California may have as many "old folks" per capita as any other state, but the perception is that surf, sand, sun and movie stars makes it a destination for the young as well as the young at heart.
Celebrity seems to think so, too.
In a clever attempt to attract young cruisers, Celebrity is taking its act ashore. Not the ships, of course, just a taste of what happens when you go on one of their ships. That's "taste" as in Qsine, Tuscan Grille, Bistro on Five, The Porch and Grand Epernay — the cruise line's for-fee, upscale restaurants at sea. It also includes a taste of AquaSpa in the shape of a complimentary neck and shoulder massage.
The road show that Celebrity hopes will result in a sea show (or at least a booking or two) is in Long Beach through the weekend…at the World Series of Beach Volleyball tournament. After that, corporate and public events in Los Angeles, Palm Springs and Orange County all next month.
Celebrity doesn't say so, but it's clearly designed to attract young cruisers, most of whom have been to a cruise ship only long enough to drop off their parents.
And if it attracts a few "old folks" along the way — as in Palm Springs — so much the better…
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The same might be said of Norwegian, the cruise line that has long attracted young-ish cruisers with its "freestyle" philosophy, but the strategy is a little different.
Again, the cruise line doesn't mention the demographic (why alienate anybody?) except to say that "Freestyle Cruising is a natural fit" for people who ride the Rocky 
Mountaineer. That's the train service that operates primarily in the Pacific Northwest, from Calgary to Seattle and a myriad of places people on Alaska cruises have been known to visit.
There are five different Rail and Cruise vacation packages for next year, connected to Alaska sailings on the Jewel, the Pearl and the Sun. The cruise line has determined that nearly half its Alaska cruisers also ride the rails before or after being on the ship.
The perception is that Rocky Mountaineer appeals to young adventurers and whether that's true or not, if it attracts a few "old folks" along the way…
Holland America Eurodam
7 nights
December 1, 2013
Fort Lauderdale (return): Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Thomas, Half Moon Cay
Inside: $499
Cost per day: $71
Cost per day: $71
www.hollandamerica.com