UK cruisers report spending same on fares in 2015 as 2011; Med stays top destination; Two thirds of cruisers are below average retirement age*, according to Cruise Critic findings
Desirable destinations – next cruise
Survey participants were asked which destinations they would most likely visit on their next cruise, and while the Mediterranean is king, the
Caribbean is hot on its heels. The top five choices were:
Young at heart – cruise is for all ages
Cruising company - travel companions
When asked with whom they are most likely to cruise, a huge 84% of respondents selected their spouse/partner. Other selections included:
Regular wave rider – cruise frequency
Three quarters (74%) of those surveyed cruise regularly (every couple of years or more), with a quarter (25%) taking to the high seas several times a year.
It's all about the money – cruise fare cost
So much choice – number of lines sailed with
Cruise don't lose – deals
With many cruise deals now available both on and offline, survey participants were asked where they look for these, and the Internet came out top:
Planning tips – the importance of reviews
When planning a trip, cruise reviews remain the most important tool to help with the process, ahead of advice from family/friends and travel agents:
"It's interesting to see cruisers reporting that spending is flat, most likely because cruise lines have looked to onboard costs and add-ons to increase revenues, to keep base fares competitive. To this end, it's important to make sure that when you are booking a cruise, you look at what the total cost of your holiday is likely to be, including shore excursions and onboard spending. As a rough measure, we advise budgeting for about a third of the base fare in additional costs," explained Cruise Critic, UK editor, Adam Coulter.
The survey, which ran on the Cruise Critic site in 2015, received responses from 5,814 people.
*Based on current UK state pension age for men.
About Cruise Critic (www.cruisecritic.co.uk)
Cruise Critic® is an online cruise guide, offering a comprehensive resource for cruise travellers, from first-time cruisers to avid cruise enthusiasts. The site features more than 100,000 cruise reviews and hosts the world's largest online cruise community where travellers share experiences and opinions with fellow cruisers. Cruise Critic was the first consumer cruise site on the Internet, launched in
October 1995 by The Independent Traveler, Inc., a subsidiary of TripAdvisor, Inc.
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Media Contact:
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