The latest survey from cruise retailer Mundy Cruising gives clues to the future of the industry post-pandemic, with 50% of respondents ranking sustainability as an important factor when booking a holiday, compared to just 14% who thought it was not important, and 35% agreeing that the cruise industry needs to do more to appeal to a diverse range of travellers, compared to 24% who disagreed.
While 65% thought that the cruise industry’s image has been damaged by the coronavirus pandemic, a large majority, 79% of respondents, believe that the industry is working hard to operate more sustainably, and 57% said that they trust the industry to do the right thing on green issues, compared to just 12% who don’t. The findings were the latest to be gleaned from Mundy’s Cruise Expert Panel, which launched in October 2020 to coincide with the company’s 50th anniversary.
Although there has been much talk of ‘building back better’ and a green post-Covid recovery, the survey suggests that cruisers were already engaged with sustainability even before the pandemic; only 16% of respondents said that the events of the last 16 months had changed their attitudes towards sustainability, compared to 31% whose views are unchanged.
There was also recognition of the innovation within Mundy’s small ship niche, with 55% of respondents believing that small ship cruises are more sustainable than bigger ships. Over the last few years Mundy Cruising and expedition-focused sister brand Mundy Adventures have taken the lead in showcasing the green credentials of new ships coming on stream, including Hurtigruten’s hybrid-powered MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen, the renaissance in sail power from the likes of Tradewind Voyages, and Ponant’s forthcoming hybrid-powered luxury icebreaker, Le Commandant Charcot. Mundy also offer rail travel as an alternative to flying for short haul destinations, and have created a downloadable guide to rail routings for the most common European river cruise destinations.
On the question of diversity, 64% of respondents agreed that most people they had met on cruises were from a similar background to them, though 80% said that they believe there is a cruise holiday to suit everyone, suggesting that there is a significant opportunity for the cruise industry to cast the net a little wider.
The survey did show that some things remain unchanged by the pandemic, with 74% of respondents still preferring a physical brochure or magazine to online alternatives. Mundy clients are also just as fed up of Zoom as the rest of us, with only 23% expressing an interest in speaking to their travel agent via video chat rather than in person or over the phone.
“Once again our survey has shown that cruisers cannot be easily pigeonholed,” commented Mundy Cruising managing director Edwina Lonsdale, “with a far greater interest in sustainability than you might expect if you were to listen to the industry’s detractors in the media. We have seen a growing demand from our clients for concrete technical details of what the cruise lines are doing on board to minimise their impact on the environment, and this is reflected in our survey findings.
“We also agree with our clients that there is a huge opportunity for the industry to attract a broader mix of clientele thanks to the fabulous diversity of product now on offer, whether it’s building a stronger offering for solo travellers, appealing to a younger demographic, or making it clear that a cruise ship is a friendly and welcoming place for travellers from backgrounds that have traditionally been under-represented on board.”
For further information about Mundy Cruising, call 020 7399 7670 or visit www.mundycruising.co.uk
