http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/ en david.simpson@seaview.co.uk Copyright 2013 2013-05-22T15:10:05+00:00 http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/uk-leads-the-way-as-record-six-million-europeans-cruised-in-2012/ http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/uk-leads-the-way-as-record-six-million-europeans-cruised-in-2012/#When:14:23:18Z A record 6 million Europeans cruised in 2012, doubling the cruise market in just eight years, with UK cruisers leading the field. Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Europe also announced today from 29th annual Cruise Shipping Miami conference and exhibition that the long term trend shows strong growth with a five-year annual average European passenger growth of 8 per cent. Similar to previous years, four out of five Europeans chose to cruise in Europe, with the most popular destination the Mediterranean, which saw 3.5 million European passengers visiting the region. However, the noticeable trend in Europe was the increasing popularity of ‘cool water’ cruising in Northern Europe, which 10 per cent growth from 1.216 million to 1.333 million passengers. Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, chairman of CLIA Europe, said: “2012 was a strong year for the European cruise industry, especially in view of the challenges the year presented. The doubling in the number of Europeans booking a cruise in the past eight years reflects the fact that the European cruise industry provides quality, innovation, value and great range of choice. We very much look forward to seeing that growth continue this year, and the associated economic benefits that this will bring to Europe.” Rob Ashdown, secretary general of CLIA Europe, added: “2012 was a record-breaking year for the cruise industry in Europe, which is contributing significantly to helping Europe maintain its position as one of the world’s top tourism destinations. It is one of the few sectors in Europe currently generating growth and the cruise industry generates employment for more than 315,000 people across Europe, from the shipyards and marine equipment producers to employment in ports and coastal communities. “The continuing economic fragility in Europe continues to present challenges, but we are cautiously optimistic that the cruise industry will continue to grow in 2013.” Key statistics 6,139,000 European took a cruise in 2012, a new record The UK still leads as the main source market Germany grew of 11 per cent and is now 25 per cent of the European market share France grew 9 per cent The results from Italy and Spain, 9 per cent and 18 per cent drop respectively, reflect the deteriorating economic situation in those two countries, however, the five-year trend in every market remains positive The number of Europeans booking a cruise has doubled since 2004, and increased by 38 per cent since the economic crisis began in 2008. Since the onset of the crisis the European economy grew by just 2.5 per cent and by 2.7 per cent in the eurozone (Eurostat 2013 - real GDP growth rate – volume) Four out of five European passengers chose a cruise in Europe The Mediterranean remained the most popular destination but the big growth market in Europe was ‘cool water’ cruising Northern European which grew by 10 per cent The industry in Europe generates over 315,000 jobs and over $48 billion of economic benefits annually   CLIA, Cruise News, PSA 2013-03-13T14:23:18+00:00 http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/british-cruise-ports-continue-to-grow-and-passenger-numbers-surge-by-11/ http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/british-cruise-ports-continue-to-grow-and-passenger-numbers-surge-by-11/#When:10:12:43Z More passengers than ever before are visiting Great Britain through the country’s 52 cruise ports, according to figures released today by CruiseBritain.They show that in 2012 more than 100 ships visited the UK, bringing a a record 723,000 passengers on day calls - a rise of 11 per cent. Passenger numbers at UK ports such as Portsmouth, above, continue to boom 2012 also saw 962,000 passengers begin their cruise at a UK port - a 10 per cent increase on 2011 - with 84 per cent of passengers being British. 47 different cruise lines tied up in a UK port in 2012 with passengers taking day trips to a variety of destinations across the country. Britain’s island geography makes Round Britain cruises an unusual and unique itinerary option and allows visitors to explore coasts, castles, cities and countryside in one easy visit. Plus, Britain’s geographical proximity to complementary countries offers additional choice for a wide range of lines and ships. From expedition cruises to boutique ships, British-focussed to German, North American, French and Spanish-focussed lines, Britain is growing in appeal. “The growth in both cruise ship visits and passenger numbers is a continued testament to Britain’s value as a cruise destination,” commented Kate O’Hara of CruiseBritain. “Since 2004, we have seen the number of visiting passengers more than double and the number of different cruise ships calling has gone from 76 to 105, a rise of 38 per cent. “The uniqueness of Round Britain cruises together with our diverse regional history, heritage, culture and scenery ensure our continued success. Britain’s destinations deliver an excellent passenger experience and we all work towards delivering a smooth operation for the cruise lines.” CruiseBritain and member ports and service providers are attending this week’s Cruise Shipping Miami. CLIA, Cruise News, PSA 2013-03-12T10:12:43+00:00 http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/uk-river-cruise-bookings-hit-the-heights-too/ http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/uk-river-cruise-bookings-hit-the-heights-too/#When:22:03:54Z British cruisers took the rivers by storm in 2012, with numbers soaring 14 per cent to 130,000, according to the Passenger Shipping Association (PSA). And new research released by the PSA today shows that Brits took a record 90,000 European river cruise holidays, a 12 per cent increase on 2011. This popularity reflects an ongoing upward trend, with Europe representing 69 per cent share of the market compared to only 50 per cent in 2009. The overall increase in demand for river holidays was driven by new capacity on European rivers and partly by greater political stability in Egypt. Investment in new tonnage in 2012 was strong with an additional 12 river vessels and 2013 will witness over 30 new itineraries and more new ships including two each for Avalon Waterways and AmaWaterways together with new vessels for CroisiEurope, Lüftner Cruises and Scenic Tours. According to PSA data, the value of the UK river cruise market in 2012 was £175m. River cruise destination trends Once again the most popular destination for British river cruises was The Nile, which was booked by nearly 22 per cent of the market and experienced a 12 per cent year-on-year increase in passengers. This was followed closely by the Rhine/Moselle and tributaries (20.7 per cent of bookings) and the Danube (11.6 per cent). Significant growth was achieved by China and the Far East, which experienced a 38 per cent lift in passengers, up to 5.3 per cent market share in 2012. In total, non-European destinations saw a rise of 19 per cent. Motivation for booking river cruises British river cruisers were most motivated by “value for money” in 2012, with 77 per cent citing it as one of the principle reasons for their booking (up from 54 per cent in 2011). The “all-inclusive nature of cruise packages” was the second key factor (referenced by 42 per cent of river cruisers). Reasons for choosing specific river cruises included the itinerary and destinations (74 per cent) and the duration (21 per cent). British river cruisers were less concerned with using a cruise line with which they had sailed before (22 per cent cited as a factor) compared with their ocean going counterparts (59 per cent of whom highlighted this reason). River cruise frequency trends River cruisers are less likely than ocean cruisers to take several river holidays a year. Just 14 per cent of the UK’s river cruisers took multiple river holidays in 2012, compared to 49 per cent of ocean going cruisers who booked at least two ocean holidays. Less than a third (31 per cent) of UK river cruisers had never been on an ocean cruise, with 23 per cent having been on six or more ocean cruises and 30 per cent having been on one or two. UK river cruisers take a lot of annual holidays generally. Only 4 per cent had taken no holiday in the preceding year and 13 per cent had taken six or more annual holidays. Commenting on the growth and trends in river cruising, PSA director Bill Gibbons said: “With 14 per cent annual growth, 130,000 passengers and a market value of £175m, the UK river cruise sector is thriving and becoming ever more significant. “Buoyed by ongoing investment and passengers’ desire for value that can be found everywhere from the Moselle to the Nile and the Yangtze, the sector can look forward to a successful and exciting 2013.” Cruise News, PSA 2013-03-04T22:03:54+00:00 http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/uk-cruising-continues-to-break-records-and-theres-better-to-come/ http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/uk-cruising-continues-to-break-records-and-theres-better-to-come/#When:22:01:22Z Anyone who doubted that the British cruise boom would survive the economic downturn will think again after the release of figures today showing record UK cruise ports and passenger numbers in 2012. Passengers Shipping Association stats also show that Britain will break the million cruisers benchmark in 2013, eclipsing the record 962,000 embarkations of 2012 - itself an increase of 10 per cent. The most substantial increase in capacity came in the south coast ports of Southampton, Dover and most recently, Portsmouth. The growth in popularity of ex-UK cruises can largely be attributed to the ease of access to the ships for those living in the south. Ultra-luxury cruising on ships such as Silversea;’ Silver Spirit rose 10 per cent PSA FIGURES AT A GLANCE 1,701,000 cruises were taken by British passengers in 2012 Ultra-luxury cruises saw a 10 per cent year-on-year increase More than half of all UK passengers took more than one cruise during 2012 British bookings to Northern European destinations grew by 29 per cent UK departures were up 10 per cent to 962,000 in 2012 One in eight overseas package holidays booked is now a cruise 52 UK ports received cruise calls in 2012 The number of passengers visiting UK ports during theior cruise rose 11 per cent to 723,000, double the 2007 figure, and the UK ports receiving cruise calls also increased to a record 52. 