The Most Popular Week To Book A Cruise, According To A New Report

InsureMyTrip and Cruise Critic report that bookings spike at the end of January

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Jan 07, 2019, 13:18 ET

WARWICK, R.I., Jan. 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- A new data-driven report by InsureMyTrip, the largest travel insurance comparison site, and Cruise Critic, the largest cruise community, reveals that more travelers prefer to book a cruise during late January than any other time during the year. Data shows online searches for cruise deals typically spikes in early January. Then, there's a surge in cruise deposits sometime between the last several days of January and the first couple of days of February.

"This new data indicates that when it comes to booking a cruise, the traditional so-called "Wave Season" actually peaks in late January and remains strong through March. Then, cruise bookings slow down during the late spring and summer months," says InsureMyTrip Data Analyst Danny DeMello.

In addition to a new buying cycle expected for 2019, cruisers can expect the following trends:

Technology Enhancements — Travelers can look forward to improved internet capabilities and technologies being rolled out across brands like Princess, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian and MSC in the upcoming year.

Longer Time In Port, Less At Sea — More cruise lines will provide additional time in port and less time at sea, giving cruisers more time to explore destinations. Also, many cruise lines are planning port enhancements and upgrades.

More Personalized Experiences — Expect more cabin upgrades and perks for suite passengers, like personal concierges and private dining.

"Many cruise lines, including MSC, Norwegian and Celebrity, have introduced private enclaves for suite passengers, with entrances not accessible to others. Cruise lines are continuing to look for ways to make the cruising experience even more special for those passengers," says Colleen McDaniel, Senior Executive Editor of Cruise Critic.

Increased Demand For Travel Insurance —More will purchase cruise-specific travel insurance for 2019 voyages.

For more information or to book an interview with a cruise expert, e-mail [email protected].

Methodology: Data includes search trends on Google, traffic volume to Cruise Critic website, and travel insurance purchases on InsureMyTrip.

About InsureMyTrip

It's simple. InsureMyTrip finds you the right travel insurance plan, every time. InsureMyTrip is the authority on travel insurance. We are committed to empowering travelers to make the best possible insurance decisions by leveraging our technology, data intelligence, and expertise.

About Cruise Critic

Cruise Critic® is an online cruise guide, offering a comprehensive resource for cruise travelers, from first-time cruisers to avid cruise enthusiasts. The site features more than 350,000 cruise reviews and hosts the world's largest online cruise community where travelers share experiences and opinions with fellow cruisers. Cruise Critic was the first consumer cruise site on the Internet, launched in October 1995 by The Independent Traveler, Inc., a subsidiary of TripAdvisor, Inc.

About TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site*, enables travelers to unleash the full potential of every trip. With over 702 million reviews and opinions covering the world's largest selection of travel listings worldwide – covering approximately 8 million accommodations, airlines, experiences, and restaurants -- TripAdvisor provides travelers with the wisdom of the crowds to help them decide where to stay, how to fly, what to do and where to eat. TripAdvisor also compares prices from more than 200 hotel booking sites so travelers can find the lowest price on the hotel that's right for them. TripAdvisor-branded sites are available in 49 markets, and are home to the world's largest travel community of 490 million average monthly unique visitors**, all looking to get the most out of every trip. TripAdvisor: Know better. Book better. Go better.

The subsidiaries and affiliates of TripAdvisor, Inc. (NASDAQ:TRIP) own and operate a portfolio of websites and businesses, including more than 20 travel media brands:

www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.bokun.io, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.citymaps.com, www.cruisecritic.com, www.familyvacationcritic.com, www.flipkey.com, www.thefork.com (including www.lafourchette.com, www.eltenedor.com, www.iens.nl and www.dimmi.com.au), www.gateguru.com, www.holidaylettings.co.uk, www.holidaywatchdog.com, www.housetrip.com, www.jetsetter.com, www.niumba.com, www.onetime.com, www.oyster.com, www.seatguru.com, www.smartertravel.com, www.tingo.com, www.vacationhomerentals.com and www.viator.com.

* Source: Jumpshot for TripAdvisor Sites, worldwide, September 2018

** Source: TripAdvisor log files, average monthly unique visitors, Q3 2018