Warmer destinations tipped for strong expedition growth next year
Warmer expedition cruise destinations such as the Seychelles, Africa and the Galapagos Islands are expected to see an increase in popularity next year
This was the message from the inaugural Expedition Cruise Network (ECN) Conference, which took place in London on Tuesday (1 October) and was attended by the group’s travel agent members and supplier partners.
The organisation reported that the Galapagos Islands is seeing renewed growth following a dip caused by Ecuador’s State of Emergency earlier in 2024, while demand from the trade to see Africa included in expedition cruise itineraries has started to be met with new itineraries from Swan Hellenic and Aqua Expeditions.
The Seychelles is also attracting new itineraries in 2025 as well as the Pacific, which is an emerging destination for warm water expedition cruise next year, the network said.
Despite the increase in demand for warmer destinations, popular expedition destinations such as Antarctica, the Arctic regions of Svalbard, Alaska and Greenland are all tipped to see the most growth by ECN members in 2025.
Business within the UK market remains buoyant with all members who responded to the network’s 2024 autumn survey reporting bookings through the trade has either grown or maintained last year’s levels, with growth rates from five per cent to 40 per cent.
There has also been an increase in trade events hosted by ECN members in a bid to improve hands-on knowledge and expertise. Each ECN member hosted an average of 32 travel professionals on board, with one polar specialist hosting 150 in total.
Expedition Cruise Network members report nine month average booking window
In the past 12 months, expedition cruise operators report the average booking window for trips is nine months. The ECN said there is a “range of booking behaviours” within this data, with some reporting bookings 30 days out while others claim a two-year booking window is not uncommon.
ECN chief executive officer Akvile Marozaite said: “Expedition cruise has become known for opening up polar regions, and together with new airports in Greenland, this continues, but warm weather expedition cruise has only just begun to light the touch paper of consumers’ imagination and enthusiasm, and I believe there is a great many opportunities out there for travel trade professionals to take in 2025.”
