2022 Cruiseline.com and Shipmate Member Survey Results

The Summer 2022 Member Survey garnered a lot of participation and great feedback. After culling through all of the responses, we were genuinely impressed with the level of detail that members shared about their cruising history, future travel plans, and preferences. While there was a lot of data to sift through, these highlights stood out across the various segments of cruising. 

Cruise History

It’s no surprise everyone participating in the 2022 Member Survey has cruised or is planning to cruise, with 98.7% of all survey takers reporting they had been on at least one cruise. After all, that’s why they are on Cruiseline.com and Shipmate app. However, what stood out as interesting (or at the very least reaffirming) is the level of commitment that so many members have to cruise as their preferred form of vacation. A stunning 69.3% have been on seven or more cruises, and 17.2% have been on 4 to 6 cruises. 

In asking members which cruise lines they have sailed on, we allowed participants to select all applicable choices from mainstream, premium, and luxury lines. Coming in at the pack's lead with just a few points of separation were mainstream cruise lines Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean, with over 60% of our survey takers reporting they had sailed onboard one or both brands. Following are the Top 10 cruise lines that our members have sailed on both pre and post-pandemic:

As for destinations, it’s no surprise that most of our members ranked the Caribbean at the top of the list for past sailings. Over 89% of participants reported sailing to the region on a past cruise. In addition to the Caribbean, the top ten destinations that our survey takers said they have cruised to include:

Cruise Intent (Future Plans)

Each cruise line relies heavily on past passengers for its core business and to attract new cruisers and new-to-brand cruisers. Cruising remains a tremendous value given everything included in the cruise fare, from accommodations and meals to entertainment and activities. When asked, Cruiseline.com and Shipmate members, overwhelmingly at 91.4%, plan to cruise next year.

Regarding the number of future cruises booked or planning to book, the majority of respondents, 46%, had 2-4 cruises planned. A dedicated group of 12.2% of respondents had a whopping five or more cruises booked. 

Given the sheer number of ships and capacity in the marketplace, it’s not surprising that most cruisers have Carnival and Royal Caribbean at the top of their list for future cruises. Breaking into the top 10 this year is newcomer Virgin Voyages with just two ships currently sailing and a third on the way. We expect Virgin Voyages to grow in these rankings as they add more ships and brand awareness. Here’s how all cruise lines stacked up in our member cruise history: 

Luxury or more inclusive cruising is becoming increasingly popular. Many members noted they plan to cruise in the future with Oceania, Viking Ocean, Cunard, Azamara, Silversea, Regent Seven Seas, and Seabourn. Given the smaller ship size and passenger capacity compared to the mainstream cruise lines, it’s interesting to note that many cruisers are looking to luxury lines for future cruises. This is because the luxury lines offer a much higher space-per-passenger ratio, larger staterooms, more inclusive amenities, and exceptional dining and service. 

Whether cruisers have built up more vacation time during the pandemic or willing to spend more time per vacation, the 7-night cruise at 42.5% prevails as the most popular option for those currently planning. Interestingly, more cruisers, at 41.5%, say they plan to book 8+ day cruises rather than short cruises and weekend getaways. This correlates to the premium, and luxury lines' surge in popularity as, typically, the sailings are longer journeys. 

Cruise Sideliners (Those Waiting to Cruise)

Many dedicated cruise lovers are waiting patiently for the opportunity to cruise. The vaccination requirement was commonly noted when asked what prevents some cruisers from hitting the high seas. For medical or religious reasons, personal choice, or natural immunity,  a distinct group of cruisers are yet to sail as they don’t meet the current vaccination requirements. We call this group the ‘cruise sideliners’ as they are ready to get back on a ship but are currently sidelined until the vaccination mandate is lifted. Interesting to note that almost everyone is willing to be covid tested pre-cruise. Hence, it’s curious (almost counterintuitive) that some cruise lines have recently announced they are removing this pre-cruise requirement before removing the vaccine mandate. Judging by the results of our member data, it may seem like this is backward, and the cruise line's first step should be to lighten (or remove) the vaccination requirement while still testing everyone pre-cruise. 

The reasons for not cruising (right now) for the sidelined cruisers were pretty varied. As previously mentioned, the vaccine requirement at 38% was the major roadblock for this group, but there were several other contributing factors or reasons given, such as:

In the “other” category, surveyors could fill in their responses which included things such as current health, not having anyone to travel with, passports needed to be renewed, or other types of vacations. 

While the cruise sideliners await their chance to return to the sea, they are not sitting home. They spend their vacation dollars in other areas, most notably, hotels and resorts or flying/driving to see friends and family. 

For the question “What Other Vacations Are You Planning,” respondents could select all that apply, which is why the total is more than 100%. Cruise sideliners are making the most of their vacation time and finding many alternatives to cruising. 

