Special Interest  highlights  for Luxury Cruise marketers -

• The more expensive types of cruises tend to host more repeaters; for example, 77% of Destination, Luxury and Premium cruisers have sailed more than once. Contemporary lines attract the largest share of first timers (40 %.)
• Cruisers agree that cruise vacations are a good way to sample destinations they may wish to visit again (80%). The more experienced/seasoned Destinations and Luxury cruisers are most likely to have returned to a port for a non-cruise vacation and are more likely to add on a couple of days (43% -- 2 days) in the embarkation/debarkation port city as well.
• Cruisers spend considerably more (almost 50%) on vacations than non-cruise vacationers on their trips ($1,770 vs. $1,200).  By cruise type, passengers on Luxury Lines ($3,650) spend the most, followed by the Destination/Specialty/Niche ($2,940), Premium ($2,180), and Contemporary ($1,720).

• Consumer interest in cruising continues to be strong, despite the economy and fuel costs; 77% of past cruisers and 55% of those who have yet to take a cruise expressed interest in doing so within the next three years.

(The research was conducted online by TNS, using a nationally representative panel (1 million+ households) of the U.S. household population. It was done March 25 to April 9 when higher gas prices and bad economic news was already taking hold and included interviews with 2,426 U.S. residents.)

* Median age of cruisers is now 46, down from 49 in 2006; cruises continue to attract younger travelers.

* The Caribbean was named as the top cruise destination by 43% of respondents; Alaska, Bahamas, Hawaii and the Mediterranean Greek Island were also top choices.

* Cruisers are the premier leisure travelers; they take 39% more vacations per year than non-cruisers and take more types of vacations with nearly one in four being a cruise.

* Travel agents continue to dominate cruise sales – especially at the higher end. 88% of luxury cruisers use a travel agent while just 75% of contemporary cruisers do so. Even when not cruising, cruisers use agents at higher rates than non-cruisers.

Of particular interest to luxury marketers:

* The more expensive types of cruises tend to host more repeaters; for example, 77% of Destination, Luxury and Premium cruisers have sailed more than once. Contemporary lines attract the largest share of first timers (40%.)

* Cruisers agree that cruise vacations are a good way to sample destinations they may wish to visit again (80%). The more experienced/seasoned Destinations and Luxury cruisers are most likely to have returned to a port for a non-cruise vacation and are more likely to add on a couple of days (43% -- 2 days) in the embarkation/debarkation port city as well.

* Cruisers spend considerably more (almost 50%) on vacations than non-cruise vacationers on their trips ($1,770 vs. $1,200).  By cruise type, passengers on Luxury Lines ($3,650) spend the most, followed by the Destination/ Specialty/Niche ($2,940), Premium ($2,180), and Contemporary ($1,720).

Box: Categorizing The Cruise Lines

CLIA breaks down its members lines into four categories; criteria are not rigid but more like guidelines; the categories are as follows:

* Luxury: Includes Crystal, Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas, etc.

* Destination (lines where the focus is on expedition and exploration rather than onboard services and amenities): Includes Hurtigruten, a Norwegian line specializing in expedition sailings.

* Premium: Upscale lines like Princess, Celebrity and Holland America Line

* Contemporary: Broadest base of passengers; Includes Royal Caribbean, NCL, Carnival