Many holiday-makers are put off the appeal of cruising by reading or hearing various misconceptions and theories regarding aspects such as potential seasickness, space on board and lack of time in ports. The truth of the matter is that most of these are completely dumbfounded and are easily debunked. This week, we take a look at five of the most common myths regarding holidays on the seas and how to explain them to potential new customers.
The sheer size of any particular cruise ship is enough to ensure that it travels at a slow pace. In fact, passengers barely feel the movement of the ship at all while on board. In addition to the size factor, the vessel is also fitted with specialised stabilisers, which will alleviate any ill feeling. These stabilisers create an effect that is similar to that of the wings on a plane – extending out of both sides of the ship. More modern ships go one further than this, with gyroscopic stabilisers that can be adjusted to accommodate weather conditions and enable greater manoeuvrability.
It’s safe to say that cruising has come a long way since the historical shuffleboard and bingo, which was played on ships during the early 20th century. Today, entertainment is provided in the form of sports courts; Broadway-style performances including Grease and We Will Rock You; kid’s clubs; bars with live music; night clubs; casinos and much more! Some ships even offer water parks with towering water slides; levitating viewing pods; bumper cars and mini golf.
While noroviruses are known to take their toll on cruise ships, the chances of catching a norovirus are incredibly slim – about 1 in 12,000 compared to 1 in 15 on land, to put it into perspective. Great efforts are taken to ensure the ship is clean and hygienic prior to boarding. While on board, handshakes with crew members are avoided guests are often served from the buffet on the day of embarkation. If passengers do run into any problems, however, you can pay a visit to an on board doctor.
Quite the opposite. In more recent years, many cruise lines have strived to offer restaurants that are endorsed by Celebrity chefs, while other lines are able to take you on a culinary adventure. P&O Cruises offers afternoon tea that has been crafted by master patissier, Eric Lanlard, while Jamie Oliver has made his mark on Royal Caribbean vessels with Jamie’s Italian. Everything from sushi bars to Brazilian churrascarias and Italian speciality restaurants to sumptuous steakhouses can be found on board cruise ships in the 21st century. Of course, there is also the expansive buffet.
Since 2016, CLIA has confirmed that the average age of a cruise passenger is beginning to fall, with the current age standing at 55.4 (down from 58.2 in 2014). Great strides are being made by a number of lines to attract younger passengers – with shorter itineraries, modern ships and themed itineraries proving to appeal. The cruise product is so diverse that it is able to cater for all ages, tastes and desires. While the main appeal is being able to visit a number of destinations over a short period of time, the ships themselves are becoming more and suited to younger passengers. As the phrase goes: “getting there is half the fun” and this is more true on cruise ships than ever before.
Cruising is a growing holiday market, with plenty of options to choose and lines continuing to wow new customers with impressive vessels and insightful itineraries. With this in mind, there really is no better time to be a part of it all. GoCruise offers a unique franchise business opportunity, enabling you to interact with people in your local community and earn competitive rates of commission.
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