What's the profile of typical Utah cruisegoers, where do they go when they set sail and how much do they spend?
According to Salt Lake travel agents we interviewed for this story, typical Utah cruise customers are couples that are 40-something to 70-something, they frequently travel with other couples, they sail the Caribbean or the Mexican Riviera and they spend about $1,200 per person for a seven-day cruise, including air fare.Mexico and the Caribbean are popular destinations because of their price and their proximity to Salt Lake City, travel agents speculated. And the 40- to 70-year-olds dominate the cruising crowd because they have the time and the money to spend.
More and more Utah cruise-goers bring their children. "There's a lot of family cruising going on," said Larry Gelwix, executive vice president of Morris Travel. "That may be a trend."
Another trend is short cruises. "A lot of Utahns take a three- or four-day cruise to the Bahamas and then hit Orlando for a couple of days," said Carie Dalebout, product line manager for Murdock Travel. "It's easier to get away for a few days (than a week)."
Cruising is big business. According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), cruising is the fastest growing vacation category in North America. By the time the year is over, nearly five million people will have gone on a cruise this year. Twenty-five new ships will be added to the North American fleet between now and 1998.
Utahns contribute their fare share to the cruise industry. "For a state our size, the people of Utah cruise a lot," said Ashley Wallace, manager of Beehive Travel's Fort Union office. "I would be willing to bet we're above the national average. It seems like we've been selling cruises well for a long time."
Shopping around
Travel agents said Utahns shop hard for the lowest price. Many call several travel agencies to compare prices before they book a cruise.
Ways to save money include scanning newspaper ads for exceptional values. For instance, cruise lines have two-for-one deals on the Caribbean right now. That's only $600 to $700 per person for seven days, excluding air fare.
Or sail off-season. During the summer they offered Mexican Riviera cruises for $379 per person with children under 12 sailing for $49 if accompanied by a paying adult.
Or plan ahead to take advantage of early booking discounts of 5 percent to 15 percent. "Cabin availability is better when you book in advance," said Wallace.
Choosing an itinerary
One of the most important decisions you'll make is choosing an itinerary. Factors to consider:
Do you like ports of call? (Cruises stop at a port a day in the southern Caribbean with only one full day at sea.)
Prefer time at sea? (Eastern Caribbean cruises stop at three or four ports and have several days at sea.)
Want to visit different countries rich in history and cultural differences? (The Mediterranean is for you.)
Love the great outdoors? (Sail Alaska's Inside Passage.)
Is shopping 'til you drop what you do best? (Bring along an empty suitcase for the southern Caribbean with St. Thomas, duty-free St. Martin and Martinique, known for good deals on French perfumes.)
Like beautiful scenery? (Take a fall foliage cruise along the Eastern Seaboard from New York to Canada. Or sail Norway's stunning fjords.)
In response to passenger demand, cruise ships are setting sail to more exotic itineraries including Southeast Asia and South Africa. To freshen up Caribbean routes, many cruise lines stop at their own private island where passengers relax on the beach or snorkel.
Which ship is for you?
Another important decision is which ship?
"Each cruise line has its own personality, and even ships within a line have different personalities," said Morris' Gelwix. "Many people view a cruise as a generic commodity, but it's not. There is everything from economy cruises to deluxe. You need to sit down with an experienced, knowledgeable cruise agent (to decide which ship is for you)."
Premier does three- and four-day cruises from Orlando to the Bahamas. "It's geared toward families," said Gelwix. "It's just plain fun."
Crystal Cruises, on the other hand, caters to an upscale, older clientele. "It's the epitome of cruising," he said. "It's sheer luxury."
Wallace, of Beehive, said Carnival, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean cater to a younger clientele with an average age of 46 to 48. Holland America and Princess attract a slightly older crowd with an average age of 52 to 54.
Travel agent: man's best friend
A travel agent who has been on a lot of cruises and is familiar with the differences between cruise lines and ships is the best one to advise you.
Questions to ask an agent:
Have you sailed this cruise line?
What cruise lines have you sailed?
Have you done a site inspection on this ship? (The agent doesn't actually sail on the ship but has taken a stem-to-stern tour.)
Ship sanitation
Two recent incidents raise questions about sanitation aboard cruise vessels.
In July, a number of passengers aboard Celebrity Cruises' Horizon contracted Legionnaire's disease. One passenger later died. Centers for Disease Control investigators found Legionella bacteria present in sand filters for a whirlpool spa.
And later, an outbreak of shigellosis on the Royal Caribbean ship Viking Serenade off the coast of Mexico killed one elderly man. Shigellosis is an intestinal disorder.
Should cruise passengers be alarmed?
No, said Jack Estes, president of the International Council of Cruise Lines. The Deseret News spoke to Estes by phone. "Last week when I testified before Congress, I reminded them that we carried over 17 million passengers in the past five years, and that's just out of North American ports.
"One incident is one too many, but these are isolated incidents. Given the probabilities of something happening and the regulatory network that's in place on top of the safety net the cruise lines have, it should be no problem at all."
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Free Booklet
For a copy of "Cruising . . . Answers to Your Questions," send a self-addressed stamped envelope with 52 cents postage to Cruise Lines International Association, Dept. F, 500 Fifth Ave., Suite 1407, New York, N.Y. 10110, or pick one up at any of the CLIA-affiliated local travel agencies. The booklet answers the most commonly asked questions about cruise vacations.