Five cruises to sell to millennials
With the industry affected by the coronavirus, Charlotte Cullinan looks ahead to brighter times with suggested cruises for the millennial market
Long gone are the days of cruise ships being favoured by retirees – today millennials are just as intrigued by cruising.
Now aged between 24 and 39, millennials are increasingly considering a cruise, with Clia describing “generation cruise positive” as one of the top trends for this year, before coronavirus impacted the market. The trend is reinforced by Abta’s 2019 Holiday Habits report, which discovered that by the end of July 2019, 28% of 18-to-34-year-olds had been on a cruise, up from 22% year-on-year. Wellness, food and expedition-focused sailings all rated highly.
Here are five sailings to suggest.
For experience hunters
Sharing her top tips for selling to millennials, Celebrity Cruises director of sales Claire Stirrup says: “We know that millennials put a premium on authentic experiences, and this provides a fantastic opportunity to capture the imaginations of an entirely new type of guest. One way we [do this] is in the wealth of destinations we travel to, particularly those that include overnight stops. [These] allow guests to fully immerse themselves in the culture of the places they’re visiting, providing them with truly memorable holidays.”
To tap into “millennials’ desire to be at the cutting edge of design”, she suggests its Edge Class ships, with Celebrity Apex launching in October.
Book it: A 12 night Celebrity Apex sailing from Barcelona on 10 October 2020 starts at £4,398pp, based on two sharing an oceanview stateroom. Calling at Marseille, Villefranche, Naples, Valletta and Palma de Majorca.
- celebritycruises.com
For discerning gourmands
Serve up the Foodie Cruise from youth-focused line U River Cruises for customers with a love of food and photography. New for 2020, the themed Rhine sailing is hosted by American food influencer The Grubfather. Alongside U’s popular regular activities – including paint and beer classes and silent discos – customers will enjoy a cooking demonstration and workshop on turning a love of food photography into a career.
Uniworld UK managing director Chris Townson says: “Themed cruises are a great way of attracting new audiences to the rivers. Once onboard, people realise the amazing benefits of a river cruise holiday, whether it be the ease of all-inclusive, flexibility and variety of shore excursions, or the incredible comfort and service.”
Book it: Prices start at £2,869pp, based on two sharing a studio cabin for seven nights including flights, departing 14 August 2020. Calling at Rudesheim, Koblenz, Remagen, Cologne, Wesel, Hoorn and Amsterdam.
- ubyuniworld.com
For sustainability seekers
For clients interested in responsible tourism, highlight Royal Caribbean’s range of sustainable tours. These are offered by selected certified operators, with experiences from grape harvesting at a winery in Montevideo to exploring an underground river in Cozumel.
On 5 November the line will launch Odyssey of the Seas, and its top deck is billed as its most action-packed yet. Adrenalin-junkies can jump onboard the line’s signature FlowRider surf simulator, Ripcord by iFly skydiving and the North Star glass observation capsule.
Book it: A six-night Odyssey of the Seas cruise on 28 November 2020 starts at £525pp, based on two sharing an outside view cabin. Departing from Fort Lauderdale and calling at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Falmouth and Labadee.
- royalcaribbean.com
For a taster of life at sea
While Virgin Voyages stresses it isn’t targeting customers by age, but rather “a state of mind,” the line’s first vessel Scarlet Lady is packed with features to appeal to millennials. Virgin Voyages is banning single-use plastic, with Scarlet Lady hoping to make its inaugural voyage in August. The adults-only ship will offer sailings from three to 14 nights, with Wi-Fi, gratuities, a non-alcoholic drinks package and group fitness classes included. It also has a tattoo parlour and barbershop onboard.
Book it: Prices average $1,100pp based on two sharing an inside cabin for four nights, departing from Miami on various dates and calling at Key West and The Beach Club at Bimini.
- trade-voyagestore.com
For a European adventure
This summer Disney Cruise Line returns to Greece after a five-year hiatus, with three Mediterranean voyages from Rome on the Disney Magic. Two of the sailings will call at Messina – one of several new ports for the line this year. Alongside a strong family offering there is plenty to appeal to millennials without children. The numerous child-free areas include bars, a nightclub, the high-end Italian-themed restaurant Palo, the spa and a dedicated pool. Remind film buffs that movies from Disney, Marvel and Lucasfilm premier at the same time onboard as they do on land.
Book it: Twelve nights on Disney Magic starts at £4,707pp, based on two adults sharing a standard inside stateroom. Departing from Civitavecchia on 1 July 2020 and calling at Santorini, Cannes and Barcelona. Includes flights, one night in a hotel and transfers.
- disneytravelagents.co.uk
CLIA’S THREE TOP TIPS FOR SELLING CRUISE TO MILLENNIALS
Clia UK & Ireland director Andy Harmer shares his tips
Home in on responsible travel efforts
Many millennials place a high importance on sustainability, so focus on what lines are doing to help protect the environment, such as eliminating single-use plastic.
Reassure clients they can use Wi-Fi
Thanks to cruise lines investing heavily in the latest technologies, it’s becoming increasingly easy to stay connected even at sea – perfect for guests who want to keep in touch with friends and family.
Cruises are great for active customers
A growing trend we’re seeing is “sight-do” travel rather than “sight-see”. With state-of-the-art gyms onboard and active shore excursions, guests can get their fitness fix while they sail the oceans and discover new destinations.
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