InfoCruceros.com has presented the results of its “Cruise Passenger Satisfaction Study 2014”, conducted online last August, in which 711 responses were obtained from Spanish cruise passengers.
The average Spanish cruise passenger is 45.96 years old, a figure that has been gradually decreasing year after year thanks to the increasing popularity of cruises on modern ships with all kinds of entertainment and services. 40.62% travel as a couple without children, compared to 21.72% who travel with children. The gender distribution is not significant, as this type of trip is mostly taken as a couple or in a family group.
Bookings are still mostly made through traditional travel agencies with a physical office, 66.15% of them, while online agencies, with 25.67%, are losing some customers compared to last year in favor of both traditional travel agencies and direct bookings with the shipping company.
The inside cabin, the cheapest category, is the option chosen by 38.08% of Spanish cruise passengers, although 28.21% opted for an outside cabin, 28.49% for a balcony cabin, and 5.22% traveled in a suite. Sales of balcony cabins have increased by 2% compared to last year, at the expense of inside cabins. This data is also confirmed by the prices paid per person, as bookings between €1,500 and €2,000 have increased by 2.87%, and those over €2,000 by 1.75%. It can be deduced that Spanish cruise passengers have been willing to pay more for a better cabin.
The Spanish companies Iberocruceros and Pullmantur hold a combined market share of 36.39%, followed by the international companies with the strongest presence in the Spanish market. 2015 will bring a completely different scenario due to Iberocruceros' integration into Costa Cruceros and its discontinuation as an independent brand.
The Western Mediterranean was the most popular cruise destination for Spaniards in 2013 , with 44.99% of respondents choosing it, followed by the Eastern Mediterranean, selected by 22.99%, with the Greek Islands being a major attraction in that region. The Norwegian fjords and the Baltic Sea are other well-established destinations in the Spanish market, with 8.32% and 7.76% of respondents choosing them, respectively.
Meanwhile, the average expenditure on excursions is €341.51, and onboard expenditure is €299.07. When comparing onboard expenditure data with the cruise price, a clear correlation emerges: the more passengers pay for their cruise, the more they also spend onboard and on excursions. A slight increase in onboard expenditure compared to the previous year is also observed, perhaps because Spanish cruise passengers are beginning to try alternative restaurants (which charge extra), as reported by 17.91% of respondents.
The range of motivations for choosing a holiday cruise is divided among several concepts, although the main one is "the destinations it visits" with 33.57%, followed by the quality/price ratio with 24.82%, while for 20.31% the ship and its facilities would be the main motivation.
24.40% of those surveyed decide exactly which cruise they want to take based on opinions found online, although there is a significant group of 39.77% who are not influenced by the internet, their travel agent, or acquaintances, but decide based on their loyalty to the brand or exclusively on the attractiveness of the route.
Those surveyed rated various aspects of their cruise, with onboard service receiving a score of 7.84 and value for money scoring 7.61. Onboard cuisine received a similar score of 7.46, while entertainment earned a more modest but still noteworthy 7.07.
The average global rating for cruises in 2014 received a remarkable 7.55 points.
The study can be viewed at the following address: https://magic.piktochart.com/output/3638344-untitled-infographic
