This year is set to redefine cruising with more than just new ships and itineraries – it marks a shift towards new trends like slower cruising, wellness, digital detox voyages, women-only cruises and culinary adventures.
Gaynor Galbraith Neill, CEO of Cruise Vacations, emphasises the rise of ‘slow cruising’ concepts, such as those offered by Silversea and Star Clippers.
“Wellness, culinary, and immersive, holistic exploration have been more typical for smaller cruise lines in recent years, with sustainability being a key focus,” she told Travel News.
Silversea is expanding its ‘Slow Cruising’ offerings with longer voyages, extended port stays, and more sea days, including a year-round Mediterranean season with the Silver Muse from June 2025 to November 2026.
“This is the first time they will have operated a full Mediterranean season throughout winter. This has always been a popular destination for South Africans, with Silversea now offering to sail during off-peak and quieter times,” says Neill.
Star Clippers is introducing longer Caribbean itineraries in 2026, also embracing a slower pace of travel.
Neill provided the following advantages of slow cruising:
- Immersive experiences: More time at each destination for deeper cultural and historical exploration.
- Reduced stress: Fewer destinations and more leisurely travel for a relaxed journey.
- Environmental impact: Promotes sustainable travel with lower fuel consumption.
- Enhanced onboard activities: Ample time to enjoy ship amenities, workshops and entertainment.
- Personal connections: Smaller ships foster meaningful interactions with fellow travellers and crew.
Agents’ expertise irreplaceable
Thaybz Khan, Head of Commercial at Cruises International, notes that despite advances in digital technology, the cruise industry continues to rely heavily on personal connections and travel agents.
“Cruising remains one of the few travel options that still propel customers to talk to someone, even after completing online research. Agents not only provide expertise but also offer add-ons, creating full-package options for clients. But this is not where the potential earning stops.
“Cruising is one of the few industries globally that have a high customer retention rate. Repeat customers are almost a guarantee for agents and then the opportunity to upsell and cross-sell becomes endless,” Khan told Travel News.
Khan also highlights the growing demand for both luxury and adventure cruises, reflecting a shift towards more diverse, immersive travel options.
“Clients and corporates alike are looking for travel options that provide a variety of ways that give them value for money and enable them to invest in their memory bank.”
Sue Garrett, GM of Supply, Pricing and Marketing at Flight Centre Travel Group South Africa, attributes the country’s cruising growth to its all-inclusive value and accessibility.
There has been a strong uptake in all-inclusive cruise packages among South Africans as they seek out more comprehensive experiences that remain within budget, as reported by Travel News.
“Local cruises, particularly MSC’s Durban- and Cape Town-based options, remain incredibly popular for first-time cruisers or those on a budget, due to their affordability, ease, and convenience. After all, it’s a great way to avoid a long-haul flight as well as the costs of travel visas!” says Garrett.
According to Garrett, cruises proved popular with both couples and families in 2024.
“On international cruises, our split was 65% couples, 28% families, 5% solo travellers, and 2% groups. We saw very similar figures on domestic cruises, with couples making up 62% of cruisers, followed by families (29%), solo travellers (6%) and groups (3%). Interestingly, our average length of cruise was ten days, with cruisers really embracing time on the ocean!”
Emerging cruise trends for 2025
According to Flight Centre Travel Group South Africa, the following have emerged as cruise trends for 2025:
- Digital detox cruises: WiFi may improve across fleets, but 2025 will see an increase in cruises designed to help travellers disconnect and unwind.
- Culinary-focused voyages: Food-themed cruises are big right now. Expect ships to offer more local ingredients, speciality menus, special guest celebrity chefs, and cooking workshops.
- Women-only cruises: These cruises, like Uniworld River Cruises’ women-only cruise, have a strict ‘no boys allowed’ policy – designed for women, by women.
- Workation cruises: When travellers can work from anywhere, why not work at sea? Before booking, travellers should check their chosen cruise line/ship’s WiFi quality and cost.
- River cruising: Smaller and often more personal, river cruises are also on the rise.
