The cruise industry is a rapidly growing segment of world tourism, contributing to $138B in total economic output and 1.2 million jobs globally in 2022. Cruise tourists create jobs and opportunities for local communities worldwide, with every 24 cruiser creating one full-time equivalent job. Cruise line executives argue that resorts and land vacations are their main competitors, but cruising is considered a better value.
Cruise tourism in the Caribbean brings vital revenue for many smaller ports and island nations, but the region is also heavily impacted by the booming industry. Globally, travel and tourism’s direct contribution to GDP was approximately 7.7 trillion U.S. dollars in 2022, a 7.6% share of the global GDP.
To decide between a cruise or an all-inclusive resort, consider factors such as what you like to do on your vacation and how you spend your money. All-inclusives tend to include more food and beverages, while cruises do not have free alcohol. Cruise ships make their money when passengers are on board buying things like drinks, participating in specialty classes, and spa services.
Cruise tourism has become a big business, with the Caribbean now accounting for more than 35% of all vacations globally. Cruises are no longer as inexpensive compared to land-based resorts, but they offer similar peace of mind and plenty to do with kids clubs, waterslides, and Disney princesses on board. Cruises tend to be cheaper than hotel vacations, which is good news for these stocks. This dynamic market includes package holidays, hotel accommodations, private vacation rentals, camping experiences, and cruises.
📹 Cruise vs All-Inclusive: How to decide with confidence
How to decide which is better for you: cruise vs All-Inclusive. Which is better, an all-inclusive resort, or a cruise? The answer really …
Are cruises good for the economy?
The cruise industry generates over $150 billion in annual economic activity, providing employment for 1. 17 million individuals and paying over $50 billion in salaries and wages globally.
How important is cruise tourism in the tourism industry?
The cruise industry is a significant revenue source for port cities and surrounding areas, providing job creation, port fees, and increased tourism spending. It also offers multiplier benefits, as passengers and crew members spend money on local goods and services, such as hospitality and shore excursions. Cruise ships dock in ports for several hours or days, allowing passengers to explore nearby cities, attractions, and heritage sites.
A study by the Nova School of Business and Economics found that the cruise industry generated €840 million for the Portuguese economy in 2019 and supported 8, 863 jobs. Despite reduced passenger volumes due to pandemic restrictions, the cruise sector generated €41bn in economic impact in 2021 across Europe.
What are the disadvantages of tourism in the Caribbean?
The Caribbean region’s tourism industry, which accounted for 14 percent of the country’s GDP in 2013, has significant environmental impacts, including marine pollution, degradation, and high demand for water and energy resources. Coral reef degradation is a significant concern. The tourism sector and public sector are working to protect the environment for economic and ethical reasons, but these efforts are not always effective.
High tourism levels are due to the extravagant lifestyle options offered by tourists, which consumes three times more water per day than residents. Waste management in the tourism industry is inefficient, and waste services in many countries struggle to handle the large number of tourists. Cruise ships also contribute to marine pollution, producing 210, 000 gallons of sewage, 1, 000, 000 gallons of grey water, 125 gallons of toxic chemicals and hazardous waste, 8 tons of garbage, and 25, 000 gallons of oily bilge water.
Despite attempts to regulate this discharge, most of this waste is still dumped into the sea. Some cruise ships are managing their waste through advanced sewage systems, shipboard recycling programs, and increased use of biodegradable alternatives to plastic.
How much profit does a cruise make per trip?
In 2024, the cruise industry is expected to grow significantly, with an estimated net profit of $291 per passenger. A fully booked 7-day trip on Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas could generate $9. 8M in revenue, with profits of $1. 7M. Carnival Corporation and plc’s global revenue reached $20. 036B in 2023, a 108. 38 increase from the previous year. The global cruise market is expected to expand by 9. 29 from 2023 to 2027, reaching $35. 87B in 2027. The worldwide cruise sector will generate $30. 11B in revenue in 2024, with 323 ships operating globally and an average capacity of 3, 000 passengers.
Is the cruise industry responsible for overtourism?
While cruise ships are a notable contributor to the phenomenon of overtourism, they are not the sole factor responsible for this phenomenon.
