Why Brits choose to cruise – and why they prefer to sail from home ports

The people at online travel agent bonvoyage.co.uk have been out with their clipboard and pens again, trying to discover more about why Brits choose cruise holidays – or, as it happens, why they don’t.
Of almost 2,150 people questioned in their latest survey, 78 per cent had never taken a cruise. Some of them said they could not take enough time off work to fully enjoy the cruise they dearly wanted. Others said they were waiting until retirement before going to sea, while 12 per cent had just never considered the possibility.
Someone needs to talk to the 39 per cent who believed they could not afford the combined cost of a cruise and the flight to join their ship. Chances are that if they took a closer look at the options, a cruise would work out less expensive than flying to an all-inclusive resort on land or even an apartment, by the time the cost of meals and entertainment are factored in.
More than half of those who have yet to take a cruise said they would welcome more UK port departure options. Which will be music to the ears of two cities in the north of England at least.
Newcastle winds up its 2012 season this week by noting that cruise ships have brought 80,000 people to the Port of Tyne this year.
Almost half of the cruise ships calling at the port were “turnaround” cruises, meaning more passengers than ever were able to start their holiday from theTyne – and for the first time to Mediterranean destinations. The other half were transit cruises, welcoming visitors from all over the world to North East.
Over the past seven months the port has also welcomed new customers including MSC, Seabourn, Swan Hellenic, Peter Deilmann and the return of Thomson. Next year it will welcome more new customers in Hurtigruten, Crystal Cruises and the return of Hapag-Lloyd.
Liverpool this week bid farewell to pioneering Ocean Countess – the first ship in recent years to begin a cruise on the Mersey – and is now looking forward to welcoming more ships next year.
The city council, which has now repaid £8.8 million of a government loan so that it can also provide turnaround facilities, is making plans to replace the marquee which currently serves as a terminal with more permanent facilities.
The city is already getting excited about the planned arrival of 2,150-passenger Celebrity Infinity next September, midway through an 11-night round-Britain cruise from Harwich. Passengers will be given the option to disembark in Liverpool after six nights, or embark there for the remaining five nights of the voyage.