Carnival Cruise Lines

A Few Simple Reasons to Cruise Rather Than Fly

Published September 29, 2014 | By Clark Norton

Hapag-Lloyd’s Europa 2 is one luxurious way to cruise Europe. Photo by Clark Norton

After posting my recent piece on repositioning cruises, I received this guest post entry from reader Suzanne Meades, offering some reasons why baby boomers might prefer taking a cruise ship to flying to and around Europe.

And for those boomers who have the time, I couldn’t agree more.

Both ocean and river cruising are big with boomers. A transatlantic cruise — fairly rare these days, except for repositioning cruises — evokes particular nostalgia for me, since a Spanish steamship took me across the Atlantic on my first trip to Europe in college. I even have a medal for winning the shipboard table tennis tournament, no easy task since the ship was rocking and rolling through the waves during my final match. At least, I think that medal is hiding around here somewhere…

As for seeing… Continue reading →

Notable New Cruise Ship Features to Entertain and Wow You

Published March 3, 2014 | By Clark Norton

Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas should wow cruisers with its “virtual balconies” offering sea views to occupants of inside cabins. Photo from Daily Telegraph.

At the “What’s New in the Cruising World” industry trade seminar at the New York Times Travel Show in Manhattan this weekend, representatives from six major mainstream and premium cruise lines talked up some innovations that cruisers can expect to find on their latest ships in 2014.

The six did their best to try to wow travel agents (and some from the media) and get them fired up to sell and promote the new cruise season, which should be of interest to many cruise-loving baby boomers — and to some new cruise converts as well.

The innovation that impressed me most was Royal Caribbean’s “virtual balcony,” coming to its Quantum of the Seas ship scheduled to debut later this year.

What’s a “virtual balcony?” Well,… Continue reading →

Posted in Baby boomer travel, Cruises, Marketing | Tagged baby boomer marketing strategies, baby boomer travel, Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, marketing baby boomer travel, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, travel marketing | 2 Comments

An Easy Way to Get Age 55+ Cruise Discounts

Published October 28, 2013 | By Clark Norton

One of my favorite online discount cruise travel agencies is Vacations to Go, which always lists hundreds of heavily discounted upcoming cruises from dozens of cruise lines around the world, including both ocean and river cruises.

In one section of the site, Vacations to Go lists special discounts on certain sailings that are only good for passengers aged 55 and over on the day of departure. Just one passenger in each cabin needs to be 55 or over.

When you call a Vacations to Go counselor to book your cruise, be sure to mention your age. The cruise line will require proof of it before giving the discount.

The number to call there is 800-338-4962, but I would advise looking at the website first to see what’s available for your preferred destination, dates, and cruise line(s).

Carnival offers aged 55+ discounts as well. Photo from Carnival Cruise Lines.

Note… Continue reading →

Posted in Baby boomer travel, Boat travel, Cruises | Tagged baby boomer marketing strategies, baby boomer travel, baby boomer travelers, baby boomers, baby boomers and tourism, Carnival Cruise Lines, cruising, marketing baby boomer travel, Norwegian Cruise Line, selling travel to baby boomers, travel marketing, traveling baby boomers, Vacations to Go | 3 Comments

According to government and private surveys:

Leading-edge baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1955) and seniors account for four out of every five dollars spent on luxury travel today.
Roughly half the consumer spending money in the U.S.--more than $2 trillion--is in the hands of leading-edge baby boomers and seniors.
Baby boomers (born 1946-1964) travel more than any other age group.
When asked what they would most like to spend their money on, baby boomers answered “travel” more than any other category, including improving their health or finances.