Turning tide on prices

Mike Hall at Cruise & Maritime Services (CMS) says: “There has probably never been a better time to book a cruise because a weak market in America means US-based lines like Celebrity and RCCL have had to come to Europe.”

Cruise prices have fallen because of all the capacity in the market. “The contrast now between going abroad on a land-based holiday and on a ship is remarkable,” says Hall.

“Cruise passengers are cocooned from astronomical prices in places like Norway, and simply couldn’t afford to go there otherwise.”

Low prices and special deals for those prepared to book now were the key theme of this week’s National Cruise Week (September 18-25) which is promising free nights, free upgrades, up to 20 per cent off with one cruise line, and even a free pair of binoculars.

Around 1.7 million British holidaymakers are expected to take a cruise this year and with all-inclusive holidays in big demand, cruise lines plan to boost this total in 2012.

Besides all the incentives, figures from the Passenger Shipping Association (PSA) suggest cruising is on the up partly because many people want to avoid airports: a key trend in 2010 was above-average 10 per cent growth of UK departure cruises, turning Southampton into the busiest cruise port in Northern Europe. British passengers sailing from a British port now account for more than 40 per cent of all cruises, with the fly-cruise share declining to just under 60 per cent. Cruises are also getting shorter to keep prices down: the average duration is down from 11.1 days to 10.2, a trend that ensured four out of 10 cruises booked in 2010 cost less than £1,000.

Cruise lines are aiming to attract more passengers from regions of the country far from the ports of southern England.

Emma Knight at Cruise Thomas Cook says: “Regional connecting flights to Southampton are available free from six UK airports: Glasgow, Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle and Cardiff.” These offers run until November 30 with Cruise Thomas Cook, as agents simply add the relevant connecting flight for free.

Last-minute bargains include 10 nights on Ocean Countess, sailing on October 3, ex-Falmouth to Leixoes for Oporto, Lisbon, Gibraltar, Casablanca, Vigo, and Dublin, starting at £499. That’s less than £50 per day.