If you’ve never taken a cruise before, you might be wondering, “How different can each cruise line really be?”
While every cruise company has its own stereotypes, you might think that, in reality, they can’t be that dissimilar. If two ships are going to the same destinations, surely the experiences must be pretty comparable.
Now, a user on TikTok has the internet talking after saying that’s not the case—specifically, when it comes to the clientele.
What’s The Difference Between Carnival And Norwegian Cruises?
In a video with over 1.4 million views, TikTok user @capitalp_26 shows herself making a face at the camera.
“POV I took a Norwegian Cruise instead of Carnival,” she writes in the video’s overlay text.
The rest of the video is filled with clips of elderly people relaxing around the cruise ship. The TikToker appears to be saying that these elderly people composed a significant portion of the cruise ship’s clientele.
“I TRULY enjoyed y’all’s grand parents but I like to party,” she wrote in the caption.
Are Norwegian Cruise Passengers Older Than Carnival?
There’s no solid data about the different audiences attracted by each cruise line.
That said, internet discussions on the topic generally say that Carnival Cruises are known for having a younger clientele. This not only includes people in their twenties who are interested in partying but families and younger couples.
In contrast, some say that Norwegian passengers are older. Other internet discussions on the topic also point out that the demographics of each cruise tend to depend not on the cruise line, but on other details. For example, a 3-day cruise over spring break to the Bahamas will likely have a younger clientele than a two-week cruise to Europe.
This is backed up by data. According to Cruise1st, the average age of a cruise passenger is 46.7 years old. The average passenger of both Carnival and Norwegian was in this age group—44.9 years old and 52.5 years old, respectively. Passenger age, however, varies based on destination. Citing the CLIA 2018 Global Passenger Report, the site says that cruises that are shorter and depart from nearby ports tend to draw younger travelers, while longer trips to further destinations are more popular with older passengers.
Above all, internet discussions stress that there is no single “old” or “young” cruise line. No matter how old you are or which line you choose, you’re likely to find someone in your age group.
In an email, a Carnival spokesperson wrote the following: “At Carnival, we’re always focused on ensuring guests of all ages can enjoy fun, memorable, and affordable vacations. We continue to see strong interest across a wide range of demographics, and we’re committed to offering experiences that appeal to both new and returning cruisers.”
Commenters Sound Off
In the comments section, some users claimed that there may be perks to being around older passengers that the TikToker may not have considered.
“My kind of cruise,” wrote a user. “Everyone mind their own business and it’s [quiet].”
“Note to self , book Norwegian and find the richest oldest man,” added another.
“I don’t mind peace and quiet while relaxing on a vacation at all. I’ll roll with the elderly ANY DAY over drama, noise and chaos,” offered a third. “but then again I’m Gen X’er living in my mature stages in life. What do I know.”
@capitalp_26 I TRULY enjoyed y’all’s grand parents but I like to party 😂😂 #norweigancruise #carnivalcruise #fy
BroBible reached out to Norwegian via email and to @capitalp_26 via TikTok direct message and comment.