How does cruise tourism differ from other forms of tourism?
Cruise tourism is a popular form of travel that offers an all-inclusive holiday on a ship, including accommodation, transportation, hospitality, and other services. It allows tourists to experience a multi-center holiday, visiting different destinations throughout their trip. The global cruise tourism market size was $5, 288. 8 million in 2021 and is predicted to grow with a CAGR of 10. 4 by 2031.
The industry is flourishing at a rapid pace as cruise lines adapt to new travel trends and deliver luxury travel experiences. Atlantic Canada, a luxury cruise destination, has seen a rapid surge in cruise tourism, hosting over 600 cruise ships in 2023, with 868, 938 passengers exploring the attractions of Halifax, Charlottetown, Saint John, Corner Brook, and Sydney.
The 2023 season saw a record-breaking number of cruise passenger visits, with a 74 increase in the number of passengers at the Port of Sydney and a 58 increase at the Port of Corner Brook. This rapid rise in passengers and cruise ships is anticipated to generate excellent opportunities for Atlantic Canada’s cruise tourism sector.
How wasteful are cruises?
The cruise ship industry faces the challenge of demonstrating its safety and health to the public, as it generates significant amounts of waste, including sewage, graywater, hazardous waste, solid waste, and oily bilge water. Passengers can produce up to 7. 7 pounds of waste in a single day aboard a cruise ship, which can pose risks to human health, welfare, and the environment if not properly treated and disposed of. Environmental advocates have raised concerns about the adequacy of existing laws for managing these wastes and suggest weak enforcement of existing laws.
A 2000 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that between 1993 and 1998, foreign-flag cruise ships were involved in 87 confirmed illegal discharge cases in U. S. waters. The majority of the cases involved oil or oil-based products, with 72 of the illegal discharges being accidental, 15 intentional, and 13 could not be determined. These cases have led to criminal prosecutions and multimillion-dollar fines.
In 2000, a coalition of 53 environmental advocacy groups petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to take regulatory action to address pollution by cruise ships. The petition called for an investigation of wastewater, oil, and solid waste discharges from cruise ships, and the EPA agreed to study cruise ship discharges and waste management approaches. In response, the EPA issued a background document in 2000 with preliminary information and recommendations for further assessment through data collection and public information hearings. The agency released its final Cruise Ship Discharge Assessment Report in 2009, summarizing findings of recent data collection activities, especially from cruise ships operating in Alaskan waters.
Are cruises more sustainable than flying?
Cruise ships, even the most efficient ones, emit more CO2 per passenger kilometer than a passenger jet, according to the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT). Waste is another major issue. The Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, is powered by liquefied natural gas. The ship, built by Royal Caribbean for $2bn, has 18 decks, seven swimming pools, and over 40 restaurants, bars, and lounges. It is 365m long and 35m longer than the Eiffel Tower and five times as large as the Titanic.
What are the disadvantages of cruise tourism?
A cruise offers a relaxing holiday experience with multiple stops at interesting and fun locations without the added stress of traveling between locals. Cruises allow for more luggage storage, no need for unpacking and repacking at each location, and plenty of activities, entertainment, and company while being shipped between destinations. They also allow access to places that are not possible to see in any other manner or offer opportunities to see something from comfort that would otherwise require gruelling travel or sleeping conditions.
However, there are some negatives to consider, such as the need to unpack less often, not get to experience local hotels/hostels, and limited time in each local. Additionally, cruises may be expensive and not include activities or company that would otherwise require grueling travel or sleeping conditions.
What are the economic impacts of cruise tourism?
In 2022, the global activities of the cruise industry yielded substantial economic benefits, with an estimated $137. 6 billion in output, $68. 9 billion in gross domestic product (GDP), 1. 2 million jobs, and $42. 8 billion in wages. These figures represent a robust economic impact despite the pandemic-related decline in passenger volumes. Further insights on deployment, passenger volume, and pricing are available for examination across 3, 000 ports and destinations.
Where do cruises make the most money?
