The 2025 cruise trends you should know about

Taking a cruise opens up a lot of doors. You’ll reach destinations that aren’t possible via any other means and take part in experiences you just can’t get anywhere else. Plus, more often than not, cruises alleviate all the stress and faffing that comes with other types of travel.

With 2025 around the corner and a whole year of exciting exploration ahead, we’ve investigated exactly what 2025 cruises have in store. From chasing down Northern Lights and other natural wonders to savouring the simple things with a newly emerging ‘soft travel’ trend, 2025 promises a great year to get out there and see the world – sometimes in ways you might not expect! 

We’ve spoken with everyone from luxury travel agents to cruise industry experts to bring you what’s hot and what’s not for 2025. Where 2024 was all about set-jetting and multi-generational travel, 2025 will bring off-the-beaten-track itineraries to the fore as holidaymakers look to avoid the crowds and take time to fully relax away from the frenzy of everyday life.

The Joy of Missing Out (JOMO)

JOMO, ‘Soft Travel’, Calmcations, Simple Pleasures…the list goes on. Whatever you want to call it, this is a trend you will see everywhere in 2025.

Essentially, it’s all about stepping away from busy itineraries and lengthy bucket lists – instead embracing simplicity and getting your kicks out of doing less. Think strolling through woodland listening to the birds, sipping on a glass of wine in a dappled vineyard, or watching a family of otters play in the water. 

Soft travel savours life’s quieter moments and is inspired by the #softlife TikTok trend which boasts over 100 million posts focusing on self-care and peace in the face of frenetic modern life. 

Family-owned Norwegian cruise line, Havila, recently launched a series of ‘calmcations’ – voyages around the tranquil coast of Norway that sail through fjords and remote islands, hundreds of miles from any sound pollution. A Spotify playlist of soothing natural sounds from the region has been released by Havila to get guests in the mood, as well as the world’s first-ever ‘noise forecast’, which compares the noise level of coastal Norway to major cities like London, revealing a noise difference of 400%. 

Find out more

– READ MORE: What’s it really like to take an eco-cruise in Norway? –

Coolcations

As stifling summer temperatures continue to rise and pose an uncomfortable holiday of profuse sweating and constant shade-hunting, savvy travellers are looking to beat the heat with new coolcations.

Coolcations are cool for a number of reasons. Firstly, they provide an opportunity to travel to parts of the world you might not have otherwise considered: Iceland, the Baltics, Canada & Finland are all great options to name a few. And while the rest of the world is sweltering in Greece or Spain, you’re winning (again), as you’ll avoid the crowds in overly-touristy destinations and instead be surrounded by stunning landscapes and laid-back cities.

According to Dave Mills, Chief Commercial Director at UK travel agent Iglu Cruise: “These destinations can be visited all year round, not just in the winter months. Visiting a cooler destination in the summer can be advantageous as travellers may enjoy longer hours of daylight, and the heat can be much more comfortable for young families.”

On top of this, virtually all cruise lines offer coolcation cruises throughout the summer – whether it’s to Alaska, Scotland or Scandinavia. The sky (or rather, sea) is the limit. 

Chasing Natural Wonders

2025 guarantees a wealth of natural phenomena watching, from solar eclipses to brilliant Northern Lights, and taking the right 2025 cruise increases your chance of being in pole position to see the show when it happens.

Studies have revealed that 2025 will be one of the best years in recent history to witness the Northern Lights. While it’s possible to see them as south as Scotland, best visibility is close to the Arctic Circle in destinations like Iceland, Canada, Alaska and Norway. Cruise lines ranging from major players like P&O Cruises down to small expedition lines like Swan Hellenic and everything in between offer an array of itineraries to catch the light show.

Another niche but rapidly growing travel trend for 2025 is eclipse chasing, and cruise companies are pulling out all the stops with themed sailings that blend astronomy with adventure for an unforgettable trip. A partial eclipse in March 2025 will be visible across Spain ahead of the full monty on August 12, 2026, which will see a total eclipse over the course of three hours throughout locations in Europe.

