Northern Europe – the new top destination for cruise holidays

11th April 2014

2013 was a record year for the UK cruise industry as UK port embarkations passed the one million point for the first time.

UK residents take over 2 million cruises each year, and an increasing number of travellers take more than 1 cruise a year. The UK is Europe’s biggest cruise market and accounts for an average of 27% of all cruise passengers on board a ship. 2014 will see the introduction of 24 more cruise ships into this constantly evolving and fast growing market.

2013 saw Europe as the destination of choice for one in three British cruise passengers, with the Mediterranean retaining its title as the most popular route for cruises. But 2013 also saw an increase of 20% of cruise passengers visiting Northern Europe and if this trend continues it could mean that 2014 sees the Mediterranean fall into second place as the cruise destination of choice for the first time. River cruising has also continued to grow with 20,000 Britons taking European river cruise holidays in 2013. With breath-taking landscapes and historic cities, Europe has something for everyone and over the last decade the range of cruise choices in Europe has opened up a host of new destinations including Greenland, the Norwegian fjords and the polar islands. 2014 will also mark the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings and a number of ocean and river cruises will be visiting the Normandy beaches as part of the memorial tributes to those who fell. If you are planning a cruise holiday then taking out a good travel insurance policy should be paramount in your pre-trip plans. All cruise operators require their passengers to have valid travel insurance. Cruise Insurance by Onestop4: is specifically designed to offer everything a cruise traveller really needs from their insurance. Onestop4:Cruise Insurance offers cancellation cover for the full value of your holiday, even for a cruise that is £100,000 or more. Onestop4: Cruise Insurance also offers cover for mature travellers up to the age of 100 and for those travelling with pre-existing medical conditions – subject to a free and fast medical screening. Fit-4-Travel Insurance, also available from Onestop4: is perfect for River Cruises – with no age restrictions and subject to acceptance following a medical screening, is capable of offering cover for travellers with the most significant medical conditions. Onestop4 Cruise Insurance and Fit-4-Travel Insurance is available via the Onestop4 website or by calling 0800 848 8448. If you are a Broker who would like access to our products – please call 0845 465 1717.