It is anticipated that the three principal cruise line parent companies, Carnival Corp., Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, and Royal Caribbean Group, will collectively generate revenue of 66. The total revenue is expected to be 1, 670. The figures for the remaining two companies are 5 and 69. A research report by Truist Securities indicates that the respective figures will be 6 percent in 2024. It is anticipated that onboard spending at these brands will account for the remaining 33 percent. 9. 32 The remaining 5, and 30. This equates to 4 percent of revenue in 2024.
📹 9 Ways the Economy is Affecting Cruising Right Now
Cruise lines and cruise passengers aren’t immune to inflation & economic uncertainties of the times. The economy is affecting the …
After perusal a previous article of yours, I looked at a booking we had. The cost was reduced, so I contacted them. Long story, short…they reduced our cost by $300, increased our onboard credits by $100, and upgraded us from a balcony to a mini-suite. All of our travel companions had similar reduction in cost. Thank you so much.
We’ve only been on one cruise so far and when trying to decide our big family trip for this year, we chose to do another cruise based on pricing. I booked 2 balcony rooms for 6 people for $3900 including gratuities and all! A beach house for the same number of days was AT LEAST $2800 and you still have to buy food and plan activities for that week. Going out to eat with 6 people is not cheap so it comes out cheaper when they can eat all they want on a cruise. PLUS we got $700 onboard credit to spend so that makes it an even better deal!
We are taking the cruises we really want to take. We’re getting up there in years and don’t know how much more the body can take. Currently we’re doing a land tour and are putting on 15,000 steps a day! With a cruise, you are on the ship and have more control–you do what you want to do when you want to do it.
Used to cruise 2-4 times/yr. Covid didn’t change my cruising frequency, cruise lines did. When they started charging double for solo travelers I was forced to cut back to every other year. Very sad as I do longer more exotic itineraries so it’s just too expensive now given their pricing model. So instead of sailing 6 to 8 times in a 2 year period I only travel once. That’s a lot of lost revenue considering how much I typically spend in shore tours and other onboard items.
I live in the northwestern United States, and for me the nearest port is Seattle. So if I really want the cruising experience without having to pay nearly an extra 1,000 for airfare, I just book an Alaska cruise. I have found Norwegian to be a tremendous value for solo cruisers, as some of their ships include a neighborhood of solo cabins – an excellent touch. I wish all cruise lines would be as accommodating to their solo demographic.
This influx of cruise bookings should not be used as a baseline for growth projections. Many people, like myself, booked our cruises years ago but were unable to travel due to restrictions. It’s been 3 years and we are finally able to take our long awaited vacations. I’m sure a large number of cruisers were also lucky enough to book at the older rates vs the current rates. Our sailing more than doubled since we booked it. We could definitely not afford to go with the current prices.
Cruising can be more expensive than another trip/vacation. On average, a 7 day cruise with an excursion in each port, one night pre and 3 nights post (including hotel, food and other excursions) is about $530 a day per person. This does not include airfare. In comparison, 25 day trip to New Zealand and Australia is about $600 per day and includes airfare and excusions. Quite a few meals are included. You just have to decide what is best for you and your budget. What is the best bang for your buck!
Cost increases and cutbacks in quality and service have deterred me from cruising moving forward. I did 83 nights at sea last year and have 87 nights at sea this year (2023 booked and paid for in 2022). Costs are too high moving forward and I have stopped booking future cruise travel until significant incentives return for solo travelers. Paying 100% single supplement for an imaginary roommate is insanity and I refuse to do it. Thank you for information on your articles. 10:36
I am/was a frequent cruiser but my home port is closing at the end of 2024 😢. Currently I live 3.3 miles from the port so my transportation cost is $12 for an Uber. My last cruise everything included taxes, port fees, onboard spending, gratuities was $68 a day. And because I live and work so close I work the day of the cruise and board later and then go strait from the ship to work when it’s over, on a 4 day cruise I don’t even have to take a day off from work. Cruising has been an amazing deal for me. Sure hoping one of our local communities will open one of their ports to passengers for 2025. My cruise life will have to change drastically if not.
