Karl WP Beyer November 22, 2022 - The cruise industry is currently attracting potential cruisers with attractive offers and spreading pure optimism. We now owe the EU statistical authority and the Federal Statistical Office insights into the true situation of the industry. In 2019, 7,4 million people traveled on cruise ships. In 2021, only 1,3 million passengers were counted. The booking numbers are still far from the pre-corona levelt.
In 2014, statisticians recorded 4,8 million passengers on board cruise ships in Europe. Five years later, in 2019, 7,4 million Europeans took a cruise, more than ever before. In 2020, the corona pandemic led to an unexpected slump in travel worldwide. Cruise lines were also affected. In 2020, the shipping companies reported 530.000 passengers. Companies were forced to lay up ships. Older ships were decommissioned and scrapped. In contrast, in 2021 the number of ship passengers more than doubled to 1,3 million. What may seem like a ray of hope is still a long way from the pre-crisis level.
Cruise ships in the port of Civitavecchia
The majority of travelers are spread across the following five EU member states: Italy is ahead with a share of 36 percent, which corresponds to 482.000 travelers. In Germany and Spain, 22 percent (297.000 and 286.000 passengers) went on a cruise. Greece booked 10 percent, corresponding to 138.000 passengers. France brings up the rear with 7 and 94.000 travelers respectively. And another remarkable number: the German cruise ports on the North Sea and Baltic Sea recorded around 78 percent fewer passengers last year than in the pre-Corona year 2019 (1,3 million passengers).
Hamburg-Cruise Terminal Steinwerder
Hamburg-Cruise Terminal Altona
In the current year, the numbers are looking much better. When comparing the months of August 2021 with August 2022, the Federal Statistical Office speaks of almost tripled sales in the cruise industry. The figures from the Port of Hamburg underscore this statement. Today Cruise Gate Hamburg reported 280 calls in the current year. All of the above values relate exclusively to cruise ships; Ferries or day trips are not included in the overviews. Available figures exclude the UK.
