The 6 Biggest Cruise Trends Travelers Are Following in 2026

A new report from Expedia reveals how cruising is evolving—from private islands to short getaways and more.

Cruising is heading into 2026 with serious momentum—and travelers are booking earlier, going further and mixing up how (and where) they sail.

According to new data released by Expedia, demand for cruises next year is climbing fast, with some destinations seeing triple-digit growth compared with last year.

In fact, Mediterranean, Northern and Southern Europe and Alaska are the top trending cruise routes for 2026—and they’re all up 250% year over year.

The 6 Biggest Cruise Trends Travelers Are Following in 2026