Plan to cruise in 2017?

Twelve months seem to pass in a blink of an eye, so here we are, looking ahead to a New Year.

Wave season is almost there. In a few days, my mailbox will be bombarded with hundreds of promotions from the different suppliers.

2017 promises a great season for the cruise industry.

Just like in 2016, cruising will continue to be a popular vacation for families, multigenerational travelers, honeymooners, retirees, and more. And the cruise industry is very aware of this – various cruise lines have new ships that will embark in 2017, or have completed extensive refurbishment on existing ships. Cruise ships themselves are becoming the destination, with better staterooms, a variety of dining options, amazing entertainment and a renewed focus on cruise lines’ private islands.

I summarized 2017 cruise industry trends.

Cruisers are becoming more informed about the luxury products available to them when traveling, and 2017 promises to deliver a strong push to luxury-type travel experiences.

People of all ages are looking for a more enriching travel experience.

Many clients are put off by what they see as nickel-and-diming on some lines and want drinks, specialty dining and gratuities included in the upfront fare. A more inclusive product is something that cruisers want as they do not want to have to worry about any add-ons when they are traveling.

Toward that end, more and more cruise lines offer promotional packages that bundle drinks, dining and more into the upfront price.

Instead of lowering prices, they are adding value by packaging more inclusive options into the cruise fare, like beverage packages, specialty dining and shore excursions.

2016 was the year of a rich promotional environment, and there were times when cruisers were confused by the different offers that, were available to them. There were a lot of confusion about which promo was combinable with each offer.

Yes, river cruising continues to boom in Europe, but more consumers are asking about options on inland waterways in the U.S. I had a lot of requests about domestic river cruises in 2016.

For people who prefer not to leave the country, domestic river cruise, suppliers can supply the trip of a lifetime – no passport required.

Alaska continues to thrive. 2016 was a great year for Alaska cruising and I expect another strong year in 2017 due to increased capacity and investments made by major cruise lines to enhance their Alaska product ‘offerings.

In 2017, travelers will have an opportunity to celebrate 70 years of Alaska exploration with Holland America Line and experience its culture on a whole new level with the recent launch of Denali Square, which is located at the center of McKinley Chalet Resort. This authentic gathering place is just one example of how cruise lines are making major refinements to Alaska itineraries to provide guests with a more immersive experience and continue to attract first-time cruisers and North America travelers who are interested in booking domestic.

More clients booked 2017 European cruises, attracted by promotions already on offer. I have seen some very aggressive offers already launched this fall, from discounted up to free airfare and incredible advance-booking savings. The best offers will continue to come out within the next couple of months to try and fill inventory early.