Fashions come and go, particularly in the cruise industry, which has seen a renaissance in cruises, and now is the safest time to take one!
Costa Concordia may have hit both the rocks and the headlines but we have to put in perspective that over 4,000 people got off safely – which was fantastic. I am telling my clients that it is more dangerous driving a car!
The Passenger Ship Association have predicted that over 835,000 Brits will take a No Fly/Cruise this year and 60,000 a Fly/Cruise. Some growth can be attributed to the Ash Cloud but mostly it is because people are disenchanted with airports, the security queues and delays.
There is now a whole array of ships and itineraries, sailing both from the UK and overseas ports that offer people the formal experience or the home-from-home atmosphere such as P&O, Cunard and Fred Olsen. Or the more casual US style cruising that focuses on entertainment and cosmopolitan menus such as Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises.
Today's cruise passengers can choose not only their style of cruise (traditional or relaxed) but the size of ship and itinerary from The Mediterranean, Northern Europe, The Americas, The Caribbean to Round the World and all offer such great value for money. They are no longer marketed at just the older clientele but now appeal to couples, honeymooners, families and multi generation groups.
As well as great value, they give customers flexibility, multiple destinations, the quality and service of a 4/5 star hotel, amazing on board features that keep everyone happy and unforgettable and unique experiences.
And it doesn't have to be an Ocean Cruise – River Cruises are becoming more and more appealing. They are a fantastic way of seeing many places again with you only having to unpack once. But unlike an ocean cruise they can sail right into the heart of the destination and guests can enjoy step ashore access with no long queues to disembark and no wave motion! As well as offering smaller ships, they offer now a more relaxed travel experience and appeal to couples or friends travelling together. Prices start as low as £199 cruise only or £349 with coach travel!
Now is the time to book that cruise – whether you’re a first timer or a regular with so many offers on most of the cruise lines. Royal Caribbean have just started their biggest marketing campaign yet where they are giving away 10,000 free flights on selected Mediterranean cruises but hurry these flights are selling fast! Other offers include FREE car parking or coach transfers, on board credit and stateroom upgrades! Plus, for those early Bookers 2013 Cruises are NOW on sale.
P&O Top 4
23 March 2012 – Taster Cruise for 2 Nights – On Board Ventura
Southampton/Belgium/Southampton – FROM £199 per person
1 April 2012 – Western Mediterranean for 14 Nights – On Board Ventura
Southampton/Vigo/Lisbon/Civitavecchia/Livorno/Monte Carlo/Barcelona/Cadiz
FROM £999 per person
17 March 2012 – Caribbean for 13 Nights – On Board Azura
Includes outbound flight
Barbados/St Lucia/Antigua/St Maarten/Tenerife/Southampton
FROM £1099 per person
QE2 – Queen Elizabeth
18 May 2012 for 5 nights Mediterranean
From £499 per person
Deal Of The Day
Rome/Greece and Turkey
30 Aug 2012 for 10 Nights
Spend 3 nights in Rome before boarding Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas
Rome/Sicily/Kusadasi/Athens/Crete/Rome
FROM - £869 per person including flights and private transfers!
So go on and experience a cruise – it's like being on holiday in a resort but at sea with the added value of letting the world come to you!
Contact me, Jill Wilson, your local Macclesfield Co-operative Personal Travel Advisor to find out more.
