44% of women planning all-girls trip in 2024; Alaska cruise spurs as top choice: NCL survey, ET TravelWorld

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A recent survey of Indian adult women conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), reveals that two thirds of the women surveyed feel they are caught in the whirlwind of daily life and struggle to find enough time to nurture their relationships, leaving them on average with less than an hour of ‘quality time’ per week with the women in their lives.

In the survey, a majority 90 per cent of the women said they had taken a girls’ trip with their female friends in the past, with 44 per cent intending to head out with their gang of girls in 2024. For these women, an all-girls trip isn’t simply a holiday, but it gives them the opportunity to get away from day-to-day worries (48 per cent), chance to try new foods (32 per cent), delve into new experiences together (43 per cent) and discover new places (30 per cent).

89 per cent women agree that all-girls getaways are a fantastic way to toast to their friendships. To this, NCL added that it sails to nearly 450 destinations around the world across its 19-ship fleet and provides a variety of destinations and experiences to cater to women and their preferred travel options, like discovering a new city, dining out, shopping or signing up for adventurous activities.

With over a third of women surveyed nominating the United States as a top destination, an Alaska cruise is an ideal holiday choice. NCL’s Norwegian Joy also offers nine-and-10-day roundtrip sailings from Seattle to Alaska, providing a longer experience and featuring scenic sailings to Glacier Bay National Park, Hubbard Glacier, and stops at Icy Strait Point and Ketchikan.

Canada also rated highly (37 per cent) and NCL offers a selection of port-intensive sailings from 7 to 11-days departing from New York, Boston, Baltimore, and Quebec City between late August to October to make the most of the region’s famous autumn foliage.

The results also revealed that Europe was a hotspot for Indian women, especially the Mediterranean with France being nominated by 35 per cent of survey respondents, Italy (32 per cent) and the UK and British Isles (30 per cent). This year, NCL will feature 10 ships in Europe, including its newest additions, Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva.

How Indian travellers will shape Singapore's tourism in 2024

India was one of the top four source markets for Singapore last year, with 1.07 million Indian visitors recorded. This number is projected to increase even further this year, driven by the growing desire of Indian consumers for transformative travel experiences, shares Markus Tan, Regional Director, India, Middle East, South Asia & Africa, Singapore Tourism Board.

“We take pride in delivering a variety of experiences for our guests and providing them with the most memorable vacations with exceptional value,” said Michelle Wiederman, Marketing Director APAC for Norwegian Cruise Line. “Cruising brings all types of travelers and groups together, including women, to reconnect and strengthen their relationships while immersing in new experiences. When sailing with NCL, you can wake up in a new destination, discover new adventures on and off the ship, spend time relaxing in our world-class spa facilities and indulge in endless dining and beverage options. We offer something for everyone.”

Although Galentine’s Day is widely observed on Feb 13, the overarching message of honouring female friendships and dedicating time for all-girl getaways is relevant all year long.

When planning a girls’ getaway, research showed most women opt for visiting another city, a sun-kissed beach break or an adventure getaway.

When going on an all-girls trip, 56 per cent of women said they are willing to share a room with their travel companions.

Research also shows that popular traditions for women to celebrate Galentine’s Day and their female relationships include drinks at a bar, a fancy dinner, a spa visit, group-mani-pedi sessions and shopping. As part of NCL’s freedom and flexibility product offering, female travellers can enjoy NCL’s breadth of onboard activities.