In search of ‘a research front’ in cruise tourism studies

This article aims to provide a critical view of the global scientific production involved in cruise tourism study. Global references in this field were identified and emphasised for managing existing data to establish ‘bridges’ among researchers. Scientometric analysis was conducted on publications about cruise tourism in mainstream journals integrated into Web of Science. This methodology enabled us to identify current topics, relevant journals, authors, institutions, profitable countries, ‘visible’ and ‘invisible’ collaborative colleges and the research areas considered as the epicentre of the cruise tourism debate. A significant contribution of this work is the use of indicators at the three levels of scientometric complexity, i.e. scientific activity, impact and relational character.     

A Study of Impacts—Cruise Tourism and the South West of England

Abstract

This study draws upon research carried out in 2003, which had the primary purpose of examining the perceived social impacts associated with increased levels of cruise tourism for a major port of call in the South West of England. A survey approach was employed focusing on the town of Falmouth in Cornwall. Data were collected from residents using email and face-to-face street surveys. The results suggest that there is a predominantly positive view of cruise tourism in Falmouth, in respect of perceived impacts. In addition, there is clear recognition within the research population that growth has resulted in an increase in job opportunities, produced financial benefits and led to the development of increased tourist attractions and facilities. There was little to no evidence in the results of negative impacts, including such events as increased levels of crime and overcrowding that are often associated with increased tourism to a destination. The results provide interesting prompts for further research.     

Corporate social responsibility signaling,evaluation, identification,and revisit intention among cruise customers

Abstract

Improvements in customer knowledge and interest in cruise tourism have facilitated the growth of the cruise industry. However, the cruise industry has limited research attention from tourism and hospitality scholars. Furthermore, in the cruise setting, although a large number of corporate social responsibility (CSR) messages are sent to customers, it seems reasonable to suspect that not all CSR activities are effective to achieve the sustainable growth of the company. Therefore, this study aims to expand the existing knowledge of cruise CSR by examining the impact of customers’ perceived value of socially responsible consumption behavior on brand-related outcomes. Data from 292 cruise customers in the United States are collected through online surveys. Findings support the evidence that CSR signaling influences customers’ positive evaluation and identification with a cruise brand, but no direct impact on their behavioral intention is observed. Also, the mediating role of evaluation and identification in the relationship between CSR signaling and revisit intention is examined. In this study, the signaling and social identity theories are supported by an empirical study to addresses the importance of customers’ socially responsible consumption trait in sustainable growth.     

An overview of cruise tourism research through comparison of cruise studies published in English and Chinese

The concept of cruise tourism should be examined given the rapid growth of this segment of travel worldwide. Rapid increases in cruise tourists and port construction have been observed in China, but systematic research on cruise tourism in China remains unavailable. Hence, this study conducts a thorough review of cruising studies published in top English tourism and hospitality journals and eminent Chinese journals. A content analysis of 62 cruising studies in English and 26 cruising-related articles in Chinese identifies trends in research and methodology and the differences between English and Chinese cruise tourism literature. Significant research topics and methodology trends are discussed and future research directions are also presented.     

加勒比海邮轮航运网络港口分异与网络结构

邮轮航运网络是特殊的航运网络,除传统航运职能外,还具有旅游休闲职能,这促使航运网络在港口分异、网络结构等方面均发生了一定的变化,港口联系、航线组织等表现出空间聚集性、显著的区域化特征。加勒比海是全球邮轮旅游市场、邮轮航运网络最成熟的航区。本文以加勒比海为例,基于邮轮航运轨迹大数据,采用复杂网络模型识别邮轮港口中心性和划分邮轮港口社区,对区域性邮轮航运网络进行剖析,刻画港口分异格局与网络结构,揭示区域性邮轮航运网络的结构和空间规律。研究发现：（1）加勒比海邮轮港口存在职能分异,划分为大型综合母港、一般母港、一般始发港、核心挂靠港和一般挂靠港5类。邮轮港口空间分布不均,形成了以佛罗里达半岛为核心、东加勒比海为次核心,周围地区为外围的“核心-外围”式空间结构。（2）加勒比海航运网络存在区域化特征,形成了4个港口组团,并形成了两个邮轮航运联系密集的航运通道,构建起加勒比海邮轮航运网络的核心和骨架。（3）这种双核心,多节点的结构有助于航运网络的构建,对中国邮轮旅游的港口建设和航线组织具有借鉴意义。     

