Motivational Considerations of the New Generations of Cruising

Abstract

Cruise tourism is undoubtedly a high growth segment of the tourism industry, averaging an annual passenger growth of 7.4% since 1990. Behind this growth is a significant shift in the profile of the cruise passenger. What used to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience reserved for an older generation, now attracts repeat passengers, with as high as 85% having cruised before. Remarkably, the average age of cruisers has dropped from 65 years in the early 1970s, to 46 years in 2008, calling for a deeper understanding of the new generations of cruisers.