More than half of those aged under 44 are considering taking a cruise and will spend more money on board, new research has revealed. Travelzoo surveyed 2,320 of its customers in September over their feelings about cruise. The results show that 56% of those under 44 are currently considering a cruise, and that two thirds of the age group would happily dine in a specialty restaurant, even if it meant paying a supplement. Less than half of the over-65 market would be happy to pay the extra, while a quarter said they would never frequent a restaurant requiring a supplement. Younger would-be cruisers are also keen to spend more time in port hunting for local delicacies, with 95% of those under 34 wishing to do so. However, despite being less willing to splash the cash on board, older cruisers will pay more for the actual cruise itself. More than half of those aged over 65 would spend between £1,100 and £3,000 per person per cruise, compared to just 17% of those aged between 25 and 34. The younger age group will also spend less time on a cruise, claiming the ideal length of time on board is between five and 10 days. As far as destinations are concerned, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean remain the two most popular across all age groups. Raphael Giacardi, Travelzoo’s cruise deal expert, said: “It’s important that cruise companies explain what their cruises have to offer very clearly – highlighting longer time in port and dining options on board when seeking to appeal to the younger end of the market. “Whilst the younger crowd may initially seem more relaxed with their spending, on closer inspection it becomes clear that it’s still the over-65s who are spending more on the overall cost of their cruise - opting for longer, higher-priced cruise itineraries and then being more frugal once at sea. “The thing to bear in mind is that the experience each end of the market is looking for is quite different - not all cruise virgins are created equal. (source: www.ttgdigital.com/)