Cruise travel advice: Greedy Cruise lines want to increase the cost of cruising over the next couple of years so cruise lines can recover some of their investment..

Royal Caribbean Cruises vice-president and managing director UK and Ireland Robin Shaw has said.

Cruise lines want to increase prices by more over 15%, do not let them get away with it, demand cheaper prices..

Cruise lines will buckle, already one cruise agency has gone bust this year..

P&O Cruises managing director Carol Marlow said Passenger Shipping Association (PSA) figures for 2008 showed cruise passengers spent an average £135 a day, while the average price of a cruise was £1,404 per person. The average cruise was 10.4 days.

Shaw told the Cruise Forum at the Abta Travel Convention in Barcelona on Thursday there have been “double-digit” discounts by the cruise lines this year to help the industry get through the recession.

Marlow said the financial crisis had made value for money more important for consumers, who rated it as the fifth reason why people like to cruise in a YouGov survey commissioned last year by the cruise line to try to understand how to develop the market.

She said value for money had appeared further down the list in previous surveys. The quality of food and service were at numbers one and two respectively

This is a Consumer travel advice & issues post by Cheaperholidays.com - Cheap holidays from the UK -

Greedy cruise lines – increase prices

If ever that was damning evidence that cruises are way overpriced, then this is it:

Arrogant Cruise agents and ship owners who think they can raise prices again after this global mess is over, should think again the public are not stupid and many cruise lines are realising the glory days are over..

The cruise market will see a return to pre-recession pricing once the global economy recovers, a leading operator has predicted. – Which means they want to “put the cruise prices back up,” do not be conned.

Adam Goldstein, president and chief executive of Royal Caribbean said in 2001 “we went to very low pricing to shock the market back to life, and there was a lot of angst that maybe we had educated the public that was the proper level of pricing. But eventually it came back – it was supply and demand.”

He conceded there were concerns the current low pricing in the sector might be irreversible but said that had not been the case in 2001.

He said it was becoming clear that the 2001 crisis was “shorter and sharper” than the current downturn although the operator has seen a yearly decline in revenue of around 13%, the biggest in the line’s 40-year history.

There are fears specialist cruise agency G&B Travel, which folded this month, may not be the last cruise retailer to hit trouble because of the pressure to discount.

This is a Consumer travel advice & issues post by Cheaperholidays.com - Cheap holidays from the UK -

Cruises overpriced – oh yes read it here

Cruise consumer advice: With the demise of Gillette travel with over 4000 forward cruise bookings, which adds up to misery and distress for those passengers involved. And they wont be the last…

Cruise lines you can book direct with.

P&O cruises
Cunard
NCL Norwegian cruise line
Thomson Cruise

We believe the writing is on the wall for cruise travel agencies, you should avoid them like the plague.. A further point is cruise agencies are still showing prices for cruise deals that are sold out, what a con that it is..

One of the largest collapses was Cruise Control, the UK’s largest independent cruise retailer. The company closed with debts of around £10 million. At least 250 jobs are expected to be lost.

At the time of the failure it was estimated the firm had 20,000 customers overseas and 40,000 forward bookings.

Do not book with a travel agent contact the cruise lines direct they will have far better deals on any destination. Travel agents cannot compete with cruise lines direct and i suspect this recent collapse was the result of offering deals that offered no profit to the company.

In other words it our understanding that Gillette travel was buying the business how stupid is that..

Click here for more Cruise travel advice.

This is a Consumer travel advice & issues post by Cheaperholidays.com - Cheap holidays from the UK -

Cruise travel – consumer advice

A specialist cruise agency G&B Travel, which used the trading name Gillett Travel Has collapsed with 4,000 forward bookings.ceased trading on September 11 and can no longer meet its future liabilities.

This poorly run cruise travel company, is just another example why your should book direct, with the cruise lines and cut out the middleman, on a typical Cruise you would save hundred of pounds..

ABTA is advising customers of the travel agency, which was based in Horwich, Bolton, to contact the cruiselines they are booked with. The agency sold all of the UK’s major cruise operators’ product.

