try players seems to be in work-
ing order: the good citizens of the
United States will not let those cruise
lines go under any time soon. According to the latest consumer survey prepared for Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), Americans
are still strongly interested in either a
repeat cruise or trying one for the first
time.
It’s a numbers game, really: 73
million Americans have cruised before
and 36.1 million, from a core target
market (25+ years of age, $40,000+
household income) of 133 million, reported that they are “likely” to take a
cruise vacation in the next three years.
The U.S. has a total population of about
304 million.
SATISFACTION LEADER
The 2011 Cruise Market Profile Study
also found that a significant majority
of consumers – 94 percent – rate cruising as a satisfying vacation experience
with 45 percent rating a cruise as “extremely satisfying,” making a cruise vacation a satisfaction leader among vacation choices.
The study surveyed over 1,300
past cruisers and non-cruisers to determine vacation preferences and attitudes, plans for future vacationing,
spending patterns, travel agent usage,
and other topics, drawing comparisons
among numerous types of vacations,
including cruises.
Christine Duffy, CLIA’s CEO and
President, commented that the cruise
industry can be optimistic about its continued growth and success in the longterm. She pointed out that CLIA member lines have had an average annual
passenger growth rate of more than
seven percent since 1980. In 2010, capacity increased by 8.1 percent yet CLIA
member line ships continued to operate
at 103.1 percent occupancy.
And why do cruises stay in the
game year after year, even with the
competition for people’s leisurely time
8
seatec 1/2012
Photo: Meyer Werft
S
till, the home base of cruise indus-