It looks like smooth sailing ahead for the cruise industry. Not only is consumer interest in cruising at an all-time high, but the ranks of "hot prospects" also have grown substantially, according to a new study conducted for Cruise Lines International Association.
The study says that almost 44 million people believe they will "definitely or probably" take a cruise vacation within the next five years, and that the vast majority see themselves sailing within the next two years.
Among the "hot prospects," the average age has come down (42), as has their income level ($51,500). They are also more likely to have children, and to take them along.