Travel agent survey: Ocean, river cruising on the rise in 2015

Blue-water and river cruises are on the rise this year, according to a nationwide survey of travel agents affiliated with industry giant Travel Leaders Group. Nearly 50 percent of agents say that both ocean and river cruise bookings for the fall 2015 season are higher than last fall.

In a Top 10 ranking of international cruise destinations, the survey found that the Caribbean is No. 1 for ocean cruising and Europe is No. 3 for river cruising. Also making the Top 10 is Europe, at No. 7, for ocean cruising. In the domestic ranking, fall cruises to Alaska came in at No. 5. Alaska cruises typically close for the season by mid-September, while Caribbean and Europe voyages are offered year-round.

Travel Leaders Group CEO Barry Liben says, “The data we have collected indicates travel will continue to be strong for the remainder of the year, which is leading to incredible optimism among our travel agent specialists. It’s because of the work they do, on behalf of their clients – providing their knowledge, expertise and a safety net, if the need arises – that is helping Americans take full advantage of their travel budgets and discretionary income for travel opportunities.”

The survey notes that river cruising moved up a notch from last year’s survey. This incredibly popular niche typically attracts older cruisers who like river cruising’s all-inclusive fares, smaller ships and up-close experiences with destinations. A handful of luxury river lines dominate the industry, such as Ama Waterways, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, Avalon Waterways, Scenic, Emeral Cruises and Viking Cruises. But new entrants aren’t hard to find either. Disney is starting a river cruise unit designed for family travelers, for instance, and American Cruise Lines, which plies coastal rivers and estuaries in the U.S. continues to add to its fleet.

The survey was conducted by Travel Leaders Group from Aug. 3 to 25 and includes responses from 1,152 U.S.-based travel agency owners, managers, and frontline travel agents from the flagship Travel Leaders brand, along with those affiliated with Travel Leaders Group’s Cruise Specialists, Nexion, Protravel International, Results! Travel, Travel Leaders Corporate, Tzell Travel Group and Vacation.com units. Travel Leaders is headquartered in Plymouth, Minn.