Influence of design on tourists’ recommendation intention: an exploratory study of fjord cruise boats

ABSTRACT

In this article we study the influences of esthetic, functional, and symbolic dimensions of design on attitude toward fjord cruise boats and intention to recommend using the product. Also, we argue for the importance of a product to blend in with the surroundings in which it is used – contextually congruent design. In two studies we find that aesthetic, functional and contextually congruent design has positive influences on attitude toward fjord cruise boats. Designers of fjord cruise boats should develop boats with designs that are congruent with the surroundings in which they will be used.     

An Analysis of Cruise Ship Meetings

Abstract

Cruise ships have become one of the many options for corporate meeting planners when faced with a decision regarding a destination for meetings and incentives (employee rewards). In the past five years, all major cruise lines have unveiled mega cruise ships to attract a piece of the more than $20 billion corporate meeting and incentives market (Buia, 2001). But how much interest really exists among the meeting planners in holding their meetings aboard cruise ships? Are cruise ship meetings really comparable to meetings planned in land based meeting facilities? This paper explores the meeting planners' perceptions and interests in cruise ship meetings.     

疫情影响下全球邮轮网络格局与重构

新冠疫情对全球邮轮旅游业产生了严重的影响,改变了邮轮网络的地理空间格局。本文主要分析了疫情前期、疫情初期和疫情后期3个阶段的邮轮网络格局和空间特征,研究发现：（1）疫情前期,邮轮网络呈现出全球性的线状分布格局;（2）疫情初期,邮轮网络呈点状分布,在区域层面、国家层面和港口层面具有显著的集聚性特征;在企业层面,因企业船队规模的大小差异,邮轮网络分别呈点状散布和集聚分布;中国-东亚区域邮轮网络呈现出空白化特征,主要源于出入境管理和港口布局的差异。（3）疫情后期,全球邮轮经历了尝试性复航到部分复航,邮轮网络由单一区域到多区域的渐进变化。最后,基于疫情发展和邮轮网络演进特征,从未复航区域和已复航区域两个方面,重点讨论了东亚、澳新等区域邮轮网络可能的重构格局和已复航区域邮轮网络未来的扩展变化,以期为后疫情时代邮轮运营商的网络组织、全球邮轮网络的演进提供参考和借鉴。     

Immersive narratives of ‘self-work’ in an experience society: understanding the cruise ship experience

ABSTRACT

Commentators have long argued that cruise ship tourism is a highly rationalised form of mass consumption, a ‘total institution’ in which consumption defines and controls the individual’s experience. Arguing that this represents a simplification, this article suggests that a closer analysis of cruise tourism tells us something profound about the nature of what it means to be a consumer in a de-territorialised age. Specifically, the article explores the suggestion that the cruise experience represents a mode of consumption in which the consumer effectively becomes the product. Through the deployment of an autoethnographic investigation of the cruising experience the paper seeks to shed light on the relationship between the tourist experience and notions of self, while making a case for a re-conceptualisation of consumption as self-work. In this light, the contention is made that the ideological power of consumption is intensified by tourism’s emphasis on the experience of the consumer as part of a broader process in which there has been a shift away from the specific consumption of products towards consumption as a temporal-partial process of self-endowment.     

A Logistic Regression Analysis of Discount Receiving Behavior in the Cruise Industry

Abstract

This exploratory study analyzed the relationships between a number of selected demographic and trip-related variables and cruise vacationers' discount receiving behavior. Cruise vacationers' discount usage was measured as a dichotomous variable (i.e., discount received-discount not received), and hence logistic regression was employed to test the hypothesized relationships. Among the ten independent variables, three variables, namely age, prior experience with cruise vacations, and gender were significant predictors of discount usage. Our study results indicate that younger female vacationers are more likely to use discounts compared to older male vacationers. Furthermore, experienced cruise vacationers seem more prone to taking advantage of discount prices than novice cruise vacationers. Findings of this study suggest that cruise marketers might want to focus on younger, experienced female cruise vacationers in their promotional efforts.     

