Some 56% of affluent British consumers have been on a cruise, and another third are interested in doing so in the future, according to a report by the international luxury travel show ILTM.
Of those who have cruised in the past, only 1% said they wouldn’t go again
However, 8% of high-net-worth individuals (HNWI) in the UK say they won’t consider cruising. Some 69% said they thought ships would be overcrowded, and 49% said they were concerned about a lack of freedom.
More than a third of people globally who rejected the idea of a cruise were worried about the environmental impact of cruising, and 37% were worried about limited time in ports.
Some 34% had concerns about sea sickness and 27% were worried about illness or the outbreak of a virus onboard.
Other concerns were a lack of things to do, hidden costs, the quality of dining and safety.
A small number were worried about the expense, that there wouldn’t be enough people of the same age onboard, and the potential for late cancellations.
Of those who have cruised, the report showed a preference for larger ships with more than 1,000 passengers.
River cruises also appeal to a wide cross-section of wealthy travellers. Just under half said they had taken at least one within the past two years.
Just over a quarter have taken an expedition cruise within the past two years.
The report also highlighted the popularity of cruises among younger age groups. It found that 69% of under-45s have taken a cruise holiday in the past two years, compared to 64% of over-45s.
In the UK, 38% of previous cruise customers said they were taking more cruises than two years ago, but 17% said they were cruising less often, citing sea-sickness, lack of fresh food and concerns about getting sick on board.
