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Cruise Ships Rise in Popularity Among Young Adults
Vacation cruising
Cruises, once considered a vacation staple for retirees, are gaining popularity among Gen Z and millennials, Bloomberg reports.
Why It Hits: With the cost of flights, hotels, and meals continuing to rise, young travelers are looking for more affordable vacation options. And cruise ships are offering just that.
Behind the Journey: Cruise lines are seeing a shift in guest demographics, thanks in part to their relatively cheap offerings.
During Virgin Voyages’ first year of operation in 2021-2022, 32% of its guests were younger than 45. Today, that figure has climbed to 45%.
At Royal Caribbean Group, Chief Financial Officer Naftali Holtz told investors in early 2025 that total guests had increased 45% since 2019, while the number of millennial and younger guests had nearly doubled. By Q2 2026, millennials and Gen Z accounted for roughly half of its passengers.
According to AAA, fares on mass-market cruise lines can average as little as $75 per person per night. Some trips cost just $31 a day, per Cruise Sheet. Meanwhile, US hotel rooms averaged about $174 per night in 2025.
Final Voyage: Cruise lines are also catering to younger generations by transforming their ships into floating amusement parks, complete with water slides, go-kart tracks, zip lines, and even roller coasters.
The Future of Vacationing: As flights, hotels, and other travel expenses continue to rise, cruises could become the preferred vacation option for younger generations. And as more Gen Z and millennial travelers come aboard, cruise lines may increasingly cater to their tastes.
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Today’s email was written by Deena ElGenaidi.
Edited by Nick Comney. Polled and Copy-edited by Kait Cunniff.
Published by Darline Salazar.