Britain remains Europe’s top cruise market

Statistics show that the UK retains its position as Europe’s number one market accounting for 27% of cruise passengers, second only to North America globally.

The number of British and overseas passengers joining their cruise at a UK port grew 10% to 1,062,000 in 2013, whilst the number of passengers on day visits to one of the UK’s 51 cruise ports jumped by 20% to 866,000.

Cruising has grown by 43% since 2008 with lastest figures showing an additional 25,000 (1.5%) of British passengers taking an ocean cruise in 2013. The number of Europeans taking an ocean cruise grew 4% in 2013 to 6.357 million.

The Mediterranean remained the most popular choice for British passengers, accounting for 644,000 of them, although Northern Europe cruises have grown by 20% to 531,000 in 2013.

A wider trend has seen a continuing increase in the number of UK passengers starting their cruises at home rather than overseas. Just six years ago, only a third of UK passengers started their holiday from British ports. By 2013, it was almost half (49%).

This growth comes at a time of sustained investment by the cruise industry. This year and next year 13 ocean cruise ships will be launched at a cost of £5 billion.

Andy Harmer, director CLIA UK & Ireland, says: “Momentum has returned to the UK cruise market in 2013 with significant growth in passengers numbers and especially in embarkations from our home ports – both of which are impressive achievements when set against a backdrop of an economy that has proven slow to recover.”[button link=”#” preset=”blue”]hello[/button]