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Survey shows 'pent-up demand' for cruise holidays

A new survey shows people are eager to get back out on the waters - DEE BROWNING
A new survey shows people are eager to get back out on the waters - DEE BROWNING

There is major interest in booking a cruise as soon as Government restrictions are lifted, a new consumer survey has shown.

Specialist travel agency Panache Cruises, who commissioned the research, said this showed “there continues to be a high level of pent-up demand”.

“It’s very reassuring to see that 98.2 per cent of the customers who responded to the survey are looking to cruise in the future,” said James Coles, the founder and managing director of Panache.

The company, which only launched in July, reached out to more than 10,000 people asking when they would like to book their cruise, garnering 380 responses.

While 31.4 per cent said they weren’t sure when they would do so, with 26.5 per cent answering “ASAP”. Just over 30 per cent said summer 2021 and winter 2021.

Only seven respondents said they would never be looking to cruise.

MSC Cruises are among the major cruise lines to welcome back passengers in Italy – but Britons are still advised not to sail - ANA RODRIGUEZ
MSC Cruises are among the major cruise lines to welcome back passengers in Italy – but Britons are still advised not to sail - ANA RODRIGUEZ

Coles said that the current advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is causing people to delay booking.

“Understandably, a good number of the comments we received suggest that some will only commit to cruising once it is safe to do so and the [Foreign Office] has lifted the ban on ocean cruising, which of course makes absolute sense.”

Since July, the FCDO has advised British nationals against all cruise ship travel, although river cruises are exempt and a number of smaller cruise lines in Scotland have resumed sailing. The Telegraph understands that discussions are ongoing between industry body Cruise Lines International Association and authorities about the safe resumption of cruising.

However, the industry is offering exceptional deals to tempt people to book earlier even while restart dates for many cruise lines remain in flux. Coles suggests getting a cruise holiday in the calendar “to take advantage of all the amazing offers now available”, which can include low deposits and flexible booking policies.

“In my opinion, there’s nothing better than having a cruise to look forward to, especially as we head into winter, and the deals currently available are unprecedented and unlikely to be available when cruising resumes.”

A number of cruise operators have also reported a strong showing for future bookings. Luxury line Silversea said that bookings for 2021 are “really, really doing well”, especially among the 61- to 80-year-olds.

And Royal Caribbean said earlier this year that booking levels for 2021 have not been drastically affected, remaining “within historical ranges when compared to same time last year”, and that the  majority of passengers who were due to travel on cancelled cruises have taken the offer of future cruise credits, worth 125 per cent of the initial cruise fare, in lieu of refunds.