Cruise Safari Market Report 2024

This Cruise Safari industry report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market’s historic and forecast market growth by geography.

The cruise safari market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $1.94 billion in 2023 to $2.13 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.8%. The growth during the historic period can be attributed to a growing interest in experiential travel, increased popularity of wildlife and nature tourism, greater availability of luxury cruise options, rising demand for adventure tourism, and the expanding influence of social media on travel decisions.

The cruise safari market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $3.11 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10%. The anticipated growth during the forecast period can be attributed to a rising demand for luxury and high-end cruise safaris, increased investments in cruise safari infrastructure and amenities, growth in travel packages, the growing influence of social media and travel influencers, and greater availability of advanced and comfortable cruise safari vessels. Key trends expected to shape this period include advancements in wildlife tracking technology, the implementation of smart onboard systems, the development of themed cruise safari packages, the adoption of flexible itinerary options, and the creation of multi-destination safari cruises.

The growing interest in river cruises is expected to drive the expansion of the cruise safari market. River cruises involve traveling on boats or ships along rivers, providing passengers with the opportunity to visit various destinations and enjoy onboard amenities. This rising popularity is driven by travelers' preferences for unique and immersive experiences, convenient access to diverse locations, and high levels of personalized service. Cruise safari enriches river cruises by offering distinctive wildlife viewing opportunities and engaging on-shore excursions, enhancing the overall travel experience. For instance, in April 2024, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), a US-based cruise industry trade association, reported that approximately 31.7 million passengers were carried by cruise ships in 2023, reflecting a 7% increase over the past four years. This growing demand for river cruises is fueling the cruise safari market.

Companies in the cruise safari market are focusing on innovative solutions, such as the "Infinite Horizons" platform, to enhance the luxury travel experience with immersive and personalized adventure itineraries. Infinite Horizons represents a broad vision aimed at exploring limitless possibilities and opportunities. For example, in December 2022, Celebrity Cruises, a US-based luxury cruise line, introduced Wonderverse, a virtual reality platform that allows travelers to explore the Celebrity Beyond cruise ship in a highly realistic metaverse environment before boarding. This platform enables users to tour various areas of the ship, interact with ship designers and leaders, and even book vacation itineraries. Wonderverse is designed as a standalone virtual experience centered around Celebrity Cruises' ships and offerings.

In July 2022, Royal Caribbean Group, a US-based cruise holding company, acquired Silversea Cruises for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition is intended to expand Royal Caribbean Group's fleet to meet the increasing demand for ultra-luxury expedition cruises, improve profitability, and strengthen Silversea's position in the ultra-luxury and expedition cruise markets. Silversea Cruises, based in France, specializes in ultra-luxury and expedition cruise safaris.

Major companies operating in the cruise safari market are Oceanwide Expeditions BV, MSC Cruises S.A., Carnival Corporation & plc, Royal Caribbean Group, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., Viking Cruises Ltd., Abercrombie & Kent Group of Companies S.A., Hurtigruten AS, National Geographic Partners LLC, Lindblad Expeditions Holdings Inc., CroisiEurope SA, Compagnie du Ponant, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Ltd., G Adventures Inc., Singita Management Company (Pty) Ltd., Azamara Club Cruises, Aqua Expeditions Pte. Ltd., Aurora Expeditions Pty Ltd, Cruiseaway Pty Ltd., Zambezi Queen Collection, Pandaw Cruises Ltd., Exodus Travels Ltd., Island Queen Cruises & Tours, Hebridean Island Cruises Ltd.

North America was the largest region in the cruise safari market in 2023. The regions covered in the cruise safari market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

The countries covered in the cruise safari market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

A cruise safari is a distinctive travel experience that merges the luxury of cruising with the excitement of a safari. This type of safari usually takes place on specially designed riverboats or luxury cruise ships that navigate through wildlife-rich areas or remote coastlines. It provides an immersive way to explore diverse ecosystems and abundant wildlife, all while enjoying high-end amenities and comfort.

The main categories in the cruise safari market include customized and private vacations, adventure and safari tours, small group journeys, and others. Customized and private vacations are tailored to the specific preferences and needs of individual travelers or small groups. These experiences can range from absolute luxury to budget-friendly options and involve various types of vessels, including large cruise ships and smaller expedition ships. Booking can be done through direct booking, travel agencies, or online platforms.

The cruise safari market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides cruise safari market statistics, including the cruise safari industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with cruise safari market share, detailed cruise safari market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the cruise safari industry. These cruise safari market research reports deliver a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.

The cruise safari market includes revenues earned by entities by providing services such as guided wildlife safaris, luxury accommodations, onboard dining experiences, and personalized excursions. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.


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