Cruise lines start catering to the Barbie demographic

WASHINGTON - Cruise lines are starting to cater to a younger audience.

Sometimes, a much younger one.

Cruising isn't what it was 10 years ago when most passengers were 45 and older.

As the demographics change, the cruising industry changed its itineraries and amenities.

Royal Caribbean's Barbie Dream Cruise will feature fashion shows where girls unveil their own creations. (Courtesy of Royal Caribbean)

 

 

Read more at: http://www.wtop.com/1226/3223358/Cool-to-Cruise

New cruise ships for 2013: MSC Cruises' MSC Preziosa

By Gene Sloan, USA Today
Five major cruise lines that market to North Americans are rolling out new ships this year. Here, USA TODAY profiles one of the new offerings: MSC Cruises' MSC Preziosa.

MSC PREZIOSA

Line: MSC Cruises
Maiden voyage: March 24
Home ports: Genoa, Naples and Messina, Italy; Barcelona, Spain; Marseille, France.
Size (in tons): 139,400
Passengers: 3,502

The buzz: Like three earlier vessels in MSC Cruises' Fantasia class, the MSC Preziosa will be a large, mass-market ship catering to an international clientele. It'll boast three main dining rooms, multiple bars and a wide variety of entertainment as well as a sprawling spa area.

Like the earlier Fantasia class ships, MSC Preziosa also will feature one of the line's signature MSC Yacht Clubs -- an upscale "ship-within-a-ship" area that is exclusive to passengers staying in top cabins.

For information on the year's other new vessels, click HERE to return to the main page of USA TODAY's Guide to the New Cruise Ships of 2013.