Many cruises are all-inclusive, covering costs such as meals, entertainment and transportation

Cruise industry thinks big when it comes to pleasing passengers

From Kalin Thomas-Samuel
CNN Travel Now Correspondent

May 12, 2000
Web posted at: 11:53 a.m. EDT (1553 GMT)

(CNN) -- Everything in the cruise industry is getting bigger these days -- the ships, the number of passengers, the selection of activities, the amenities.

Why the growing trend?

"What it boils down to is this: A cruise ship is competing against the resorts on land, so the cruise ships are turning into floating resorts," says Mark Orwoll of Travel & Leisure Magazine.

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Princess Cruise Line's Grand Princess was the largest cruise ship when it debuted in 1998, offering a nightclub on the 18th deck, a virtual reality center and five pools.

Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas eclipsed it a year later. Stretching the length of three football fields, the ship is triple the size of the ill-fated Titanic, notes cruise director Jeff Martin.

The bigger the ship, the more options for passengers -- especially at meal time. Today's trend is for restaurants with relaxed clothing standards. On Voyager, for example, burger joint Johnny Rockets is a favorite.

According to travel industry experts, nearly 7 million passengers are expected to take a cruise this year

With more places to eat, the main kitchen is bustling 'round the clock, too.

"We never stop cooking," says Voyager head chef Klaus Hund. "The daily production here is ... about 20,000 meals a day."

There are more places to work off those extra pounds. Gyms, basketball courts, rock-climbing walls, a miniature golf course and even an ice skating rink are among the offerings.

Fancier usually means costlier, but don't get discouraged.

"There is a cruise for every budget," says Capt. Dag Dvergastein of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). "I think you can go for $185 a day -- all inclusive -- up to several thousand dollars a day."

The theme cruise is gaining in popularity, with themes ranging from sports to natural history

Cruise lines are gearing their voyages toward niche groups to generate more interest. "You'll find sports-theme cruises with sports celebrities on board, natural history cruises with experts and lectures," Orwoll says.

Different lines are also introducing 13 new vessels -- and with them, new itineraries. Many of the new adventures target a younger crowd.

According to CLIA, the number of cruisers between the ages of 40 and 59 rose from 31 percent in 1992 to 45 percent in 1998. During the same period, the number of cruises for those over 60 fell from 35 percent to 28 percent.

"We are well positioned to serve the baby boomer generation," says Royal Caribbean's Adam Goldstein. "Of course we will need to challenge ourselves as the years go by to address the needs of all generations."

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Royal Caribbean International
Cruise Lines International Association
Princess Cruises
Web Handbook: Cruise links

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