After the Royal Caribbean launched its biggest ship yet, the Icon of the Seas, interest in nautical vacations has skyrocketed. Now, cruise companies are trying to attract younger travelers with weekend cruise ship getaways.
And so far, their new strategy has been working.
The Booming Popularity of Weekend Cruise Ships
The cruise ship industry faced a tough recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic…
Travel came to a standstill, and these ships earned a reputation for being crowded and unhygienic.
But in the years following the shutdowns, airline and hotel prices kept steadily climbing up…
SO MUCH SO THAT NOW, CRUISE TRAVEL IS 30% CHEAPER THAN OTHER VACATION ALTERNATIVES.
This cheaper way to travel as well as influencer marketing helped attract more millennials and Gen Zers to ports all over the world.
Now, cruise lines are changing their strategy to welcome more young travelers to weekend cruise ship getaways.
The main way that cruise ship companies are doing this is by investing in shorter weekend trips rather than the traditional weeklong model. There are two reasons for this shift. Firstly, it gives customers who’ve never traveled by cruise before a short taste of the seven seas…
Secondly, it’s a more cost-effective option for cash-strapped eager travelers.
GEN Z AND MILLENIALS TOGETHER MAKE UP 36% OF GLOBAL CRUISE TRAVELERS.
Tapping into younger cruisers opens up cruise lines to a new base that is excited for new travel experiences.
Where Are The Investments Going?
For cruise ship weekend excursions, these companies have been investing in more influencer marketing…
Reliable internet on board…
And new ships specifically designed for shorter trips…
Because shorter trips don’t bring in as much money, historically cruise companies used older ships on 3 or 4-day long trips…
RECENTLY, THE ROYAL CARIBBEAN COMMISSIONED A NEW SHIP SPECIFICALLY FOR THESE SHORTER TRIPS.
They hope that modern bells and whistles will encourage more new passengers to join this cruise ship for an exotic weekend trip.
More than that, younger travelers are increasingly interested in the private islands that these companies have to offer. Royal Caribbean invested $250 million upgrading one of their private islands to be more friendly to younger travelers. These upgrades include:
- An adults-only beach club
- Swim-up bars
- Private cabanas
Needless to say, no expense is being spared…
And with more and more travelers getting frustrated at traditional methods of travel…
Cruise ship companies have everything to gain with weekend getaways.
Be Great,
GCTV Staff
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