With its breathtaking views and spectacular fjords, Norway is the most searched for cruise destination according to new research.
According to Google data analysed by insurance provider AllClear Travel, there were more than 134,000 searches each month for cruises to Norway.
The Scandinavian country is a popular choice for groups with a range of itineraries on offer, all taking in the beauty of the landscapes.
Highlights include the Jostedal Glacier National Park, one of the largest intact wilderness areas in southern Norway, and the Kjenndalen glaciers which lie at the end of the Lodal Valley.
GTO Dave Hartle of Dave’s Trips, who won the Group Travel Organiser of the Year Award® in 2022, previously took a group on a cruise to Norway with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. He said: “Everybody enjoyed the tranquil cruising along the fjords with calm waters and a beautiful atmosphere. There were lovely little towns and villages along the way. It was a very relaxing cruise with wonderful sights of waterfalls.”
They visited Lysefjord, Bergen, Flam, Olden and Briksdal Glacier on board the iconic Flam Railway.
GTO Frank Pearson, Greater Manchester Police Male Voice Choir (GMPMVC) also organised a Norwegian cruise for about 50 members of his group with Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines. He said the highlights included performing two concerts on board as well as visiting the famous Flam Railway.
Where’s your favourite cruise destination? We’d love to hear from you, leave your comment below.
Greece was the second most searched for destination according to the data, not surprising considering its rich history with sailings taking in the temples and ruins of Athens as well as Aegean island-hopping cruises.
Sue Shapland, who runs Exmoor Extroverts, and was GTO of the Year® in 2019, recently went on a cruise to some of the Greek islands. She said: “While the heatwave and the fires made the headlines, the parts that we saw were not affected and were just stunning.
Sue added: “Two of the islands don’t allow cars, Monemvasia is a walled city with steep narrow streets and everything is moved within its walls in handcarts. Hydra on the other hand has a busy little port and the transport is by mules.”
In third place was Italy, which was searched for almost 30,000 a month. With ports in Naples, the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento, it’s another top choice for groups wanting to soak up the food, atmosphere and scenery of the country.
The top ten most-searched for cruise countries
| Rank | Cruise country | Average monthly search volume |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norway | 134, 018 |
| 2 | Greece | 41,378 |
| 3 | Italy | 29,889 |
| 4 | Iceland | 18,036 |
| 5 | Australia | 10,921 |
| 6 | Croatia | 10,849 |
| 7 | Canada | 10,800 |
| 8 | Dubai | 5,204 |
| 9 | Spain | 5,046 |
| 10 | Bahamas | 4,668 |
Iceland took fourth place with more than 18,000 searches across a month. For those in search of the Northern Lights, a cruise to Iceland is a great way to experience the natural wonder of the Aurora Borealis.
The country’s capital Reykjavik boasts brightly coloured houses and centuries or history while further afield groups can head to the world-famous Blue Lagoon.
Further afield, Australia came in at fifth with cruise itineraries taking in the likes of Brisbane, Cairns and of course Sydney. Many opt to travel at Christmas and New Year to get a great vantage point for those famous fireworks.
The research also looked at data for popular cruise ‘regions’ - the top three were the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Scandinavia meanwhile Europe, Antarctica and Asia were the three most popular continents for cruise searches.
The information was provided by AllClear Travel, medical travel insurance specialists.
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