Home Meeting Planner Resources 5 Reasons Why Cruising Is Not Just for Incentives

5 Reasons Why Cruising Is Not Just for Incentives

April 8, 2025

Cruising has always been an incentive staple, but in today’s increasingly complex environment for international travel, more meeting and event planners are also considering taking to the seas.

Is cruising the answer to today’s tough economic and political environment, especially for those who plan meetings and events with a large percentage of international attendees? While the definitive answer may take a while to shake out, geopolitical tensions and rising concerns about U.S.–based international travel restrictions may in fact be making some meeting and event planners join their incentive colleagues in thinking about taking their meetings on a sea cruise.

Among the potential benefits they’re eying are cost efficiency — especially key once the tariff wars begin to really take effect and prices on meetings-related goods start getting even more expensive — all-inclusive convenience and easy global accessibility.

Here are some of the trends behind a potential rising interest in cruise-based meetings and events:

Post-pandemic recovery includes a big rebound in cruising interest. Passenger volumes have now reached record levels — 34% higher than they were pre-pandemic — with 19 million Americans projected to go cruising in 2025, according to AAA.
Rising interest in non-traditional venues. Even with the rising numbers of U.S. adults taking to the high seas, less than a quarter have experienced a cruise. This makes cruise meetings an interesting alternative to venue staples such as hotels and resorts.
Workaround to U.S. entry restrictions. With the new Trump 2.0 travel ban expected to affect travelers from more than 40 countries, meeting professionals are increasingly concerned that their international attendee contingent may not be able to — or be too fearful to — come to a meeting on U.S. soil. Rising concerns over the potential for escalating trade wars between the U.S. and Canada, China, Mexico, the European Union and much of the rest of the developed world have added to the unease of foreign travelers, including meeting attendees, about coming to the U.S. for a conference.
Cruising can enable planners to bypass U.S. entry restrictions by hosting events in international waters or non-U.S. ports, making for more flexible global itinerary options. Ships that dock in non-U.S. ports, such as the Caribbean or Mediterranean, also can provide a more politically neutral setting for a globally based attendee roster.
All-inclusive pricing makes for more predictable budgeting. Cruising generally bundles meals, meeting space and AV equipment into one package, which can reduce expenses by up to as much as 40% over hotels. They also feature built-in décor and theaters and lounges with state-of-the-art sound, lighting and projection systems, giving planners more wow factor without having to spend more time and money. Most ships also can offer the same level of suite upgrades and private dining as land-based venues, plus exclusive shore excursions for VIPs. Some “smart” ships even offer AI-driven personalization, virtual reality entertainment and land-venue–level connectivity.
Operational convenience. Not only can planners develop cruising itineraries that avoid U.S. ports, circumventing strict entry requirements for attendees from restricted countries, but groups also have the opportunity to visit diverse destinations without having to pack and unpack, making it easier to combine business with leisure-time activities. And for host organizations that have corporate ESG goals — or whose attendees work for companies with environmental, social and governance requirements — many ships now are eco-friendly, with LUNG propulsion, zero-emission and waste-management technology.