This study investigated specialization theory [Bryan, H. (1979). Conflict in the great outdoors. Birmingham, AL: Birmingham Publishing Company; Bryan, H. (2000). Recreation specialization revisited. Journal of Leisure Research, 31, 18–21] in ocean cruisers. Cruisers have quit their jobs and traded in their land-based life for a life afloat cruising on their own boat to live a utopian dream [Macbeth, J. (2000). Utopian tourists – Cruising is not just about sailing. Current Issues in Tourism, 3 (1), 20–34]. The following criteria defined a cruiser in this study: boat ownership, living aboard and at least one passage. An additive specialization index was given to 330 cruisers as part of an online survey. Quantitative results showed cruisers are highly specialized and that differences existed between less and more specialized cruisers. Supplemental analysis revealed gender differences in specialization.