Retail claims are being handled by ABTA’s claims handling partner CEGA.

ABTA number: 30881
ABTA claims reference: AB8999
Claims period closes: March 11 2010. All claims and supporting documentation must be received prior to this date
Contact: The ABTA Claims enquiries office on 01202 596 699 or abtaclaims@cegagroup.com

A spokeswoman for P&O said: “Our reservations team has been in contact with those passengers who had booked Complete Cruise Solution cruises through Gilllett Travel and we have taken over those bookings.”

This is a Consumer travel advice & issues post by Cheaperholidays.com - Cheap holidays from the UK -

Gillett Travel – cruise agency closes

Dockside brawl in Antigua, which left 6 Carnival cruise ship passengers released on bond yesterday, after being charged with assault and battery.. We are not sure if they are UK citizens. Update its ok they were Americans..

The passengers, all in their 20s, are being held in Antigua prior to their trial. The brawl took place after the Carnival Victory landed on the island, according to the Antigua News.

Police told the News that the cruisers acted in an “aggressive manner” after an argument with a taxi driver accused of overcharging them.

The brawl led to injured officers. The cruisers, however, said they were defending themselves.

Soshhonnah Henry told the AP the police officers were not in uniform.

“We thought these people were trying to kill us,” she said.

This is a Consumer travel advice & issues post by Cheaperholidays.com - Cheap holidays from the UK -

Carnival cruise – Antigua punch up

Cruise travel news: A vomiting bug Norovirus which hit a Fred Olsen cruise liner Balmoral yesterday has spread overnight, according to the company’s marketing director. This is the second time this year, the first outbreak was in February 2009

The ship, carrying 1,200 passengers and 540 crew, was given permission to continue its journey and was due to arrive in Portree in the Isle of Skye at 11am this morning.

Infected passengers on board Balmoral, were being quarantined in their cabins and TTG has been told the cruise was not expected to be cancelled.

Yesterday evening the cruise company informed local health authorities in Invergordon that about 20 people on board were infected with a norovirus.

Nigel Lingard, Fred Olsen’s marketing director, said: “I can confirm there has been an outbreak of a norovirus on board the Balmoral ship. We declared the outbreak to the port and heath authorities in Invergordon as is our duty.”

He revealed more people had fallen ill throughout the night but said numbers would not be confirmed until the ship called in the Western Isles late this morning.

Lingard said the outbreak was caused by a woman who boarded the ship in Dover but failed to declare an illness to the crew.

“We have rigorous sanitation onboard and we expect the outbreak to be contained. The cruise will not be cancelled,” he said.

The Balmoral was the second ship this year to report a norovirus outbreak at Invergordon port.

More than one thousand passengers and crew were struck down aboard the Marco Polo, operated by Transocean Tours, in July.

Passengers were refunded after it was revealed the cruise company had not declared a norovirus outbreak on the ship’s previous voyage.

This is a Consumer travel advice & issues post by Cheaperholidays.com - Cheap holidays from the UK -

Fred Olsen Norovirus outbreak again

Thomson cruise news update: With cruise deals from just £489 Thomson are offering everything from family-friendly to adults-only cruises.

Latest news: Thomson Island Escape cruise now on sale! The Island Escape is the most laid back ship in the fleet, taking a more informal approach to life at sea.

More great Thomson cruise offers –

Thomson cruise news: Extra July & August discount weekend special*
Save up to 75% on cabin upgrades on selected sailings**

Western Mediterranean Cruise deals

16th Jul Jewels of the Mediterranean 7 Thomson Destiny Bournemouth, Bristol, Leeds Bradford, Gatwick, Southampton £549

21st Jul Mediterranean Discovery 7 Island Escape Bournemouth £539

30th Jul Moorish Delights 7 Island Escape Bristol, Leeds Bradford, Gatwick, Liverpool, Luton, Southampton £649

04th Aug Mediterranean Discovery 7 Island Escape Bournemouth, Doncaster, Exeter, Manchester £669