2012 also saw more British passengers taking an ocean cruise holiday than ever before – an additional 1,000 brought the total to 1,701,000. The figure is indicative of the loyalty of cruise passengers, given the challenging nature of the year which opened with the Concordia tragedy and saw the UK economy dip back into recession. Cruise continues to account for one in every eight of all overseas package holidays. As in previous years the most popular destination was the Mediterranean, which saw 698,000 British passengers visiting the region. However the noticeable trend was increased appetite for cruising to Northern Europe which experienced a 29 per cent upsurge with 443,000 passengers, up from 342,000 the previous year. The increase was fuelled by Britons’ growing taste for Norwegian fjords which saw nearly 200,000 passengers visiting the region (44.5 per cent of the Northern European bookings). Continued growth was also seen in high end cruising. 1.7 per cent of cruises booked by Britons in 2012 were classified in this sector, which represents an increase of 2,581 passengers and recession-defying year-on-year growth of 10 per cent. Sales of summer ‘ultra luxury’ cruises increased by an even more striking 30 per cent. In terms of motivation, value for money was the main reason for Britons choosing their last cruise holiday. But when it comes to the appeal of a cruise in general, it’s itinerary and destination that topped the list (cited by 70 per cent of passengers surveyed) for the fourth consecutive year. The number of British passengers who took more than one cruise in 2012 increased by 12 points to 54 per cent. 374,220 Britons – the highest ever - booked three or more cruises within the year, reflecting regular British cruisers’ confidence in the industry’s safety record. Regional distribution of UK cruise passengers had altered slightly, with an increase in southern passengers. Since 2006 the number of passengers from the southeast had increased 10 percentage points from 14 to 24 per cent. The mix of passengers from outside of England stayed stable, with Scottish passengers constant at 11 per cent; a slight increase in Welsh cruise passengers (from 5 to 6 per cent) and a small drop in the proportion passengers from Northern Ireland (3 to 2 per cent). Absolute numbers of passengers increased to around 187,000 from Scotland, 102,000 from Wales and 34,000 from Northern Ireland. PSA director William Gibbons, said: “The past year was an impressive one for the UK cruise industry, especially in view of the combination of challenges the year presented. “The increase in passenger figures bears testament to the value and diversity that cruising represents and the positive experiences that bring passengers back time and time again. We feel 2012’s record results for British ports are particularly remarkable and we very much look forward to seeing UK ports achieve the million mark in 2013, and the associated economic benefits that this will bring to the country.” Cruise News, PSA 2013-03-04T22:01:22+00:00 http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/bill-gibbons-retires-as-director-of-the-passenger-shipping-asociation/ http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/bill-gibbons-retires-as-director-of-the-passenger-shipping-asociation/#When:17:23:50Z After 19 years witnessing cruising soar in popularity, Bill Gibbons is retirng as the Director of the the Passenger Shipping Association. Sir William, who has become the face of cruising in the UK, will sail into the sunset on 1 May when the PSA joins the the CLIA - the new global cruise association. Bill Gibbons, right, pictured with Nigel Lingard of Fred Olsen Cruises last year Bill said: “I have seen huge changes since I joined in 1994 as cruise has expanded from what some considered a preserve of the wealthy to a mainstream affordable holiday. Over the same time the ferry sector has seen considerable consolidation but has transformed the quality of the service with investment in new ships and services. The passenger shipping industry should be proud of what it has achieved. “The formation of a global cruise association makes total sense for what is now a worldwide industry. We have a strong, dedicated team who will be moving forward with CLIA and I should like to thank all our member lines and associate members for their huge support and commitment over