All aboard! Those fabulous words resonate with a growing number of travelers the world over. Cruise ships present tourists with the most luxurious way to enjoy a sensational vacation. These floating entertainment enclaves are the envy of the oceans, with millions of registered tourists annually.
Recently released reports from Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) from 2024 indicate that the 2023 passenger volume reached 31.7M travelers, a whopping 7% increase over the 2019 figures. Equally significant is the percentage of travelers intent to cruise at 82%, with forecast capacity set to rise 10% between 2024 – 2028.
Amazing Cruise Industry Statistics
| Cruise Tourism Milestones | Details |
| 2023 Cruise Passengers | Cruise tourism rebounded strongly in 2023, surpassing 2019 levels with 107% capacity. A total of 31.7 million passengers took to the seas, nearly two million more than in 2019. |
| 2024 Passenger Forecast | The momentum continued into 2024, with an estimated 35.7 million passengers expected to enjoy cruises. This indicates a thriving industry. |
| Cruise Intentions | Enthusiasm for cruising has surged, with intent to cruise 6% higher than in 2019. Millennials lead the way as the most enthusiastic future cruise travelers. |
| Global Cruise Capacity Growth | The global cruise capacity is projected to increase from 677,000 lower berths in 2024 to 745,000 lower berths by 2028, signifying robust industry growth. |
| Fleet Efficiency and Sustainability | Cruise lines are making strides in efficiency by investing in advanced propulsion technologies and future-proofing their fleets with conversion capabilities for alternative fuels. These efforts align with the industry’s commitment to sustainability. |
Source: PR Newswire
What Types of Entertainment Options Exist on Cruise Ships?
Source: Pixabay No Attribution Required
Cruise ships are floating megacities – veritable entertainment hubs of epic proportions. It’s mind-boggling how much value-added benefits exist on cruise ships. Imagine entering a luxury hotel with silver service, an extraordinary culinary selection, and 24/7 entertainment.
You might be mistaken for believing you are in fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada. But alas, you are aboard a world-class ocean liner with all the bells and whistles. It’s entertainment par excellence from inception until you disembark.
It’s a lot to wrap your head around, especially for imminent travelers. For illustration, we are proud to present the free-to-play River Queen slot. This entertainment extravaganza is designed to delight. It mirrors the best of what’s available in the gaming rooms of cruise ships. Players can easily shake, rattle, and roll with this social slot game.
River Queen showcases the finest in classic on-board entertainment with a pair of lucky dice, nines, tens, Jacks, Queens, Kings, and Aces, and lots of wild action scattered everywhere. Of course, your luck is multiplied when good fortune comes your way.
But I digress; let’s get back to the topic at hand – the entertainment options on cruise ships. Once cruise ships reach international waters or riverboats in legal jurisdictions open their gaming rooms, it’s a mad rush for all the excitement on deck.
There are classic slots, video slots, jackpot slots, and blackjack, baccarat, roulette, and poker. The casino-style selection of games varies from cruise ship to crucial, with the bigger ocean liners offering a more comprehensive selection of games. The casinos hardly tell the story of the entertainment options aboard these crew ships.
Stand-up Comedy, Circus Acts, and Theatrical Productions
Source: Pixabay No Attribution Required
You may be pleasantly surprised to learn that cruise ships often have several incredible acts, performances, and shows available. These are outlined in the travel itinerary when you book your cruise. On-board performers are typically contracted for a set duration, and they enjoy first-class life aboard a cruise ship while entertaining guests.
The quality of the shows is masterclass. Magicians, circus acts, acrobats, singers, dancers, daredevils, ventriloquists, illusionists, comedians, and other Vegas-style performers could headline aboard your cruise ship. Take the time to check the details of the many entertainment attractions available to you. More good news – all of the shows are included in the price. You don’t have to pay extra to attend stand-up comedy, song and dance, and other shows.
Bingo is another hugely popular game enjoyed aboard cruise ships. It is one of the easiest and most immersive games to play. Bingo is typically played on a 5 x 5 card for 75 ball bingo, or a 9 x 3 card for 90 ball bingo. Depending on the cruise liner – UK and European ships tend to favour 90-ball bingo, while American and Canadian ships prefer 75-ball bingo.
Either way, a quick buy-in gets you several bingo cards and a dabber (dauber) to start. Remember to yell Bingo! when you win because most of these games play Bingo in the traditional way, not with electronic cards and automatic daubing.
Source: No Attribution Required
I’ll let you guys in on a well-known secret – at least from an insider perspective – the food is one of the reasons why so many people prefer a cruise ship over a traditional land-based hotel experience.
You get to wine and dine with a structured package (limited flexibility), including a set meal plan in your preferred dining room and multiple breakfast, lunch, and snack options.
You could literally run the full length of the cruise ship and enjoy unlimited culinary delights. Of course, the drinks are extra, but drinks packages are available for anyone intending to soak up the sun on the pool deck, in the Jacuzzi, with Miami Vice, Cosmopolitans, all bloody Mary’s in hand.
