A survey by the UK’s oldest cruise retailer, Mundy Cruising, has revealed that nearly a third of luxury cruisers are planning to downsize to a smaller ship once coronavirus travel restrictions are lifted.
The survey revealed that Mundy clients are bullish about their future travel plans, with the majority (63%) planning to cruise again in 2021 and a sizable minority (15%) hoping to return to the waves this year if possible. A further 20% plan to cruise in 2022 or later, while just 3% indicated that they would not cruise again. There was also great news for river cruise lines, with 30% of respondents planning a river cruise for their next trip.
This renewed sense of optimism about the future of cruising is reflected in Mundy’s sales figures, with business last month up 63% compared to June 2019. Many clients are opting for itineraries closer to home, with in-demand destinations including the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. More surprising is the demand for North America and the Caribbean, though this tallies with findings from the survey, with 41% of respondents prepared to consider a long-haul trip for their next cruise.
Other key findings from the survey include:
- The majority of respondents (56%) plan to travel on a ship carrying 50-500 guests after coronavirus, compared to 44% who preferred this size of ship before
- Just 7% plan to travel on a ship carrying more than 1,000 guests in future, compared to 19% before coronavirus
- 11% of respondents expect their next cruise to be an expedition cruise
- 26% of respondents would consider a no-fly cruise from continental Europe, joining their ship by road or rail
The survey results, based on 332 responses, are great news for Mundy Cruising, who specialise in small ship ocean, river and expedition cruises.
“We are buoyed by our clients’ confidence in the future and their excitement about cruising again,” commented managing director Edwina Lonsdale. “The cruise industry is leading the way in safe global travel, collaborating widely to ensure guests can return safely to their favourite type of holiday.”
