Switching warm destinations for cooler ones with more nature and taking mid-career breaks for extended travel are on the rise in 2025, MSC Cruises has revealed.
Television, films, books, and social media are also continuing to influence destination decisions for MSC’s guests next year, the line has revealed, as part of a number of travel trends driving holiday commitments.
‘Coolcations’ are rising in popularity as travellers seek out milder climates in place of traditional summer hotspots. MSC has been adding cruises in Northern Europe and the new destination of Alaska to respond to this trend.
It is a trend that is slowly gaining traction around the world and dovetails into an increased interest in sustainable tourism. At Travel24 in Sydney earlier this year, Accenture’s Head of Cultural Forecasting Michelle Newton, discussed more travellers looking for cooler temperatures on their next holiday.
“Global boiling sees us seek out cooler climates in a bid to beat the heat. We know that 56% of global travelers say that as temperatures soar closer to home, they’re going to use their vacation to cool down somewhere else,” said Newton.
“The days of tourism taking its toll on our planet and our communities are really at an end. The signals here are really strong. By 2030, 4 billion people will be exposed to at least one month of health-threatening extreme heat. 51% of global travellers report that climate change will impact how they plan their vacation and where they go.”
MSC has also found a heightened eagerness for the rise of the ‘radical sabbatical’, as workplaces become increasingly more flexible with remote work, and more companies offer sabbaticals as a perk.
Another emerging travel trend for next year is ‘set-jetting’, where travellers are inspired to visit a destination because of a book, movie, or television series.
MSC visits a number of the world’s iconic cultural and cinematic landscapes on its cruises, including Dubrovnik, made infamous by Game of Thrones, Dubai, the set of a number of Mission Impossible films, and New York City, for Sex and the City fans.
There has also been a noticeable shift in preferences toward all-inclusive holidays, with MSC seeing travellers increasingly willing to spend more for an elevated experience which balances simplicity with touches of exclusivity.
MSC has been redefining its Yacht Club product to meet this trend, recently rolling out exclusive shore excursions for guests travelling in its ship-within-a-ship concept.
