Recent research conducted by the Passenger Shipping Authority shows that a minimum of one out of every nine package holidays taken by Brits was a cruise holiday. More than 40% of these cruises departed from British ports.

Tough economic conditions will ensure than shorter cruise holidays gain even more followers in the coming year. Mini cruises now amount to nearly 45% of all cruise holidays, and river cruises account for 22%. The fact that many cruise lines are offering great offers at present is sure to draw even more people to cruising.

The research also disproves the notion that cruise holidays are only for the elderly. At least 21% of cruisers were between 25 and 30 years old when they embarked on their first cruise holiday. Families are also increasingly taking to cruising as an alternative to package holidays. Today’s cruise giants such as the Oasis of the Seas and the Epic provide everything you would find in a holiday resort, including water parks, shopping centres and outdoor amphitheatres.

Northern Europe has become a favourite cruise destination with itineraries ranging from the Norwegian Fjords to the Baltic being highly popular. The Caribbean remains popular as well, with about 8% of cruisers opting for a holiday to Barbados, Cuba or St. Lucia.

It seems many Brits are taking holidays to forget about their financial woes this year. It is not just cruise holidays that are experiencing an increase in demand: coach holidays in both the UK and Europe are having a bumper year as well.