New YouGov research commissioned by Royal Caribbean highlights the appeal of exploring multiple European destinations in one vacation, as Legend of the Seas brings its Icon Class experience to the Mediterranean.
For Indian travellers planning a European holiday, the challenge may no longer be deciding where to go, but figuring out how to experience more destinations without spending too much of the vacation navigating between them.
New research commissioned by Royal Caribbean indicates strong interest in an alternative approach. According to a YouGov survey conducted across India, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, 67% of Indian respondents find the idea of exploring multiple European destinations through a cruise vacation appealing.
The findings arrive as Legend of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s newest Icon Class ship, brings the cruise line’s Icon Class vacation experience to the Mediterranean, with itineraries departing from Barcelona, Spain, and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy. Current Western Mediterranean itineraries include destinations across Spain, France and Italy, including Palma de Mallorca, Provence, Florence/Pisa, Rome and Naples/Capri.
The proposition is straightforward: instead of repeatedly changing hotels, transferring between airports or managing luggage as the itinerary moves from one European city to another, travellers can make the ship their base while continuing to explore different destinations.
Why Multi-Destination European Travel Appeals to Indian Travellers
The research suggests that convenience is a significant part of the appeal.
Among Indian respondents, 45% identified the ability to visit multiple destinations with ease as the leading perceived benefit of European cruising. This was followed by safety and comfort at 42%, included meals and entertainment at 40%, and avoiding airport-related processes such as check-in, security and delays at 39%.
The findings also reflect a broader travel challenge across the region. Nearly nine in 10 respondents across the five markets surveyed identified at least one difficulty when travelling between multiple European destinations.
For Indian travellers looking to combine several European destinations in one holiday, that friction can translate into time spent coordinating transfers, navigating airports, changing accommodation and managing luggage.
Cruising offers a different model, with the journey between destinations becoming part of the holiday rather than simply a logistical necessity.
That is where Legend of the Seas enters the picture. The Icon Class ship is currently offering Mediterranean sailings from Barcelona and Rome, with Western Mediterranean itineraries connecting destinations across Spain, France and Italy.
From European Destinations to an Experience at Sea
Europe remains a strong draw for Indian travellers, with Italy emerging as the most preferred European destination in the survey at 51%, followed by France at 48%, the United Kingdom at 45% and Spain at 30%.
With these destinations spread across different countries and regions, the research indicates an appetite for travel formats that allow visitors to combine multiple stops within a single vacation.
The data also shows that cruising is already sitting close to more established forms of intra-European travel among Indian respondents. Trains were preferred by 25%, while cruises and short-haul flights each accounted for 24%. Private cars stood at 18%, followed by buses or coaches at 9%.
For Royal Caribbean, the opportunity extends beyond positioning a cruise ship as a means of transportation. The focus is on making the ship itself part of the vacation.
On Legend of the Seas, travellers can spend their time at sea with entertainment, dining, family activities and leisure experiences while moving between Mediterranean destinations. Royal Caribbean describes the ship as its third Icon Class vessel, with seven pools, the Category 6 waterpark, multiple entertainment offerings and a range of dining experiences.
Entertainment Becomes Part of the Journey
The research also offers an indication of what Indian travellers are looking for once they are onboard.
Among Indian respondents, America’s Got Talent LIVE on Legend of the Seas generated the highest interest at 42%, compared with 39% across the five markets surveyed.
Surfside Neighbourhood followed at 37%, highlighting interest in dedicated family experiences, particularly for travellers with young children.
The ship’s featured experiences include:
- America’s Got Talent LIVE on Legend of the Seas — a stage production featuring performers from the Got Talent universe.
- Surfside Neighbourhood — a family-focused area with Splashaway Bay kids’ aquapark, a playscape with a climbing wall, and dining options including Pier 7 and Surfside Eatery.
- Category 6 Waterpark — positioned by Royal Caribbean as the largest waterpark at sea.
The appeal, therefore, extends beyond getting from one European destination to another. The time spent travelling becomes part of the holiday itself.
Dining Adds Another Layer to the Cruise Experience
Food also features prominently in the research.
Royal Railway – Legend Station was the onboard dining experience that generated the highest interest among Indian respondents, at 28%, compared with 23% across the five markets. Hollywoodland Supper Club attracted 20% interest among Indian travellers, compared with 15% across the surveyed markets.
Royal Railway – Legend Station is designed as an immersive train-car dining experience built around a five-course journey through the ancient Silk Routes. Other dining options highlighted by Royal Caribbean include Chops Grille, its signature steakhouse, and Hollywoodland Supper Club, a multi-course experience inspired by Hollywood’s golden age.
For Indian travellers, the research suggests that the appeal of cruising is therefore not limited to convenience. The ship itself becomes another destination within the itinerary, combining accommodation, dining, entertainment and leisure while the European ports provide the cultural and sightseeing experiences.
A Different Way to Experience Europe
The findings come at a time when European travel continues to be shaped by travellers looking to maximise their time and experiences within a single holiday.
With 67% of Indian respondents surveyed expressing an interest in multi-destination European cruising, Royal Caribbean is positioning Legend of the Seas as one way to combine the convenience of a single base with access to multiple Mediterranean destinations.
The ship’s Mediterranean season operates from Barcelona and Rome, with Western Mediterranean itineraries spanning destinations in Spain, France and Italy.
For travellers, that creates a vacation format in which the destination does not stop when the ship leaves port. The European itinerary continues at sea, with the journey itself becoming part of the experience.
