Hungarian startup digitizing cruise bookings could join the 4 billionaires’ club this year

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 03. 31. 10:14

CLICKnCRUISE has raised capital from angel investors, including József Szigetvári, former CEO of Szallas Group, valuing the company at HUF 1.3 billion. The cruise booking platform is growing rapidly: in 2024, the number of passengers increased by two and a half times, who have booked trips worth more than HUF 2 billion so far, and the company expects a transaction value of HUF 4 billion by 2025.

The CLICKnCRUISE team has expanded: founders Petra Hajdu-Pásztor and Ákos Tóth-Máté have been joined by angel investors József Szigetvári, former CEO of Szallas Group and current venture partner of PortfoLion, at a company value of HUF 1.3 billion. The expert with a decade and a half of experience in company building and management not only supports the company with capital, but also actively helps its dynamic growth as a mentor. Other investors include András Dunai, former partner at Lead Ventures and former head of digital at Sanoma Hungary; Tomáš Pětivoký, founder and CEO of Dine4Fit and former investor in Szallas Group; and Gábor Szabadi, former transaction advisor at EY, who later supported the implementation of Szallas Group’s growth strategy in M&A and controlling.

In recent years, cruise lines have been trying to reach more and more European travelers, while the digitalization of the industry has also taken off – primarily in the area of on-board experiences and services. However, the digitalization of cruise booking is still in its early stages. Recognizing this market niche, CLICKnCRUISE was established in 2021 to make cruise booking digitally accessible and simpler. The company’s CEO also confirmed the rapid growth of the platform. “In 2024, the number of our passengers increased 2.5 times compared to 2023,” said Petra Hajdu-Pásztor, founder of CLICKnCRUISE. “Since our launch, more than 5,000 people have booked cruises through the platform, the generated transaction value exceeded 2 billion forints, and our Hungarian passengers spent a total of 22,000 nights on board.” She added that by 2025, the total transaction value is expected to exceed 4 billion forints.

CLICKnCRUISE has also received industry recognition: MSC Cruises awarded the company the “Best Growth Achievement” award in both 2023 and 2024. József Szigetvári said the following about the company’s vision and growth strategy: “We expected a gradual recovery in tourism after the pandemic, but in comparison we have experienced a leapfrog growth. The joy of discovery, the desire for experiences, the digitalization of cruise bookings and the favorable price-value ratio all contribute to making cruises increasingly popular among Hungarians.
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