CLIA’s State of the Cruise Industry Report 2025 shares the latest sector snapshot – and it’s swell news for cruise experts – with a record 34.6 million people going on an ocean cruise last year – up 9.3 per cent on 2023 and a 6.8 per cent rise on 2019.
The Cruise Lines International Association annual report highlights that cruise travel accounts for just 2.7 per cent of the international travel and tourism sector and that cruise ships comprise less than one per cent of the world’s commercial fleet.
While these numbers paint a buoyant outlook of the cruise industry with plenty of room for growth, 2024 passenger volume in the Asia and Oceania region was down by 20.8 per cent compared to 2019 – the only region to shrink.
While Australia returned to pre-pandemic passenger volume in 2023, China resumed cruising much later and still has not returned to 2019 levels, affecting the region as a whole.
The future of ocean cruising
The report highlights oceans of opportunity for cruise experts, predicting cruise passenger growth will rise to 37.7 million in 2025 and 41.9 million by 2028.
The number of first-time cruisers continues to increase: 31 per cent of cruisers over the past two years were new to cruise, up from 24 per cent in 2019.
The intention to cruise among international travellers remains strong. Of those who have cruised in the past, 82 per cent said they will cruise again. Of those who have never cruised before, 68 per cent would consider taking a cruise.
Generation X and Millennials are the most enthusiastic cruisers with 84 per cent of Gen Xers and 83 per cent of Millennials who have cruised before, saying they will cruise again.
Eleven new ocean-going ships will be released by CLIA cruise lines during 2025, worth more than USD$10 billion (around AUD$15.5 billion), and 56 new ships are on order through to 2036, worth US$56.7 billion (around AUD$88.3 billion).
More than 70 per cent of ships sailing now and through to 2036 are small- and medium-sized ships.
CLIA Managing Director in Australasia Joel Katz said: “Cruising is more popular than ever and the diversity of experiences now available to cruise guests is phenomenal.”
“The outlook for cruising remains strong and cruise lines are preparing to enhance their fleets with a further 56 new ships to be launched into the next decade.
“At the same time, they are making huge investments in the technologies and propulsion systems that are taking our industry towards its net-zero emission goals.”
Read the full CLIA report here.
