Cruising Isn’t Just for Old People (excerpt)

According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the world’s largest cruise industry trade association, millennials and generation Xers (generally 20-50 year olds) are cruising more than ever before, and they rate cruising over land-based vacations....

Cruising Isn’t Just for Old People is the name of an award-winning blog run by Emma Le Teace. Emma created the blog in 2016 with a vision to dispel the myth that cruising was the domain of an older demographic. The CLIA findings suggest Emma is doing her part!

Cruising Isn’t Just for Old People started as a cruise blog but has evolved to become a collaborative community of young cruisers. The site brings together bloggers and cruisers from all over the globe, and all walks of life, who all share a passion for cruising and a belief that cruising is for everybody irrespective of age. Contributors to the site share a wide variety of content, including cruise reviews, top tips about cruise lines and destination guides – all with new cruisers in mind.

The foregoing words were written by 23-year old Emma Le Teace on the occasion of winning the 2018 Wave Award for Favorite Cruise Blogger. The Wave Awards celebrate the best of the UK’s cruise industry, including several categories for cruise lines and cruise ships, as well as industry operations such as technology, marketing campaign, etc. Emma is from West Sussex, UK, about 60 miles south of London where she traveled to attend “The Oscars of UK cruising” to accept her Wave Award over numerous more experienced and renown cruise writers....

....Emma sailed on her first cruise with her family when she was 11-years old. “It was my Gran's idea that we should take the cruise; she is still cruising at 91! This cruise was actually two parts and was advertised as a 'fire and ice' cruise, meaning that we visited both Hawaii and Alaska. The Hawaii part was onboard Norwegian Cruise Lines Pride of Aloha (now the Norwegian Sky) and the Alaska part was onboard the Norwegian Spirit. It was amazing, I had so much fun exploring the ship with my cousins Libby and Fern, and brother Max.” Quite a memorable first experience cruising; in a single voyage Emma ticked off two destinations which are on many experienced cruisers’ bucket lists. So, early on Emma’s passion was inflamed....

....Emma created Cruising Isn’t Just for Old People when sailing on her first Cunard cruise, the Queen Victoria to the Greek Isles in 2016. “I had no idea that 'cruise blogging' was a thing. Who'd have thought it? I was joking around with my brother about how I would make a website. He jokingly asked me what I would call it and I said Cruising Isn’t Just for Old People. The rest is history. I aim to write content that will help cruisers pick their perfect cruise. I am a firm believer in the idea that there is a cruise line and ship for everybody; the challenge is finding each person his or her match.”

....After disembarking from that Cunard cruise, Emma spent the first six months “stumbling around the internet” trying to learn how to set up a website. Emma works in the information technology field—she writes computer code for a living—but found that it is a different language from that behind a website. After launching her website, she created the aforementioned Cruising Isn't Just for Old People Facebook group to create a space for cruisers, and those who aspired to go on a cruise, to chat. Emma said, “If I have a question about cruising or I'd like to share a story or photo, I now know that there is a community of people who want to listen and help.”

I asked Emma when she became aware that Cruising Isn't Just for Old People was a success. “I blog in my spare time so I never really envisaged it becoming a success. I have been absolutely blown away by the way that people have reacted to me and my community. In 2018 when I won “Favourite Cruise Blogger” at the Wave Awards (an award show run by World of Cruising, a UK cruise magazine) I never expected to win. The cruise blogger category was up first, and when my name was called I didn't know what to do. It was incredible but absolutely terrifying at the same time. I suppose this validated to me that there is an audience of young cruisers who want their voices to be heard. We now have Cruising Isn't Just for Old People engraved in a trophy!” I was curious as to how life has changed for Emma since winning such a prestigious award. She told me....

Read the complete story of Cruising Isn’t Just for Old People in Chap 14, The Joy of Cruising. Order soon....