Why Authenticity Wins: The Shift from Tourist to Traveler Onboard

Not so long ago, the measure for a successful holiday was how many picture postcards you could send back, how many tourist sights you could tick off your list. Travel was about being a tourist, about visiting famous places and buying souvenirs, about snapping some photographs then moving on.

But today's luxury traveler wants something totally different.They are not satisfied to simply see a place; they want to know it. They want to taste its flavors, listen to its stories, feel its very soul.

The luxury customer does not simply want to be a tourist; they are seeking to become a traveler, fully engaged in all the cultures, stories and destinations they come across. And the cruise lines that understand this change will be the leaders of twenty-first century travel.

At Raconteur, there is no such thing as a buzzword named "authentic.” Instead, authenticity is the essence of what we do.

With our experiential offerings, we are non-commercial. Our activities aren ’t dull mass-market entertainments or perfunctory productions. They permit a true relationship to form between person and place, moment and memory that will long outlive the ship that bore you.

Whether it is learning the stories and heritage of a Bahamian cloth, writing a letter inspired by a Mediterranean sunset, or partaking in an experience where all your senses are filled with Cartagena’s colors plus its taste, our onboarding practices compel guests to step into immersion, not simply watch from afar.

Because when a guest feels a true sense of place, they fall in love. And when they fall in love, they come back.

The luxury passenger of today wants:

• To have a truly authentic cultural experience, not just watch scripted performances.

• To have well told stories that amuse them, not senseless cut-and-dries.

• Bespoke moments that feel like they were made for them personally, not off-the-peg formulae.

For cruise lines, Raconteur has met this need. With a range of materials that are modular and expandable it is not at all difficult for us to extend personal, intimate experiences no matter what size the vessel or where she sails to.

For cruise lines, authenticity is no longer optional. It is what gives them a competitive advantage.

And for guests, it is the difference between a destination you have ticked off and one that sticks with you.

At Raconteur, what we make is not simply entertainment. We are sharing and remembering with others. We are travelers.

Because when you get your passengers to have a real connection, they never forget how you made them feel.