Funny as you were posting this, I was searching for cruises on different cruise line then we normally go. I also am not going to be loyal to one cruise line over another if I’m getting a better value on another ship, not necessarily a better price, but a better value with another cruise line is really becoming quite the game. I hope you enjoy your Virgin voyage. Can’t wait to hear your review.
No doubt, we are in interesting times. While cost are increasing, I believe you just have to look for the best value cruises. We always evaluate each cruise we are looking at booking on a total cost per night basis. Don’t be fooled by the ads that offer a percent reduction on the cruise cost, or a fare reduction for the second cruiser, or onboard credit. We have found in most instances they have just increased the cost of the cruise to account for the reduced costs or promotions. Like most retired people, we have a budget for our travel and vacations. As cost increase, we will be doing less cruises each year or looking at other vacation options. Additionally, we are most troubled by the reduction in the quality of the food and dinning options. I am looking forward to your Virgin Cruise review.
I am driving to our cruise ports simply because I don’t have faith in the airlines operating on time. I do fly in a day prior to embarkation, but coming up is hurricane season, tornadoes, thunderstorms, you can’t rely on their planes operating. Plus with all the anger and craziness on the airplanes who wants to deal with that situation.
Great article! I’m glad you mentioned the thing about people trying new cruise lines. Up until recently we were Holland America all the way but then HAL cancelled one of our cruises and it forced us to venture out a little. We’re trying Celebrity this year and Princess next year. Nothing against HAL because we still love them, but there’s no harm in a little variety.
Hello, Ilana! Great article, as always! Welcome to Florida!! My two cents worth: For now, I’m thinking cruising is a “lagging indicator.” I think that since people were restricted from travel for almost two years, they are now “feeling free” again, and taking advantage of the covid relief funds many simply saved. Some of us realize that “now is the future,” so we’re making time to travel instead of postponing it for “later in life.” (After all, some people don’t make it to “later in life.” 😢) Yes, there are many first time cruisers. However, I wonder if this trend will last if the cruise companies keep raising prices and cutting those “luxurious perks” that make cruising so special and are not normally found with land vacations. As for my family and I, we love cruising, and will take the best we can for as long as we can! However, we will always be looking for the “bargains within what we want,” and will need to take more time between cruises. 🤷♀️🙊🙂❤ (Boy, that’s about a dollar’s worth of two cents! 😂)
Thank you for the great article. To answer your question, in order to get value for the money, my husband and I are taking longer cruises and linking the cruise to some sort of land-based trip. We live in Fort Collins, Colorado, so there is no port near us. When we pay for a flight, we figure that we might as well enjoy all that the area we travel to has to offer. For example, last year we sailed on the Apex in September from Amsterdam to Rome. We had never been to Amsterdam, so we arrived a week early to travel throughout the area, went on the 13-day cruise from there to France, Spain, Portugal, and Rome, then we flew to Madrid for a week to visit friends we hand’t seen since January, 2020. While it was expensive, we planned for the month-long holiday and soaked up every bit we could. This year, we are doing another month from Amsterdam throughout Scandinavia, and we have booked land-based trips on the front and back end again. We are retired, so we are flexible with time. We have been married 30 years, and travel has always been our gift to each other for any birthday, holiday, anniversary, etc.
Just returned from a southern Caribbean cruise on the NCL EPIC and it was running near full capacity AND heard from the cruise director that the one following ours was fully sold out. Seems people are still willing to put out the $$ for some fun in the sun. We booked our cruise last April. Enjoyed it thoroughly. Food was great, especially in the specialty restaurants . Our pkg. including balcony room, 2 specialty restaurants, beverage package (drinks up to $15), 2 X $50 shore excursion credits, gratuities, flights for two and ship to airport transfers was $4650 Cdn. including taxes. Something else to note: if you hold at least 100 shares of stock in Norwegian, they grant you a $100 shipboard credit. Nice perk.
Some cutbacks didn’t really bother me (1 cleaning) but others did (like no Fun Times guide.) We booked our cruise before they lifted the vax requirements and I noticed a big jump in prices after that. The hard part about cruising and flying is the pre-cruise hotel stay, which can be quite pricey, and the lack of flexibility on flights home. You can’t snag those early, cheaper flights.
