It’s no big secret that while the river cruise industry continues to flourish, it cannot seem to shake its reputation for being a travel style that for the most part attracts an older demographic.
But during a panel discussion last week at Travel Weekly’s CruiseWorld & Home Based Agent Show in Fort Lauderdale, Katharine Bonner, vice president of river and small-ship cruising for Tauck, pointed out that a similar perception existed in the ocean cruising market a couple decades back.
“Ocean cruising used to be like that,” said Bonner. But, she added, “It’s changed over time.”
To Bonner’s point, ocean cruise lines have successfully expanded their appeal beyond just retirees by catering to families and young couples with a wider array of options and amenities and with marketing campaigns targeting different audiences.
And while river cruise lines will never be able to introduce amenities on the scale of those available on ocean liners, such as multiple dining venues, water parks and rock-climbing walls, they still haven’t given up on the idea that river cruises can be an attractive vacation option for more than just the 50- or 60-plus set.
“All of us are trying real hard to offer choice, active components that will attract someone who is younger,” said Bonner, referring to bikes onboard the ships and the option to do more active walks and hikes.
For anyone who has ever been on a river cruise, it’s obvious that it won’t likely ever be a product well suited to families with babies or very young children. But there isn’t any obvious reason other than time and money as to why younger travelers with an interest in food, wine and culture-rich destinations couldn’t ultimately gravitate toward, try and appreciate the product.
So, perhaps Bonner is onto something. Maybe it’s just a matter of time before river cruises, too, are filled with young and old passengers alike.