Complaint Behavior as a Factor in Cruise Line Losses

Abstract

This paper examines the complaint behavior and financial loss to a cruise line that result from brand switching by their most loyal customers. These effects are based on the fact that passengers can be classified by their type of brand loyalty. Based upon the previously published works of Jones and Sasser (1995) and validated by Cartwright and Baird (1999), the following classification is used in this paper. “Apostles” are the most brand loyal customers who also bring in additional cruise passengers. “Loyalists” are considered highly satisfied customers. They are also repeat passengers, but do not bring in as many additional cruise customers as Apostles. “Mercenaries” are driven by price. This group is only loyal so long as that cruise line maintains the cheapest price. The fourth group, “Hostages,” is loyal to the cruise line because there is no viable alternative. The final group in this classification is “Guerrillas” who are Apostles who have been scorned. An Apostle becomes a Guerrilla because of an inappropriate response by the cruise line to complaint behavior.

Classifications of brand loyalty will be discussed leading to the development of the five types of cruise passengers. This paper will show that inappropriate responses to complaint behavior can result in the loss of over $1,775,000 to the cruise line.     

The Effect of Social Media on Reputation During a Crisis Event in the Cruise Line Industry

ABSTRACT

This research evaluates social media’s role in shaping perceptions of reputation during crisis management in a cruise line setting. Data were collected from respondents in the United States and Germany (N = 334) to explore the influence of speed and clarity of corporate response, brand familiarity, and cultural values on the perception of corporate reputation of a cruise line experiencing a crisis. Results indicated that speed of response using social media, brand familiarity, and cultural values of the respondent affected perceptions of corporate reputation of a cruise line after a crisis.     

Selecting a cruise port of call location using the fuzzy-AHP method: A case study in East Asia

Increasing income levels and greater leisure time give people the opportunity to pursue new types of tourism ventures. As one of the fastest growing areas in the leisure travel industry, the cruise industry is increasing rapidly. Due to the benefits that cruise tourism brings to each port of call and the hinterland, it is necessary to be able to analyze the factors that affect cruise lines' port selections. The main objective of this paper is to identify the main factors motivating cruise lines to select specific ports of call and to provide information to port operators that will enable them both to improve their management strategies and to attract more cruise ships, thereby contributing to the revenues of the port and regional economy.     

The Use of Information and Communications Technology by the European Meetings,Incentives, Conferences,and Exhibitions (MICE) Sectors

ABSTRACT

In their quest to operate ever more effectively, efficiently, and rapidly, those active in the meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) sectors have readily welcomed advances in information and communications technology (ICT) and used them to the fullest. This article begins with an overview of the main uses to which the meetings, exhibitions, and incentive sectors have put ICT products and services. It then examines the evidence which gives some indication of the limits to growth regarding the rate at which MICE sectors may continue to adopt these products and services. Subsequently, the potential of ICT to actually displace and replace travel for business-related purposes will be considered. Finally, this paper provides a discussion of the results of a quantitative survey undertaken by the authors, demonstrating the extent of current and future use of ICT in the European MICE sectors.     

The cruise industry in China: Efforts,progress and challenges

The cruise industry has evolved considerably and in recent years emerged to become one of the most rapidly developing segments of the global tourism industry, with millions of passengers cruising each year. On a global basis, the cruising sector is overwhelmed by North America. During recent years above average growth rates are reported in emerging cruise markets in the Asia Pacific region. As one of the core elements of the Asian cruise market, China is undergoing rapid growth in terms of both cruise ship visits and cruise tourists. However, limited research has been undertaken in regard to growth of cruising industry in China. The purpose of this article is to report current development of the cruise industry in mainland China. First, we briefly provide an overview of the worldwide cruise industry. Then, we summarize the history and the growth of the cruising sector in China; report characteristics of Chinese cruise passengers and compare them with others; highlight information on geographical distribution, berthing capacity and cruise business performance of each cruise port along China's coastlines; and introduce various cruise policy documents issued by Chinese governments. Finally, we discuss some issues, challenges and relevant managerial implications for developing this niche form of tourism in this country.     

