The world’s fast growing cruise source markets are Scandinavia (184.6%), Australia (130.3%), Brazil (84.8%), Germany (80.5%) and France (67.7%), according to a Cruise Lines International Association survey of its 63 member lines. CLIA estimates 21.3 million passengers cruised on member ships in 2013, and predicts a positive 2014 with 21.7 million passengers forecast.
It says fleet capacity will also grow with member lines launching 24 new ships in 2014-2015.
This will increase passenger capacity by 37,546 and bring the CLIA fleet total to 410 ships.
North America remains by far and away the world’s biggest cruise market (55% passenger source share) and is still growing strongly with a 15% increase over the past five years.
Australia is ranked in the top five with a 3.6% market share and 130% growth since 2009.
Only the Scandinavia and Finland region recorded a higher growth rate (184%.
Australasia also sits among the top four cruise destinations in terms of ship deployments, CLIA said.
Australia and New Zealand now account for 6% of all global itineraries, behind the Caribbean (37%), the Mediterranean (19%) and Northern Europe (11%).
CLIA Australasia General Manager Brett Jardine said: “Cruising just keeps going from strength to strength down under and we look forward to another big year ahead.”
Top Ten CLIA Cruise Passenger Source Markets in 2013:
| *2013 Passenger estimates (ooo’s) | ||||
| Country | 2013 Passengers | Global Passenger Share | 5 Year % Change | 2013 Passenger Source Rank |
| United States | 11,016 | 51.7% | 15.1% | 1 |
| UK & Ireland | 1,719 | 8.1% | 16.4% | 2 |
| Germany | 1,637 | 7.7% | 80.5% | 3 |
| Italy | 860 | 4.0% | 26.1% | 4 |
| Australia | 760 | 3.6% | 130.3% | 5 |
| Canada | 734 | 3.4% | 1.3% | 6 |
| Brazil | 732 | 3.4% | 84.8% | 7 |
| Spain | 600 | 2.8% | 20.7% | 8 |
| France | 520 | 2.4% | 67.7% | 9 |
| Scandinavia & Finland | 350 | 1.6% | 184.6% | 10 |