NEW YORK — The boom times for cruising post-pandemic have proved the resiliency of the cruise industry again and again.

Now the latest stats from luxury travel network Virtuoso underline cruising’s strength.

Well over half (58%) of Virtuoso’s cruise community say they anticipate cruising will be the strongest tourism sector in 2024-2025, surpassing even land-only experiences.

Cruise lines have long said that their biggest competition isn’t other cruise lines, but land-based vacations, and especially all-inclusive resorts.

According to Virtuoso’s 18-to-24-month look-ahead, cruises that exceed US$50,000 per booking have increased more than 100% year over year.

Cruise categories expecting to see the highest bookings include premium ocean at 34%, followed by luxury ocean at 27%, river at 22% and expedition at 15%.

Virtuoso advisors, and especially Virtuoso Cruise Icons – the network’s 146 Virtuoso advisors across eight countries who collectively represent the top 1% of the network’s cruise sales – also report high demand for the rising new-to-cruise segment.

Some 60% of surveyed advisors said they’re seeing an increase in first-time cruisers, and 62% say these clients are coming to them for guidance and bookings.

The network’s stats also show that 59% report a demographic transformation underway: 36% are seeing an increase in bookings from Millennials and Gen Z. And 27% attribute the changing landscape to an increasing preference among families for cruising.

An equal percentage (27%) report a rise in female solo cruisers.

“We’re seeing shifts driven by new vessels, destination immersion and expanded seasonality that are exciting for our clients, whether they’re repeat cruisers or first-timers,” said Virtuoso Senior Vice President of Global Member & Partner Sales, Cory Hagopian.

In recent weeks some 50 of the network’s 2024 Virtuoso Cruise Icons sailed aboard Windstar’s 312-passenger Star Breeze in French Polynesia. The hosted experience included a private event at the Presidential Palace with Moetai Brotherson, the President of French Polynesia.