US is international cruise booking hotspot for UK holidaymakers

As overseas travel continues to open up, the US has emerged as the most sought-after holiday destination for UK holidaymakers booking a cruise abroad.

The finding was revealed by cruise specialist cruise.co.uk, based on bookings taken during the past six months.

The Mediterranean is second on the list, with the Caribbean third and Canada fourth.

The US has always been a firm favourite with UK cruise guests, both as a holiday hotspot in itself and as the gateway to the Caribbean. Its position has recently been bolstered, with bookings growing by 12% compared to pre-pandemic levels.

There has also been an increase in the length of time that people are booking cruises overseas, with the proportion of guests sailing 14-20 nights rising from 32% to 35% compared to 2019, and the proportion of guests sailing 21 nights or more going up from 6% to 9%.

Meanwhile, the percentage of travellers booking their sailing from the UK to their overseas destination has also increased, from 27% to 37%. Accordingly, those flying from the UK has reduced from 73% to 63%.

January and February remain the most popular months for UK holidaymakers to travel on an international cruise, which has been the case across the past few years.

Tony Andrews, deputy managing director of cruise.co.uk, said: “The US has always been a go-to port of call for overseas cruise guests; it’s clear that, as international travel further opens up, it remains as popular as ever. The fantastic variety of holiday options on offer, including a wide range of ships and itineraries, means the US continues to appeal to both seasoned cruisers and first-time passengers alike.

“The Mediterranean and Caribbean similarly have so much choice, plus plenty of sunshine to help guests make the most of their time away.

“It’s also interesting to see a slight shift in the proportion of people booking extended sailings. This may well be a sign they’re looking to get away for longer, to help make up for the holidays they’ve missed during the past 18 months.”