NY Times: Regent Targeting Millennials

Interesting article: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/03/travel/cruises-recruit-millennials.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Ftravel

Nice article. Luxury cruise lines have been targeting a younger demographic for a while now. After all, even though baby boomers have many years left to cruise. Eventually, the "over-50" crowd that currently are the majority on luxury cruisers will no longer be the majority. As with any generation, there are some people that will prefer the quiet, "opulent" luxury cruises, some will prefer other types of cruising.

In the years that we have sailed on Regent, we have seen more people in their 40's and early 50's (many of whom are on this board -- don't worry -- no names:p ). The age mix works well.

Thank you for sharing the article!

I must admit that I had never heard of millennials until now

Having looked up the definition, I suspect that Regent will easily achieve its objective of attracting millennials in about twenty to thirty years time ;)

I must admit that I had never heard of millennials until now

 

Having looked up the definition, I suspect that Regent will easily achieve its objective of attracting millennials in about twenty to thirty years time ;)

Interesting...... every day I learn phrases/words that do not translate from the U.K. to the U.S. or visa versa. We use the term "millennials" and "Gen-X" frequently. Demographers tend to use the following terms based on the year a person is born:

2000/2001-Present - New Silent Generation or Generation Z

1980-2000 - Millennials or Generation Y

1965-1979 - Generation X

1946-1964 - Baby Boom

P.S. Okay - I know that this was off topic -- just trying to help.

Being the mom of 2 millennials, I am assured that they will cruise Regent for years to come. Both my boys love Regent. They don't have the $ to cruise on regent on their own now, but it is the preferred live of both of them.

Now that's a refreshing possibility! We were among the youngest on our last cruise and we're not young! My father (at age 99) said he felt like he was still in his 30's until he looked in the mirror - so he avoided mirrors! On a cruise, I like to maintain the fantasy that I'm still a young thing and that's hard to do when I'm staring at bodies that seem to have gone to pot! PS - I avoid mirrors, too.

If Regent is trying to appeal to millennials, maybe management will fix the onboard internet service so it actually performs as Regent claims it does on its website. ;)

I'm a millennial (33) and I approve of this message... On a more realistic note this would be targeting a smaller subset. My friends and I are are more reserved and not so much interested in the big party boats, etc. Agree with the internet and even though I am not a big jeans guy but I can see it going towards business casual style.

~Jar

I'm a millennial (33) and I approve of this message... On a more realistic note this would be targeting a smaller subset. My friends and I are are more reserved and not so much interested in the big party boats, etc. Agree with the internet and even though I am not a big jeans guy but I can see it going towards business casual style.

 

~Jar

Really appreciate your post! Regent definitely has a "business casual style" onboard their ships. As a long time Regent cruiser, I look forward to the day when there are people of all ages on Regent (but without children - not quite willing to turn a luxury cruise ship into a playground -- the ships are simply not made for that).

As a side note, we moved from Los Angeles to a college town several years ago. One of the best parts of living where we live is the acceptance and intermingling of all age groups that live in our city of approximately 80,000 people. My closest friend in town is younger than my daughter (go figure!). My point is simply about acceptance and this is already being shown on Regent ships!

My DD who is a millennial has cruised with us since she was 6 or 7 years. As a child she was told by RCCL staff that the children of today are the cruisers of tomorrow. Cruising became part of our and her life style over the years as we graduated to luxury lines like Regent and Crystal , travelling in all the Continents. I know she will continue to cruise when we are unable to do so. That's why I think that the special children's programs on ships are essential for when current cruisers are unable to cruise or die off.

My only complaint for her is the single supplements. Not so bad on Crystal but very high on Regent.

If Regent is trying to appeal to millennials, maybe management will fix the onboard internet service so it actually performs as Regent claims it does on its website. ;)

I am so with you.... As an early Gen X'er who lives on the internet and grumbles all the time about both the corporate website AND the onboard speeds. There is no way your average person from the next generation is going to accept either as "Luxury." Regent is going to have got to come up to par to have a hope of convincing the next generation this is the way to go.

Have to say that Crystal internet is bad too! Best internet on board a ship has been Voom on Allure of the seas. It is so good that you can stream shows or download books. Of course we have to pay but I am happy to for the speed and reliability.

I don't care what you call them, gen-x or millennials, it's about respect.

