| ‘Coolcations’ hot with MSC

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 (CW 29 Oct) to respond to this trend.

There is also 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 an employment 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 that 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 luxury ‘ship-within-a-ship’ concept (CW 11 Jul). MS