Our Favorite Cruise Destinations and Ports

                                         

Our favorite cruising destinations are shifting a bit with more emphasis on the European cruise market. Twelve-day Mediterranean, seven-day Alaska and five-day Western Caribbean cruises are emerging as the top long, mid and short itineraries this year.  That’s according to a recent survey by one of America’s largest cruise retailers. 

Europe bookings are up 42% year-over-year and CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) stated recently that the Mediterranean is one of the three fastest growing segments in the cruise industry. 

Meantime, the latest survey ranks the most popular Caribbean islands/port of calls.   In order they are:  St. Thomas, Grand Cayman, St. Maarten/St. Martin, Cozumel, and Aruba.  Jamaica tied for fifth place.    

The most popular Mediterranean ports are Rome, Venice, Barcelona, Santorini, and Athens and Istanbul tied for fifth.                   

                                                                                                      

The most popular non-Mediterranean Europe ports are St. Petersburg, London, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, and Dublin and Lisbon tied.  The survey found that agents consider Dubrovnik the most underrated European port of call. 

Cruise agents were asked for the top three Mediterranean shore excursions. Excursions in Italy were the most popular - those responses accounted for 55.3% of the recommended Mediterranean shore excursions. Greece followed with 12.8% and various excursions in Turkey combined for 9.9% of the responses.

When looking at the excursions individually, the Vatican and Rome were the most popular, followed by Pompeii. The agents recommended private guided tours of the Vatican to avoid long lines.

The singular most popular Mediterranean shore excursion outside of Italy was the ruins of Ephesus in Turkey.

And in case you’re interested in making a comparison with last year’s winners, the 2007 list breaks down like this:

2007 Top Cruise Destinations                   Percentage of Bookings

    1. Caribbean                                                       46.7%
    2. Alaska                                                            19.4%
    3. Mexican Riviera                                             6.4%
    4. Europe - Mediterranean                               6.2%
    5. Hawaii                                                             5.0%
    6. Bermuda                                                         4.2%
    7. Panama Canal                                                 2.5%
    8. New England/Maritime Canada                 1.9%
    9. Europe - Baltic                                              1.4%
  10. Trans-Atlantic                                              0.9%

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