Cruise passengers' behavior at the destination: Investigation using GPS technology

This paper aims at segmenting cruise passengers in order to identify passengers' profiles according to their behavior at destination. Through an integrated use of traditional survey instruments and of GPS technologies, a set of indicators for the analysis of passengers' mobility at destination is proposed. Data collected in the port of Palermo are used in order to investigate space-time activities of cruise passengers at the destination. Monothetic Analysis is used in order to segment passengers according to their behavior at destination, and groups are then compared in terms of socio-demographic characteristics and other variables collected through questionnaire-based survey. Results identify seven different broad patterns of activity, and indicate that several socio-demographic characteristics and other features of passengers seem to be associated with movement patterns at destination. A better knowledge of cruise passengers' behavior at destination is a fundamental pre-requisite in order to better serve visitors' needs and meet their expectations.     

国际邮轮港口的游客服务能力与设施配备研究

邮轮业已经成为国际旅游业中发展速度最快、经济效益最为显著的业务。近年来,随着北美市场的日渐饱和,全球邮轮旅游业重心开始向亚太地区倾斜。我国邮轮产业出现了前所未有的发展势头,已经成为亚太邮轮市场的核心组成部分。国际邮轮产业的实践表明,对于新兴邮轮市场来说,邮轮港口的规划和建设、港区功能配备水平和服务能力的提升是保障邮轮产业持续健康发展的重要前提。文章从邮轮乘客的角度出发,基于国内外邮轮港口的研究成果,并以全球20个邮轮港口的数据为样本,构建了邮轮港口在乘客服务设施配备方面的指标体系,并采用聚类分析法对这些港口的特征进行了综合评价,从而识别出国际著名邮轮港口的功能定位以及在乘客服务能力、港区功能配备等方面的基本特征和成功经验,从而为我国邮轮港口的布局优化提出了针对性的对策和建议。     

Impact of incentives on tourist activity in space-time

No tourism study to date, has examined the ability of incentives to shape the spatio-temporal behaviour of tourists. Data collected from the port of Palermo in Sicily (Italy), using traditional survey instruments as well as GPS technology, was employed to investigate the effect of incentives on cruise passengers' space-time activities. The results show the incentives' clear and significant impact in influencing the space-time activities of cruise passengers' while visiting the city. Understanding the movement patterns of visitors at destinations can give destination managers information that can assist in dealing with the negative effects of overtourism that are caused due to high concentrations of visitors in both space and time in relatively small and well-defined sites and areas.     

A meta-analysis of the direct economic impacts of cruise tourism on port communities

This research provided a meta-analysis of the direct economic impacts of cruise tourism, using a meta-regression, an Ordinary Least Square model, a fixed-effects model, and Sobel-Goodman mediation tests. The results revealed a significantly positive coefficient between direct economic impacts and: number of passengers, number of crew members, number of cruise lines, expenditures per passenger, and expenditures per cruise line. It was further found that cruise lines had significant mediation effects on the expenditures per passenger and per crew member at port destinations. Compared to North American markets, the direct economic impacts of cruise tourism on ports in the Caribbean markets and other emerging markets were significantly lower.     

An Analysis of Cruise Ship Rating Guides

ABSTRACT

Cruise vacations are a relatively new tourism product that has evolved from the maritime passenger transportation industry. An introduction to the Cruise industry is followed by an analysis of cruise guides with star ratings, which are widely available in bookstores and libraries. Although these appear well researched including a tremendous amount of information, each guide's rating system is different and can confuse readers' considering a vacation cruise. A linear regression of the star ratings for each of four popular guides shows that as much as 70% of the ratings are explained by only two variables: year of launch and space/passenger ratio. It was found that consumers who wish to compare ships efficiently could do so by simply dividing the space/passenger ratio by 10.