Departure Lounge: Want to go on a cruise in 2024? There's some good value to be found

From cruises to football trips, Travel Editor Jillian Bolger shares the best deals on her radar

Cruise continues to be one of the fastest-growing tourism sectors with 36m passengers expected in 2024

Ship to shore

Thinking of cruising in 2024? Cruise continues to be one of the fastest-growing tourism sectors with 36m passengers expected in 2024, according to a report by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). Demand in North America has swelled in 2023, up 592% compared to 2022. Dave Mills, Chief Commercial Officer of Iglu Cruise, an independent cruise travel agency, says: “We’ve seen some very exciting new ships launched in 2023 such as Disney Wish, sailing from popular US ports such as Miami and Orlando. This could have been attributed to the huge increase in demand for cruises in North America.” Arctic cruising is up by 201.3% with the Arctic Circle and Northern Lights drawing growing numbers. “Closer to home, many cruise lines have dedicated some of their best ships to serve the European markets,” Mills explains. “Anthem of the Seas from Southampton, Sky Princess, P&O Iona and MSC Virtuosa have all helped swell booking numbers in Europe.” With so much choice there’s real cruising value to be found globally in 2024.