Not your grandfather's cruise

Say ‘sayonara’ to shuffleboard

Mention the word “cruise” to
someone who hasn’t taken one in a while, and images of bad lounge singers and lobster buffets
may spring to mind.

This stereotype explains why some
of your customers might claim they
get seasick so you won’t pitch a cruise to them again.

The “miracle cure” appears to be the theme cruise, which has gone so far beyond the days of shuffleboard that even the most stubborn landlubbers are choosing to cruise.

Theme cruises give your clients the opportunity to learn about Civil War history, French cooking, wine appreciation, the basics of line dancing or even a new Pilates technique—all while enjoying the usual amenities of a luxury cruise.

Avid golfers can tee off aboard the Sinfonia Golf Cruise to the Mediterranean, offered by MSC. On seven different Celebrity Cruise ships, art aficionados will appreciate the world-class collections of iconic greats including Picasso and Andy Warhol. And for folks with a passion for left-leaning politics, Holland America Line offers The Nation magazine’s annual cruise, featuring Calvin Trillin as a guest speaker.

Kids aren’t left out of the action, either. Nickelodeon is partnering with Royal Caribbean to introduce a “green slime” family cruise this summer. Celebrity guests include SpongeBob Square Pants and Dora the Explorer.

Even non-themed cruises have come a long way. “Relaxation” is no longer defined as perfecting your tan. Costa Cruises’ new Serena spa ships offer spa cabins and “wellness restaurants” that serve health-conscious cuisine you’d never expect to find at the butter-soaked buffets associated with traditional cruises.

Costa Cruises’ new Serena spa ship

Another prevailing theme among today’s pleasure trips is high-end luxury. Along with putting an end to its shuffleboard image, the modern cruise is doing away with a reputation for tiny cabins. The Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2 offers 9,000-square-foot suites. Norwegian Cruise Line’s luxury suites are slightly more modest at 5,750-square-feet but come equipped with private sun and steam rooms—not to mention butler service.

This new breed of cruise isn’t just good news for travelers. Because cruises come with big commissions, it’s also in your best interest to keep those cabins packed. Take a look at your client’s travel interests and propose cruises that match them—a golf cruise for the client who always wants to vacation by the links or a spa cruise for your customer who frequently requests hotels with world-class spas.

So whether your customers are NASCAR fans who’d flip for the chance to board a Carnival cruise with Rusty Wallace, or bookworms hoping to improve their education while aboard the Princess “Scholarship@Sea” cruise, you can count on showing your clients a good time with a theme cruise.