Book now for best cruise bargains

Has there ever been a better time to book a cruise? I don’t think so.
Cruise lines and travel agents, with extra capacity to fill and fearing the effects of the recession, have been offering never-to-be-repeated prices.
Some customers, determined to have a holiday no matter what, have been cutting their spending on clothes or nights out to make sure they can still pay for their week or fortnight at sea.
Others, suddenly realising that the ever-falling interest rates have cut their monthly mortgage payments dramatically, have discovered that they can afford a cruise after all.
Which is why Royal Caribbean is reporting that sales in January and February were 40 per cent higher than in the same period last year.
And Carnival UK, responsible for P&O, Ocean Village and Cunard, say they received more bookings in the last weekend of February than at any time in their history.
Fred Olsen, too, say that bookings are being made faster now than last year.
The fact that we’re getting some real bargains is confirmed by Royal Caribbean general manager Jo Ryzmowska, who says that profits would be affected by the continued need for price promotions.
She added that there was a growing demand for cruises out of the UK and all-inclusive fly-cruises in Europe as customers aim to fix their costs ahead of travel.
Yet still the bargains come.
Ocean Village have announced deals for next month starting as low as £65 per night for a 14-night cruise, including flights.
You can fly to Heraklion, Crete, on April 9, and sail on OV2 to Cairo, Limassol, Rhodes, Ephesus and Athens, Dubrovnik, Venice, Korcula, Corfu, and Zakinthos, before returning to Heraklion for the flight home. The price? From £899 per person.
The first seven nights of the same voyage are available for £599. Prices include transfers, all meals in the buffet restaurant, onboard entertainment and nursery facilities.
What’s more, the currency used on board is sterling, so there are no hidden costs and no nasty exchange rate surprises when it comes to buying drinks or paying for excursions.
Go to www.oceanvillageholidays.co.uk for more details
P&O have similar value deals throughout the year on cruises from two to 22 nights, offering on-board credits and a 5 per cent discount for online bookings made by March 31. Take a look at www.pocruises.com.
Don’t forget to tell them Captain Greybeard sent you.