the years.” Andy Harmer, currently head of the Association of Cruise Experts, will take up the position as director of CLIA UK and Ireland on the same day Bill retires It was announced in December that the Association of Cruise Experts (ACE) and the PSA were among 10 regional cruise associations which were coming together to serve as the global voice for the cruise industry. CLIA has been created to provide increased benefits and a unified approach for cruise lines, travel agents and business partners, all of whom contribute to an industry that creates nearly $1,000bn in economic impact and more than 753,000 jobs worldwide. From 1 May, The UK Chamber of Shipping will represent PSA ferry line members, with many ferry companies already belonging to the organisation. Their interests will be represented on the Chamber’s ferry and cruise panel. Andy Harmer said: “I am delighted to be taking on the role of director for CLIA UK and Ireland at such an exciting time. Our goal is to grow the cruise market in the UK and Ireland by working with our travel agent partners and highlighting, through our consumer media campaigns, the many and varied great reasons for taking a cruise holiday. “We will continue to provide effective training, support, national and international events for agents with the new association offering more robust partnership programmes and networking on a broader scale.” He continued: “Technical and regulatory issues will now be looked after by our colleagues in CLIA Europe who will oversee the activities of the national associations. We look forward to working with them on developing events and communications to create a greater interest in cruise holidays.” Simon Johnson, the PSA chairman and P&O Ferries’ passenger services director, said: “The PSA was formed more than 55 years ago and since that time has had a high-profile role with the cruise and ferry industries. The association has been instrumental in ensuring issues have been addressed with Government and regulators while tirelessly campaigning to raise the public’s awareness of the great advantages of travel by sea. “I am proud to have served as the last chair of the PSA and having overseen the restructuring of the organisation, am confident the interests of our cruise, ferry and associate members will take the highest priority. I would like to thank and pay tribute to Bill Gibbons for all he has achieved with the PSA, along with all our members best wishes for the future.” Jo Rzymowska, associate vice president and general manager UK and Ireland for Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises, will take on the position of chair for CLIA UK and Ireland. Cruise News, PSA 2013-03-04T17:23:50+00:00 http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/cruise-industry-bodies-combine-to-create-global-tade-association/ http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/cruise-industry-bodies-combine-to-create-global-tade-association/#When:09:47:47Z Nine cruise industry associations have agreed to operate under a common organisation with a unified structure to serve as the voice and advocacy leader of the global cruise industry.The Passenger Shipping Association (PSA) and the Association of Cruise Experts (ACE) are among the nine cruise associations and will be known as CLIA UK, retaining their existing office in London. The other associations are Cruise Lines International Association in America, European Cruise Council, Asia Cruise Association, France’s AFCC, Brazil’s ABREMAR, Northwest and Canada Cruise Association, Alaska Cruise Association and International Cruise Council Australasia. The new association has been created to provide increased benefits and a globally unified voice for cruise lines, travel agents and business partners – all of whom contribute to an industry that creates nearly $100bn in economic impact and more than 753,000 jobs worldwide. For cruise lines, the new association, announced on December 17,  offers a one-stop global resource on technical and regulatory issues and unified global communication and event coordination, all of which better utilise cruise lines’ investment in association membership. For travel agents, the new association offers more robust partnership programmes and networking on a broader scale. For the PSA’s associate members, it provides greater opportunities for customer and business partner development. CLIA will be governed by a Global Executive Committee, chaired by Howard Frank, vice chairman of Carnival Corporation.  