Summer 2025
Cruise Market Analysis: Trends and Preferences
Recent travel market data reveals significant evolutions and constants. Couples and families continue to represent the core of travelers, maintaining a predominant share in bookings, while the single and group segments show a more contained but stable presence.
A general upward trend in costs is observed, both per person and per single booking, indicating an economic recovery in the sector and perhaps a greater propensity to invest in more complete travel experiences. From a demographic point of view, middle and mature age groups constitute the majority of travelers, with a gender distribution that remains almost balanced over time.
Consolidated Italian departure ports, such as Civitavecchia and Genoa, remain crucial hubs for departures. Among cabin types, balcony and interior cabins are the most requested, revealing a clear preference for the balance between comfort and convenience. Finally, Mediterranean destinations, particularly itineraries touching Italy, Greece, Turkey, France, and Spain, maintain a very strong appeal, confirming their popularity among travelers.
Traveler Types by Year (Percentages)
For Traveler Types, couples and families have undeniably dominated the booking market from 2021 to 2025. Their percentage share remains consistently high, highlighting them as the most active and numerous segments. Single travelers and groups make up a smaller portion of the total, maintaining a stable but minority presence. This trend underscores the persistent preference for travel experiences shared as a couple or with the family unit.
Average Cost per Person
The trend of the Average Cost per Person shows a constant and significant growth over the analyzed five-year period. From approximately €982 in 2021, the value progressively increased to reach approximately €1405 in 2025. This increase likely reflects a general price increase in the tourism sector, which could include inflation, increased demand, or the offering of higher value-added services. The trend suggests a recovery and consolidation of the post-pandemic market.
Passenger Demographics (Age Groups) by Year
Passenger Demographics (Age Groups) show that the central age groups (36-45, 46-55, and 56-65 years) constitute the majority of occupants in 2025, reflecting the main user base. Over the years, the percentage distribution among the various age groups remains relatively stable, with minimal fluctuations. This suggests a consolidated demographic composition of travelers, with strong participation from mature and middle-aged generations.
Passenger Demographics (Gender) by Year
Regarding Passenger Demographics (Gender), data indicates an almost equal distribution between male and female travelers in all analyzed years. Although there may be slight prevalences of one gender over the other in certain age groups or years, the general trend is towards balance. This stability underscores that the travel sector equally attracts both genders, ensuring a balanced and inclusive market in terms of gender participation.
Average Spending per Booking
Analyzing the Average Spending per Booking, a parallel and upward trend is observed compared to the cost per person. The average spending increased from approximately €2793 in 2021 to approximately €3608 in 2025. This data highlights not only an increase in individual costs but also, potentially, a tendency for travelers to book more complete or longer-duration services. The constant increase confirms the recovery of confidence and the willingness to invest more in travel.
Most Used Departure Ports by Year (Top 5)
The Most Used Departure Ports are consistently led by Civitavecchia and Genoa, which alternate in the top positions with the highest percentages of departures each year. This confirms their role as crucial hubs for Italian maritime tourist traffic. Other ports such as Bari, Venice, and Naples are regularly among the top five, demonstrating their strategic importance and the wide geographical coverage of departure options in Italy.
Most Booked Cabin Types by Year
Among the Most Booked Cabin Types, "Balcony" and "Interior" options are confirmed as the dominant choices, alternating in the top two positions and cumulatively holding the preponderant share of bookings. This suggests a balanced preference between the desire for private outdoor spaces and the convenience of interior solutions. "Oceanview" and "Suite" cabins hold smaller but stable shares, indicating consistent demand for intermediate comfort or luxury categories.
Most Popular Destinations by Year (Top 5)
Finally, the Most Popular Destinations for Summer 2025 and previous years highlight a strong appeal of the Mediterranean. Itineraries such as "Italy - Greece - Turkey" and "Italy - France - Spain" consistently remain at the top of travelers' preferences. The annual comparison confirms stability in choices, indicating that these areas represent consolidated and highly attractive destinations, appreciated for their combination of culture, landscapes, and accessibility.
