Cruise travel is on a strong path to recovery, with a majority of ships set to return by year’s end.
And consumers are ready to board.
Most cruise lines have been inclined to only accept vaccinated travelers on their ships, according to a recent Cruise Critic survey on consumer sentiment. The survey discovered that 90% of passengers support such health measures, including pre-cruise COVID-19 testing.
“The key takeaways from the survey are that cruisers are still excited to take a cruise vacation, but they want to sail closer to home and on longer itineraries,” said Colleen McDaniel, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic, in a press release. "But the most significant finding is that our readers remain very confident in the cruise lines' response to the pandemic and that the lines' health and safety protocols are working, encouraging guests to again take a cruise vacation."
The most significant finding is that our readers remain very confident in the cruise lines' response to the pandemic and that the lines' health and safety protocols are working.
The survey also reveals that 66% of more than 5,000 respondents currently have a cruise booked, and 65% plan to sail within the next six months. With Europe cruises less in vogue (only 15% intend to take an ocean cruise there, with about 5% preferring European rivers), nearly half (49%) are instead opting for a cruise to the Caribbean that leaves from the U.S.
Meanwhile, preferences for potential six- to nine-day sailings (42%) are outpacing three- to five-day voyages (4%). More than one-third of respondents (38%) are actually considering 10- to 14-day cruises, but only 17% plan to book longer cruises of 15 days or more.
Prior to COVID-19, this was a marginal booking factor, but now consumers have come to expect flexible cancellation policies, and we believe this will be a permanent part of the travel landscape going forward.
"We're seeing the need for a flexible cancellation policy across the board in travel, from cruises to airlines to hotels and resorts," McDaniel said. "Prior to COVID-19, this was a marginal booking factor, but now consumers have come to expect flexible cancellation policies, and we believe this will be a permanent part of the travel landscape going forward.”
In fact, 54% indicated that flexible cancellation policies were a top consideration for planning a cruise right now. Other top considerations were cruise destination (67%) and price (62%).
Particularly important are departure ports that can be driven to versus flying, according to one-third of respondents. At this time, 28% prefer smaller ships, while only 10% have an affinity for larger vessels.
Are Cruisers Planning to Book With a Travel Agent?
Perhaps somewhat disheartening to travel advisors, the survey found that one-third of participants are likely to book a cruise directly online.
“The survey results regarding the cruise-booking method of choice are likely reflective of the fact that Cruise Critic's readers and community are largely avid or experienced cruisers who feel they need less guidance in booking a cruise,” explained the Cruise Critic release.
Still, 14% plan to reserve online with a local travel agent, and 7% plan to reserve with an online travel agency (OTA). Of those preferring phone guidance, 14.6% anticipate booking via a local travel agent (or an equal amount with the cruise line itself) and 6.4% via an OTA. Lastly, 6.8% prefer reserving in-person with their travel agent, leaving only 1.8% to book while onboard.
The Details
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