Annual UK cruise booking hotspots revealed – cruise.co.uk

 

Hampshire locations take top three places, while northern towns secure fourth and fifth spot

A survey by cruise specialist cruise.co.uk has revealed that Southampton in Hampshire is the UK’s new cruise booking hotspot. Across 2024, its local residents booked more cruise holidays per head than those of any other town or city.

 

The city boasts the busiest cruise port in the UK, with five terminals handling around 2.6m passengers per year. It is home to major lines such as P&O Cruises, Cunard, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises.

 

Fareham, also in Hampshire, was in second place, having held top spot for the two previous years. The town is located between the cruise hubs of Southampton and Portsmouth, meaning there are a wealth of at-sea holiday options on its doorstep.

 

Eastleigh, similarly in Hampshire, took third place having finished seventh last year. The town is only a short distance from Southampton.

 

Fourth and fifth place saw a shift up the country to two northern towns.

 

Chorley in Lancashire was in fourth place, with Liverpool cruise terminal around an hour away from the Lancastrian town. Barnsley appeared next on the list, despite being situated in the heart of England. Its closest major cruise port is also Liverpool, but over a two-hour drive away. Last year Chorley was in fifth place and Barnsley fourth.

 

Meanwhile, Wales also had a strong showing, with three of its towns in the overall top ten: Llanelli is in sixth place, Caerphilly eighth and Bridgend ninth.

 

Tony Andrews, managing director of cruise.co.uk, said: “There’s no doubting the popularity of cruise in Southampton. With a wealth of ships departing from the city throughout the year, its residents are perfectly positioned to take advantage of everything a holiday at sea has to offer.

 

“Fareham and Eastleigh may well continue to feature consistently in our top three, given their proximity to the Hampshire coast.

 

“The popularity of a cruise among Chorley and Barnsley locals is less obvious, but clearly there is significant demand for a sea escape, even in these areas with no obvious coastal connection. Both towns always appear in our top 10 booking hotspots, so this is part of a marked trend rather than a one-off.

 

“Cruises are an ideal getaway, as they combine a sense of adventure and exploration from travelling across multiple countries, with the opportunity to relax and sample great food and top-class entertainment onboard. Overall, we’re expecting more people in the UK to have taken a cruise in 2024 than ever before, with our booking hotspots leading the way.”

 

For more information, go to www.cruise.uk or call 0870 990 8824

 

Location	2024 position	2023 position
Southampton	1	2
Fareham	2	1
Eastleigh	3	7
Chorley	4	5
Barnsley	5	4
Llanelli	6	11
Chichester	7	3
Caerphilly	8	20
Bridgend	9	6
Salisbury	10	26

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