Christine Duffy, president of Cruise Lines International Association, will serve as the president and CEO of the new association, leading a team with responsibilities for international technical and regulatory issues, research, communications, industry relations and public affairs. We are now truly one industry with one voice” said Howard Frank. “Given the tremendous growth and continuing globalisation of the cruise industry, this evolution addresses the need to speak and act globally with a unified voice while recognising the importance of local relationships. “The new association will play a vital role in proactively shaping the policy and regulatory environments on a global level and promoting cruising with various constituencies through more effective coordination, communication and stakeholder engagement.” PSA Director Bill Gibbons said “We have seen tremendous growth and success in the cruise industry since the PSA was formed in 1958 with the objective of promoting passenger travel by sea. “Cruising now touches every continent and having one unified global organisation will be the natural next step in our development to ensure the industry is represented in a cohesive manner, as it continues to grow both in the UK and worldwide. We shall further develop our award winning travel agent training programme under CLIA UK and continue with our cruise consumer promotional activities.” He continued: “Our ferry members are in discussion with the Chamber of Shipping with whom we have worked very closely over the last few years. The Chamber already has many ferry companies as members and offers depth and a strong track record on policy, technical and regulatory issues.  “Ferry companies are also keen to continue the successful proactive work which has been undertaken by the PSA to raise the profile of ferry travel through the Discover Ferries campaign.” Simon Johnson, PSA chairman, and Passenger Services Director for P&O Ferries, added: “This is clearly the right move for our cruise line members as the industry becomes truly global and I’m delighted that our ferry members look set to have a new home within the Chamber of Shipping where their interests will be safeguarded.” The CLIA global organisation will represent the cruise industry at the International Maritime Organisation based in London, the International Labour Organisation in Geneva and with other international maritime and shipping organisations around the world. It will focus on global strategy, international industry issues and strategic communications. Local and regional matters will continue to be managed by the national and regional associations in North America, Europe, and Australasia. CLIA, Cruise News, Cruise Lines, PSA 2012-12-18T09:47:47+00:00 http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/1.72-million-brits-cruise-in-2012/ http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/1.72-million-brits-cruise-in-2012/#When:18:08:24Z An estimated that 1.72 million Britons will have taken an ocean cruise by the end of this year - up 20,000 on the figure achieved in 2011. And the number is forecast to rise again in 2013 by more than 2 per cent to 1.76 million on the back of continued investment in new and refurbished cruise ships, a “fiercely competitive” market and the continued popularity of cruises from UK ports. Hapag-Lloyd’s Europa II is among the new ships arriving in 2013 The resilience of the UK cruise industry was demonstrated in the figures released today at London’s World Travel Market by the Passenger Shipping Association The PSA says this year’s rise has been achieved despite a challenging year for the industry following the Concordia incident and a protracted subdued UK economic climate for consumers that has seen market falls in many other sectors of the travel industry. About eight out of ten UK cruise sales come through travel agents, spearheaded by those specially trained to advise on cruise options through the Association of Cruise Experts. Almost $5bn has been invested globally by the industry in six new cruise ships this year, and a further $3.2bn will be spent on six more ships due to enter service next year. These include new vessels for Aida Cruises, Compagnie du Ponant, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises. Long-term orders stretch out at an even higher level to 2015, representing more than $12bn of investment in new ships over the next three years. PSA director Bill Gibbons said: “There is no doubt that the cruise industry faced a unique set of challenges this year but our UK figures show that the cruise sector has outperformed the rest of the holiday sector. “The sheer diversity of cruises offered by our 41 members, coupled with unrivalled value for money has helped to attract the ‘new to cruise customer’, key to boosting growth within our sector.” He added: “The undiminished investment in new ships and product innovation is also encouraging with six new cruise ships commissioned in 2012, and six more are scheduled for launch in each of the next three years. “There is no doubt that value will still be an absolute priority for UK holidaymakers in 2013 and a cruise is one of the best ways to have a unique experience whatever your holiday budget.” Cruise News, PSA 2012-11-06T18:08:24+00:00 http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/global-cruise-industry-announces-latest-safety-policy/ http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/global-cruise-industry-announces-latest-safety-policy/#When:09:15:11Z The cruise industry has beefed up its safety policy regarding the loading of lifeboats by crew