One in five cruise-goers cannot swim

Published on 29/10/2012 01:18

Nearly one in five cruise holiday customers cannot swim, 
according to a survey.

Most of the non-swimmers do not think being able to keep their heads above water is important, the poll by bonvoyage.co.uk found.

Of those attaching no importance to swimming ability, most are unconcerned as they know lifejackets are available, with 52 per cent of the non-swimmers saying they feel “completely safe” even when surrounded by water.

A total of 1,562 tourists who had taken a cruise holiday were surveyed, with 19 per cent saying they cannot swim. A third would happily learn to swim if it became a requirement of a cruise holiday, while 24 per cent would refuse to learn.

Bonvoyage.co.uk cruise development manager Stephanie Curtin was surprised: “The idea of being surrounded by water would make you think that it would be a good idea to learn.”