Why cruises are changing how Millennials travel

I never thought I’d admit this, but I absolutely love cruises. Just a few years ago, I told my mum I would never, ever join her on one. The thought of low-grade buffet food, packed coach excursions, and being trapped in a space with thousands of, dare I say, ‘basic-interest’ travellers, was my idea of hell. But then the pandemic had other ideas.

In love with the high seas

Tired of flight cancellations and Covid-testing requirements, plus all the costs associated with them, I tried Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady in 2021. This was Mr. Branson’s first foray into the cruise market, designed to lure Millennials with sexy cabins, hot ticket shows that you’d actually pay to see, and wellness programmes good enough for J-Lo. But I was still dubious, right up until we stepped on board. Minutes later, I was standing at the ship’s gelato stand ‘Lick Me Till Ice Cream’ literally screaming: OMG! And wait, I don’t have to pay a tenner for this stack of homemade ice cream? What!?!

Diners are Virgin Voyage’s Gunbae Korean Barbecue Restaurant — Diners at Virgin Voyage’s Gunbae Korean Barbecue Restaurant

The next few days were a blur of cocktail classes, immersive theatre, afternoon tea, and randomly, bungee workouts. Not what I had envisioned at all. The clientele was mixed, some traditional, but a significant portion were people my age having a roaring time—on the deck, in the nightclub, and on the beach.

There’s plenty more where that came from too: Virgin Voyages will add 19 new destinations and 27 new itineraries through April 2025, including Greek Island Glow, a jaunt across the notoriously expensive islands of Santorini and Mykonos. Except you won’t blow a hole through your account—simply eat, drink, party, and sleep in one fun-time cruise ship package.

Into the wild

In 2023, I desperately wanted to knock safari off my bucket list. CroisiEurope was offering a four-country safari cruise aboard their African Dream. It was the perfect itinerary, stopping in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. Completely different from my first giant cruise experience, and much to my delight, we didn’t spend much time on the water at all. The trip blended safari lodges, land expeditions, and local village walks, with overnights on a riverboat that we shared with just five other guests. No crowds, no buffets, no tour buses, and more adventure than I could handle.

I’ve thrown down an extortionate amount visiting the romantic destination of Venice in the past. I mean, a boutique hotel, plus three meals a day and excursions easily add up to thousands. By contrast, the majestic Uniworld has a Venice & The Jewels of Veneto itinerary where prices start at $3,299 (£2635) per person, all-in, for eight days. The S.S. La Venezia is one of the most beautiful ships I’ve ever seen, carrying a design influenced by the esteemed local Venetian design house, House of Fortuny. It’s next on my list.

Windstar yacht sailing the Canary Islands — I boarded a Windstar yacht to see the Canary Islands

Cruising into the future

In 2024, my goal is to take more cruises to see Earth’s great wonders, starting with Windstar’s Canary Islands itinerary, which I sent sail on in April. I’d never been to the region, put off by the effort of hopping through multiple destinations and booking separate hotels. The Windstar yachts are more intimate than the big boys, accommodating between 148 and 342 guests, and with a high staff-to-guest ratio it promises a decadent five-star experience.

We boarded in Lisbon, and then docked in Madeira, Tenerife, Lanzarote, and Gran Canaria. I think of this eight-night trip as five or six holidays in one. Cruising is certainly a way to make your country count balloon. I had a blast on this ship, taking excursions, and relaxing in the suite, and I was ever so pleased to see their sustainability efforts: not a single plastic bottle in sight.

Even Mum’s been impressed with how ships have evolved; she’d been a devoted Royal Caribbean cruiser for decades. In January, we went on our first sail together (someone was ever so smug that I eventually caved in) aboard the brand-new and mahoosive Icon of the Seas ship. We dined, and dined fabulously, and had such a laugh that I wondered why I hadn’t joined her before.

Icon of the Seas by Royal Caribbean — Icon of the Seas is the world’s biggest ship and the first cruise I finally took with Mum

Sitting at Royal’s swim-up bar one afternoon, Mum looked around and beamed, “This is unlike any cruise I’ve ever been to. I feel 40 again.” Then it dawned on me: the Millennials aren’t holidaying with retirees anymore; they’re holidaying with us now.

But wait, there’s more…