Forecasting for the Love Boat: Royal Caribbean Cruises in 1998(

Who’s OnboardObviously different types of cruises attract different types of customers.Nonetheless, certain demographic profiles are most likely to take a cruise. The tablebelow compares the demographic profile of those who have taken a cruise with the entireU.S. population over the age of 24. Generally, the population of past cruisers is older,wealthier and better educated than the entire population.DemographicProfileGender:Age:MaritalStatus:HouseholdComposition:Education:HouseholdIncome:MaleFemale25-under 40 years40-59 years60 years or olderAverageMedianMarriedNot MarriedHave childrenunder 18Adults onlyEver Cruised49%51%27%42%32%51 yrs.51 yrs.76%24%Past 5 YearCruisers51%48%28%42%30%50 yrs.51 yrs.78%22%Populationover Age 2450%49%43%44%13%43 yrs.42 yrs.69%31%37%63%35%65%54%46%Occupants 3 3 3Some College orless42% 36% 54%College Graduate or 58% 64% 46%more$20,000-$29,999$30,000-$39,999$40,000-$59,999$60,000-$99,999$100,000 or moreAverageMedian8%12%32%28%20%$72,600$58,5005%10%31%30%25%$79,100$64,50013%17%31%29%9%$60,400$51,800Examining those who have cruised most recently reveals a few different types ofcustomers, as the figure below illustrates, but most seek the relaxation and pamperingthat a cruise can provide. Indeed, when the recent cruiser population was asked whatcruising offered that was superior to other types of vacations, the top three responseswere “being pamper,” “fine dining” and “hassle free.”