It’s a strange and slightly rude question, but it’s one that is frequently asked by the younger generation and often stated as a reason why they would not consider a cruise for a holiday option.
Firstly, there is no straight answer. All cruises have a variety of passengers of different age groups. On top of that you have to consider what is considered old these days, as everyone over the age of 25 is old to a teenager.
Cruises have always been associated with older people as a relaxed and expensive holiday, both of these views are not true. The cost of a basic cruise in a medium class cabin compares reasonably with a holiday abroad in a high rated hotel and dependent on your cruise ship and what you like to do, many cruises are far from relaxing with entertainment both on board and ashore.
As a rule of thumb, the age of passengers will mainly depend on the cruise line, destinations and in some cases the time of year. This is in no way definitive and indeed on every cruise ship you will always find people of every age. The following comes from observations over the years.
Cruise Lines
Cruise lines such as Saga Cruises, are specifically designed for the older generation, with a minimum age requirement of 50 years old. Therefore you would expect the passengers on a Saga Cruise to be predominantly older.
Cruise lines such as Island cruises and EasyCruise, both market to a younger generation with on board parties and relaxed non formal situations that appeal to the younger market and would therefore carry a predominantly younger passenger group.
There are also a lot of cruise companies that are marketing towards family groups, these will have a lot of facilities on board to cater for children, such as play rooms and video arcades and even children’s clubs, on these cruises, the passenger make up will be completely varied.
Destinations
Particular destinations such as the Eastern Mediterranean and around the Spanish islands of Tenerife tend to be popular with some older passengers, especially in the late autumn and winter seasons, however, these destinations can become popular with the young adults during the party season . The colder locations such as the Black sea and northern Europe are more popular with middle age passengers, with the exception of the Baltic, especially cruises visiting Russian cities such as St Petersburg. Western Europe
Seasonal differences
The time of year can also vary the passenger age mix. Many older people in the United Kingdom who cruise prefer to do so in the Autumn and winter seasons to enjoy a cruise in the warmer climates.
Basically, the answer is no. Cruises are not just for old people, they are for people of all ages, race, religions and nationalities. Cruises work well with a blend of passengers all cruising together, especially as, if everyone was the same age, the queues to the pool and some of the on board entertainment would be huge.
Each ship will be able to cater for each age group, many have disco’s or nightclubs, whilst many retain a quiet reading room or library. Most ships will have bingo or some form of group entertainment that appeals to all ages.
A cruise is not just a holiday, it’s an experience for all age groups.