Thomson Spirit: Thomson Spirit is your home away from home. Every little detail, from the sumptuous cuisine to the sizzling entertainment, has been tailor-made with you in mind. Spacious, stylish and sociable, the…

Thomson Celebration Treat yourself to a touch of luxury on board Thomson Celebration. The two-storey health and beauty spa is the perfect place to enjoy a little well-deserved pampering. And when you’ve finished indulging…

The Calypso The smallest ship in the fleet is also the only one reserved exclusively for adults. You’ll find all the hallmarks of a Thomson cruise, and the personal style of service and intimate ambiance means…

Thomson Destiny Stretch out on deck Stretch out on deck as you sail through azure waters on board Thomson Destiny – the largest ship in the Thomson fleet. Whether you’re topping up your tan on the spacious sun deck or dining al fresco…

This is a Consumer travel advice & issues post by Cheaperholidays.com - Cheap holidays from the UK -

Thomson cruise news

Cruise travel advice: If your thinking of a cruise deal then the best value cruise offers we can recommend are below. They are Easycruise and Thomson. Click here for Thomson Cruise deals.

However a word of warning the cheap EasyCruise deals, require you to make your own way to the cruise ship by booking flights, so keep that in mind the prices are just for the Cruise and flights need to be added..

Thomson cruise deals include the flights where appropriate, so the pacakge is all in.

Check out the coolest offers!
Explore the Greek Islands and Turkey on easyCruise Life and you’ll discover the true Aegean. Our floating hotel is sailing to fantastic places in the Cyclades, the Dodecanese and Crete as well as to Kusadasi, Turkey’s top resort.

Easycruise Greek Islands & Turkey – 3 nights

04 September 2009 07 September 2009 Value Outside €329.00
11 September 2009 14 September 2009 Value Outside €329.00
18 September 2009 21 September 2009 Value Outside €329.00
25 September 2009 28 September 2009 Value Outside €329.00

Thomson cruise have five ships in the fleet for Summer ‘09, offering everything from family-friendly to adults-only cruises. We pride ourselves on great service that takes care of every detail.

Island Escape now on sale! The Island Escape is the most laidback ship in the fleet, taking a more informal approach to life at sea.

Thomson Summer Cruise Deals

07th Jul Mediterranean Discovery 7 Island Escape Bournemouth, Gatwick, Stansted £489
09th Jul Mediterranean Renaissance 7 Thomson Destiny Bournemouth, Bristol, Leeds Bradford, Gatwick, Luton, Manchester, Southampton £549
16th Jul Jewels of the Mediterranean 7 Thomson Destiny Bournemouth, Bristol, Leeds Bradford, Gatwick, Southampton £599

This is a Consumer travel advice & issues post by Cheaperholidays.com - Cheap holidays from the UK -

EasyCruise and Thomson Cruise best value

Thomson Cruise news: Thomson Cruise offers , Thomson is to position a ship in Turkey next summer as part of a focus on Thomson cruise offers for the Eastern Mediterranean. The Thomson Celebration will run new itineraries from Marmaris in Turkey.

The Thomson summer 2010 cruise offers programme reaffirms our belief that the Eastern Mediterranean is the next cruising hotspot for the UK.

Thomson Destiny will run three itineraries from Palma with departures on Saturdays rather than Thursdays with connecting flights from 14 UK airports. Prices start at £699.

Thomson other cruise deals including the, Celebration’s fly-cruises from May next year will cover destinations including Izmir, Santorini, Alexandria and Ashdod in Israel with prices starting at £779 per person.

Thomson Spirit will sail from Corfu to Venice, Dubrovnik, Kotor in Montenegro, Athens and Rhodes with rates starting at £749.

“The launch of a brand new full season of cruises from Marmaris in Turkey with flights from 12 UK airports offer customers easy access to an exciting and popular area of the Mediterranean.”

This is a Consumer travel advice & issues post by Cheaperholidays.com - Cheap holidays from the UK -

Thomson Cruise offers