As cruise demand continues to grow in 2026, Slojourn Studio says the biggest opportunity for resorts and hotels is happening before and after the sailing, with more travellers building meaningful time on land rather than treating ports as brief in-and-out stops.
Fiona Cogar, Slojourn Studio Sales Director, said the shift reflected a desire for deeper connection.
“If we think about travel as a form of artwork, cruising is the sketched outline of a journey, while time on land is the painting that fills in the detail and adds the colour and beauty,” Ms Cogar said.
In Cambodia, travellers sailing through Southeast Asia are extending their stay before river itineraries begin, choosing Song Saa Private Island in the Koh Rong archipelago for overwater villas, jungle sanctuaries and the newly launched Saraan Sanctuaries wellbeing centre.
In Santorini, the ANDRONIS hotel collection allows guests to move fluidly across four properties, accessing shared restaurants, infinity pools and spas while exploring vineyard landscapes and Cycladic cooking classes well beyond the typical cruise stop in Oia.
On Crete, Daios Cove offers a counterbalance to weeks of movement between Mediterranean ports, with the KĒPOS by GOCO wellbeing centre focused on hydrotherapy and recovery, alongside cultural access to the Palace of Knossos and traditional tile-painting workshops.
For travellers sailing the Ganges, DMC Anecdotes designs extensions that unlock regional festivals, private encounters with craftspeople and textile traditions, offering deeper access to India beyond the riverbank.
In Italy, specialist DMC Italy Charme curates slower transitions between sea and land, from private villa stays in Tuscany to immersive culinary journeys through Puglia.
“Italy is not a destination to be skimmed. When travellers take the time to stay on land and work with a local expert, they start to live it, breathe it, and understand it in a way that simply isn’t possible from a ship,” Ms Cogar said.
