Cruise capital of 2024: Tampa takes the lead in new study by Avanti Travel

Monday, April 1, 2024

In a recent study conducted by Avanti Travel Insurance, Tampa has emerged as the premier cruise destination for 2024. This January 2024 study scrutinized Trip Advisor reviews to assess various holiday spots based on culinary offerings, affordability, and appeal to different demographics such as seniors, couples, and families. Each destination received an overall cruise index score, with Tampa securing the top spot with a score of 74 out of 100, according to findings compiled by Avanti Travel Insurance.

Tampa not only claimed the title of the best overall destination but also stood out as the most family-friendly location and ranked second in terms of suitability for seniors. Following closely behind, Cozumel Island and Barcelona secured second and third place respectively in the overall rankings, with index scores of 71.9 for Cozumel and 71.8 for Barcelona. Moreover, both destinations featured prominently in the category of romantic getaways for couples, with Barcelona achieving a perfect score of 20 and Cozumel not far behind at 17.2.

As the spring season approaches, many individuals are gearing up to plan their summer vacations, long weekends, or overseas escapes. The surge in popularity of cruise holidays is evident this year, with Google Trends data showing a staggering 105% increase in searches for “cruise destinations” in the UK from January 24 to February 24.

Choosing the right cruise for you

Kelly Johnstone from Avanti Travel Insurance says:

“Cruises are set to be all the rage this year and there’s a reason why they’ve grown in popularity.

“There’s nothing quite like a cruise. That’s part of what makes them special, but for the uninitiated, it can be quite overwhelming when it’s time to book.

“Before picking a shortlist of cruise lines and ships, begin by looking at the destinations, and thinking about the sort of cruise you’re after. All ships have ‘personalities’ and cruise lines cater to different audiences.

“Cruise lines often have specific holidaymakers that they cater to. Some, like Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises, are known for their luxury cruises, while others are better for adventures, like Hurtigruten. Then there’s Disney, one of the leading family cruise lines.

“Take your time. This is, for some people, a once-in-a-lifetime holiday – there’s no rush.”

Sara Young, Revenue Manager at Carnival Cruises UK says:

“The demographic for cruises is definitely changing as we are seeing more disrupters entering the market such as the Ritz Carlton who’ve launched their first cruise ships, with more coming in 2024. We are also seeing more cruises aimed at the younger generations, with Virgin offering hen-dos and Disney cruises growing in popularity for families. There are also more cruise ships now going to more unusual places. It used to be that the ships would follow set routes such as the Mediterranean and Caribbean itineraries, but now some of the cruise lines have smaller ships that take them to more interesting places such as islands in Scandinavia and routes up to Iceland.”

“Barcelona continues to be one of the most popular cruise destinations as they have the largest cruise port in Europe and 4th in the world. The reason the port is so busy is because of its position at the mouth to the Mediterranean, so ships coming to and from the Mediterranean have to pass by it. Barcelona is full of attractions suitable for everyone including sightseeing, incredible restaurants and nightlife.”

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