April, 2014 – This article from Seatrade Insider discusses results of the American Affluence Research Center’s Spring 2014 report indicating that 17% of America’s affluent travelers plan on cruising in the next 12 months. (http://www.seatrade-insider.com/news/news-headlines/contrary-to-harris-poll-other-research-finds-affluent-have-strong-plans-to-cruise.html )
A decline in the intent to purchase a cruise in a Harris Poll earlier this year goes against research cited by Cruise Lines International Association and the travel industry, along with the latest findings by the American Affluence Research Center.
AARC’s survey of the wealthiest 10% of US households found the intent to purchase a cruise during the next 12 months is at 17% of the affluent versus only 11% in the spring 2013 survey, which was a record low for this series of twice yearly surveys that started in 2002.
Since the record high of the fall 2007 survey (22%), the intent to cruise has been higher only in fall 2011 (18%).
‘Special questions in this new survey validated previous estimates in our recent surveys of about 3.5 million annual affluent cruisers across contemporary, premium, and luxury categories,’ said AARC president Ron Kurtz.
Kurtz added that ‘at 17% of the affluent, the number of affluent cruisers during the next 12 months could total 3.8 million cruisers plus up to 1.8 million more or 8% of the affluent that were undecided at the time of the survey.’
The Spring 2014 Affluent Market Tracking Study #25, the latest in a series of twice-yearly surveys, is based on a national sample of 330 men and women who have an average annual household income of $268,000, an average primary residence value of $1.1m, an average net worth of $3.1m and average investable assets of $1.5m.
Further survey highlights and a description of the methodology can be viewed here.