members for training purposes, with immediate effect. This policy, announced by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and the European Cruise Council (ECC), exceeds current international regulatory requirements and is an outcome of the Cruise Industry Operational Safety Review, launched in January 2012 following the Costa Concordia disaster. The new “Life Boat Loading for Training Purposes” policy requires the launching and full loading of a lifeboat at least once every six months for crew training purposes. The policy applies to all oceangoing members of CLIA and ECC. During the training, the lifeboat is filled to capacity with crew members and manoeuvered in the water to facilitate familiarisation with lifeboat operations. It is mandatory that all crew members involved in operating or loading of lifeboats attend the drill. Smaller ships with less than 300 crew members will conduct similar training as appropriate. “The cruise industry continues to work on a global level to improve the safety of passengers and crew, which is our number one priority,” said Christine Duffy, president and CEO of CLIA. “Since January of this year, and in keeping with our efforts to continuously improve operational excellence, the global cruise industry has voluntarily adopted seven wide-ranging safety policies. We remain fully committed to exploring further enhancements in a number of areas that will add to the industry’s excellent safety record.” Commenting on the new policy David Dingle, pictured, a member of the European Cruise Council executive, said: “This policy exceeds current stringent international regulatory requirements and has been independently verified by highly respected marine safety experts.  It, along with the other seven policies voluntarily adopted by the industry this year, underlines our absolute commitment to continuously improving safety for our passengers and crew.  We are determined to ensure that cruising remains the safest holiday choice.” Cruise News, PSA 2012-09-21T09:15:11+00:00 http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/a-record-20-million-people-around-the-world-took-a-cruise-in-2011/ http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/a-record-20-million-people-around-the-world-took-a-cruise-in-2011/#When:22:01:45Z The number of people around the world who took a cruise holiday grew 10 per cent to top 20 million for the first time in 2011. The numbers increased from 18.7 million to 20.6 million between 2010 and 2011. The main markets are North America (11.5 million) and Europe (6.2 million). The figures were compiled from industry associations including the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the European Cruise Council, Passenger Shipping Association, International Cruise Council Australasia and industry analysts G P Wild (International) Limited. Christine Duffy, CLIA President and CEO, said: “We are delighted to see 10 per cent annual global growth in cruise passengers last year, with milestones being broken all over the world as growth continues. “This is the first time that European figures have passed six million and the first time Australian cruise passengers have topped half a million. “The latest statistics clearly show that the cruise industry has proved resilient during difficult economic conditions and these results are a testament to the industry’s ongoing innovation and investment. As we continually improve operations, an d add new and exciting innovations and itineraries, we’re confident our sector has huge potential for continued growth on a global basis.” William Gibbons, Director of the Passenger Shipping Association, said: “ British ocean cruise passengers exceeded 1.7 million for the first time in 2011 and are currently the second largest source of cruise passengers in the world. We’re looking forward to that growth continuing as new ships come on stream to satisfy demand.” European cruise numbers last year were up nine per cent on the 5.56 million Europeans who took a cruise in 2010. Countries including the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain and France have seen cruise passengers increase by an average of seven per cent to 15 per cent in the past five years. Australia is a region of rapid growth, with cruise passengers increasing by 30 per cent in the past year to exceed more than half a million for the first time. The International Cruise Council Australasia has predicted that there will be one million Australians who will take a cruise holiday in 2020. Cruise News, Cruise Lines, PSA 2012-09-12T22:01:45+00:00 http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/sydney-and-new-york-tie-for-top-place-as-our-favourite-cruise-ports/ http://www.seaviewcruises.co.uk/news/article/sydney-and-new-york-tie-for-top-place-as-our-favourite-cruise-ports/#When:08:57:11Z Two of the world’s iconic cruise destinations, Sydney and New York, are revealed as this year’s favourite cruise ports in a new “Greatest Journey” survey, published to mark National Cruise Week (September 15-23).The YouGov