What cruisers care about: Scoring deals, spending more time in port, getting sick at sea
InsureMyTrip has announced the results of its annual “Cruise Concerns” survey. The new poll of 2,072 U.S. respondents reveals what matters most to cruisers.
For starters, that means getting a good cabin deal. But the survey also finds that cruisers tend to worry most about unexpected health issues before disembarking for the high seas.
Here's what else is on their minds:
Cruisers wait for great deals
When it comes to cruise news, 58% polled say they would pass on technology upgrades and other perks in favor of cheaper cabins. This may suggest why cruise bookings tend to spike during January, the start of “wave season”. Wave season is typically a three-month period when cruise lines hype new deals.
“What we typically see during wave season are great incentives for cruisers like complimentary onboard credit, beverage packages, and free or reduced deposits to entice bookings. It’s the busiest time of year for the industry,” Mark Jackson from Brad’s Deals said.
Cruisers prefer more time at port, less at sea
While respondents search for great deals, it’s not the only consideration. Cruisers also prefer voyages that include flexible itineraries with extra days on land and, less at sea.
And, it appears that cruise lines have already taken notice. Cruise Critic reports more pot-friendly itineraries are being offered in 2020.
They prefer to cruise the Caribbean
One in four polled chose the Caribbean (26%) as a favorite cruise destination, followed by Alaska (15 percent). Six percent chose Italy as a top place to visit.
They worry most about health, weather
Cruisers are most concerned about an illness or injury affecting a trip (43%) followed by bad weather. Getting sick or injured before or during a cruise was also identified as the top concern in last year's survey. Missing a cruise departure was another concern.
In case of hurricane, click here: What to do if a storm prevents you from getting to your cruise ship
They fear they may get seasick
Roughly one in four cruisers have experienced motion sickness while vacationing at sea, according to the survey.
However, Dr. Benjamin Shore, chief medical consultant for Royal Caribbean, said if seasickness does develop, it’s unlikely to ruin a trip and medications are readily available. “Considering the large size of today’s cruise ships, seasickness is rarely a problem,” Shore said.
Staving off seasickness: How to avoid motion sickness on a cruise
More becoming familiar with travel insurance
Some 70% of those polled are familiar with new travel insurance plans designed specifically for cruisers. These plans include cruise-specific inconvenience benefits, like for shipboard service disruptions and port of call changes.
What you need to know: How to get travel insurance for a cruise
They report claims related to medical issues, bad weather
Travelers, who voluntarily participated in this survey, had all researched or purchased travel insurance within the past 24 months. Out of those polled, 19 percent had filed a travel insurance claim for a cruise-related issue. Here were some of the common reasons:
Medical care required during a cruise
A medical issue forced a trip cancellation
Bad weather forced a delay or cancellation of a cruise
Missed flight led to a delay or cancellation of a cruise
Items were stolen or lost during a trip
Have fun, but don't get sick! How cruise ship passengers should prepare for illness or injury
They would like to try river cruising
Finally, the majority polled are interested in river cruising, if they haven’t tried it already. Luckily, there are more river cruising opportunities ahead in 2020 from cruise lines like Avalon Waterways and Viking River Cruises.
Choosing the right river cruise for you: An itinerary for every personality and budget
Are you too young to take a river cruise? Why the under-50 crowd is getting onboard
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What cruisers care about, according to InsureMyTrip