Yes, some cruise lines cater to the older crowds for a more up scale experience to those that can afford it. That's why my wife and I cruise those lines.

What I do have a problem with is the younger crowd allowing their children to act out and do whatever they want.

Enjoying a wonderful evening dinner only to be spoiled by a 8 year old brat doesn't cut it.

If they want to market to millennials that's fine, just no kids please. Go to carnival and get your picture taken with Popeye.

If you do bring kids make sure they are well behaved.

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One more thing....

There are a few individuals above that are really upset with the internet speed onboard the ship. Guess what?

You're on a cruise! Why are you even on the net when you are on a wonderful cruise?

Here's a tip from a non- gen x Er/millennial: try reading a book or writing a letter to your friends. You know what that is right? It gets mailed at the next port.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

One more thing....

 

There are a few individuals above that are really upset with the internet speed onboard the ship. Guess what?

You're on a cruise! Why are you even on the net when you are on a wonderful cruise?

 

Here's a tip from a non- gen x Er/millennial: try reading a book or writing a letter to your friends. You know what that is right? It gets mailed at the next port.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I'm sure some of us read books, and some may even write letters (although I'm sure there are some who will say "why are you even writing letters when you're on this wonderful cruise?")

Unfortunately, some of us are still in the active workforce and need to be able to check in on occasion. Others may have elderly relatives or ailing friends to check in with.

The internet is a fact of life these days, much like electricity or running water. Many of us count on it, Regent promises it, and at times they don't provide it. That seems to be the biggest concern.

You may consider the internet a waste of time. Someone else may think it's a waste of time to get a massage, or sit in a casino, or read a book, or lie in the sun. Or even write a letter, for that matter. But that's not my concern - what others do on their vacation is their concern, not mine.

I'm sure some of us read books, and some may even write letters (although I'm sure there are some who will say "why are you even writing letters when you're on this wonderful cruise?")

 

Unfortunately, some of us are still in the active workforce and need to be able to check in on occasion. Others may have elderly relatives or ailing friends to check in with.

 

The internet is a fact of life these days, much like electricity or running water. Many of us count on it, Regent promises it, and at times they don't provide it. That seems to be the biggest concern.

 

You may consider the internet a waste of time. Someone else may think it's a waste of time to get a massage, or sit in a casino, or read a book, or lie in the sun. Or even write a letter, for that matter. But that's not my concern - what others do on their vacation is their concern, not mine.

What Bill said. Being working stiffs, internet on the ship is what makes it possible for us to do the trip.

I too was just getting ready to write what Bill said. I am still full time employed as is my husband. The only way we are able to travel as much as we do is with a reliable internet connection. We both have business that has to be attended to every day. And I have a 99 year old mom as well.

I don't care what you call them, gen-x or millennials, it's about respect.

 

Yes, some cruise lines cater to the older crowds for a more up scale experience to those that can afford it. That's why my wife and I cruise those lines.

 

What I do have a problem with is the younger crowd allowing their children to act out and do whatever they want.

 

Enjoying a wonderful evening dinner only to be spoiled by a 8 year old brat doesn't cut it.

 

If they want to market to millennials that's fine, just no kids please. Go to carnival and get your picture taken with Popeye.

 

If you do bring kids make sure they are well behaved.

 

 

 

 

 

I'm younger and can afford a more upscale experience. Having been on the higher end lines, the worst behavior I have seen is not the children, which are limited in number, but those with a sense of entitlement who think they know best.

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I'm younger and can afford a more upscale experience. Having been on the higher end lines, the worst behavior I have seen is not the children, which are limited in number, but those with a sense of entitlement who think they know best.

I understand that there are a few Regent passengers that have a "sense of entitlement" and we don't like them anymore than you do. However, when Regent passengers bring their children onboard when school (in the U.S. and Canada) is in session, sometimes we cannot escape their behavior. If we say one word to their parents about the behavior of their children disrupting our cruise, there is hell to pay. If an adult acts inappropriately, Regent can take action against them. Wish that the same could be said about unruly children.

BTW, there have been up to 100 children on Alaska cruises during the summer. I think I'd rather be in a den of rattlesnakes:evilsmile:

I don't care what you call them, gen-x or millennials, it's about respect.

