I love a good travel shortcut – anything that saves me time researching my next adventure gets my attention.
So, when artificial intelligence (AI) started making its way into travel planning, I was curious.
Could a chatbot help me find my next cruise, compare destinations and pull together a holiday without spending hours jumping between websites?
The answer is yes, to a point. And with Princess Cruises bringing its cruise search experience into ChatGPT, there’s another reason to take a closer look.
But before we hand over our passports and let the robots take charge, let’s talk about what AI can do, whether other cruise lines will jump on board and why the human touch still matters.
Princess Cruises gets on board
Princess Cruises made headlines in September when it announced it had become the first global cruise line to launch a native app in ChatGPT.
The experience allows travellers to explore cruise options through everyday conversation, searching and refining itineraries, destinations, pricing and availability without having to navigate multiple menus.
Princess has confirmed that its app is also available as a connector in Claude, another AI assistant. Travellers can add the Princess Cruises connector through Claude’s settings and ask questions about cruise options. According to Princess, the ChatGPT experience is available to Australian users.
It’s an intriguing development, particularly for cruisers who enjoy researching independently.
Will other cruise lines join Princess?
I suspect the industry will be watching closely. Cruise lines invest heavily in marketing their ships, destinations and onboard experiences.
If travellers increasingly turn to AI assistants to research their holidays, being visible in those conversations could become another important way to attract customers.
Rather than opening several cruise line websites and starting from scratch, you could begin with a conversation and refine your options as you go.
For cruise lines, the opportunity is to connect these conversations with reliable, up-to-date information about their itineraries, fares and availability. Princess has taken a step in that direction by making its cruise app available within AI platforms.
But I wouldn’t expect every cruise line to rush into the same approach overnight.
Developing a useful AI integration involves reliable data, compatible booking systems and a clear pathway from browsing to purchasing.
There’s a commercial question, too. Will AI-generated recommendations translate into bookings and will travellers trust the results enough to commit their holiday budget?
At this stage, the prospect of competitors introducing similar experiences to Princess remains an industry question rather than an announced trend.
The really interesting possibility is a future where travellers can compare several cruise lines, current fares, cabin availability and itineraries through one AI assistant.
The challenge will be ensuring those comparisons are comprehensive and accurate, rather than limited to the brands connected to the platform.
What are cruisers saying?
I asked the Cruising With Honey community whether they’d use AI to research or book their next holiday and the responses were fascinating.
Some are already embracing the technology, while others are firmly in the camp of letting a human handle the important stuff.
Angela Kate uses AI regularly for analysing data and summarising information.
Travel agent Michelle Feilberg has used ChatGPT to build a travel booking website and a Cruise Matchmaker Tool.
Others remain cautious.
Avid cruiser Claire Hennekam admits she sometimes uses Google’s AI-powered search when researching cruises, but she’s mindful that information can be outdated or incorrect, even when delivered with absolute confidence.
But here’s the interesting part – she ultimately booked through her travel agent.
The travel agent’s reality check
I also spoke to Kirsty Macaulay, Mobile Travel Agent Manager at Total Travel Australia, about what she’s seeing on the frontline.
Kirsty says more clients are bringing AI-generated information to her, sometimes openly sharing proposed itineraries and asking for her opinion.
Other travellers give themselves away by confidently suggesting plans based on information that’s incorrect, outdated or missing important details.
She’s seen everything from woeful itineraries to genuinely insightful recommendations.
“Smart travellers know confidence and completeness are very different,” she said.
There are also risks around transport connections, budgets, visa information and unrealistic itineraries. Get these wrong and you could face unexpected expenses, delays or even safety concerns.
Kirsty believes experienced travel agents bring something technology cannot easily replicate – judgement, context and an ongoing relationship with their clients.
Will AI replace your travel agent?
Judging by my community’s responses, not just yet.
Several cruisers made it clear they would continue booking through a travel agent, even if they used AI to help with their research.
I suspect plenty of travellers will find themselves somewhere in the middle. They’ll experiment with AI, but when it’s time to commit, they’ll still want reliable information and a person they can contact.
AI might help you find an itinerary, but it won’t necessarily know which ship best suits your family, whether a particular cabin location will bother you or how much time you should allow between an international flight and embarkation.
Honey’s hot tips for using AI
If you’re ready to give AI a whirl, here’s how I’d approach it.
Start with your wish list, use it to compare options, check the fine print, remember the extras and know when to call in the experts.
Final thoughts, for now
I see AI as a helpful assistant, not the captain of the ship, and will use it to explore, compare and get inspired.
And if the day comes when one AI assistant can genuinely compare every cruise line, check live availability and help me find the perfect sailing without missing a single detail, I’ll certainly be interested.
Because while a chatbot might help you find a fabulous cruise, you still want to make sure you’re boarding the right ship, at the right port, on the right day.
