Summer cruise bookings climb as expedition and small-ship demand accelerates
Expedition operators and luxury yacht brands posted sharp year-over-year gains, while cruise companies continued to expand and update their fleets.
Summer cruise bookings increased 144% year over year, with expedition voyages rising 168%. National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions, HX Expeditions and Quark Expeditions were the three most-booked expedition lines for the summer.
Demand also grew for luxury small-ship brands. Bookings for the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Evrima, Ilma and Luminara increased 363% from a year earlier. Azamara bookings rose 333%, while Crystal Cruises recorded a 327% gain.
Travelers were also making early-access reservations for Atlas Adventurer’s inaugural 2028 season more than two years before the ship was due to sail. Windstar Cruises added Star Seeker to its fleet in December 2025 and scheduled Star Explorer to debut before the end of 2026.
Hurtigruten returned MS Vesterålen to service following a renovation covering 100 cabins and public areas. The work also introduced Arctic Superior and Mini Suite accommodation categories while retaining the ship’s original character.
Royal Caribbean Group said bookings remained at record prices, with volumes above the prior year and load factors steady across its portfolio. The company also reported a modest booking effect on selected itineraries associated with prolonged geopolitical activity. Separately, a nine-night Crystal Serenity itinerary traveled from Southampton to Copenhagen, calling at destinations including Bruges, Rotterdam, Hamburg and Oslo.