survey, commissioned by the Passenger Shipping Association, showed these top two cruise destinations favourites, with 13 per cent of the vote each, edging out the perennially popular Venice into third place (10 per cent). Rome and Singapore came next, also tied at 6 per cent each, narrowly beating Barcelona at 5 per cent, and Cape Town at 4 per cent. Greatest Journeys The survey asked in depth about respondents’ ideas of what defines a “great journey”, and why they would like to embark on one. A round the world trip was voted as the favoured destination for a “great journey”, with over two in five GB adults (42 per cent) selecting it. The same percentage (42 per cent) thought that “stress–free travel” would define a “great journey” - with 37 per cent opting for “luxury all the way“ After a round-the-world trip, specific destinations or travel itineraries that featured strongly in peoples’ ideas of their great journey included experiencing the Northern Lights (40 per cent); visiting exotic beaches (31 per cent); seeing remote islands (28 per cent); visiting the Galapagos Islands (24 per cent); journeying to Antarctica (18 per cent) and going through the Panama Canal (12 per cent).  Sydney has been voted the favourite cruise port, along with New York Reasons for going on your Greatest Journey In a fascinating insight into the reasons behind us wanting to go on a great journey, nearly two thirds of GB adults (63 per cent) said it was to “create unforgettable memories”, with nearly one in two (48 per cent) of respondents travelling “to escape day-to-day life”. Having “a life changing experience” was a reason given by 45 per cent, while 42 per cent selected “spending quality time with friends and family”, matching a similar 42 per cent who would embark to “experience the unexpected”. Also up there as reasons for great journeys is the chance to be “immersed in new cultures” (39 per cent), to “meet new people” (27 per cent), and even to “learn a new skill” (9 per cent). Favourite holiday views The survey also delved into our favourite holiday views - all of which are possible to experience as a grandstand view from the deck of either an ocean-going or river cruise ship. Top of the poll came “deserted beaches”, voted for by 32 per cent of GB adults, with a tie for second place (21 per cent) between “country landscapes” and “sun setting behind mountains”. Next were city skylines (7 per cent), ships on the horizon, (6 per cent), and cool rivers (4 per cent). Cruise main attractions If you choose to take your idea of a greatest journey on board a cruise ship, what would you regard as a cruise holiday’s main attractions? The survey found that, for nearly one in two British adults (48 per cent), it would be the chance to visit multiple destinations in one trip, followed closely (45 per cent) by the very practical benefit to “multi-visit” destinations while only having to unpack once. Third at 34 per cent was the all-inclusive nature and value of a cruise holiday, with “waking up in a new port every day” next at 33 per cent, followed by “the food” (24 per cent), voted for by nearly one in four of adults. Onboard cruise entertainment shows scored 16 per cent, just pipping the opportunity to meet people from a wide range of cultures and nationalities (15 per cent). The welcoming cruise crews were mentioned by one in ten (10 per cent), while 8 per cent thought the main attraction of a cruise holiday was its better value for money compared to other all-inclusive holidays. ... but is it the end of the celebrity culture on board? When it comes down to it, however, to dreaming about with whom you would most like to share your cabin, one in two British adults would much prefer to share with our partner or family member, according to the survey. Even Johnny Depp could only muster 5 per cent of votes (though one has to say this rose to 9 per cent of females), the same as Cheryl Cole (though this did double to 10 per cent among men). Other celebs like Scarlet Johansson and Angelina Jolie followed with 4 per cent, with Brad Pitt, Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore registering just 2 per cent on our lists of fantasy cabin partners. Says Bill Gibbons, director of the Passenger Shipping Association: “The survey shows that “greatest journeys” means to most a mixture of fabulous and fascinating destinations, but matched by the full excitement of the “getting there”, with a level of luxury and service in a stress-free environment, coupled with practical advantages such as value for money and seeing as many places as possible on one unpacked suitcase” “On all these fronts, cruising scores highly, and as National Cruise Week gets under way, a warm welcome awaits for passengers planning their own greatest journey, particularly those who have not cruised before.” All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2036 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 24th - 26th July 2012.  The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).   Cruise News, Cruise Lines, PSA 2012-09-12T08:57:11+00:00