Vacations and Travel - Going On Cruises—ports And Options

A New Generation of Cruisers

For many travelers, few experiences compare to sailing to exotic destinations on a cruise ship. According to the Cruise Lines International Association, an organization of

TABLE 7.5

nineteen member cruise lines, the cruise industry grew by an average of more than 8% each year from 1980 to 2003. In 1980 1.4 million Americans took cruises. In 2003 about 8.2 million people went on a cruise. (See Table 7.5.)

Although the North American cruise industry suffered in the aftermath of the events of September 11, 2001, according to the CLIA the industry had already rebounded by February 2002. Several of the CLIA's member cruise lines reported record numbers of reservations made in the first three weeks of January 2002, the period known in the cruise industry as the "wave period" because it usually provided a good indication of booking activity for the balance of the year.

CLIA research has found that cruising appeals to Americans seeking to be pampered and to enjoy fine dining, as well as to those who wished to visit several destinations. Cruising was also considered better than other vacations in terms of ease of planning, being a good value, and offering quality entertainment. Historically, most cruise passengers were over the age of sixty. Modern cruise vacationers were generally younger, more active, and adventurous. The CLIA looked at the demographic characteristics of its target market—Americans age twenty-five and older, who had household incomes of more than $20,000 per year. (See Table 7.6.) They found that typical cruisers within this sample of the population were:

TABLE 7.6

• Nearly evenly distributed among all age ranges. One-fifth were under forty, nearly two-fifths were forty to fifty-nine, and the remaining two-fifths were over the age of sixty. The average age was fifty-two years
• Almost equally male (50%) and female (50%)
• Predominantly married (78%)
• Spread among all income ranges, but with an average income of $71,000
• More than twice as likely to be retired (37%) as other vacationers (17%)

According to the CLIA, from 1997 to 2003 cruises sailed, in general, at about 90% of capacity. In 2003 the average length of cruises was 6.9 days. (See Table 7.7.) Cruises ranged in cost from approximately $75 to more than $500 per day per adult, depending on cabin choices, upgrades, and other features, but nearly all included meals and entertainment. Children often traveled free or at reduced cost. Growth was predicted in all types of cruises, especially short cruises (one to five days).

Unprecedented Cruise Options

According to the organization's Web site (www.cruising.org), CLIA-member lines visited 1,800 ports of call around the world during 2004. From Antarctica to the Caribbean, and Africa to the Mississippi River, cruises reached virtually all waters of the world. Cruise ship passengers could visit ancient Buddhist temples in Indonesia, sip cappuccino in Venice, watch whales on the Pacific Coast, scuba dive in the Caribbean, or shop in Turkey. Cruises were sometimes organized around a particular theme, which could include big band or jazz music; arts and crafts; wine and food; or film. For passengers who preferred relaxing, as opposed to stimulating vacations, the opportunity to simply lounge in a deck chair or read was enjoyable. Cruise ship cuisine is legendary, as is the pampering most cruisers experienced.

TABLE 7.7

The most popular cruise locations in 2004 were the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Alaska, the Bahamas, the Panama Canal, western Mexico, Europe, and Bermuda. (See Table 7.8.) Short cruises were popular, with 32.9% of those who cruised in 2003 going on two-to five-day excursions. (See Table 7.9.) Many people also enjoyed day trips, also known as "cruises to nowhere," which typically included gambling.

In an effort to attract families, many ships offered extensive youth facilities and programs that included kids-only shore excursions. The CLIA reported that about 18% of people going on cruises in 2003 traveled with children, up from 15% two years earlier. Cruise lines such as Disney's Big Red Boat were designed and outfitted to appeal to families.