Likelihood of Cruise Ship Passenger Return to a Visited Port: The Case of Bar Harbor, Maine

Abstract

Cruise ship visits provide an often overlooked benefit of showcasing port communities to thousands of potential repeat tourists. Using data from a survey conducted in 2002, this study examines the factors that affect a cruise ship passenger's intention of returning to Bar Harbor, Maine. Survey results indicate that one-third of the respondents plan to return to town in the two years following their cruise ship visit. Empirical results suggest that the distance between a respondent's place of residence and Bar Harbor has a negative effect on the likelihood of return. The total number of visits a passenger has made to Bar Harbor and the amount of time spent in port during the one-day visit have a positive effect on the likelihood of return. Finally, household income and the experience of taking a cruise-line-sponsored tour do not have a significant effect on a passenger's intention of returning to a visited port.

Cruise visitors' experience in a Mediterranean port of call

“…The research interest on cruise tourism has been focused on two main areas. First, past research explores various issues surrounding cruise passengers' experience, behaviour and patterns, such as motivation (Field et al, 1985;Cessford and Dingwall, 1994;Qu et al, 1999), satisfaction (Cessford and Dingwall, 1994;Teye and Leclerc, 1998;Qu et al, 1999;Duman and Mattila, 2005;Petrick, 2003Petrick, , 2004aPetrick, , 2005, segmentation (Field et al, 1985;Marti, 1986Marti, , 1991Hobson, 1993;Petrick and Sirakaya, 2004;Petrick, 2005), perceived value (Duman and Mattila, 2005;Petrick, 2003Petrick, , 2004aPetrick, , 2004b and intention of returning to a port of call (Qu et al, 1999;Gabe et al, 2006). Second, past research reviews various issues dealing with the cruise industry, such as the impacts of cruising (Cessford and Dingwall, 1994;Guyer and Pollard, 1997;Dwyer and Forsyth, 1998;Ritter and Schafer, 1998;Wilkinson, 1999;Henthorne, 2000;Braun et al, 2002;Chase and Alon, 2002;Johnson, 2002;Weaver, 2005;Brida and Aguire, 2008;Chin, 2008), current and future trends (Lawton and Butler, 1987;Hall and Braithwaite, 1990;…”

Is cruising along European rivers primarily intended for seniors and workers from Eastern Europe?

“…Previous publications that dealt with cruises were mainly based on cruises along the oceans and seas, focusing on the economic and sociological problems (Foster, 1986;Li, Petrick, 2008;Duman, Mattila, 2005;Gabe, et al, 2006;Jaakson, 2004;Dwyer, Forsyth, 1996, 1998Mescon, Vosikis, 1985;Braun, et al, 2002;Brida, Aguire, 2008;Larsen, et al, 2013;Veronneau, Roy, 2009).…”

Cruise Visitors’ Intention to Return as Land Tourists and Recommend a Visited Destination: A Structural Equation Model

“…Only a few researches have focused on the probability of returning to a cruise tourism destination (Gabe et al, 2006;Silvestre et al, 2008;Hosany and Witham, 2010;Andriotis and Agiomirgianakis, 2010). The study of tourist' satisfaction is regarded as an important indicator for destination managers to evaluate the probability of return (Petrick, 2005).…”

“…In a study conducted in the port of call Bar Harbor (Gabe et al, 2006), authors use a logit regression to examine the factors that affect a cruise ship passenger's intention of returning to the visited port. The factor "number of visits" has evidenced a positive effect on the probability to return.…”

“…Although this is a very important topic, the literature has dedicated very little attention on this issue and, to the best of our knowledge, only a few papers have studied the factors that affect a cruise ship passenger's stated intention either of returning to a destination or recommend are (see Gabe et al, 2006;Silvestre et al, 2008;Hosany and Witham, 2010;Andriotis and Agiomirgianakis, 2010). The present paper contributes to the literature by analysing cruise visitors' intention to return to Cartagena de Indias (Colombia) and the probability to recommend by adopting a structural equation model (SEM).…”