What's happened
Cruise lines are increasingly offering winter sailings in the Mediterranean, capitalizing on lower prices and fewer crowds. Viking Cruises leads this trend, with plans to expand its fleet in the region. Off-season travel is appealing to older travelers seeking cultural experiences at a discount.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to the New York Times, cruise lines are adapting to changing traveler preferences, with Samuel Spencer noting that many travelers prefer visiting Europe without large crowds. Viking Cruises is at the forefront of this trend, with Richard Marnell stating that they recognized the appeal of temperate winter travel. Meanwhile, The Independent highlights specific itineraries, such as Celebrity's Valentine's Day cruise, showcasing the variety of options available for travelers. This reflects a broader trend in the industry towards catering to off-season travelers, particularly those interested in cultural experiences.
How we got here
The shift towards off-season Mediterranean cruises has been driven by rising demand for quieter travel experiences. The war in the Middle East has also led some cruise lines to reposition their ships to the Mediterranean, enhancing options for winter travelers.
More on these topics
-
Mykonos is a Greek island, part of the Cyclades, lying between Tinos, Syros, Paros and Naxos. The island has an area of 85.5 square kilometres and rises to an elevation of 341 metres at its highest point.
-
Ephesus was a city in ancient Greece on the coast of Ionia, 3 kilometres southwest of present-day Selçuk in İzmir Province, Turkey. It was built in the 10th century BC on the site of the former Arzawan capital by Attic and Ionian Greek colonists. During
-
Athens, is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, with its recorded history spanning over 3,400 years and its earliest human presence started somewhere between the 11th and 7th m
-
Santorini, officially Thira and classic Greek Thera, is an island in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km southeast of Greece's mainland.
-
Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, known also as Hellas, is a country located in Southeast Europe. Its population is approximately 10.7 million as of 2018; Athens, the nation's capital, is its largest city, followed by Thessaloniki.
-
Celebrity Cruises is a cruise line headquartered in Miami, Florida and a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group. Celebrity Cruises was founded in 1988 by the Greece-based Chandris Group, and merged with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line in 1997.