Did you know that genealogy tourism is a growing industry?

Question

Today I came across an article in The Globe and Mail, You Can Go Home Again: Why Genealogy Tourism is a Growing Industry that discusses a trend I'd not yet heard about--genealogical tourism.  Apparently, this is a relatively new kind of tourism that includes cruises on the Cunard cruise ship line, which has a week-long QM2 voyage sailing out of Southampton planned for this November, where passengers crossing the Atlantic will be able to attend on-ship seminars and have access to genealogists equipped with Ancestry access to investigate their roots.  When the cruise arrives in New York, there will be options for passengers to continue their "Journey of Genealogy" if they desire with additional programs touring Ellis Island and other sites of interest. 

It sounds from this article like there may be some filming on this particular cruise for the Who Do You Think You Are? TV show as well, since this cruise program is being led by the Jennifer Utley, who is part of Ancestry's research for that TV show, and they've been hinting in advance that 'passengers should expect some surprises during the transatlantic trip' and some advance DNA testing will be offered to guests on this cruise.

You Can Go Home Again:  Why Genealogy Tourism is a Growing Industry
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/travel/article-the-growth-of-genealogy-tourism/

Answer 1

Wow that is so amazing, who would have thought this possible, thank you for sharing this with us Cynthia. I would love to do a cruise of this kind Wow!

I must say, a very good marketing strategy on there part too!

Comments

This was news to me, too!  And there's time for people interested in being involved in taping of a Who Do You Think You Are? episode to book their passage on this November cruise--very exciting!

Answer 2

Lots of cruises and heritage vacations. It’s growing but has been going on for at least the last decade or so.

Comments

This is the first I'd heard of it--and perhaps the first to be featured on the Who Do You Think You Are? TV show.  :-)

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First for me too

Answer 3

The Legacy Family Tree software company (now part of My Heritage) have been running genealogical cruises around the Atlantic and Caribbean for quite a few years now. They keeps the trips to small numbers - not more than about 20 or 25 and its usually first in first served.

Comments

These cruises sound very good, with smaller groups of participants, so hopefully conversations and research can be more focused.  I wonder how people enjoy these cruises, and if they've been happy or inspired with what they've learned?

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The last cruise that Legacy did was in 2017 - https://legacyfamilytree.com/CruiseInfo_2017.asp

On that page, right down at the bottom, they also have links to previous cruises going back to 2010!!

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Excellent!  And hopefully, people like me (who didn't previously know these genealogical tours were happening) can now find out about upcoming tours and cruises happening this year and next, too!

Answer 4

Genealogy presenter and newsletter author, Dick Eastman, has a section on his web site listing genealogy cruises at <http://eogn.wikidot.com/eogn-calendar:genealogy-cruises> .  He mentions them sometimes in the newsletter.  I haven't gone on one yet.  I agree they sound very interesting.

Jo

Comments

Thank you for mentioning this information!