There are largely two camps when it comes to cruising – those who
have cruised and those who have not. For those in the former camp,
popular myths such as “It’s crowded on board” and “There’s nothing much
to do on a cruise ship” are often cited as reasons why they haven’t yet
crossed the gangway.
Yet, for those who have cruised, a significant portion would rave
about the experience after disembarkation. I know because I’m also a
cruise convert.
Cruising has made a lot of headways into the Asia travel populace
over the past decade, with the number of cruise passengers in Asia
projected to grow to 5.35 million by 2027.
That said, it still astonishes me that cruise penetration in Asia is
just 0.08% in 2023, a far cry from North America’s 2.44%. This
highlights the potential for further growth in Asia Pacific, especially
in Southeast Asia where we have a population of 675 million and plenty
of undiscovered islands and seas.
Furthermore, today’s cruise ships come in all shapes and sizes,
sailing to an astonishing array of destinations to cater to different
traveller preferences.
Royal Caribbean International and Resorts World Cruises make it a
breeze for Asians to explore their backyard from their Asian homeports.
Further afield, MSC Cruises and Silversea Cruises’ Mediterranean
sailings have always proved a favourite among seasoned Asian cruise
travellers, not to mention Europe’s intriguing rivers and landscapes
where Uniworld’s river ships ply.
Taking in the storied cityscape of Valletta, capital city of Malta, from a panoramic perspective. Photo Credit: Xinyi Liang-Pholsena
Not only that, but the on-board experience is also swiftly changing.
Many ships are now using Starlink, which means Wifi is becoming better
and faster. Ships are becoming more sustainable, as more cruise lines
are transitioning to using liquefied natural gas and investing in
technologies that improve fuel efficiency.
Most importantly, the on-board experience is anything but banal. I
relish the adventure of sailing to different ports and partaking in a
wide array of shore excursions within a single itinerary.
On the ship itself, I appreciate having access to numerous dining
options and activities, all the while surrounded by guests and crew
members hailing from different corners of the globe.
Whenever a ship sails into a new port, there’s nothing I like more
than taking in the cityscape from a panoramic perspective. In short,
cruising has a simple sincerity that sails very well for me.
So, the next time you meet a potential customer who has yet to cruise, don’t forget to show them what a cool deal cruising is.