We all know that cruises came to a screeching halt soon after Covid struck the world. But what you may not realize is that there have been sweeping changes within the travel industry that have led to new and major cruise industry trends as well.

Some of these changes are exciting, while others may be off-putting. So let’s look at eight of them and what they may mean for you as a cruiser.

1. A Strong Emphasis on First-Time Cruisers

First-time cruisers aren’t accustomed to how things used to be, and they may not be affected by the changes. In contrast, seasoned cruisers may have reservations about some of the major changes that have sprung up since Covid-19 brought about sweeping changes in the industry. Hence, the emphasis on first-time cruiser needs is strong.

2. Revenue Generation Changes

Many smaller cruises no longer have specialty dining, which allows cruise lines to generate more revenue. Cutting back on services and staff may be another revenue-generating strategy in use. Many call this a “nickel and diming” of the ship. There’s a gratuity on every item you buy now. [RF2] 

3. Better Passenger Experience Through Connectivity

The cruise industry recognizes the growing need for internet access on its ships. This means increased services such as web connectivity, chat features, and higher bandwidth.[RF3] 

4. Cruise Expansion

Another new cruise industry trend is the expansion of cruises leaving from USA ports. The reason for this growth within the USA is that the most profitable cruise ports are located here. This doesn’t just mean more ships; it means more travel opportunities to be found when you want them.

5. The Removal of Smaller, Older Cruise Ships

These ships are just not as profitable for the cruise industry. They do not have specialty restaurants, and there aren’t as many opportunities for up-sales. A smaller-sized ship means fewer people and less money overall.

6. Virtual Innovations

You may have heard of the Celebrity Cruise Metaverse or Wonderverse, the first digital cruise ship experience. This exciting new virtual innovation be found in the Celebrity Edge Fleets. Before even embarking on your cruise, you can take a virtual look at the locations and ship and even play minigames. Check out Celebrity Beyond, part of the Celebrity Edge series, to learn more.

7. Larger and More Exotic Cruises

The cruise industry may be paring down on its smaller ships, but it’s creating larger and more exotic cruises to balance that. For example, Holland America is introducing new and longer cruises in the United States and Europe.

8. A Reduction in Stateroom “Cleaning” Services

Cruises have been reducing their cleaning services to just once a day, making the former evening turn-down service nothing more than a fond memory. Naturally, this leads to questions like, “Will this lead to the loss of crew jobs and/or salary cuts?” We certainly hope not. How do you feel about not having the turn-down evening cleaning? Is this a great loss or just a minor inconvenience?

The Takeaway

These new cruise industry trends bring up many additional questions. Ant and I can’t help but consider a few of them:

If there is an increase in daily gratuities but a reduction in services and experience, can this be considered a fair trade? And with this question in mind, another one can’t help but be asked. Will these eight new cruise industry trends cause cruise lines to lose their loyal customers by emphasizing first-timers?

Share your thoughts in the comments so that we can all learn from each other!