NEW YORK -- Cruise travel lags behind virtually all other vacation
options in popularity, according to a survey commissioned by the
Cruise Lines International Association.
Confirming industry concerns that cruising is under-utilized
among vacation options, survey data showed that only 13% of
respondents had taken a cruise in the last five years, far behind
the most popular option, visits to friends and relatives.
And as Internet usage has grown dramatically since 1998, only 2%
of past cruisers booked their cruises on line.
Ranking ahead of cruises in popularity were trips using
individual reservations (52%), resort vacations (32%), package
tours (28%), vacations as part of business trips (22%) and vacation
house rentals (15%). Only land-escorted tours (12%) ranked lower
than cruise vacations.
CLIA's 2000 Market Profile Study surveyed 2,000 North American
adults between April and May, tracking respondents who were 25 or
older with household incomes of $20,000 or more.
The study found that as the percentage of past cruisers visiting
travel and vacation Web sites has more than doubled since 1998,
they mainly use the Internet to obtain information on various types
of travel, most often on hotels or resorts (46% of respondents) and
airline schedules and fares (44%). Cruising, at 28%, ranked just
ahead of car rentals (26%).
Also, as only 2% of past cruisers used the Internet to book
cruises, 27% of past cruisers reported booking airline tickets on
line, 21% booked hotel stays and 16% booked car rentals.
The results confirm what several cruise executives have already
said -- cruise booking via the Internet remains at negligible
levels.
Price sensitivity, said CLIA president Jim Godsman, continues to
be the main objection among frequent vacationers who have never
cruised.