An independent cruise comparison website has conducted research of nearly 2,000 British cruisers in a bid to discover the most popular forms of technology used whilst onboard ships. The study revealed that the internet is the most popular forms of technology used, closely followed by mobile phones.

As part of ongoing research into the holiday habits of British cruisers, and independent cruise comparison website has conducted research in a bid to discover how much technology cruisers use whilst onboard.

The study of 1,907 British cruisers, conducted by www.CruiseCompare.co.uk, initially asked respondents ‘Do you use technology when onboard a cruise ship?’ to which just over four fifths, 83%, answered ‘yes’.

The respondents who admitted to using technology when onboard a cruise ship were then asked to detail which forms of technology they tended to use, and were allowed to choose multiple answers.

According to the study, the most common form of technology used onboard a cruise liner is the ‘internet’ with 76% of these respondents admitting to using technology onboard, ‘mobile phones’ came in a close second, with just over half, 52%, of respondents who admitted using their handset to make calls when on their cruising holiday.

Furthermore, of the respondents who admitted to using technology when onboard a cruise liner, 23% claimed to use a laptop, whilst 14% of the respondents claimed to use a ‘handheld gaming console.’ One in ten, 9%, of respondents admitted to using a tablet computer.

The respondents who admitted to using technology when on a cruise liner were then asked to explain their reasons for doing so. Over a third, 35%, claimed that it was ‘habit’ that made them use technology when on holiday; whilst 29% cited that they used technology when on a cruise to ‘maintain contact’ with people at home. Furthermore, 27% of respondents claimed to use technology on board for ‘work purposes.’

Danielle Fear, Managing Director of CruiseCompare.co.uk, said the following about the findings

“Technology has become such a big part of everyday life, and it is hard to imagine ever going a day without using it. Modern cruise liners provide passengers with the ability to access technology at their finger tips, allowing passengers to firmly stay in touch with the modern world. Cruise ships are usually so much larger than people initially think, and onboard you’ll normally find a great variety of computers, shops and entertainment suites.”

She continued:

“As well as enabling people to keep in touch and remain in contact, technology provides entertainment. Social networking sites have become part of everyday life, and many cruisers lie on deck using their Smartphones, reading on their electronic books or scanning the web on their tablet computers; it has simply become a way of life. Nevertheless, cruisers should remember that they are, above all, on holiday; and shouldn’t let the pressures of life that some technology can bring encroach on their relaxation time. Cruising is for getting away from it all, so it never hurts to leave the emails until you get home!”