Cruise.co.uk has announced the results of its latest cruise study on the UK’s top 5 booking hotspots.
The finding is part of a study which covered all bookings the cruise specialist has made in 2022.
Coming in at first place is Fareham. According to Cruise.co.uk, the Hampshire town’s local population has booked more cruise holidays per head this year than the residents of any other town or city.
Fareham is located in between Southampton and Portsmouth, two of the most popular cruise ship hubs, meaning its inhabitants have a “wealth of at-sea holiday options” on their doorstep.
In second place, and similarly situated on the south coast, is the Dorset town of Christchurch. The town is equally well-served by the nearby ports of Southampton, Portland and Poole.
In third place is Southampton itself. The city is the busiest cruise port in the UK, with five terminals handling around 1.7m passengers per year.
It is the home to major lines such as P&O Cruises, Cunard, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity.
Barnsley appeared next on the list, despite being situated in the heart of England. Its closest major cruise port is Liverpool, over a two-hour drive away. Chorley in Lancashire was in fifth place.
Tony Andrews, Deputy Managing Director of cruise.co.uk, said: “Perhaps it’s no surprise to see three south coast locations making up our most popular booking hotspots.
“With so much choice on their doorstep, and with the appeal of seeing so many wonderful ships regularly sailing by, means the convenience and attraction to residents of a cruise holiday is clear.
“The popularity of a cruise among Barnsley and Chorley locals is less obvious, but clearly there is significant demand to holiday at sea, even in areas with no apparent coastal connection.
“Interestingly, both towns regularly appear in our annual top 10 booking hotspots, so this is part of a marked trend rather than a one-off.”
For more information, go to www.cruise.co.uk.
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