INTRODUCTION
It would be repetitive to say that it’s a good time to be selling ocean cruises (even if that is the plain truth).
Instead, let’s talk about all the things that one can look forward to on the high seas. Many cruise lines are
debuting in the coming years, and many will be offering new itineraries. Viking, for instance, is offering
12 first-time ports of call to its ocean routes, including (but not limited to) Bordeaux in France, Northern
Ireland, Haugesund in Norway, and Palma de Mallorca and Bilbao in Spain.
1
There has also been a change in the client demographic: While the average ocean cruise clients were
previously Boomers and empty-nesters, today’s traveler is younger and often a first-time passenger.
According to CLIA, 73% of millennials and Gen X travelers say they would consider a cruise vacation,
fueled by an increased spending capacity.
During its first-quarter earnings call, Carnival Cruise Line noted there was a healthy mix of “new-to-
cruise” in its 2025 bookings, with the customer group increasing by over 30% versus a year ago.
2
Together, all these factors are contributing to a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.5%
from 2023 to 2030.
3
This positive sentiment is reflected by advisors who have shared how they plan to reach out to a larger
clientele.
How can one ride the positive wave? This TMR Ocean Trends Outlook brings together trends and insights
from advisors so that everyone in the community, including suppliers, can both cash in on and contribute
to the growth.
1 https://www.travelagewest.com/Travel/Cruise/viking-european-ocean-itineraries-2026-2027
2 https://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/global-research/travel/cruise-outlook
3 https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/cruise-market-report
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