Four in 10 of us would spend Christmas on a holiday at sea, a survey of 900 people has revealed. Cruise specialist cruise.co.uk found that of those, 90% would prefer their festive sailing on the ocean and 10% on a river.   For ocean enthusiasts, the most popular yuletide destination is the Caribbean, at 42%. The Canary Islands were next on 21%, followed by the Norwegian Fjords on 9%.   For river fans, the Danube came top at 53%. The Rhine scored 28% and the Seine 19%.   The main appeal of a Christmas voyage is having meals, events and activities laid on by the cruise line, according to 39% of respondents. 28% prefer the idea of escaping the usual holiday routine, while 9% were enticed by the celebratory atmosphere on a ship.   The findings come as cruise.co.uk has announced an overall 32% increase in year-on year Christmas market cruise bookings.   Tony Andrews, managing director of cruise.co.uk, said: "Our findings show just how enticing a Christmas cruise can be. Whether it’s the allure of a warm Caribbean breeze or the charm of European riverside markets, there’s a wonderful range of options for everyone looking to mark the festive period in style. In addition, the convenience and value-for-money of a cruise means that passengers really can eat, drink and be merry when they're onboard."

  A survey of over 700 passengers by cruise.co.uk, the online cruise specialist, has revealed that most travellers aren’t yet prepared to make bookings and interact exclusively with Artificial Intelligence (AI) customer service. 60% are indifferent to AI’s growing role, while 32% expressed a clear preference for human interaction.   The majority who had concerns regarding AI’s limitations said they were less likely to book as they want personal contact, with almost 80% stating they prefer to deal with human travel agents who better understand individual travel needs. Meanwhile, 10% don’t trust AI to handle important details of their booking.   Just 8% of respondents are more inclined to book with AI. The majority, 47%, say this is based on an expectation that smart technology will make the booking process faster and more efficient. 23% feel AI will offer more convenient, personalised recommendations and 24/7 customer service.   Tony Andrews, managing director of cruise.co.uk said: "It’s clear that customers remain cautious about AI. If it’s going to be further introduced by travel brands, they evidently need to proceed with caution and ensure as much feedback and opinion is collated before doing so.   “AI technology can allow a faster, more efficient service, but the human touch is currently irreplaceable when it comes to complex bookings and personalised customer care. Our survey clearly suggests that technology should at present complement a more personalised service.   “At cruise.co.uk we will continue to invest in both AI-driven solutions and our team of dedicated travel experts, to ensure every customer gets the best of both worlds."

  The average age of a cruise guest has come down by 11 years since 2019, according to cruise specialist cruise.co.uk.   The findings, which analysed almost 500,000 passengers, show that for bookings made to date in 2024 the average age is 55 years old, compared to 66 years old in 2019.   Factors attributed to the decrease include the growing trend for multi-generational travel and cruise’s growing appeal to younger audiences, driven by new ships featuring family-friendly attractions and itineraries showcasing destinations worldwide.   In similar findings, Cruise.co.uk’s online-only sister company, Seascanner, has also seen a decrease in their average booking age, with passengers booked in 2024 to date averaging 42 years, three years younger than bookings seen in 2022. Seascanner recently marked its three-year anniversary and was launched to cater for increasingly younger passengers.   Tony Andrews, managing director of cruise.co.uk, said: “These findings are clear evidence of cruise’s growing appeal to a wider audience. As new ships and itineraries emerge, passengers of all ages are discovering that a holiday at sea offers a host of one-of-a-kind experiences, both onboard and ashore, with activities designed to appeal to all tastes. When coupled with unbeatable value for money, it really does make cruise the go-to getaway for more people than ever before.”