Would love to try cruising again (we sailed once in 2005). We own timeshares and even though we pay annual maintenance fees (never going away, and not planning on selling off any more units), the cost is still cheaper than a cruise. We get a 2 BR/2 BA “apartment” with full kitchen and washer and dryer for $290/week. Yes, we pay extra for food and entertainment, but prices hard to beat. It’s for this reason, we don’t spend thousands of dollars extra for a cruise. We still have to pay airfare to fly to our Florida timeshare (or another city where we may vacation, like Las Vegas). Therefore, we aren’t the typical vacationer that cruise lines would market to us. But I still love your articles, because I’m learning what to expect should we ever decide to take a cruise in between our timeshare rentals.
I sail NCL because they offer a 10% military discount and that really increases the value along with the Free at Sea drink package and specialty dining. My ex wife and i sailed RCCL and i wanted something different when i became a solo. I saw a YouTube article about NCL solo cabins and i was sold. It doesn’t bother me about the housekeeping going to once per day. Twice seemed a little much.
Hello: I’m still cruising and trying to make up for time that was lost during the Covid shutdown. At 68yo I’m looking at the reality that I may not have as many good travel years left. There are still a few items on my bucket list. – To save expenses I’m going back to ocean view rooms when weather conditions may not be as conducive to sitting out on my balcony. (I have a Greenland – Iceland trip in 24 and sitting outside just doesn’t appeal to me) And I’m looking at more local trips as opposed to international trips for the near future. I see more offers now for extended cruises that don’t require leaving North America first.
Hi Ilana! I’m on a cruise right now and met several first timers. They were debating if cruising or all inclusive resorts offered the best value. The feelings seemed to split down the middle on that. Personally, I feel that cruising offers incredible value. While I’ve never stayed in an all inclusive, I have, and still do, road trips. Depending on where you go and how you spend, either one can be cheaper or more expensive. Overall, I spend more on a crui, but also feel I get much more. That’s my definition of value. As far as the economy, right now, I’m not letting it affect my plans. But I will make some cutbacks if the stock market doesn’t recover soon. This would mean going on fewer cruises to less exotic locations.
I’m saving up for our first cruise. We specifically chose cruising because we live in a cruise port, I’m disabled so walking is strenuous and difficult, and a cruise can bring things I want to me. Let me explain… I want to attend shows. I want to eat nice food. I want live music. Live comedy. I want to see places I otherwise wouldn’t. I want to be among people who just want to have fun: and people who enjoy providing that fun! In a cruise ship, I can reach a show for the difficulty-level of using an elevator and walking no more than half the cruise ship is long. I can then go find a good place to eat good food. And because the two bits of fun have worn me out, I can go to my cabin (half the length of the ship plus elevator) and have a nap. If that nap has caused me to be awake when most of the passengers are asleep, I can find one of the places they aren’t, or go to the library and read a book I’ve never read, or go sit on a lounge chair and watch the ocean. And if I’m hungry, the buffet (hopefully) is 24-hour. My physiotherapy goal is to build up my strength and core muscles so I can walk half the length of a cruise ship. Ideally the full distance, but the must-do is half. I just hope that cruise cutbacks don’t stop me from enjoying the rewards of that goal.
The main thing I noticed on the Princess cruise I recently got back from was the food wasn’t as good of quality compared to the cruises I took 20 years ago the Cornish game hens were cut into smaller portions there were other instances of stinginess but who cuts up a chicken that is tiny to begin with? My friend the travel agent said all cruise lines are tightening their belts
Yes the economy is definitely effecting my cruising plans as I am trying to spend less this year. Last year we did 2 cruises where we had to fly to FL (from NY) and it was costly. The cost to get to airport, flights, hotel stay, rides to port etc. This year (with my great casino deals 😅) decided to do one out of NY to eliminate those added costs. I like the cruises out of Florida bc they have more destinations and boats but I had to be money conscientious this year. I’m excited though as we will be going on the boat from Italy and going to 2 islands I haven’t been to yet!
The economy is forcing me to make some cuts in my cruise. I will probably forego the specialty restaurants, some excursions, the spa, extra gratuities, shopping on board, and gym classes. I will probably have to cut cruises as traveling solo and paying double for a cabin is financially painful, especially with air travel to the ports that I can’t drive to.
