Ethnic Minorities and Cruising... do not mix?

Question

I have been on a number of cruises from a variety of ports during all times of the year. I have been on over 10 cruises and on 6 different cruiseline companies. I love cruising.

But as a person of color, I wonder why there are so few ethnic minorities on cruise-ships. I feel out of place and isolated sometimes. America is supose to be a United Nations of people, full of people from all over the world. But I do not see much of that when I cruise. Nearly everyone is white.

I do not believe it is economic because we go on cheap cruises on older boats at greatly reduced cost. We go out of Florida which is dominated by ethnic minorities.

Answer 1

It depends not where you are crusing from, but on where you are crusing to. Certain destinations are more popular with certain people. For instance, the Bahamas and Jamaica tend to be more popular. If you want some diversity, try a minority owned travel agency or travel site, they may be able to steer you in the right direction.

Answer 2

You are right in part.  I have been on more than 15 cruises, close to 20 now and on most of them there were few minorities.  On one Princess cruise we counted about 12 of us.  

But I have been on cruises when there were groups from Asia and Japan. Would you consider them minorities or are you referring to just US minorities.  This past May we went on a cruise out of San Juan and they announced that there were over 700 passengers from Puerto Rico on board and another 70 or so from Mexico.  Does that count?

I hope that people, other than those of us "of color" do not try to post a stereotypical answer to the question.  I have many friends who can afford to cruise, some are retired and have the time, but they do not for reasons like:  They do not like to fly and thus will not fly to the port city.  They do not like the thought of being on the ocean, in part because of all of the water and in part because they feel confined on the ship.  Many think, as you said, that they do not have the money for a cruise.  They do not like to go anywhere on vacation that they cannot drive to.

What I hear people saying is they want to go to the Bahamas, or Jamaica, or St Thomas.  So what I feel, and I stress that this is just an opinion, is that they just do not know about cruising and are not inspired to learn about it.  On our last cruise we met a Black couple who were doing their very first cruise and they were so excited about being on the cruise and talking already about the next one.

But you know what, some people eyes cannot be opened to other possibilities.  I know people who every year will go to the Bahamas or Jamaica and never think about going somewhere else and experiencing all that you can get on a cruise.

Answer 3

I'm sorry but every cruise I've ever been on actually highlights diversity and other cultures.  The staff are from numerous countries as are travelers.  I'm not sure if you just happened coincidently to end up on a cruise with mostly white individuals (which is possible) or you are so focused on race that you have convinced yourself that this is the case...I don't know.

But the last cruise I went on, I would hazard a guess (and an educated one at that) that white individuals were the minority...and that was a RCCL Caribbean cruise.

Cruising is just one means of traveling/vacation and if you don't like, you're not going to go...regardless of your race or financial means.

Answer 4

Not sure what your question is.  If minorities choose not to cruise that is their choice.  Has nothing to do with society or the cruse lines.

Answer 5

Have you tried the Discovery or Regal Empress out of Ft Lauderdale? Lots of minorities on those. Should be a few on Carnival.

Also, check this out, this website has cruises starting at $159:

http://www.choiceretreat.com

Answer 6

Its informantion...a lot of minorities would rather visit family than go on a cruise. It is something new and different. As  a first generation minority, I know that my parents would rather visit family then go on a cruise...plus, they wouldn't know what to do on one, and what the point is. Its too new for them, me on the otherhand would love to go on a cruise and see the sights...