River Cruising

River cruising, especially in Europe, is a great way to experience several cities and countries in one vacation. Setting sail through the rivers of Europe is breathtakingly scenic and convenient, namely packing and unpacking once, having all meals included on board, shore excursions during the day, and an onboard guide to bring the destinations to life.

When asked about river cruising, 90% of cruisers report they have not taken a river cruise, BUT 61% would consider one or are planning one. We then asked how soon they would consider taking a river cruise, and the answers varied widely, with most respondents unsure of the timing. 

Once again, the barriers to river cruising were similar to those mentioned above for mainstream cruising. Most travelers cited waiting for the vaccine requirements to lift. At current, all river cruise companies require proof of vaccination to board. Now that many countries have eliminated COVID testing for entry and eased vaccination requirements, we expect the river cruise lines may be among the first lines to ease restrictions. Should this happen, the demand for river cruises will be stronger than ever and usher in a new group of cruisers who will assuredly fall in love with the river cruise experience.

With so many rivers to explore across Europe and other parts of the world, there is no shortage of itineraries and options to support the growing popularity of river cruises. There are just as many river cruise companies to choose from, each offering a variety of price points and inclusions to fit most travelers' budgets. Similar to ocean cruises, river cruises are not one size fits all. While many lines have similar inclusions, the size and space of the cabins vary as well as the level of service and quality of dining experiences. Each of these is a point of differentiation for many river lines. The choices were clear when asking members which lines they have sailed or are considering. 

Cruise Booking Preferences

Consumers are savvy and always looking for the best deal or more inclusive value for their travel dollars. When asked how they prefer to book their vacations, 60.8% of cruisers choose to use a travel agency either in-person, via phone, or online. 

Cruise lines spend a lot of money marketing to their past passengers and trying to attract new cruisers. A whopping 55.1% prefer to book directly with the cruise line via phone to a PVP or online, with both options in a virtual tie as preference. The “other” category encompasses those that book onboard their next cruise or via other channels such as interline or through a friend or family member that works in travel or for a cruise line. A few in this catch-all category cited they use whatever method they find the best rate. 

How far in advance are most cruisers booking right now? According to our survey, the largest percentage at, 43.8% are booking 6-12 months in advance, and 29.1% are booking 12 to 18 months before sailing. 

Once booked, planning port time is a top priority for cruisers. When thinking about how they book their shore excursions, 53.1% said they book before sailing. Another 19.9% confirmed they never book before sailing, and 27% indicated they only sometimes book ahead of time. As indicated earlier, 86.5% of respondents noted they have been on four or more cruises, with the majority sailing to the Caribbean. For seasoned cruisers, the likelihood is very high that they are visiting the same ports multiple times and, therefore, not easily tempted to book excursions ahead of time, or perhaps they have developed their favorite places to go that don’t require an excursion. 

Cruisers exploring new destinations are far more likely to book excursions ahead of time. Preplanning is a must for destinations such as Alaska and Europe, as many excursions are limited availability and will sell out. When asked how far in advance the pre-planners like to book excursions, 38.7% noted 90+ days prior to sailing. Another 18.1% plan 89 - 60 days out and close behind at 22%, this group plans 59 - 30 days in advance. The procrastinators are not to be left out as 11.9% plan 29 to 10 days prior, and the remaining 9.3% seem to figure out their plans as they wave bon voyage.

How are cruisers booking their shore excursions? The vast majority, 72.9%, responded directly with the cruise line before sailing. Some cruisers have a variety of booking preferences depending on the destination and how far in advance they booked their cruise. 

Closing Thoughts

If you are reading this last section, THANK YOU! We appreciate all the members of our community who took the time to tell us more about their cruise experiences, preferences, and personal travel plans. We appreciate your time and are excited to use your feedback to help develop new features for Cruiseline.com and Shipmate. 

More importantly, thank you to all our members who have taken the time to write a detailed review of your cruise! These reviews help others learn more about the onboard experience and what to expect. If you’ve cruised recently, we would love to invite you to join our community and share your experiences. 

Write a Review

Not a member of the Cruiseline.com or Shipmate community? Our community is more than cruisers writing reviews. We have over 2 million users who come to our site and app to ask and answer questions and plan their next cruise. We encourage you to post and learn from other cruisers' recommendations and answers if you have questions. 

Join Our Community

If you have a future cruise, don’t forget to join our roll call. Not sure what a roll call is, learn more here. In a nutshell, roll calls allow you to meet other cruisers on the same ship and sailing date before you set sail. 

Join a Roll Call

Do you have any questions or feedback you would like to share with Cruiseline.com or Shipmate? We would love to hear from you! Drop us a note at hello@cruiseline.com. 

Related Articles:

Getting Started with Shipmate and Creating Your Cruise Profile

How to Add a Cruise on Shipmate

What is a Cruise Roll Call? 

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