After two years at the top, Venice has given way to New York as Britain’s favourite port in a new survey commissioned from YouGov by the Passenger Shipping Association (PSA).

Nearly one in five of GB adults (19%) named New York as their favourite cruise port with 13% voting for the perennially popular Venice. There was a three-way tie for third place between Barcelona, Rome and Singapore, each registering 7%. And New York could be set to keep its crown as Top of The Ports as it was voted a firm favourite by more than a quarter (26%) of the younger adult respondents aged between 18 and 34.

With a record 1.7million Brits expected go cruising this year according to the PSA, the survey looks at the main attractions of a cruise holiday and it is clear that multi-destinations really excite. Well over half (57%) of respondents said the opportunity to visit a number of destinations in one trip was a main attraction of a cruise holiday, and next, with 50%, came the convenience of having to unpack just once, although this figure was more important to women (53%) than men (46%).

The all-inclusive nature of cruising was one of the most attractive features amongst 36% of respondents, just beating yet another multi-destination cruise attraction of waking up in a new port nearly every day, voted for by 35%. Next in appeal was the renowned dining offered onboard cruise ships (27%), with this increasing to 33% amongst Welsh respondents. A main attraction of cruise for nearly one in five (19%) is the opportunity to meet people from a wide range of cultures and nationalities, and again those from Wales recorded the highest percentage (28%) of any of the home countries respondents’ for this particular attraction to cruise.

The on-board professionally produced entertainment shows were also mentioned by 17% of those surveyed, as were the special entertainment programmes for children (4%).
It’s the uniforms that appeal

The survey also reveals that ship’s officers, in their pristine white, pressed uniforms, along with police officers, are each second only in appeal to airline pilots with their wings.