CRUISE passengers are quietly rebelling against size and spectacle, with more travellers expected to pay for time, space, and immersion this year, according to a number of senior industry leaders.
Space, as well as unique experiences, and luxury are all key threads that were consistently mentioned to CW when canvassing a number of respected travel industry leaders on the direction of the cruise sector in 2026.
Slow travel, which CW’s sister title Travel Daily produced a special report on last year (CLICK HERE), will also be central to the tastes of cruisers.
According to general manager of the Luxury Travel Collection Nikki Glading, travellers will opt more for the luxury of time, as opposed to fast-paced, port-intensive itineraries.
“The biggest trend for 2026 will be the complete rejection of port-hopping itineraries in favour of immersive, extended-stay luxury cruising,” she told CW.
“High-net-worth travellers are pushing back against the performative ’12 countries in 10 days’ model, demanding itineraries that spend two to three days minimum in each destination, often with overnight stays in port.”
These extended stays, overnights, and fewer ports are reshaping itineraries, concurred Cunard Line sales & marketing director Amy Williams.
“Longer itineraries and immersive onboard experiences are becoming central to the luxury proposition,” she told CW.
“In an always-on world, time has become the ultimate luxury.”
These trends tie into the growing emphasis premium cruise lines are placing on usable space on board, with larger suites and private outdoor areas, and prioritising flow over crowds.
“There is a quiet backlash under way, and it’s a healthy one,” Anna Gregori, former Celestyal Cruises vice president brand & marketing, told CW.
“As scale pulls more people in, a growing part of the market is pushing back, asking for better over bigger.
“This demand is reshaping cruise from the inside out.”
Gregori said the rise in expedition cruising, a once-niche part of the sector, is the clearest signal of this shift.
“Luxury yachts, river ships and expedition-style cruising are growing because travellers want something that feels personal, beautiful, and thoughtfully designed,” Rachel Kingswell, GM of Travel Associates, told CW.
Some of these smaller ships making their debut this year include Explora Journeys’ Explora III and Regent Seven Seas’ Seven Seas Prestige, among others. MS