 

Yes, some cruise lines cater to the older crowds for a more up scale experience to those that can afford it. That's why my wife and I cruise those lines.

 

What I do have a problem with is the younger crowd allowing their children to act out and do whatever they want.

 

Enjoying a wonderful evening dinner only to be spoiled by a 8 year old brat doesn't cut it.

 

If they want to market to millennials that's fine, just no kids please. Go to carnival and get your picture taken with Popeye.

 

If you do bring kids make sure they are well behaved.

 

 

 

 

 

I'm younger and can afford a more upscale experience. Having been on the higher end lines, the worst behavior I have seen is not the children, which are limited in number, but those with a sense of entitlement who think they know best.

 

 

How true is that! No longer younger but we were once and didn't appreciate retired people on Oceania telling us and I quote " we had no business travelling " as we were not retired.

 

Also btw if people want to take kids cruising these days they travel on Disney!

 

 

How true is that! No longer younger but we were once and didn't appreciate retired people on Oceania telling us and I quote " we had no business travelling " as we were not retired.

 

Also btw if people want to take kids cruising these days they travel on Disney!

 

I can't imagine any retired person telling you "we had no business traveling" however it apparently happened to you. As you know, they are nice people and not so nice people at any age. What they said is definitely not the opinion of the majority of retired travelers. Keep in mind that people that are retired range in age from young to quite old (I retired at age 55).

 

In terms of kids, I wish that what you said was true (about them cruising on Disney, which, is a wonderful cruise line). Not sure if you read about the huge amount of children on the Explorer during Christmas 2016. I am so thankful that we were not on that cruise. Being a parent, I know that there is no such thing as a perfect child. They need to have space to expend their energy, run around and have fun. Luxury cruise lines are not the place to do that. And, as has been said by many posters, the majority of cruisers that take their children on a luxury cruise are looking out for their best interest - not their children's!

I have a 9 year old and I'm not sure I would take her on Regent. It would have to be the right situation with the right itinerary (port intensive). That being said, I do take umbrage when people dictate what cruises my family should go on. So I have to cater purely to my child and go on a Disney cruise or RCCL even though my wife and I would not want to? There needs to be a balance of interests so everyone in my family will enjoy the cruise.

I have a 9 year old and I'm not sure I would take her on Regent. It would have to be the right situation with the right itinerary (port intensive). That being said, I do take umbrage when people dictate what cruises my family should go on. So I have to cater purely to my child and go on a Disney cruise or RCCL even though my wife and I would not want to? There needs to be a balance of interests so everyone in my family will enjoy the cruise.

I don't think it's so much *people* dictating what cruises to take so much as the situation dictating what cruise you should take. When my girls were that age, I wouldn't have taken them on a Regent cruise - more for their sake than the other passengers, I think. Although my girls were pretty well behaved, they had the occasional outburst of exuberance that may have bothered other cruisers. Hence our decision to take different vacations when they were younger.

I believe most of us on CC are in agreement that kids on a Regent cruise aren't a problem; rather, out-of-control kids and parents in denial are the problem. You stated that there needs to be a "balance of interests so everyone in my family will enjoy the cruise" - I believe you also need to extend that to include "a balance of interests so everyone else on board will enjoy their cruise" as well. I've see where 4 or 5 wild children have created havoc for the other 500-750 passengers on board - as long as your kids aren't 'those kids' I think you'd be fine.

Of course, a lot of times kids who are on their best behavior are also kids who aren't having a good time...

It would be special circumstances if took my daughter on Regent. I'm not stating that I'm planning to take my daughter on Regent anytime soon, if ever. However, I reject this litmus test that we should take into the consideration the interests of other cruisers. I have seen more abhorrent behavior from adults on cruises than children. There is no self-policing of these adults. They don't apply a litmus test to themselves. Why should we?

It would be special circumstances if took my daughter on Regent. I'm not stating that I'm planning to take my daughter on Regent anytime soon, if ever. However, I reject this litmus test that we should take into the consideration the interests of other cruisers. I have seen more abhorrent behavior from adults on cruises than children. There is no self-policing of these adults. They don't apply a litmus test to themselves. Why should we?

IMO, many of the problems that are currently being discussed on the Regent board have to do with people that do not "take into the consideration the interests of other cruisers." In our over 350 nights on Regent, I'm not sure if I've ever seen "abhorrent behavior".