For 2025, there was good news and bad news: overall, these areas were visited 323 million times over the course of the year. That's the good news; the bad news is that this figure was down ever so slightly - specifically, 2.7% - from a record-setting 2024.
Despite decades of jokes and occasional bad publicity, cruise vacations are more popular than ever - just ask the tens of millions of Americans who take one every year and together represent more than half of all annual cruise travelers. Today's ships are massive, complex affairs backed by giant corporations and celebrity commercial sponsorships, all commanding big money. And while to the uninitiated, a ship may just seem like any other ship, experienced cruisers increasingly understand that unique offerings make all the difference.
"We've seen an 800 percent increase in demand for stays in Croatia so far this year," Edward Frampton-Fell shared with Travel + Leisure. While the Split Riviera, Dubrovnik, and Hvar remain top picks, Frampton-Fell noted that surprising destinations like Korčula are now firmly in the spotlight.
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