Cruise lines are not one size fits all

By Ashok Kumar

Cruising appeals to a wide range of tastes, lifestyles, budgets and interests.

Cruise ships come in all shapes and sizes, catering to a few hundreds guests to more than 3000.

With such a wide range of options on offer it is important to find out what your clients are looking for in a cruise vacation and what kinds of activities they will enjoy.

Unlike the hotel industrythere is no grading system for cruise lines but in general, cruise lines can be categorised as follows:
Contemporary / resort cruise lines: This category of cruise vacation represents the equivalent of floating resorts at sea. Ships are of ample size with a vast array of activities and amenities including pools, health clubs, spas and a selection of dining options including dining rooms, casual restaurants, pizzerias and a variety of specialty themed restaurants. Evening entertainment includes Broadway- or Vegas-style productions and there are extensive programmes for kids that are segmented by age.

Premium cruise lines:An upscale experience that caters to all age groups and interests. A premium cruise product features all of the same amenities as a typical resort/contemporary cruise — spas, health clubs, pools, multiple dining options, entertainment, kids’ programmes and offers additional upscale features for discerning travellers.

The passenger-to-staff ratio is low and service is superb. Dining is upscale and well presented.

Luxury cruise lines:Appeal to more sophisticated travellers who demand the finest quality. Ship size varies from small, intimate yacht-like vessels to mid-sized ships hosting 700 guests. Cruise ships offer services and amenities that rival the best resorts worldwide. Most ships are suites only. Kids programmes are few to none.

Gourmet dining onboard a luxury cruise ship rivals the best restaurants on land and there is open seating.

Niche cruise lines:
These lines offer a cruise vacation with a distinct expertise and focus. Ships are smaller than the average cruise ship allowing a more neighbourhood-like atmosphere. Niche and specialty cruises also include soft adventure and will often feature destination-rich cultural itineraries and enrichment seminars. These cruise lines appeal to experienced travellers and few have kids’ programmes in place.

TIP
The websites of cruise lines are great source of information, giving you the confidence to sell the right product to your clients.