South coast locations in top three places, but northern towns secure fourth and fifth spot
A survey by cruise specialist cruise.co.uk has revealed that Fareham in Hampshire has retained its crown as the UK’s cruise booking hotspot. As in 2022, the local population have booked more cruise holidays per head this year than the residents of any other town or city.
Fareham is located in between Southampton and Portsmouth, two of the most popular cruise ship hubs, meaning there are a wealth of at-sea holiday options on its doorstep.
In second place is Southampton itself. The city boasts the busiest cruise port in the UK, with five terminals handling around 1.8m passengers per year. It is the home to major lines such as P&O Cruises, Cunard, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity.
Meanwhile, Chichester in West Sussex, and similarly based by the coast, took third place. The city was in 15th place last year and has moved up the list after a surge in popularity.
Fourth and fifth place saw a shift up the country to two northern towns.
Barnsley appeared next on the list, despite being situated in the heart of England. Its closest major cruise port is Liverpool, over a two-hour drive away. And Chorley in Lancashire was in fifth place.
Tony Andrews, managing director of cruise.co.uk, said: “There’s no doubting the popularity of cruise in Fareham. It’s the booking capital of the UK and clearly its residents know just how enjoyable a holiday at sea is. It’s no surprise to see Southampton appear high up our list, with such a wonderful range of cruise ships so close to hand. And word has clearly spread in Chichester, with the city one of our biggest movers to land third place.
“The popularity of a cruise among Barnsley and Chorley locals is less obvious, but clearly there is significant demand for a sea escape, even in areas with no obvious coastal connection. Both towns regularly appear in our top 10 booking hotspots, so this is part of a marked trend rather than a one-off.
“Holidays at sea offer the ideal escape, as they combine a sense of adventure and exploration from travelling across multiple countries, with the opportunity to relax and sample great food and top-class entertainment onboard. We’re expecting more people in the UK to have taken a cruise in 2023 than ever before, with our top five booking hotspots leading the way.”
For more information, go to www.cruise.uk or call 0870 990 8824
