Winter Cruising in Europe: A Growing Trend
In light of a summer marked by overtourism in popular cruise destinations such as Barcelona and Amsterdam, and discussions of imposing limits on ship arrivals in Greece and other locales, the cruise industry has put forth an unexpected recommendation for winter voyages: Europe. Traditionally, cruise ships that are stationed in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe during the summer months transition to the Caribbean and other warm destinations in the winter. However, an increasing number of cruise lines are now opting to keep their ships in the Mediterranean during late fall and winter when the crowds are thinner, and the weather is often quite pleasant.
Traveling in low season across Europe presents a unique opportunity for cruisers, with itineraries often available at significantly reduced prices—sometimes as much as half off compared to summer rates. According to the Cruise Lines Industry Association, the Mediterranean remains the second most popular cruising region after the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Bermuda. Their statistics indicate that offseason departures in the Mediterranean have surged by an impressive 23 percent from 2019 to 2023.
As the number of cruise ships has increased, so too has the overall interest in tourism. More travelers are seeking to explore destinations in Europe during off-peak times to avoid the throngs of tourists that typically converge on these sites. Samuel Spencer, the general manager of Ocean & River Cruises Travel, a travel agency based in Calgary, Alberta, noted, “As the number of ships has grown and tourism itself has expanded, more and more travelers desire to visit places when there’s not tens of thousands of other people descending on Europe.”
One such traveler embracing this off-season experience is Isabel Rushton from Stoke-on-Trent, England. A seasoned cruiser with 76 voyages under her belt, she has even sailed in the Mediterranean as late as December. “You’ve got to accept you’re going to get rain and wind if you’re unlucky,” Ms. Rushton, 76, remarked. While she acknowledges that some attractions may not be open during the winter months, she highlights the advantages of fewer crowds: “The slight downside is that some places may not be open, but the upside is if they are open, they’re not so busy.”
