UK cruisers report spending same on fares in 2015 as 2011; Med stays top destination; Two thirds of cruisers are below average retirement age*, according to Cruise Critic findings

- Survey results of almost 6,000 cruisers announced -

LONDON, July 31, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Cruise Critic^® the world's largest cruise reviews site and cruise community, today announced the results of an annual survey revealing insight into preferred cruise destinations, and the booking and spending habits of UK cruisers.

Desirable destinations – next cruise
Survey participants were asked which destinations they would most likely visit on their next cruise, and while the Mediterranean is king, the Caribbean is hot on its heels. The top five choices were:

• Mediterranean (including Greek islands): 49%
• Caribbean: 30%
• Norwegian Fjords: 18%
• Canary Islands: 15%
• Baltic: 13%

Young at heart – cruise is for all ages

• A quarter (26%) of respondents are aged between 35-54
• Two thirds (64%) of respondents are under the age of 65

Cruising company - travel companions

When asked with whom they are most likely to cruise, a huge 84% of respondents selected their spouse/partner. Other selections included:

• A friend or group of friends: 17%
• Extended family: 9%
• On my own: 5%

Regular wave rider – cruise frequency

Three quarters (74%) of those surveyed cruise regularly (every couple of years or more), with a quarter (25%) taking to the high seas several times a year.

• Just over a fifth (21%) of respondents have yet to cruise or have done so only once

It's all about the money – cruise fare cost

• Almost half the respondents (45%) typically spend between £1,000-£2,000 on their cruise fare per person (not including air fares or onboard costs)
• Those spending less than £1,000 accounted for around a fifth (21%) of respondents
• Around half (49%) of those who cruise once per year spend at least £1,500
• According to the survey, people are spending the same in 2015 as they did four years earlier

So much choice – number of lines sailed with

• Respondents have sailed with three different lines on average
• Those who have cruised between 11-20 times have tried approximately five different cruise lines

Cruise don't lose – deals

With many cruise deals now available both on and offline, survey participants were asked where they look for these, and the Internet came out top:

• 94% look for deals on travel sites, such as Cruise Critic
• One third (33%) consult a travel agent
• One quarter (26%) like to hunt for deals in newspapers, compared with only 6% of US respondents

Planning tips – the importance of reviews