Selecting the right cruise ship for you and your family is easier than ever today, as cruise lines are now tailoring their cruise ships and itineraries to specific demographics. However, while not all cruise lines are equal in terms of safety and sanitation, those looking for specific cruise experiences can usually find what they are after with a little research.

MILLENNIALS LOOKING FOR ADVENTURE

Recently, the New York Times reported on the challenge that many cruise lines face in motivating millennials–those 30-somethings–to consider taking a cruise for vacation.  Many people associate cruising with either their childhood experiences (traveling with their parents) or the elderly–as an easy way to get from one exotic country to another without the stress of busy airports, customs, and immigration lines.  

But the population is aging, and surveys have found that today’s young adults prefer adventure travel to all-night buffets and the bingo and shuffleboard games they associate with cruise lines like Carnival, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity.  

In fact, just look at the most recent slew of television ads from Royal Caribbean. They hardly ever depict the ship, focusing instead on ziplining and scuba diving in ports of call. Probably the most ambitious push for the millennial cruise ship passenger is Carnival’s controversial Fathom cruise line. Fathom promises passengers a more spiritual experience, with in-port visits to homeless shelters and children’s hospitals, while providing onboard seminars on self improvement and spirituality.

GAY CRUISES

Royal Caribbean has long offered very specific chartered cruises designed to attract a definite demographic, such as their Groove Cruise, which is billed as the world’s largest floating dance music festival, and their gay cruise, which is almost always sold out. In fact, RCCL’s gay cruise recently received gaytravel.com’s very first and only seal of approval as “Gay-Travel-Approved.” RCCL received this recognition because of its ongoing commitment to the LGBTQ community, not just on its gay cruise, but on all of its 25 ships.

To award the Gay Travel Seal of Approval, a panel of travel experts votes on the service and attitude that particular hotels, resorts, and cruise lines exhibit towards their guests. In fact, RCCL is one of the few cruise lines with a dedicated Diversity and Inclusion Department, which focuses on ways to make LGBTQ passengers feel more at home aboard their cruise ships. Additionally, RCCL has a perfect rating as an employer on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.

LUXURY CRUISING

If you like staying in small luxury hotels, with great finishes and top-of-the-line amenities, you should consider Regent Seven Seas. Regent, the luxury brand cruise line owned and operated by Norwegian, employs another strategy: over-the-top elegance and service. Its newest ship, the Regent Explorer, is touted as the world’s most luxurious cruise ship, costing over $450 million to build.  With only 375 cabins The Explorer is tiny compared to RCCL’s gigantic 4,000-passenger mega cruise ships.  And you won’t find any low-cost, all-you-can-eat pizza buffets on The Explorer; instead, passengers can dine on world-class Asian fusion cuisine at the Pacific Rim restaurant, which offers Canyon Ranch-designed and -approved healthy options to match the Canyon Ranch spa treatments offered at the onboard Canyon Ranch spa. All this luxury comes with a hefty price: cruises on the Explorer start at $5,799 per guest.

ACCIDENTS ON A CRUISE

Regardless of which cruise line you book, the majority of cruise lines–like Carnival, Royal, Norwegian, MSC, Disney, Celebrity, Regent, Oceania, Princess, and Holland America–all require that claims against them be filed in Federal Court, within one year of the date of the incident. Some also stipulate very specific written-notice requirements that must be complied with even before a lawsuit can be filed.

To navigate the complex legal procedures associated with suing a cruise line, we recommend that you consult and retain an experienced personal injury lawyer who specializes in representing injured passengers in claims against the cruise ship companies. Our maritime accident law firm in Miami has successfully represented people who have slipped and tripped and fallen on wet and slippery decks, dangerous staircases, gangways, and other areas onboard cruise ships.

Our personal injury law firm in Miami has nearly 30 years of combined legal experience suing cruise lines and holding them accountable when they put their profits ahead of passenger safety.  Call us at 305-441-0440 or toll free at 1-866-597-4529 or email us at [email protected] and speak with a cruise ship injury lawyer about your potential case. We fight hard for our clients and get them money for their lost wages, pain and suffering, and medical expenses. Call or email us today for a free initial consultation.  We are ready to help you.