Travel Guard North America hired Ruf Strategic Solutions to conduct a poll to find out. 43% of cruisers polled say their biggest concern surrounding cruising is the potential that weather-related flight cancellations or delays will cause them to miss their ship’s departure. Only 25% feared missing their cruise because of an illness or injury.
Are you as surprised by that last one as I am?
There's more: Despite highly publicized incidents occurring while ships were at sea or in port, only 20% of respondents were worried about getting sick once on the ship, just 10% of respondents were concerned about safety while in port, and less than 1% of respondents were concerned about potential mechanical issues on board.
The survey also addressed the growing trend of megaships, finding that less than 4% of those polled considered the size of a ship as its most attractive quality.
Again, do you find that as surprising as I do?
Replies
I'd better clarify. It wasn't the 43% who worry about weather-related problems, but the (mere) 25% who feared missing a cruise because of an illness or injury that surprised me.
That 4% number is, for me, the other surprise -- especially when, as you've shown, even that 4% isn't necessarily pro-megaship.
I'm not surprised, either. These days, I try to come in at least a day early before boarding a cruise. When airlines have routing or weather issues, there's no slack in the inventory. Who knows how long it will take to be placed on another flight?
However, I'm in the 4% that does consider the size of a ship its most attractive quality. I go for the small ones.
I'm not surprised at all that missing the ship would be the biggest fear ... that can single-handedly ruin a vacation altogether. On the rest, I don't think they honestly think about how illness or injury could prevent them from traveling, or about getting sick onboard, etc.