If the ALLTOUR Index is anything to go by, autumn is an excellent month for taking that exotic cruise you have always dreamt about. The two-monthly luxury travel survey says autumn travel is the ideal time for what it calls a “non-traditional” cruise holiday – particularly for high-end travellers.

According to the Index total spending on travel and holidays remained constant in virtually every category. However, it is the type of holidays travellers are looking for that has changed. The traditional top choices of the Caribbean, Western Europe and Hawaii have been replaced by more exotic destinations.

The demand for cruises to South America, Africa and Antarctica have all increased during the past couple of months. The biggest increase in demand was, however, seen for trips to South-east and South Asia, in particular India and Vietnam.

A spokesperson for ALLTOURS, David McWaters, said “Most exotic destinations are warm and humid so the visiting window is small.” These locations are now entering their “comfortable season,” which explains the surge in demand for cruises.

According to McWaters they tend to draw a different type of cruise lover, most of whom are what he calls “empty nesters” – people who do not have to worry about children and their winter or summer holidays. Many of them are looking for so-called “bucket-list” destinations: they have already been to all the well-known destinations and they are now looking for something really different.

The most adventurous of these people will opt for river cruises, where they can really get first-hand experience of local cultures.