Exploring Cruise Passengers’ Demographics, Experience, and Satisfaction with Cruising the Western Caribbean

Abstract

Each year millions of people vacation aboard cruise ships, some carrying thousands of passengers and crew members. These ships are small, floating cities that offer many options for food and entertainment and calling at various ports in the Caribbean. This study aims to explore cruise passengers experience and their satisfaction. Exploratory factor analysis was performed and revealed that the “environment factor” had the most influence on cruise passengers’ experience. Subsequently, a multiple regression was conducted to identify variables that affect passengers’ satisfaction; clean unpolluted environments, and sun-sea-sand continue to be the top variables affecting tourists’ satisfaction in the Caribbean. Based on these findings recommendations are made to the cruise companies and Caribbean governments in order to have more effective marketing campaigns and to retain and/or attract cruise passengers through the offering of positive means in the cruise experience.