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It seems that most people now agree with what we avid cruisers have known for a long time: cruise vacations are not just for the old and wealthy. In fact, according to a new survey from Ipsos-Reid and Tripharbour.ca, the majority of Canadians believe that cruise vacations provide good value for money, provide lots of fun things to see and do, appeal to all age groups, and take people to exciting destinations.

The main reasons they give for rating a cruise vacation so highly are:

- Cruising is more exciting than staying in a hotel (64%);

- Cruising provides good value for money (68%);

- There is a lot to see and do on a cruise ship (80%);

- Cruising appeals to all age groups (81%);

- Cruise ships are a romantic place to take a vacation (81%); and,

- Cruise ships travel to exciting places all over the world (94%).

These findings show we’ve come a long way in debunking the old myths about cruise vacations. In fact, it’s pretty clear that most Canadians now see cruising as a fun and affordable vacation experience that appeals to people of all ages and interests.

Interestingly, while fear of seasickness once kept many people from taking a cruise, the advent of large, modern cruise ships with stabilizers and advanced radar seems to have steadied the course. In fact, 63% of Canadians say they’re not worried about getting seasick on a cruise ship.

While two in ten Canadians have taken a cruise vacation in the past, a full one third (33%) say they would consider taking a cruise for their next vacation. Albertans (44%) are more likely to take a cruise for their next vacation, followed by those in British Columbia (41%), Ontario (40%), Atlantic Canada (34%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (25%) and Quebec (17%).

With the introduction of so many new cruise ships, exciting destinations and attractive cruise fares over the past few years, the views of the travelling public towards a cruise vacation have become more positive than ever before.  The old myths about cruising seem to have sunk into Davey Jones’s locker. May they rest in peace!

It appears that Canadians believe they are more likely to get lovesick than seasick the next time they take a cruise.

At least that’s the findings of a recent survey by Ipsos-Reid and Tripharbour.ca in which 81% of Canadians said that cruise ships are romantic places for a vacation, and 64% agreed that cruising is more exciting than staying in a hotel. Of course, if you’re on the same ship as Dick Cheney or Rosie O’Donnell, all bets are off. In fact, you might as well just put on your flotation device and head for the life boats.

According to the survey, men find cruising to be just as romantic as women do. Now that’s surprising because we all know that most men are just not the romantic types, especially after a decade or so of marriage. I guess the men just assumed they’d be cruising with their football buddies when they agreed it would be a romantic vacation.

While Canadians gave cruise vacations top marks for romance, they also ranked them high for excitement, with 94% saying cruise ships travel to exciting destinations all over the world. When asked to name their favourite destination, 98% of women replied “jewelry stores” while 88% of men said “sports bars.” The other 12% of men chose “Victoria’s Secret” as their most exciting destination.

It may be the salt water, the sea air or just the beautiful sunsets, but apparently there’s something about vacationing on water that brings out the romantic in everyone. For example, cruise ships have become popular places for engagements, weddings, honeymoons, anniversaries and renewal of vows.

In fact, the atmosphere at sea is so romantic that some people get divorced just so they can get married again, and sometimes to several people. This fact has not escaped the attention of polygamists who are planning to launch their own cruise ship – apparently it will be called “Bigamist of the Seas.”  

But seriously, with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I can’t think of a better way to show your main squeeze how much you love her than to give her a cruise. That is, of course, unless you actually take it with her!

 According to a recent survey by Ipsos-Reid and Tripharbour, seven in ten (69%) Canadians are fed up with the frigid weather and economy and plan to take a vacation within the next year. That means that the dreaded ‘staycation’ (where people choose to stay home rather than travel) will remain in hibernation for at least the next 12 months.

Given the bitter cold and frequent storms we’ve been suffering through this winter, I’m not surprised by these findings. If a majority of Canadians had not said they wanted to escape this miserable winter, I’d be wondering what kind of sedative was in their hot toddy.

When it comes to their destination of choice, half of Canadians (49%) say they plan to travel outside Canada, and a full one third (33%) say they are considering taking a cruise for their next vacation. Well, where do you think frigid people want to vacation – the Arctic Circle?

Apparently, Canadians still value their vacations, and they’ve clearly had enough of winter. Whether it’s a trip south to warmer climes or a cruise to Europe later this year, Canadians are putting vacations first. I’m sure that’s welcome news for everyone except Tourism Canada who was hoping that a week in Northern Manitoba putting saddles on giant mosquitoes was everyone’s vision of a great time. 

