Popstar Duncan James believes better education from the cruise industry would drive passenger numbers up in the UK.
Speaking on Carnival Cruise Line’s fam trip in Ibiza, Blue member James revealed how his love of cruises started 20 years ago when he took a voyage with his family and bandmate Antony Costa.
But he said that Britons needed to understand the many advantages of ocean cruising – if brands wanted to attract more passengers onboard.
According to recent Clia figures, the UK cruise industry holds just a 4.5% share of the holiday market in this country.
James said: “People do not realise about cruises. There is not enough information. A lot of Brits will go to where they know and to where their friends and family have been to before.
“A lot of it is education. But cruising is not cheap, so they are going to go where it’s the safe bet.”
James added that preconceptions about how cruises are for “old people” are wildly off the mark.
Using Carnival as an example, he said: “This cruise company make it a lot more family friendly and now there is a lot more choice about what to do on board.
“I chose Carnival Cruise Line because they cater for everybody on board.”
James took his family, including his 13-year-old daughter Tianie, on a Caribbean cruise on Carnival Vista in April.
“Every time I go on holiday I want to go on a cruise – everything is done for you,” he said. “You get a whole new [onboard] itinerary every single day. Everything is just there.
“I grew up on cruises from a young age. I absolutely love it.”
The Cruise Room, in Dublin, Ireland, responded online to James’ comments about a need for people to be educated about the benefits of cruising.
The agency’s Twitter account posted: “To be fair we would agree with a lot of what Mr James says BUT there are great, experienced and knowledgeable agents out there!
“Information? Actually might be too much info, conflicting info…confusing info, especially when shopping around…then people revert to safety choice.”