Young adults aged 25 to 34 are the second largest age group for cruise lines in Britain, just one percentage point behind the 65 plus age group, survey commissioned by Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) shows.
Cruise holidays were particularly popular with holidaymakers aged 65 plus with 13% of those who took a holiday in the last 12 months taking a cruise.
“They were followed by people aged 25-34, 12% of holidaymakers in this age group took a cruise in the last year. 25-34 year olds are also the most interested in taking cruise holidays with almost half (48%) stating that they were interested in trying a cruise,” ABTA said, adding that 15% of young families (those with children under five) who took a holiday in the last 12 months took a cruise.
Cruise line officials have said that the industry has suffered for a long time from an image problem in Britain, whereby cruises are viewed suitable only for elderly people. The figures released by ABTA could thus indicate that this could be changing.
Last year, 1.65 million Britons took a cruise, a fall of 5% on the previous year.