Ft. Lauderdale, Cruise360

4.5.14 - 4.5.14 82 °F

It was another wonderful morning in paradise as the sun rose. As this was the weekend, more ships were in.

Our morning was the second general session. The first presenter was a representative from American Express Travel. For travelers today, providing exceptional service is critical. 29% of vacationers want a cruise vacation, and 23% favor a resort style vacation. For cruises 72% prefer a balcony cabin. 60% of those are repeat cruisers. They current demand is for value added amenities. Europe the top destination (including river cruises) this year.

In the next year, global travel will continue to grow at a rate of 5%. Facebook is the most preferred social media for those that travel.

Cruisers want the experience of excellent food and wine, and want as much 'insider experience' as they can get. They prefer the Caribbean, Mexico and the Mediterranean as destinations. Multi-generation cruising is becoming even more popular. Special lifetime events influence many to take a cruise. Cruisers want value over price, and a variety of ports. Major complaints include having to pay for internet connections, non-complimentary mini-bar setups. Highlights include informative guest lecturers and customized personal experiences.

Late this morning we traveled to the port of Miami for lunch and an inspection of the Norwegian Getaway, the newest cruise ship on the oceans. You really knew it was spring break, judging by the number of families that were boarding.