Examining the Influence of Perceived Crowding on Mega-Cruise Experiences
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21652856 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Becky Liu-Lastres (0000-0002-7970-4865, Associate Professor, Department of Tourism, Event, and Sport Management, Indiana University at Indianapolis, USA, corresponding author), Stephen Pratt (0000-0002-6550-132X, University of Central Florida) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 50 |
| Issue | 6 |
| Pages | 798-815 |
| Publication date | 2026-08-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1096-3480 • E-ISSN: 1557-7554 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/10963480251382921 |
| OpenAlex | W4414401041 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 46 |
This study examines cruise passengers' perceptions of crowding on large and mega ships and their impact on their experiences and booking intentions. The research develops and tests a conceptual model specific to perceived crowding on mega cruise ships. Two studies were conducted. Study 1 analyzed the textual responses of 75 participants and used the critical incident technique to explore how crowding-related incidents affect safety perception, satisfaction, and repurchase intentions. The findings of Study 1 were also used to refine the conceptual model. Study 2 tested the revised model through a national U.S. survey of 356 cruise tourists. The results indicated that while perceived crowding influences risk and safety perceptions, it does not always negatively impact passenger experiences. In some cases, crowding can evoke excitement. Practically, this study underscores the importance of spatial design, expectation management, and trust-building to enhance satisfaction and loyalty on large cruise vessels
Conceptual framework · Conceptual model · Crowding · Cruise · Loyalty · Perception · Risk perception · Cruise Tourism Development and Management · Diverse Aspects of Tourism Research · Maritime Transport Emissions and Efficiency
Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) Using R
Comparative utility of a single-item versus multiple-item measure of self-efficacy in predicting relapse among young adults
Perceived quality, emotions, and behavioral intentions
On the distinction between density and crowding
Common Method Bias in Marketing
Common method biases in behavioral research
When to use and how to report the results of PLS-SEM
The dual effects of health risks and crowd perception on marine traveller behaviour
The critical incident technique reappraised
A chronological review on perceptions of crowding in tourism and recreation
Can Personality Influence People’s Intention to Cruise? The Role of Personality in Chinese Propensity for Cruising
Why do you cruise? Exploring the motivations for taking cruise holidays, and the construction of a cruising motivation scale
Exploring the impacts of internal crisis communication on tourism employees insights from a mixed-methods study
Tourism crisis management
Travellers' self-protections against health risks
Positive and Negative Urban Tourist Crowding
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |