24.2%.

Destination preferences remain anchored in the Caribbean and Bahamas, which claimed 61.1% of current bookings. However, the data suggests a pivot in consumer intent for future travel. Mediterranean interest is climbing, and there is a marked rise in the popularity of shorter, 2-6-day getaways, influenced by the debut of new vessels like Utopia of the Seas. Jamie Cash, COO of Cruiseline.com, noted that travelers are becoming increasingly intentional, balancing longer, multi-week explorations with shorter, frequent trips. This evolution in behavior is further reflected in the shifting landscape of river cruising, where Viking remains the dominant choice, though competitors are gaining traction among a more adventurous demographic.