Last month, Royal Caribbean made a bold move. The brand launched a new ship Utopia of the Seas for short cruises — something rarely done in the cruise industry. Many cruise lines use older, smaller ships for short cruises while new, larger vessels are saved for longer journeys.
I first learned about this practice during a briefing for Utopia, the world’s second-largest ship with 21 dining venues and North America’s tallest waterslide. The departure from industry norms shows Royal Caribbean’s confidence in the short cruise segment.
Other cruise lines are showing their focus on short cruises too. In 2018, P&O Cruises relaunched its Australia and New Zealand short cruise range in splashy campaign Short Break. Cruise line Aranui will launch a five-day cruise in French Polynesia next year, its first short cruise exploring the area. And in 2026, Norwegian Cruise Line will nearly double its short cruise offering in the Bahamas.
The demand is there. Cruise Agency Australia reported the uptake of seven-day cruises increased by 9% in 2019 while uptake of three-day cruises that year rose by 10%. “There is a growing trend for shorter cruises globally,” it wrote alongside the figures. While there are no figures it’s safe to say with all the new options, those numbers should increase.
“We originally offered a shorter cruise in the wake of the pandemic for travellers looking to dip their toe back into cruising,” says Laurent Wong, Aranui regional rep for AUNZ. “But we found cruising is popular with those who want to visit new, off-the-beaten-track areas. A cruise makes it possible to discover areas that aren’t accessible any other way.”
Aranui’s five-day French Polynesian cruise sails around the Tuamotu atolls of Mataiva, Makatea and Anaa which are only accessible by boat. Wong says the short cruise is aimed at American travellers needing options to fit with limited leave. For Australian and European travellers, their appeal is that they can be tacked onto longer holidays.
Ben Angell, VP and MD for Norwegian APAC, says they’re seeing two main traveller types book their short cruises: those new to cruising and looking to “test the waters” and those wanting to add a cruise to a land-based holiday.
“We find that Australian travellers who book a multi-week European escape often choose to incorporate a five-to-seven-day Mediterranean or Greek Islands cruise as part of their trip,” Angell says. “This way they can visit inland cities by land then take a break from airports, traffic and train stations and sail into some of Europe’s most picturesque ports by sea.”
When I cruised on Utopia’s three-night option to the Bahamas, I spent time in Florida before and Washington after. Gavin Smith, VP and MD for Royal Caribbean AUNZ told me later another perk of short cruises is true of cruises generally: they’re holidays where the entire family can choose their own adventure in the day and reunite for dinner at night.
P&O Cruises (owned by Carnival Cruise Line) uses the tagline “The fastest way to slow down” for its short cruises which range from two to five nights and leave from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Auckland. The line also has short cruises in the Bahamas, Caribbean and Mexico. Like the other lines, new-to-cruise and those with limited holiday time make up the bulk of guests — though they also have a marketing goal.
“By offering a range of fun options, we aim to provide new guests with a memorable first experience,” says Carnival Cruise Line AU VP Kara Glamore. “This approach not only makes a strong first impression but also encourages them to explore more of our offerings including long cruises in the future.”
My experience on Utopia of the Seas showed me one of the main downsides to short cruises. With so much to do and see and places to eat, I felt overwhelmed and like I was constantly rushing around trying to experience it all. I couldn’t relax because I didn’t want to miss trying something amazing and before I knew it, it was time to disembark.
One commenter on a video I posted of my Utopia experience put it best: “I wish Utopia did longer cruises. There’s just so much to do on those ships and you can’t do it on a short cruise without feeling rushed.” Another wrote: “I would never sleep, so much to do”.
Though worth noting, Royal Caribbean has six ships similar to Utopia with a wide offering of restaurants, bars and activities that cruise around the Caribbean and Europe for seven nights. If I wanted to explore more of the ship, I could have opted for one of those.
Other possible downsides to short cruising are that you don’t get too much time in a location, there’s no flexibility – if you like a place you can’t stay longer – and extra costs for drinks, activities on the ship and shore excursions can add up.
My experience on Utopia of the Seas showed me one of the main downsides to short cruises. With so much to do and see and places to eat, I felt overwhelmed and like I was constantly rushing around trying to experience it all. I couldn’t relax because I didn’t want to miss trying something amazing and before I knew it, it was time to disembark.
@buzzfeedoz We set sail on Utopia of the Seas’ maiden voyage 🚢 #royalcaribbean #royalcaribbeancruise #utopiaoftheseas ♬ Espresso – On Vacation Version – Sabrina Carpenter
One commenter on a video I posted of my Utopia experience put it best: “I wish Utopia did longer cruises. There’s just so much to do on those ships and you can’t do it on a short cruise without feeling rushed.” Another wrote: “I would never sleep, so much to do”.
Other possible downsides to short cruising are that you don’t get too much time in a location, there’s no flexibility – if you like a place, you can’t stay longer — and extra costs for drinks, activities on the ship and shore excursions can add up.
My take? There are pros and cons to any type of travel. Short cruises are a great option for those looking to try cruising for the first time and are keen to maximise their leave and access remote areas. They can also take the hassle out of trip planning which is particularly great if you’re travelling with a group.
That’s the main reason why I’d book a short cruise. In the case of a ship like Utopia, I’d also book simply for the experience of staying on a floating resort. Given the recent surge in short cruise options, there should be plenty more reasons to add to that soon.
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