Cruise experience and its contribution to subjective well-being: A case of Chinese tourists

Growing evidence suggests that travel may serve as an effective intervention of subjective well-being (SWB). This study develops and empirically tests a psychological model that describes the links of travel experience and SWB. This study also compared the short- and long-term effects of the tourist experience on SWB. Our results identified 3 dimensions of cruise experience, namely, emotional experience, relational experience, and thinking experience. In the short term, happiness from cruise travel is created mainly through emotional and relational experiences. The long-term effect of cruising travel is largely derived from thinking experience. Theoretical and management implications were discussed.