Another bad thing about this “hype” is not just the price increase, but I can’t book an ideal class of room or dining time when I just felt like cruising (I used to book only 3 months ahead or less when I know I can take those days off or just simply, I was in the mood to cruise). Now, my TA tells me that I have to book at least a year ahead (or sometimes 18 months ahead) to get my ideal room, not to mention for a reasonable price!
I pick the cruises I want to do in 2023 first. I will take a B2B in Europe in June. A second cruise will do with my kids and spouses in December. I took a short date cruise to Caribbean last January, because I got a good deal on it. I also picked up a New England cruise in September. New York to Quebec City, again I bought it on my last cruise because of price. For 2024 I have booked a B2B Iceland, Greenland, Island France owns off the coast of Canada, Canada and ending in New York. I will fill in the rest of the year with short date cruises. Only down side on the short dates to sail is they have to be paid in full at time of booking. Love your show and the content you bring to it.
San Francisco is our port of choice. It’s two hours away! And we actually parked last cruise for $20/day. Way less than we expected. We have a travel agent that is a Princess Pro. Lots of perks for booking through her INCLUDING a charter bus. So we just have to get a friend to get us a few miles down the road instead of all the way into The City. And vacation starts as soon as we get on the bus. No traffic battle. And they get our bags on board the ship. This is a two cruise year. We took a “quickie” that we found for cheap. I ended up being diagnosed with a serious medical condition days before we left so that kinda put a black cloud over us, but we did precisely what we planned to do. Sleep and eat! And we watched a bunch of Love Boat episodes…because that’s what Princess does! I also had Bagels and Lox every single morning for breakfast and that was delightful. My MIL, who is a Cruiser, is taking the entire family to Alaska this summer (also out of SF on Princess). Ten days, fourteen people. Since she is a single cruiser, we take turns going with her. My BIL is her usual traveling companion cause he is retired. SHE finally retired at the beginning of 2020….work was just interfering with her cruising. So that didn’t go as well as she hoped. My husband and I were going to take a couple of 3-5 day-ers to up our loyalty level before the Alaskan, but that’s not going to happen now. We are looking to 2024 and beyond. We would love to go not out of SF, but the cost of airfare is just ridiculous.
Our family has been fortunate, so the economy hasn’t had a big effect on us. In fact our adult daughter found good price on Quantum of the Seas from Hawaii to Vancouver in April. She and I are doing a girl’s trip. Flights from Ohio are about the same cost as the cruise. We will probably spend about half the cost of flights or fare in 2 day stay prior to sailing. We got a balcony as they were less than interior when we booked.
Being that I didn’t spend any money on anything extra for nearly three years I am spending that money that I have saved now on vacations. We were fortunate that we did not lose our jobs or had any cutbacks during the past three years. We took a Carnival Cruise last October 10 days. We have an NCL Cruise booked for 15 days. We have a two-week vacation scheduled for Italy. We have a two-week vacation scheduled in the US. We a Carnival Cruise booked for 8 days to Canada. And we have another NCL booking for 7 days. Where do we get all of this time off from work. We retired. So many people I know between the ages of 60 and 70 have retired, and most of us retired sooner than we thought we would. The Lockdown from pandemic changed a lot of people’s plans
We usually stick to 1 big vacation every other year (with a smaller one in between) I usually try and go for our vacations in the early/late-season as they are generally cheaper. I know I will be missing out on some things found in the peak season, but the savings we get mean we can do something every year.
We unfortunately just cancelled our Mediterranean cruise due to airfare costs. Airfare was almost as much as the 10-night cruise with Celebrity! We are disappointed, but we have three other cruises booked with Celebrity where we know airfare won’t be as expensive. We’re also moving closer to Seattle so we’ll be able to drive to Seattle and Vancouver for some Alaska cruises. We feel lucky to be able to cruise at all during this economically tenuous time and wish everyone the best
I also checked my booking to compare what I paid last July and what it costs today, for a May Med cruise. It has dropped over $1k. But, it’s after final payment and Celebrity would not drop the cost, refund any difference, or offer any additional OBC. Very disappointed. I may hold off on booking my next cruise and wait for prices to drop. How do others feel about this?
Marketing to first time cruisers should result in cost savings. The first timers do not know what went on previously on some lines. For example: twice a day room service, more menu choices without upcharges, more staff so less wait times for meal and beverage service. They will just accept the current “norm” for cruising. I believe the cruise lines hope the expectations of experienced cruisers will just go away. Mine won’t! Land based vacations will be my choice in future.
I plan to cancel one of my bookings because I realized it is a poor value. All in all I am not cutting back on the number of cruises I book. All of them depart from ports in my home state within driving distance. One is a short repositioning that requires a flight home from Vancouver. I was shocked at the high prices for that flight! So yes the economy has changed the way I cruise but I will never stop cruising!
Howdy Ilana, not surprised that bookings are up. Not a big fan of larger cruise ships. Word of mouth is the greatest marketing a cruise line could have. Yes, my late wife loved to go on cruises. The economy is affecting cruises. Right now, I’m only going on one cruise a year. Used to go on two or three a year. Taking cruises from where I live. Mostly cruise with lines owned by the Carnival Corp. They usually give me a good deal.
hi Ilana, love your articles! i feel like i will be mostly prepared for our first cruise coming up. just a suggestion for content for a article… i haven’t found one of you actually packing all your cruise essentials along with all the clothes you bring and toiletries and how to make everything fit into your bags. i have been slowly collecting what i think we will need or want to take along with us and its becoming quite the pile. i feel like i may need an entire suitcase for just the extra stuff besides my clothes. any help or advice would be much appreciated. i almost forgot to mention that we are driving to our port so i am not concerned about too many bags for flying. we always fly carry on only so that is why this kind of packing is so different for me.
I have a question for you, 4 of us our going on wonder of the seas in February and I would really love to have the deluxe drink package but I just found out that in addition to the over $500 a person package cost they also hit you with 18% extra gratuity at the end of your cruise, I feel that $500 is a gracious plenty to spend on drinks for a 7 day cruise Are there any grounds to stand on to only buy the overpriced package and not pay the additional 18%. ?
Thank Ileana for the analysis. Nearly 7 years after a serious almost life ending illness we have prioritized travel! As recent retirees we move to where we wanted to live and took up travel with a passion. God gave me 7 years of “extra” life and we will travel ours hearts out and serve the Lord. Destination and value, value is what we use to make decisions. Mediterranean and British isles this year God willing! For everyone this time is all we have 🎉
Well I think with the way it’s going and they keep raising prices and the gratuities that we have to pay on a cruise ship for their employees. That we are paying not really the cruise line. That they are going to wind up costing the employees money in the long run. I’m already looking on my next cruise to cut back the amount of opportunities that is paid amongst the crew. Due to the fact that it is $32 a day for me and my wife and gratuities. Well that was great if I’m getting two days to day cleanings in my room and all of the other amenities. But when you cut back to one time a day of cleaning in my room and some of the other amenities that I no longer have access to then no I’m not going to pay $16 a day I’m going to pay $8 a day for the two of us. See how the math Works. Pay the employees more so we don’t have to.
Just got off the Bliss on 3/12/23. Once a day housekeeping is a hugh degrade in the experience. On day one you open your cabin door to a nice clean room. The rest of the cruise your room could be messy till late afternoon. Bed unmade and room not cleaned and more. Until you experience this you really won’t understand.
Omg, reducing the amount of cruises, what a travesty. I don’t get how people can afford multiple cruises a year, not unless they are YouTube influencers, travel agents and rich. The retired from a previous generation and are now too old had a lot more disposable income than the generations following, with big fat retirement pensions and sales from their houses which they were totally able to pay off because of reasonable mortgages and had appreciated greatly in value. The reality is that very few can afford a cruise even once a year. I probably only make enough to go maybe once every five years. Being imprisoned due to plague reasons, I have been able to save money and just really want to travel and I guess everyone else is thinking the same way. The people you call regular cruisers, I don’t think they are the norm just the exception.