Cruise travelers are getting younger – they prefer short 4-6 day trips, and 50% of those who haven’t cruised yet want to try it
▲ SuperStar Virgo by Star Cruises, featuring an exciting water slide on board. (Photo / Reporter Lai Wen-xuan)
Reporter Lai Wen-xuan / Kaohsiung
Cruise tourism was traditionally seen as suitable for older demographics, but in recent years, global cruise lines have continuously innovated, offering vibrant onboard entertainment that has contributed to a trend of younger cruise passengers. Among those who have never cruised, 50% express interest in trying it. To further promote Taiwan’s cruise industry, the Tourism Bureau and the Taiwan International Cruise Association jointly organized the maritime cruise forum aboard SuperStar Virgo, arranging the first-ever overnight forum experience. The event brought together industry, government, and academic representatives to explore the future of cruise travel and unite efforts to grow Taiwan’s cruise market.
▲ The Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and the Taiwan International Cruise Association jointly hosted the maritime cruise forum. (Photo / Reporter Lai Wen-xuan)
The maritime cruise forum took place aboard SuperStar Virgo, which departed slowly from Kaohsiung Port and headed to Keelung Port on the 9th. This marked the first time a forum was held with an overnight stay onboard, allowing participants to experience staying on a ship for a night and to feel the charm of cruise travel.
Liu Hsi-lin, Deputy Director-General of the Tourism Bureau, pointed out that Taiwan’s geographical location is advantageous, playing a key role as a hub for Asian cruises. With the global cruise market continually expanding, 50% of those who haven’t cruised are interested in trying it. The age of cruise passengers is also becoming younger, and with Michelin-starred restaurants, climbing walls, thrilling water slides, nightclubs, and other diverse facilities now available on ships, cruises are no longer just a means of transport but can be packaged as innovative travel products.
▲ %Addition of youthful activities has led to a noticeable trend of younger passengers in the cruise market. (Photo / Reporter Lai Wen-xuan)
Liu Hsi-lin stated that cruise products in the Asian market focus on short regional trips, with 4-6 day journeys being the trend. Taiwan should leverage regional integration to attract more international cruise operators, as international cooperation is the key to developing Asia’s cruise industry.
Star Cruises, which is focused on the Asian market, has been deeply rooted in Taiwan for 20 years and has made significant contributions to the development of Taiwan’s cruise industry. Chu Fu-ming, President of Genting Cruise Lines, which owns Star Cruises, mentioned that over the past two decades in Taiwan, the company has found strong acceptance of cruise tourism among Taiwanese travelers. Moving forward, it will continue to collaborate with the
This year, through a special collaboration between the Tourism Bureau and the Asia Cruise Cooperation (ACC), Star Cruises’ SuperStar Virgo has also launched 15 maiden voyages on the new route “Hong Kong–Philippines–Kaohsiung” for the first time, opening up a brand-new chapter for the Asian cruise market.
▲ This year, the government aims to attract 600 cruise ships to Taiwan, generating 1 million passenger visits. (Photo / Reporter Lai Wen-hsuan)
In recent years, Taiwan’s cruise market has seen steady growth, with an increasing number of cruises making port calls in Taiwan or using it as a home port. The goal this year is to achieve 600 ship calls and welcome 1 million passengers. Leveraging the integrated hardware and software services for cruise operations provided by the Taiwan International Ports Corporation, along with the upcoming completion of the passenger terminals in Kaohsiung and Keelung, efforts are being made to significantly enhance the experience of international cruise travelers visiting Taiwan.
In addition to the long-running International Cruise Incentive Program for ships visiting Taiwan, the Tourism Bureau is currently developing a Fly-Cruise incentive scheme, aiming to establish Taiwan as one of Asia’s key cruise home ports through multi-faceted support.
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