– READ MORE: This the best way to see a solar eclipse –

First Nations Tourism

Indigenous culture is finally stepping into the spotlight on its own terms: rewriting narratives as local communities share their stories authentically with guests who leave, in turn, with a deeper sense of appreciation for historic regions.

Many Alaska 2025 cruises include the chance to deepen your understanding of the state’s indigenous peoples and their history, with brands like Princess Cruises offering enlightening excursions with Alaska’s Tlingit people to the village of Klukwan and learning about the centuries-old culture.

Scandinavian cruise line Hurtigruten showcases authentic Sami culinary traditions by having recently appointed a Sami culinary ambassador aboard its cruises, while luxury expedition line Seabourn forges an important partnership with the Wunambal Gaambera people of Australia, providing important funding as well as employment to guides who bring the remote Kimberly region to life.

Find out more 

– READ MORE: These are officially the world’s most sustainable cruise lines –

Personalised experiences

Travellers are prioritising personalised, intimate experiences more than ever. Luxury tour operator Audley Travel recently revealed that 48 percent of customers stated having exclusive experiences was a top requirement for their holiday. 

Nowhere is this demand for personalisation more apparent than in the cruise world, with small-ship cruising bringing the ultimate in tailored experiences – from personal butlers, private dining, and even exclusive shore excursions (one-on-one helicopter rides, anyone?). The world is truly your oyster when you take a small ship cruise. 

To meet such demands, Europe’s largest online cruise travel agent, Iglu Cruise, has launched a new range of luxury small ship cruises, with options from SeaDream Yacht Club, Emerald Yacht Cruises and Scenic Discovery Yachts.

Noting the fresh interest in small ship luxury, Iglu Cruise’s COO, Dave Mills said, “We are seeing more and more of our customers asking for a more intimate, luxury yacht experience, with a very high ratio of staff to guests, smaller scale dining and with the opportunity of accessing ports of call and destination experiences not possible to reach via a bigger ship.”

Sailawaze’s pick for an ultra-personalised cruise 2025? Regent Seven Seas Cruises. These guys have you feeling pampered no end the moment you step on board: nothing is too much trouble and absolutely everything is included in the price, down to excursions.

– READ MORE: What happened on our luxury Regent Seven Seas cruise –

Quiet Travel: Solo Adventures

‘Quiet travel’ places an emphasis on self-connection and personal growth, (usually) while travelling alone. From wellness retreats to special hiking cruises, solo cruises give the chance to disconnect from digital noise and become immersed in the present moment. In 2025, cruise lines continue to do their bit for the ever-growing number of solo travellers, offering everything from single-occupancy cabins and group excursions tailored to single travelers, to special social events for solos. Whether you’re after some well-deserved me-time or are in the mood to make new friends, there’s a cruise out there for you.

On top of this, while pretty much all cruise lines have wi-fi nowadays, there’s a growing demand for ‘digital detox’ solo cruises where internet, social media, work emails are all absolutely off limits – and where better to go off-grid than in the middle of the ocean? Except in this version of off-grid, you’ll have a spa, swimming pool, live entertainment not to mention gourmet dining at your beck and call each day.

P&O Cruises solo voyages are a great place to start for anyone looking to dip their toe into a solo adventure, with lots of options for solo travelers as well as two adults-only ships, Arcadia and Aurora. 

Hybrid vacations

Why have just one vacation when you could have two in the same trip? Travelers in the know are increasingly combining two different elements into their getaway to get the best of both worlds. Cruise & stay holidays offer the ideal way to do this in a range of exciting destinations, blending a dreamy cruise with a full programme of land-based experiences either side.

From taking a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Japan and extending your time in the buzzing cities of Tokyo and Kyoto, to South Africa cruises complete with land safaris – the possibilities are endless! 

Japan has long been top of many people’s travel bucket lists, and this isn’t changing any time soon. The good news is, cruise lines are releasing new, incredible Japan cruise itineraries on a regular basis to keep up with the demand, often incorporating additional pockets of Asia, too.

Other hot spots to consider for 2025 cruises? Australia, Canada, South America the US, India, Thailand and New Zealand are all very much in and bursting with adventures to discover.

– READ MORE: 6 unmissable Asia cruises –