While there is a plethora of new vessels, advisors
overwhelmingly (84%) said clients are “most interested
in the destinations and itinerary of the cruise.” While 50%
said they have clients who would choose a destination
over a new vessel, only 8% said clients “would take a
newer vessel over an itinerary.”
Many agents told us they like the extra earning
opportunities that pre-and-post cruise travel provides,
and 62% said they have clients who “often combine pre-
or post-cruise land vacations with a river journey.”
The food (68%), enjoying culture and visiting museums
(66%), cultural experiences with locals (65%), history
(51%), active shore excursions such as biking and walking
tours (46%), visiting wineries and wine tastings (37%), and
wanting to visit places that are hard to reach by land (27%)
were all cited as reasons customers cruise on the river.
With Canadian agents, food (77%) was more heavily cited.
Even with the heavy amount repeat river cruise clients, 52%
of agents tell us clients, “see the different river cruise lines
as being similar and need my help to select the right one.”
While nearly half (48%) said “they want a luxury
experience as part of their river cruise,” a third (33%)
Characteristics of River Cruise Clients
18
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CHART 7
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Thinking about all of your customers whom you book on River Cruises
(check all that apply)
:
48%
62%
52%
68%
46%
58%
51%
66%
50%
65%
56%
84%
They are most interested in the
destinations and itinerary of the cruise
Food is an important part of
their vacation experience
They enjoy culture and visiting museums
They want a cultural experience
with locals they will meet
They often combine land vacations
pre- or post- River Cruise
The destination was on their bucket list
They see River Cruises as an
alternative to Escorted/Guided Tours
They see the different River Cruise Lines as being
similar and need my help to select the right one
They are history buffs
They would choose a destination they
want to cruise to over a newer vessel
They want a luxury experience
as part of their River Cruise
They are interested in active shore
excursions, such as biking or walking tours
Chart 7 continued on next page