- Cruise Critic poll reveals surprising results about first-time cruising age

LONDON, Sept. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Results of a poll released today by Cruise Critic® (http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk), the world's largest cruise reviews site and cruise community, reveals that 49 percent of cruisers took their first cruise before the age of 45. Just below a third were aged between 45 - 55 years old. Somewhat surprisingly, only 17 percent first cruised between the ages of 55 – 65, and a mere 3 percent were older than 65.

With National Cruise Week launching on September 21st, Cruise Critic conducted the poll to learn more about the average age of first-time cruisers, with the results dispelling any myths about cruising only appealing to an older demographic. Many cruise lines are keen to target the "new to cruise" audience, including families, and this survey highlights that cruising is attractive to people of all ages.  

Adam Coulter, UK editor of Cruise Critic, explains: "Cruising is by no means reserved only for the domain of the retired.  The appeal has broadened as cruise lines have made changes to attract a younger demographic, and improved the variety of cruises on offer.  There is now a cruise tailored to almost every taste: from active, destination intensive holidays to slower-paced escapes for those who just want to unwind and relax.  Another factor is that cruise is one of the few industries to buck the trend of mounting inflation, according to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), cruises purchased by UK holidaymakers in 2012 actually decreased in price since 2005, with the average cost falling by £46*."

Cruise Critic is an online cruise guide which features cruise reviews, cruise deals, news and information on all aspects of cruising.  The site also hosts the world's largest online cruise community -- a forum for asking cruise questions, sharing advice and connecting with other cruisers.

For those interested in taking their first cruise, Cruise Critic offers advice for new cruisers in its cruise planning guide, and the article 14 best cruise lines for first time UK cruisers.

*CLIA UK Annual Cruise Market Report (p.10)

Notes to editor:

Poll information:
The first-time cruise age poll was answered by 746 respondents and ran on the Cruise Critic homepage 9/05/13 to 9/18/13. Only one vote per IP address is included in the results tally. To view the poll and results, visit: 
http://www.cruisecritic.com/polls/dailypoll_archive.cfm?ID=2667

Adam Coulter, UK editor, Cruise Critic is available for interview. Adam is able to offer advice and industry insight during National Cruise Week.

Please contact:

UK PR Contact:
Vikki Bulbeck, Cruise Critic 
Tel: +44-020-3194-2137
Email: vbulbeck@cruisecritic.co.uk

About Cruise Critic (www.cruisecritic.co.uk)
Cruise Critic® is an online cruise guide, offering a comprehensive resource for cruise travellers, from first-time cruisers to avid cruise enthusiasts. The site features more than 100,000 cruise reviews and hosts the world's largest online cruise community where travellers share experiences and opinions with fellow cruisers. Cruise Critic was the first consumer cruise site on the Internet, launched in October 1995 by The Independent Traveler, Inc., a subsidiary of TripAdvisor, Inc.

TripAdvisor, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRIP) manages and operates websites under 20 other travel media brands: www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.cruisecritic.com, www.everytrail.com, www.familyvacationcritic.com, www.flipkey.com, www.gateguru.com, www.holidaylettings.co.uk, www.holidaywatchdog.com, www.independenttraveler.com, www.jetsetter.com, www.niumba.com,  www.onetime.com, www.seatguru.com, www.smartertravel.com, www.tingo.com, www.travelpod.com, www.virtualtourist.com, www.whereivebeen.com, and www.kuxun.cn. TripAdvisor branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 260 million unique monthly visitors*, and more than 100 million reviews and opinions covering more than 2.7 million accommodations, restaurants and attractions.
*Source: Google Analytics, worldwide data, July 2013

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SOURCE Cruise Critic