Some 331 industry stakeholders gathered at CruiseWorld Asia 2025 under the theme “Scaling New Horizons”, setting the stage for robust discussions on opportunities, itineraries and innovations shaping Asia’s cruise industry.
With demographic shifts and trends, new ships, improved infrastructure, and evolving cruise products aligning, industry leaders agreed the region is well-placed to capture a greater share of global cruise growth in the years ahead.
Irene Chua, VP and group publisher, Asia, Northstar Travel Group, said: “Since the inception of CruiseWorld Asia, our mission has been clear: to connect, to inspire, and to strengthen the cruise ecosystem across Asia. We gather here not just to discuss trends, but to shape the future – by attracting more ships to our waters, enhancing passenger experiences at our cruise terminals, and empowering travel agents to drive cruise sales with greater confidence and insight.”
The annual flagship conference, organised by Travel Weekly Asia, was supported by cruise line and industry partners including StarDream Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Disney Cruise Line, Avalon Waterways, The Travel Corporation, Trafalgar River Cruises, Uniworld, and Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore.
The conference also spotlighted Penang Global Tourism and the Hong Kong Tourism Board as destination partners, alongside supporting associations and industry partners including Visa, ASTINDO from Indonesia, Malaysia Association of Tour & Travel Agents (MATTA), National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS), Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) and Thai Cruise Business Association (TCBA).
From left: Travel Weekly Asia’s annual flagship conference was supported by cruise line and industry partners across the region.
Asia’s cruise potential elevated
Cruising remains a high-growth segment in Asia. The Cruise Lines International Association reports that 34.6 million people cruised last year, with projections reaching almost 42 million by 2028, shared by Travel Weekly’s editor in chief Arnie Weissmann during his keynote sharing. Cruising in Asia and Oceania demonstrated the second-best growth rate of any region, driven by China's reopening.
The growth potential becomes clearer when examining market penetration rates. Chad Grospe, VP and MD for Singapore and Asia Pacific at Royal Caribbean International, highlighted the stark contrast between North America's 20 million cruisers from a population of 350 million compared to Asia's approximately 4 million cruisers from 2.2 billion people.
"The region's expanding middle class and increasingly visa-friendly policies will be key drivers of future demand," Grospe noted, with cruise lines expressing a bullish outlook for Asia Pacific and signalling stronger deployment plans ahead.
Grospe also highlighted the uniqueness of pairing cruising with private destinations such as Perfect Day Mexico with the world's largest water slide in America, and beach clubs such as Royal Beach Club Paradise Island.
New cruise itineraries on the horizons
Understanding market dynamics requires close attention to consumer behavior patterns. Michael Goh, president of StarDream Cruises, emphasised the importance of observing consumer behavior closely to stay competitive. He highlighted Dream Cruises' Genting Dream which will be returning to Bali, sailing on a five-night South & North Bali cruise from Singapore this November.
Also on the cards are new destinations in the next year in the Philippines to places such as Boracay. A new reservation system will be launched next month to improve the booking experiences. With strong emphasis on entertainment and onboard programmes, diverse offerings include themed cruises and special curation of games, Goh noted.
From left: Travel Weekly’s Arnie Weissmann, Royal Caribbean’s Chad Grospe, Disney Cruise Line’s Sarah Fox, StarDream Cruises' Michael Goh and Travel Weekly Asia’s Xinyi Liang-Pholsena.
Making wave with new offerings
Disney Cruise Line's regional commitment illustrates the premium market's confidence in Asia's potential. Sarah Fox, VP and regional GM, reaffirmed the brand's dedication to bringing its signature excellence to the region.
Following the rescheduling of Disney Adventure's maiden voyage, the company offered a 50% discount on future cruise credits for affected guests, valid for booking until March 2026 and sailing through March 2027, while ensuring agents receive full commissions on both cancelled sailings and re-bookings.
Younger generations on board
The cruise industry's demographic evolution presents particularly promising trends for Asian markets. The average age of cruisers continues to decrease, now sitting at 46.5 years, with 67% of cruisers being Gen X or younger. Notably, Gen Z representation trails baby boomers by only 5%, suggesting strong potential for youth market development.
This demographic shift aligns well with changing travel preferences. Market research data revealed that 68% of international travellers who have never cruised are considering taking one, while 60% of current cruisers extend their trips by staying over at embarkation or disembarkation ports.
The industry's infrastructure development also supports accessibility, with 70% of the global fleet consisting of small to medium-sized ships, a trend expected to continue through 2036.