A five-market YouGov study found 74% of respondents see European cruising as appealing, as Legend of the Seas operates Mediterranean itineraries from Barcelona and Rome.
Royal Caribbean is using Legend of the Seas’ Mediterranean season to target Asian travellers interested in combining multiple European destinations in one cruise holiday.
- 74% of respondents across Singapore, Malaysia, India, Indonesia and the Philippines said multi-destination European cruise travel is appealing.
- Cruise ranked first among preferred modes of intra-European transport at 26%, narrowly ahead of trains at 24% and short-haul flights at 22%.
- Meals and entertainment included in the trip was the most-cited cruise benefit at 49%, while 42% valued seeing multiple destinations with ease.
- The YouGov survey covered 6,223 adults and was conducted from May 28 to June 8, 2026, on behalf of Royal Caribbean.
(NEWS) SINGAPORE, Singapore, 2026-Sep-15 — /Travel PR News/ — For Asian travellers planning ambitious European holidays, the appeal of seeing several countries without repeatedly changing hotels, airports and transport appears to be gaining ground. A new five-market survey commissioned by Royal Caribbean found that 74% of respondents consider multi-destination European cruising appealing, with convenience emerging as one of the strongest themes behind that interest.
The YouGov research released by Royal Caribbean surveyed 6,223 adults in Singapore, Malaysia, India, Indonesia and the Philippines between May 28 and June 8, 2026. The sample was structured for representation across gender, age groups and geographic distribution within each market.
Because the study was commissioned by the cruise line, its findings are best read as an indicator of attitudes within the surveyed markets rather than a measure of all Asian travel demand. Even so, the results offer a detailed look at how travellers in five important outbound markets weigh the trade-offs involved in moving around Europe.
Indonesia shows the strongest interest
Interest in multi-destination European cruises was highest in Indonesia, where 82% of respondents described the format as appealing. The Philippines followed at 75%, ahead of Malaysia at 70%, India at 67% and Singapore at 66%.
Previous experience of Europe appears to reinforce rather than reduce the appeal: 80% of respondents who had already travelled within Europe said the multi-destination cruise format interested them. Among parents with children under 18, the figure reached 81%, suggesting particular relevance for families trying to balance sightseeing with the logistics of travelling together.
Cruising also edged out other transport modes when respondents were asked how they would prefer to travel between European destinations. Cruise was selected by 26%, compared with 24% for trains, 22% for short-haul flights, 19% for private cars and 9% for buses or coaches. The Philippines recorded the highest cruise preference at 34%, followed by Indonesia at 30%.
Convenience competes with the destinations themselves
The survey suggests that the perceived value of cruising is not only about the ports visited. Nearly half of respondents, 49%, cited included meals and entertainment as a principal benefit, while 42% pointed to the ability to see multiple destinations with ease. Avoiding airport processes was selected by 38%, safety and comfort by 37%, and avoiding repeated packing and unpacking by 35%.
Those preferences line up with the frustrations respondents associated with conventional multi-city travel. Some 87% identified at least one challenge when moving between several European destinations. Flight delays and cancellations led the list at 51%, followed by long layovers at 38%, managing luggage between countries at 37%, repeatedly packing and unpacking at 34% and airport security screening at 32%.
Italy topped the European destination wish list at 47%, followed by the United Kingdom at 43%, France at 41% and Spain at 33%. Indian respondents showed the strongest interest in Italy, at 51%, while respondents in the Philippines registered the highest interest in Spain, at 43%.
Legend of the Seas provides the product backdrop
Royal Caribbean released the research as Legend of the Seas operates its first Mediterranean season. The third ship in the line’s Icon Class began European cruising in July 2026, with weeklong itineraries from Barcelona and Rome (Civitavecchia) calling at combinations of destinations such as Palma de Mallorca, Provence (Marseille), Florence/Pisa (La Spezia) and Naples.
Ben Bouldin, Royal Caribbean’s President of Greater China and Managing Director, Asia, said the research highlighted travellers’ desire to make better use of their time in Europe while combining destination visits with family time and onboard experiences. He also described the arrival of Icon Class in Europe as a way to make that ship experience more accessible to Asian customers travelling to the region.
Royal Caribbean is pairing those itineraries with a ship designed to make sea days and transit time part of the holiday rather than simply a way to move between ports. Across the five surveyed markets, 89% of respondents expressed interest in onboard entertainment and 85% in thrill and leisure experiences.
Among the individual attractions highlighted in the survey, 39% showed interest in America’s Got Talent LIVE on Legend of the Seas, while 38% selected the family-focused Surfside neighbourhood. Category 6 Waterpark and the AquaTheater production Shockwave each drew 33%, followed by the adults-oriented Hideaway at 32% and the ship’s production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at 31%.
Dining and sightseeing remain central to the holiday
Food also featured prominently. Among the specifically listed dining experiences, 23% of respondents were interested in Royal Railway – Legend Station, an immersive five-course dining concept inspired by the ancient Silk Routes. Chops Grille attracted 19% and Hollywoodland Supper Club 15%.
On land, respondents gravitated toward well-known European sights and activities. Visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa area ranked highest at 45%, followed by Mallorca’s Mediterranean beaches at 39%, Rome’s Piazza Navona and Trevi Fountain at 35%, the Picasso Museum in Malaga at 33% and Barcelona landmarks including the Sagrada Família at 30%.
Taken together, the findings point to a holiday-planning tension familiar to long-haul visitors to Europe: the desire to cover several destinations while minimizing the time and effort spent moving between them. Royal Caribbean’s answer is to turn the transport component itself into part of the vacation, using Legend of the Seas as both accommodation and entertainment between ports.
Travellers can view current Mediterranean sailings and ship details on the Royal Caribbean Legend of the Seas page.
