‘Cruising used to feel special.’ Cruise lines were struggling even before the Iran conflict.

Melissa Newman, a business professor who’s an avid cruiser, is starting to see some cracks in the industry she loves: Some cruise-goers, including repeat travelers, are saying cruising doesn’t feel special anymore.

That sentiment comes at bad time for cruise companies, which bank on their reputation for value and glamour but have had to win over travelers amid general economic anxiety. And their stocks have been among the biggest decliners since the start of the Iran conflict, on concerns that skyrocketing crude prices will push their fuel costs higher, and that geopolitical unrest may make some travelers think twice about going on a cruise.