Health and wellness experts to speak on Crystal Cruises

A few weeks back I wrote about how Crystal is marketing its luxury cruises to [% 2282275 | | families %]. Perhaps, I thought, Crystal would become the younger, hipper high-end line. Then yesterday, the cruise line announced the newest addition to its enrichment program: expert lecturers from the Cleveland Clinic speaking about health and wellness. I just don’t see young families getting excited about classes on managing headaches and arthritis and playing a healthier golf game.

Granted, the Cleveland Clinic is a highly respected hospital, and the lecturers are distinguished doctors and scholars. However, the lecture roster reads like a dinner-table discussion at a senior center. Topics include neurology and headaches, rheumatology issues, the mature athlete, orthopedics, and heart disease issues. I’m sure the speakers have fascinating things to say about health and wellness, but personally, I’d rather spend my vacation by the pool.

I commend Crystal for its commitment to onboard enrichment programs and its ability to lure distinguished speakers to its cruises. The choice of subjects, however, leads me to believe that the cruise line knows where its bread and butter comes from—namely well-off older travelers. And that’s fine. Most of the mainstream and premium lines do a better job of catering to families, so young cruisers aren’t hurting for a place to go. Fewer lines are courting active seniors looking for intellectual stimulation.

Even better, if Crystal cruisers take these medical discussions to heart, perhaps they will live longer and healthier lives. And that translates into more time to take more Crystal cruise vacations.