Issues Determining the Development of Cruise Itineraries: A Focus on the Luxury Market

Abstract

While the cruise industry has been identified as an ever-increasingly important aspect of the wider tourism industry, this sector remains relatively underresearched. Cruises have shown strong year on year growth and, in 2004, was the holiday of choice for more than 12 million tourists worldwide. Challenges facing the industry are concerned with market segmentation and the development of new and exciting ports of call. This research focuses on one aspect of the luxury cruise industry: that of the development of cruise itineraries. Specifically, this research will identify the itinerary planning process in the luxury cruise industry, determine the main issues and challenges faced when developing itineraries, and finally present an overview of the influences that might shape luxury cruise itinerary planning in the future.