D. VACATIONS BEHAVIOR AND ATTITUDES

Length of Time of Planning a Vacation Before it is Taken

Cruisers are more likely to make their vacation decisions well in advance compared to non-cruisers. Substantially higher percentages of cruisers (43%) decide four or more months in advance of the actual vacation; only 28 percent of land-based vacationers plan that far ahead.

In most of the four categories of cruisers, roughly half planned their trip four months or more in advance, with Destination cruise respondents (54%) yielding the highest percentage of longer-term decision makers. Luxury cruisers indicate greater spontaneity; two-thirds (64%) plan under four months ahead.

While the overall proportion planning ahead by more (net) or less than (net) four months remains quite stable, spontaneity drops – compared to the earlier study, one-third as many (6% vs. 18%) take the trip within a month of the decision; the average number of planning months increases as well.

FIGURE 16
LENGTH OF TIME VACATION PLANNED IN ADVANCE OF ACTUAL VACATION (Q1E)