SAN DIEGO — A record 80 million Americans are expected to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday this year, according to AAA While the majority of travelers, over 71 million, will be hitting the roads and airlines, cruise lines are also seeing a surge in bookings.
AAA reports domestic and international cruise bookings have increased by 20 percent compared to last Thanksgiving.
Holland America's Koningsdam cruise ship, departed on Saturday with 3,000 passengers on board for a seven-night trip to Mexico. Travelers cited various reasons for choosing a cruise vacation, including the convenience of not having to cook Thanksgiving dinner.
"It's the week the kids are off, they get school off and we have only a couple of weeks a year that we can travel all together and this is one of them," said Kate Lubsen, passenger.
The Lubsen family is also celebrating a special milestone with children, parents and grandparents.
"To celebrate my parents' 50th wedding anniversary," said Lubsen.
Cruise lines are offering unique themed activities to attract holiday travelers.
"We have visits from Santa Claus himself, he comes and travels with us. We also have different friends from the North Pole. We also have different activities to get families involved as well," said Alex Smith, Cruise Director.
For many families, like the Thurbers from Wisconsin, cruises offer the opportunity to explore new destinations. "Our children have been bugging us for a long time in taking them along on a cruise and we really like it, we've never seen California," Sandy Thurber, passenger said.
The appeal of cruise vacations during the holiday season extends beyond just sightseeing.
"Christmas and holiday season is all about spending time with your family. Getting those really meaningful moments. You can do that on board a ship which is delightful," said Smith.
With the cruise industry experiencing a record year, AAA advises those interested in holiday cruises to book early to secure their spots. This trend is part of a larger growth in the cruise industry, with the Cruise Lines International Association forecasting 34.7 million passengers to take cruises next year, potentially reaching nearly 40 million by 2027.
