TRAVEL DYSMORPHIA IS REAL AND YOU’RE LIKELY FEELING IT

If you've ever scrolled through social media and felt a pang of regret about your passport's lack of stamps, you're not alone as there is now a name for that feeling: travel dysmorphia.

According to a new national survey commissioned by cruise-booking and travel company Scenic Group, 69% of Americans feel behind on their travel goals especially when comparing themselves to others. 

The research, conducted by firm Talker, also found that just 10% of U.S. adults have reached the travel milestones they once envisioned, and nearly one in five feel embarrassed about how little they’ve explored. Many blame factors like not knowing where to travel, financial strain, and time constraints like not enough paid time off.  31% of surveyors said they are unsure of when they’ll travel next.

Why does travel dysmorphia matter? Most of us have it

Travel isn’t just about checking destinations off a list. Scenic’s survey revealed that 72% of Americans said travel improved their emotional well-being while top dream destinations included Japan, Paris, Greece, Australia, and Iceland.

But there’s also a social component at play. Over half of Americans say they’ve traveled less than influencers they follow. A third admit that friends’ and family travel stories heighten their own feelings of inadequacy. 

Have travel dysmorphia? One travel company is telling you to book their trips

In an effort to sell the tour packages that Scenic Group offers, President Ken Muskat said that it could be the solution to travel dysmorphia.

"At the heart of travel dysmorphia is the tension between aspiration and action," Ken Muskat, president of Scenic Group USA and Latin America, said in a statement. "Our research shows travelers aren't lacking the desire — they're held back by time, planning stress, and cost."

The Living List, a new travel pass program that the company just launched for users who want to lock in several cruises and expedition packages at once for a single cost, comes in three tiers: the Explorer Pass starts at $44,000 for 2 people and locks in three trips, the Journey Pass costs $86,000 and gets you five trips and the Legacy Pass that locks in 10 trips for $240,000.

Each pass includes flexible sailing dates, multiple travel styles, and fixed rates. This type of pass is similar to a subscription model for travel.

2025-09-16T21:55:15Z