The next generation takes to the sea.
It’s true – cruising has a “passengers of a certain age” reputation. But as cruise lines shed staid decor and formal dining rooms in favor of active diversions and more adventurous cuisine, they’re turning the heads of younger travelers: A recent survey by industry trade group Cruise Line Industry Association (CLIA) found that 88 percent of millennials who have previously cruised say they plan to sail again, and 77 percent of those who have never cruised would consider a vacation on the high seas. Passenger data collected by CLIA confirms the average age of cruisers has been trending downward, most recently at 46.5 in 2022.
Royal Caribbean noted in early 2024 that nearly half of their guests in recent years have been millennial-age or younger.
Younger cruisers are packing their bags for Caribbean and Mexican Riviera itineraries, says Allison Amini, a Virtuoso travel advisor. “The under-50 crowd tends to take shorter cruises – seven nights or less,” she says, adding that they gravitate to forward-thinking lines such as Virgin Voyages, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity. “The decor on Celebrity’s ships is elegant yet easy, and they’ve eliminated formal night, shaking off stuffiness in favor of casual sophistication. Plus, they’ve made an effort in their marketing to promote diversity and inclusion.”
Nirmal Saverimuttu, CEO of Virgin Voyages, notes that it’s not just the millennial and Gen Z crowd seeking alternatives. “We believe strongly that modern consumers are looking for something that feels younger,” he says. Virgin doesn’t cater to passengers under 18, creating a more adult environment – think tattoo parlors and drag shows – and attracting multigenerational and mom-and-me bookings. “We see a lot of 20-year-olds traveling with their parents because they don’t want to do the same cruise they went on when they were 12 years old,” he says. Here, four itineraries packed with youth appeal.
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Take a long-weekend spin through the Caribbean aboard Virgin Voyages’ 2,770-passenger Scarlet Lady. Sailing round-trip from Miami, hammock-laced five-night itineraries alternate visits to Cozumel, gateway to Mexico’s Tulum and Playa del Carmen, and the Dominican Republic’s Puerto Plata, where passengers can embark on a jungle hike to the 27 waterfalls and natural slides of Damajagua. Departures: Multiple dates, July 4, 2024, through December 11, 2024.
Canvass a wide swath of Mediterranean beaches and historical sites on a 12-night journey from Barcelona to Athens aboard Celebrity Cruises’ just-launched, 3,260-passenger Celebrity Infinity. Following a stop in Rome, Italian ports include Naples and Taormina. Next, stop by Kusadasi, Turkey, for excursions to the magnificent ruins of Ephesus, before heading to Greece. Departure: January 26, 2025.
With a fleet of ships accommodating just 22 to 86 guests, UnCruise Adventures specializes in Alaska – and active exploration. A 15-night route aboard the 74-passenger Wilderness Discoverer sails from Juneau to Ketchikan, but otherwise skips large ports in favor of kayaking in the remote Misty Fjords National Monument Wilderness, hiking through island landscapes big-ship cruisers only glimpse, and lingering in Frederick Sound with feasting whales. Departures: September 15, 2024 and September 7, 2025.
Departing round-trip from Los Angeles on four-night sailings, Royal Caribbean’s 3,388-passenger Navigator of the Seas stops at car-free Catalina Island for kayaking, boutique-ing, and zip-line excursions before visiting Ensenada, Mexico for whale-watching, snorkeling, and tequila tastings. Departures: Multiple dates, July 1, 2024, through April 28, 2025.
This article originally appeared in the November/December 2023 issue of Virtuoso, The Magazine (U.S./Canada edition).