According to the Ipsos Reid/Triphabour.ca survey, British Columbians are most likely (56%) to take a vacation outside Canada in the next year, followed by those living in Alberta (54%), Ontario (51%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (49%), Quebec (43%) and Atlantic Canada (42%). Gee, I wonder if that’s a commentary on the competency of the local provincial governments. You know,” let’s get out of Dodge” before things fall apart!

While two in ten Canadians have taken a cruise vacation in the past, a full one third (33%) say they would consider taking a cruise for their next vacation. Albertans (44%) are more likely to take a cruise for their next vacation, followed by those in British Columbia (41%), Ontario (40%), Atlantic Canada (34%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (25%) and Quebec (17%).

The response would have been better from Quebec if the question had not been mixed up on the French survey form. Apparently, the question was badly translated as “Are you planning to have a ‘croissant’ for your next vacation?” instead of ‘croisiere’ (French for cruise). So 83% replied “no,” and 56% said they would prefer some poutine (French fries with melted curd cheese) instead of a croissant.

Not surprisingly, the number of enquiries received by travel agents about winter and summer escapes shot up in January. In particular, the calls escalated to an all-time high just after power and heat were restored to Toronto after a mid-January blackout.

“There’s always been a strong correlation between power blackouts and travel bookings to warm-weather destinations like the Caribbean, Mexico and South America,” said an executive from Ontario Hydro who asked to remain anonymous. “That’s why we’d like to own some travel agencies in Ontario. It’s called ‘cross-selling’ and it works!”

These are the findings of an online poll of 1,043 Canadians taken from January 13 to 15. These findings are accurate 19 times out of 20, especially when the Canadian winter is miserable and cruise lines are offering incredibly low fares and incentives to get passengers up the gangplank.

Well, probably not Sarah Palin or Stephane Dion, who seem to have their hands full dealing with issues like credibility and declining popularity in election campaigns on both sides of the border. However, it seems like a good number of you are rocking the boat, and that the old folks are coming out on top.

At least, that’s what a new survey from Tripharbour.ca and Leger Marketing says about adult Canadians. According to the survey, 12% of Canadians admit to having had sex at sea. This means that nearly 3 million residents of the true, north, strong and free are now proud members of the “Naughtycal Mile Club,” an elite organization reserved for those who can still hoist the mainsail in 10-foot seas.

Given that Canadians live most of the year in a frozen state of suspended animation, it’s not surprising that a growing number are searching for romantic places like cruise ships to deal with their frigid relationships. In fact, some 28% of them claim they have been on a cruise. However, what I want to know is if only 12% of cruise-going Canadians are having sex at sea, what are the other 16% doing – watching CNN?

In any event, it seems that younger Canadians are pulling down the national “sex at sea” average. According to the survey, 58% of cruise-going Canadians aged 45 and older are making waves at sea, while only 33% of younger Canadian cruisers are rocking the boat. It could be that the sea air, salt water and endless sunsets have a stronger effect on older folks, but I suspect it has more to do with the Viagra. After all, as the TV commercial advises, if your erection lasts more than 48 hours, call your doctor or just pole vault up the gangplank onto a cruise ship.

Now, I always thought French-speakers were more romantic than Anglophones. However, according to the survey, only 22% of Quebecers have had sex at sea. In contrast, some 57% of couples from Ontario and 55% from British Columbia have steamed up the portholes. So while English Canada may be coming out on top in this challenge, I hope my friends in Quebec will not take these results lying down…ehh… on the other hand, maybe they should.

But there is hope for the future of l’amour sur la mer. More than a quarter of Quebecers said they would be more likely to have sex aboard a cruise ship than at a land-based resort. So if we can get more of them off the beaches in Miami and onto a cruise ship, we stand a good chance of making big waves and increasing our membership in the Naughtycal Mile Club.

While younger Canadians are pulling down the national sex at sea average, it’s not for a lack of imagination. When asked what they thought was the most adventurous place on a cruise ship for a tryst, Canadians aged 35 and younger were 67% more likely than older cruisers to choose somewhere other than their cabin such as a life boat, the pool/hot tub, and on the bridge. Thankfully, no one selected the engine room.

In addition, nearly two-thirds of men surveyed fantasized about having sex outside the cabin – I suspect mainly in the sports bar while watching NFL football!

In all seriousness, these are the findings of a Leger Marketing poll of 1,030 Canadians conducted on behalf of Tripharbour.ca from September 5 to 8 of 2008. We’ll be putting the survey findings and questions on our website in the near future, and asking people from across North America to join in with their own responses. In the meantime, don’t forget to do your part to increase our national sex at sea average and give the people at Statistics Canada something to get excited about.