Is Asia Really Heating Up as a Cruise Destination?

maybe really do not know but the airfare Asia to United States or Europe is not $10,000 dollars. Could post at least 20 trips over the last year taken by me or friends. Traveling from Great Britain, United States, East and West Coast, Mexico, Germany all at right around $1000 dollars round trip, economy class, and never more than $1500. Even guys flying business class are not paying $10,000 per trip. Less than half of that and as cheap as $2000 a trip.

But really do not want to debate here life is to short so let's agree to disagree and move on. Hope your next cruise is great.

That is because 65% of the Worldwide Market is America & Europe, so on those cruises mostly people from America & Europe. But in the growth markets are not dominated by Americans. In the current CLIA report Australia was named the world's fastest-growing cruise market. Percent of population wise Australia is larger than the US Market, but since the population is much smaller it has less effect on the overall market.

Korea, Japan and China all have growing markets, that have much more room to grow than the mature America market. From 2011 to 2016 the cruise market grew 20% plus, most of that growth was outside the American market.

The Caribbean is still the largest overall market by far with most passengers from North America. It will be the largest market but it has little room to go. The never markets have great upside to them and the value of American and EU passengers is much less in these markets.

As for cost to get to Asia from America or Europe, it is about $1000 dollars round-trip which is more than travel to Europe or the American market. But it really is not that much more, so when combine with other cost saving not really cost prohibitive.

That is precisely the point. You live in the neighbourhood. For those in EU and NA the costs are prohibitive hence the lower representation. But the majority of cruise passengers world wide come from NA and EU

I'm sorry but I believe you have some wrong information. Over the last 4 years been on 12 cruises here in Asia. The largest passenger groups on the ships were from Asia. America and Europe was always well under 50% of the total passengers.

When you look at growth yes the Asian market is much smaller now so a big jump can be a small number. But the Asian Market has much more room to grow. With over a billion people in China alone. The future growth in the cruise industry will not be America & Europe it will be markets like Asia.

True that the Asian market is the fastest growing but stats are not always what they are cracked up to be. It may be the fastest growing by percent but it is also the smallest market. What equates to a 50% growth in a small market is the same numbers wise as a 0.5% growth in the main market.

Many cruise lines jumped on the wagon a few years ago and announced all of these new ships to be built to service the soon to be booming Asian market. If you look at all the wild predictions from a few years ago and compare to reality we can see they were more of a pipe dream or bad hallucination. The new NCL Bliss that just launched when first announced a few years ago was supposed to be built specifically for the Asian market but that changed within a year of the initial announcement.

The fact is that yes the market may be growing but the largest group of passengers is in Europe and North America. The travel time and expense to get to Asia makes cruising less attractive to the average cruiser who has limited time available and limited funds.

Yes maybe you are right but always have liked to eat. Also big advantage having Hong Kong 1 1/4 hour away and Singapore 3 1/2 hours away. Combine with airfares of less than $200 dollars round trip means lots of time to cruise.

But you are right about wanting more so nice to be able to do several cruises a year. I leave for Singapore in less than 3 weeks. And then a great July 4th trip on Sun Princess. Will be nice to see the Singapore Fireworks on the fourth, a flashback to July 4th on the Charles River for the Boston July 4th shows.

Well you know how it is. You take an Asian cruise, an hour later you’re hungry to cruise again.

The Asian Market is the fastest growing market. Yes some adjustments are needed but I do not see companies cutting but. I cruise in Asia 2 to 3 times a year, living the rest of the time in The Philippines.

RCCl is the largest provider in the area but others are starting to add many cruises. Princess is very strong here and Costa still is doing many cruises. You also have Genting Corporation here with Star Cruises, Dream Cruises and Crystal Cruise. The market down under in Australia has been busy and is growing.

Princess has been sailing at 100% on the Hong Kong & Singapore cruises. And then throw min Japan which has a very strong market. Yes the future for Asia is for growth in the market. That growth does not need to come from US Customers enough here to drive the market.

It really seems that all the lines moved too fast to Asia, resulting in more supply than demand.

Demand will eventually ramp up, but it may take a while.

I would really like to see some trans-Pacific or roundtrips from the US to Asia, especially from the more budget-conscience lines (Carnival / RCL). It may be a longer cruise, but would interest me significantly.

OTOH, I will pass on an RT out of Asia as it is probably geared for the Asians, not the European or American and Canadian market.