Next year is a great time for cruise travel, and there are no more options for travelers looking to spend time at sea.
That was the key takeaway from the nearly 100 experts convened in late October for the Travel + Leisure Cruise Summit 2024 at the Waldorf Astoria Cancun in Mexico.
In attendance were more than 60 travel advisors at the forefront of the cruise industry, including several members of the T+L Travel Advisory Board. “We’re really hearing from the top of the industry,” T+L Vice President and Publisher Katie Bano said in her opening remarks.
Throughout the two-day conference, attendees heard from some of the world’s leading industry experts, including Kelly Craighead, CEO of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA);
Interior of the main room of the Travel + Leisure Cruise Summit.
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“Luxury cruises are such a phenomenon,” Craighead said, noting that 2025 is expected to be a record-setting year for global cruise travel. “There’s not just one ‘cruise’; there are so many different types of experiences that resonate.”
Some of the more trips discussed at the summit included a voyage through the fjords of Norway, an expedition to the North Pole, a trip to see penguins in the Southern Ocean, and a relaxing wellness escape in the Caribbean and ocean sailing. It was. Mediterranean style. They were also told about the top-notch cuisine offered on all types of luxury ships and the unique benefits of river cruises.
Guests at the event brought fresh ideas to the table on how to best market these trips, including the ability to see multiple ports and unpack once, and the ease of booking a single vacation on the fly. I appreciated the unique benefits of traveling by ship. Includes several countries.
“Cruising is easy,” said Travel Advisory Board member Carmen Teresa Targa, who spoke on a panel discussion about the benefits of cruising with multiple generations. “I don’t have to think about it because everything is done for me,” she said with a laugh.
“If you can get luxury travelers on board, they’ll never look back,” Bano agreed.
Katy Bano, Travel + Leisure Vice President and Publisher
If you can get luxury travelers on board, they’ll never look back.
— Katy Bano, Travel + Leisure Vice President and Publisher
In addition to several panel discussions summarizing industry trends, summit attendees also participated in a series of workshops led by Crystal, Oceania Cruises, Ponant, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and Viking.
Attendees also had many opportunities to enjoy hospitality at the Waldorf Astoria Cancun, a stunning resort located less than 20 minutes from Cancun International Airport along Mexico’s Riviera Maya. As T+L contributor Dobrina Dzekova recently detailed, this seaside hotel is the first exclusive luxury hotel in Hilton’s Latin American portfolio, featuring two pools, great Mexican cuisine, and a destination spa. It is equipped with
The lobby of the Waldorf Astoria Cancun.
Provided by Victor Elias/Hilton
Hilton Hotels & Resorts has several other notable developments, according to Philip Peña and Faysal Jaffer, two executives who detailed the expansion of LXR Hotels & Resorts’ global footprint during the Cruise Summit. They are planning a high-end development.
In addition to seminars and panel discussions, participants had ample time to network and collaborate through two working lunches. One was sponsored by Explora Journeys, a high-end line that received high praise at the World’s Best Awards; By AmaWaterways, Voter Favorite in the River Cruise Category of the World’s Best Awards.
Many of the summit participants generated new ideas as well as bullish predictions about the future of the industry. Some notable sounds heard near the top include:
“‘Cruise newbies’ customers want to know that these luxury options exist,” said Travel Advisory Board member Sandy Schadler, who spoke on a panel moderated by T+L Senior Editor Elizabeth Rose. you need to know,” he said. “Cool destinations have been a big change, especially the fjords in Norway, Greenland and Iceland, which are now huge,” says Regent Brenna Abels. “Going on a road trip has never been safer or more comfortable,” says Ponant’s Ellen McIlvaine. “Our lawyers have told us that cruises are the safest way to travel,” CLIA CEO Craighead agreed. “Gen Z is the most enthusiastic about cruising,” said Anne Madison, another CLIA representative in attendance. Nathan Hickman of Oceania Cruises said: “Our ships are diverse and can cater to everyone’s tastes.” “Crystal is building two expedition ships,” said Crystal’s Glenn Roos. Crystal is now integrating Abercrombie & Kent’s expertise into shore excursions.
If anything, a theme of possibility seemed to run through the proceedings, with advisors, sponsors and T+L staff all agreeing that the future of cruising, especially at the high end, is brighter than ever. .
“We had parents pulling their kids out of school to take them on a 30-day cruise from Cape Town to Singapore,” Hickman said during a panel moderated by CLIA’s Andy Harmer. he said. “They said, ‘This is more important than school.’
