Cruise Trends
Three major trends have particularly shaped the cruise market since its emergence: Amenities. The cruise ship has become an important part of the cruise experience since it also represents a destination in itself. An increasing amount of amenities are being offered both on the ships and as shore experiences. Here's a rundown of 10 cruising trends to help you plan a high-seas adventure
Instagrammable Cruise Travel
• Instagram posts are driving interest in travel around the world, so much so that on an average day, there can be close to 351 million posts with the tag #travel.
Achievement Over Experience
• Experiential travel has evolved into achievement travel as cruise passengers are looking for immersive, cultural experiences beyond sightseeing. Passengers can conquer Machu Picchu or Complete culinary workshops hosted by Le Cordon Bleu chefs.
On Board with Smart Tech
• Cruise lines have adopted wearable technology for cruise passengers including keychains, necklaces and bracelets in order to provide a highly personalized travel experience while on and off the ship.
Conscious Travel
• The cruise industry is more conscientious than ever, working with local communities to preserve their heritage and implementing innovations that decrease the environmental footprint of cruise travel.
Access is the New Luxury
• Passengers are setting their sights on destinations that were previously out of reach, some only accessible now by cruise ship. They want to be among the first of their peers to experience destinations such as the Galapagos Islands and Antarctica.
Gen Z at Sea
• Like the generation before, this age bracket prefers authentic experiences over material items and has an even greater wanderlust. The appeal of multiple destinations and unique experiences, such as music festivals at sea, is helping attract this new generation of cruisers.
Off-Peak Adventures
• The off-peak season is rising in popularity, with passengers looking to escape the cold in a tropical place or embrace the chill in a new destination. Cruising offers a range of experiences during the colder months including excursions to see the Northern Lights, visits to a penguin colony and tours to European Christmas Markets.
Working Nomads
• Combining work with leisure time is on the rise. Straying far from the notion of device-free travel, many modern travelers or “digital nomads” are opting for trips where they can work remotely which cuts down on time off and lost wages. With WiFi, desks and work-friendly cafes, travelers can keep up with work while enjoying a cruise vacation.
Female-Centered Cruising
• With the number of female travelers growing, many tourism and travel companies are creating female-centered itineraries based on connecting women with other women. Female-centered cruises can create a female empowerment community at sea while allowing travelers to experience the world around them as well as visit famous feminist landmarks.
Dream Cruises Adds More Amenities for Palace Guests
• Dream Cruises announced new The Palace privileges at a private launch event onboard World Dream on Friday in Hong Kong, unveiling a new array of updated benefits for guests in the brand’s signature, high-end ship-within-a-ship concept across it fleet.
Cruise Issues
Although the cruise industry represents just a small portion of the international maritime activity, and environmental issues associated with it is not unique to this sector, cruise ships and their passengers and crews generate a more significant volum![]e of waste and pollutant emissions, both while underway and docked in port, with an also more important effect on the subset of ports and coastal areas along cruise routes. Below are some examples of cruise issues:
Crowds
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• Things can get cramped on a mega ship that holds thousands of people. The largest ship at sea, Harmony of the Seas, has awesome new features and great stage shows and amazing specialty restaurants. But it also can sail with 6,780 people onboard ... and there are only four pools for all of them to share.
Nickel-and-Diming
• Your fare covers your passage on the ship and food — and that’s usually it. If you don't factor in these extras in your budget, you can feel cheated when your $200 cruise turns out to cost hundreds more in the end.
Bad Buffet Food
• While many cruise lines have stepped up their food game, there’s still a lingering stigma over buffets. Steer clear of the most inexpensive off-season sailings as well as a mainstream line's oldest ships, since they seem have the least robust offerings. Better still, consider booking a cruise on a ship with one of the top 10 buffets at sea.
Poor Internet Connection
• Sure, you may be in the middle of the ocean, but you've probably become accustomed to super fast internet access and there's nothing more frustrating when you're paying 75 cents per minute then watching a spinning wheel on your screen.
Lack of Cleanliness
• Some of the oldest ships at sea have been around for more than 20 years, and while they’ve gone through renovations, it’s expensive to entirely hide the wear of time.
Crime Happens
• While cruise lines generally maintain the peace on board and keep a tight watch on things, bad things happen to good cruisers all the time, and much of it is not widely publicized.
The Ship Isn't Going To Wait For You
• Plane late on the day of debarkation? Lost track of time at Senor Frogs in Cancun? Stuck in traffic in a cab in Messina, Sicily? Sorry, your ship will cast off without you. The captain is not going to delay
Ship Fuel Is Very Polluting
• Committed environmentalists may want to choose a different plan for their vacation. Cruise ships use the same sort of fuel as international shipping vessels did. This fuel is a particularly dirty form of diesel.
Mother Nature May Cut Your Trip Short
• As mentioned above, travel insurance does not cover trip cancellation if operators decide that the weather is too dangerous to dare a voyage. While modern ocean liners are exceptionally safe in construction, with detailed evacuation plans, good judgment about sea conditions is still essential for a safe voyage.