United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
UK river cruise passengers up 21%
The number of UK residents taking a river cruise grew 21% to a record 210,400 passengers last year, making it one of the best performing sectors of the travel industry in 2017.
Total nights spent on river cruise ships increased 24% to 1.6 million and the average length of a cruise has increased over the past three years from 6.7 days to 7.7.
CLIA UK, which released the figures this week, said much of the growth came from European river cruises, which account for almost 90% of bookings.
Growth was particularly high on the Douro (Portugal) , which saw an 85% increase in passenger numbers, on Russian waterways, where traffic was up almost 70%, and on the Rhine and Danube, which were up 22%.
As a result, European rivers took an increased share of the market in 2017, which was the reverse of 2016 when rivers outside Europe took a slightly higher share.
Looking outside Europe, three rivers accounted for the bulk of passengers in 2017 last year; the Nile, which was up 14% on 2016 but still significantly down on 2012, the Mekong and Irrawaddy.
Giles Hawke of CLIA UK’s executive committee said he expected the Irrawaddy to decline this year due to the political problems in Myanmar, but he predicted the Mekong will continue to grow. The Ganges in India is also becoming popular, said CLIA.
"The majority of river cruise customers are coming from ocean cruising, but we are seeing river cruising becoming a sector in its own right," said Hawke, adding that the biggest obstacle to growth was the ‘race for space’ as there is often not enough capacity to satisfy demand.
One problem, he said, was that other markets, particularly the US and Australia, tend to book cruises at least a year in advance, whereas passengers in the UK are used to holding out longer for a better deal.
"Cruises to the Christmas markets are particularly popular, but we’ve had customers who can’t get on a cruise because by the time they come to book, there’s nothing left to sell," said Hawke, who is also CEO at Avalon Waterways. "We need to educate agents to explain to customers that the best cabins do fill quickly and if you leave it too late, you will be disappointed."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
Robert Terrell: A Journey Through BB King’s Influence
Rochelle Hicks: Celebrating Mississippi’s Musical Legacy
Exploring Jacksonville with Katie Mitura: The Flip Side of Florida
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Boy falls to death on cruise ship
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel