A resurgence in last-minute demand and growing interest in sailings further ahead are to dilute appetite for spring and summer voyages, according to new data from Cruise Trade News’ sister title World of Cruising

Our previous column analysing the behaviour of thousands of cruisers highlighted the dominance of spring and summer sailings. Back in November, more than half of users (52 per cent) were looking to travel between April and September. Fast-forward to early 2026, and that interest has softened slightly.

Spring and summer still lead the way, but together they now account for a lower 46 per cent of searches. Spring demand has proved more resilient, slipping just two points from 30 to 28 per cent. Summer, by contrast, has seen a sharper fall, dropping from 22 to 18 per cent.

So where has that demand gone? The six-point decline has been split evenly between two very different segments. Last-minute departures between now and March have climbed from 25 to 28 per cent, while interest in voyages in 2027 and beyond has risen from eight to 11 per cent.

Autumn 2026 sailings (October-December) have remained steady, holding at 14 per cent. The result is a market that is increasingly fragmented, with meaningful demand both in the near term and several years out. For the trade, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity: deciding where to place emphasis when consumer interest is pulling in multiple directions.

Late spring and summer firmly belong to the Mediterranean, which accounts for just over six in every 10 searches for departures between May and September

As expected, the Caribbean continues to lead the late and winter-sun market, but its dominance is less pronounced than in previous months. For February and March departures, combined demand for European and Mediterranean sailings now almost matches that of the Caribbean, at 44 per cent compared with 48 per cent.

Later in the year, however, the picture changes decisively. Late spring and summer firmly belong to the Mediterranean, which accounts for just over six in every 10 searches for departures between May and September.

In our November column, we highlighted early signs that Europe could be in for a strong year. Our latest data confirms this trend. European sailings, including the Med, now represent just over 60 per cent of all searches across all 2026 departures.

For cruise lines and agents alike, success will lie in balancing short‑term tactics with long-term planning, aligning capacity and campaigns to a market that is increasingly split – but highly engaged.