Despite Brexit, millennials seem unaffected by the current uncertainty surrounding customs, borders and everything ‘travel’ in between. Instead, they are always looking for the next red-hot location, with cruises currently ranking high on their fad list.
What’s that all about? Keep reading.
Young adults go gaga for cruises
Who wouldn’t, right? Cruises offer a variety of themes, occasions, and destinations. According to the ABTA Travel Trends report, two-fifths of Britons are interested in going on a cruise for the first time. Interestingly, 53% of these keen travellers are aged between 18 to 24 years old. This is attributed to the variety this kind of experiences provide to the young and the restless.
On-board connectivity and diverse experiences such as well-being, culinary, culture and adventure are highly desired by millennials. Supercruises, the technology disrupting cruise platform, sets a great example by catering for young holidaymakers’ tastes with state-of-the-art holiday packages on offer.
The New Portrait of UK Travelers from MMGY Global indicates that while only one in ten millennials took a cruise in the past year, more than half expressed an interest in going on a cruise in the next two years. Looks like this fad is here to stay.
Travel experts resurge as the trusted source for bookings
The demand for booking holidays with a trusted travel professional makes a comeback this holiday season with 45% of Britons booking holidays with a travel agent because they feel more confident. When it comes to luxury millennial holidaymakers, 33% of millennials would be interested in using a travel agent for a cruise or other themed type of holiday (cited in a study by Mintel).
Instagram drives booking reservations
Instagram is the social platform of choice for younger audiences, including millennials and Generation Z. The Cruise & Trends Industry Outlook published by CLIA, strongly suggests that cruise operators should be active on this media platform to attract digital savvy passengers. Additionally, the study from MMGY argues that nearly a quarter of millennials have made a travel purchase at least partially based on a post by a social media influencer or celebrity.
In conclusion…
Bringing new appetites into the mix, millennials are changing the travel landscape. Cruises are no longer considered an acquired choice reserved for a specific demographic. Despite the unstable political situation in the UK and elsewhere, merchants in the travel sector can capitalise on this shift. You are encouraged to review your online booking journey and apply various levers to tap into this trend. A cutting-edge payment experience is a key in order to resonate with this tech-savvy, experience-driven audience.
emerchantpay helps businesses within the travel sector, among others, to offer innovative payment solutions to their customer. If you’d like to learn more about our services, please contact us.