More young people opting to holiday on cruise ships

The crusty old stereotype of a typical cruise ship passenger is giving way to fresher faces, according to newly released figures.

The number of people aged 18 to 35 holidaying on cruise ships has increased by 20% over the past five years, according to Carnival Cruises Australia.

Speaking to Breakfast this morning, NZ Cruise Association chief executive Jacqui Lloyd said age groups on cruise ships have lowered, and the demographic was broadening.

She said operators were seeing a lot of intergenerational travel from teenagers to grandchildren.

"That's been happening for the last 10-15 years. Those younger children have been travelling for a while, so they come back in their 20's and 30's. As a global trend, it's also happening here and I expect the trend to increase."

She said cruise lines were aware of the changing demographics and were creating cruise experiences to suit the shifting market.

"Cruises are becoming more affordable. I was on a recent cruise that had silent discos, events, pool events, activities on board are changing, the opportunities in port are more broader."

She said millennials were the largest age group to be getting on board.

The Cruise Lines International Association said the average age of passengers was now 49 — much younger than it used to be.

Australia is currently in its biggest summer cruise season in history, so far this season 1.1 million people have sailed on a cruise in Australia and New Zealand, the Cruise Lines International Association said.