The cruise retail channel has rapidly become the darling of the wider global travel retail industry. Blessed by a rapidly growing pool of affluent captive customers - in 2024, a record-breaking 34.6m people took a cruise, a 9% year-on-year increase - the cruise business is also going upmarket.Since 2010, according to the latest data from the Cruise Lines International Association, the luxury cruise fleet has more than tripled. By 2028, around 1.5m consumers per year are expected to take a luxury cruise.Such stats are music to the ears of premium-plus alcohol brands, but prospering in this
Alcohol sales on the high seas – The cruise retail channel in 2025 – Market Intel
One of the world’s biggest cruise retailers, Harding+ is using customer research and AI technology to take its onboard beverage alcohol business to the next level.

Joe has been a business journalist for over 20 years, specialising in the drinks, aviation and Global Travel Retail sectors; Duty-Free News International, IWSR Magazine, Drinks International and Whisky Magazine, among others.



