One of the advantages to joining a top franchise organization such as Cruise Holidays is the ability to network and collaborate with other franchise owners. This is readily apparent in the annual Cruise Trends survey undertaken by Cruise Holidays each year.
The 2011 Cruise Holidays Cruise Trends survey asked franchise owners and their frontline agents to identify some of the top trends potential cruise vacationers should be aware of for the coming year. The data collected in the survey is invaluable, and serves as a springboard for press releases, is posted on social networking sites, and is seen by millions of eyes as the media picks up on the trends highlighted by Cruise Holidays, one of the best franchises available.
For example, stories featuring Cruise Holidays were featured in both the New York Times and the Toronto Sun, shortly after the Cruise Trends survey results were shared. This is because as one of the top franchises, Cruise Holidays continuously feeds quality travel information to publications like these and has become a trusted source of information for these and other news outlets.
Additionally, because it is one of the best franchises, within the first two weeks of being released, the 2011 Cruise Trends news release appeared on more than 110,000 news feeds or Web pages tracked by press release distribution site, PR Web. The actual number of actual number of impressions is significantly larger, but PR Web does not have the ability to track impressions on all of its partner sites or search engines.
What Are Some of the Major 2011 Cruise Trends?
Some of the Cruise Trends included in the 2011 Cruise Trends Survey are:
Top cruise destinations booked through 12/31/10 with a sail date of 2011:
2011 Top Cruise Destinations % of Bookings
1. Caribbean 49.8%
2. Europe – Mediterranean 8.5%
3. Alaska 8.1%
4. Bermuda 6.6%
5. Mexican Riviera 5.2%
6. Bahamas 4.8%
7. Hawaii 3.8%
8. Panama Canal 3.2%
9. Transatlantic 2.3%
10. Europe – Baltic & Scandinavia 1.6%
Which of the following do you hear most often from your customers regarding their reasons for taking a particular cruise vacation? (check all that apply)
2011
1. Particular itinerary 74.5%
2. Price 72.4%
3. Particular cruise line 53.8%
4. Particular cruise ship 33.1%
5. Particular embarkation point 30.3%
6. Accommodations – i.e. type of room 10.3%
7. Amenities – i.e. spa, specialty dining,
surfing, rock wall, bowling alley, etc. 9.7%
8. Group space 8.3%
9. Other (Please specify) 4.8%
· Dress code, friends booked that cruise, etc.
10. Shore excursions available 2.8%
In what cruise destination have you seen the biggest increase in interest over the past year? (Respondents wrote in regions as well as specific ports.)
2011 Rankings
1. Mediterranean and/or Europe
2. Barcelona
3. Alaska
4. Rome
5. Bermuda
Destinations/regions that fell out of the top five from 2010 were Caribbean and Mexican Riviera. Again, this question only indicated areas of "biggest increase in interest.”
What is the single most exciting recent cruise ship innovation?
1. Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas’ sheer size
2. NCL Epic’s single studios
3. Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas’ partnership with Dreamworks
4. (tie) Celebrity Eclipse’s iLounge, with Apple retail area
4. (tie) NCL Epic’s Vegas-style entertainment, including Blue Man Group and
Second City
6. Celebrity Eclipse’s Qsine, an interactive dining venue with personal touchscreens
7. Holland America Line Nieuw Amsterdam’s overall style, which pays homage to New York City
What cruise ship(s) do you most often find recommending to cruise skeptics who think they wouldn't enjoy a cruise? (Choose up to 3.)
1. Celebrity Solstice 61.8%
2. RCI Oasis of the Seas 34.7%
3. RCI Freedom of the Seas 29.9%
4. RCI Allure of the Seas 25.7%
5. other (please specify) 20.8%
6. RCI Mariner of the Seas 11.8%
There were many additional write-in votes for ships that only captured a few percentage points apiece. Also, the total adds to more than 100% because voters could choose up to three cruise ships from the list provided.
Which cruise ship feels the least crowded? (write in one ship name)
- Celebrity Solstice 25%
- Royal Caribbean Voyageur of the Seas 6.4%
- Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas 5.6%
- Azamara Journey 4.0%
- (tie) Celebrity Eclipse 3.2%
- (tie) Celebrity Summit 3.2%
5. (tie) Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas 3.2%
The above total does not add up to 100% because there were approximately 30 other ships written in that did not make the top list.
What cruise ship are you most looking forward to in 2011?
1. Disney Dream, January 2011 32.4%
2. Celebrity Silhouette, July 2011 29.0%
3. Oceania Cruises Marina, February 2011 15.2%
4. (tie) Carnival Magic, May 2011 9.0%
4. (tie) Other* 9.0%
6. AMAWaterways Amaverde, Spring 2011 3.4%
7. Avalon Panorama Suite Ship, May 2011 2.1%
*Other ships included AMAWaterways Amalotus, Seabourn Quest, River Antoinette by Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Line, Viking Prestige, Viking Emerald
In which region do you anticipate the best value in cruising during 2011?
1. Caribbean 49.0%
2. Europe 25.5%
3. Alaska/Pacific Northwest 8.3%
4. Other* 8.3%
5. Mexican Riviera 4.8%
6. Transatlantic 4.1%
* Other responses included South America, Canada/New England, Bahamas, Bermuda and Panama Canal and Central America
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