Cruise lines sailing into 2024 seeing strong demand, AAA says
It comes on the heels of 'record-breaking booking days' in 2023, according to AAA
Cruise industry seeing summer boom with pandemic restrictions lifted
Cruise ships are seeing more people come on board this summer. An estimated 31.5 million people are expected to cruise this year. That would be more than the last full year before the pandemic.
The cruise industry is riding a wave of strong demand into the new year.
"Travel demand is off to a strong start, which means availability will continue to shrink in the next couple of months," Debbie Haas, vice president of travel for AAA, said in a statement. "So, if you want a specific itinerary, ship or cabin type, act fast or you’ll have to start planning for next year instead."
The Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas cruise ship at the pier on Royal Caribbean's private coastal peninsula of Labadee, Haiti. (Ron Buskirk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images / Getty Images)
The cruise industry’s "wave season" — the three-month period beginning in January — is underway. AAA said this period is the best time to book a cruise due to discounted pricing, cabin upgrades, drink packages and more.
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The demand is coming on the heels of what AAA described as "record-breaking booking days" notched by cruise lines in 2023.
In 2023, cruises were projected to collectively see passenger volumes of 31.5 million globally, according to a report from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), a trade association that counts Carnival, Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean and other lines among its members.
Cruise ships off the shore of Grand Cayman Island, Royal Caribbean. (MyLoupe/Universal Images Group via Getty Images / Getty Images)
"We’ve seen cruise ships already sell out suites and cabins with balconies for various spring and summer itineraries," Haas said.
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AAA also observed multiple cruise trends, such as an increasing number of weekend cruises, year-round European river cruises and heightened competition for Alaskan cruises.
People "may find more availability and competitive pricing by sailing during the fall and the period between spring break and summer" compared to the peak periods around school holidays, the group said.
The Carnival Glory heads out to sea through the Miami harbor entrance known as Government Cut on June 2, 2018. (Rhona Wise/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)
U.S. travelers looking to sail to foreign countries may be relieved to hear getting a passport now takes less time. It has decreased to six to eight weeks for processing, according to AAA. It previously took eight to 11 weeks to receive a new passport.
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Ocean-going cruises will carry 36 million passengers this year, the CLIA predicted.
The cruise industry is rebounding after facing low passenger counts and restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic that began in early 2020.