UK and Ireland cruise sector hit record passenger numbers last year – Clia

Clia UK and Ireland managing director Andy Harmer shared the latest figures at an event in central London today (17 April).

He noted how passenger numbers were 14.5% up against 2019 which has widely been viewed as the benchmark year to judge a travel sector’s pandemic recovery. 

“The good thing is that cruise has come back quicker than some other types of travel,” said Harmer. “That’s good news for cruise.” 

With 34 ships entering the industry before 2028, the sector’s fleet capacity will increase by 16%, Harmer confirmed. 

He said 22,800 berths will be added in 2024, with the likes of Icon of the Seas, Sun Princess and Explora II entering service. Overall capacity will rise by 3.6% this year.

This year marks the first time the global Clia member fleet will surpass 300 ships. 

“We’re an industry of thirds,” Harmer added. “Around a third of our ships are up to 1,000 berths, around a third are between 1,000 and 3,000 berths and a third are over 3,000 berths. “This is the most up to date fleet that we’ve ever had operating.”

But he admitted the figures contained “no surprises” as Clia had tracked the data throughout the year.

“We saw the number of [UK and Irish] passengers increasing,” he confirmed. “I was pleased though to see the multi-generational travel becoming more of a thing.”