The postman arrived this morning (yes there is life outside email) with a letter from a cruise company, together with vouchers offering savings of up to £1,500 on a succession of voyages between September and November.
The glossy mini-brochure describes the all-inclusive cruises which include house wine, Champagne and spirits on board, privately-escorted tours, use of bicycles in port, and gratuities.
An accompanying letter from the company’s sales and marketing director refers to the fact that with Wimbledon and the World Cup now behind us, “what better way to escape and relax than by taking a cruise . . .”
I couldn’t agree more, but what makes this sales pitch so remarkable is what it does NOT say.
The company is Hebridean Island Cruises and the ship is Hebridean Princess, on which the Queen has just taken a cruise with other members of the Royal family – and a favoured nanny – around the west coast of Scotland.
So you could have forgiven marketing director Ken Charleson if he had, instead, promised passengers the opportunity to sleep in the Queen’s bed.
Or perhaps you wouldn’t. The low-key approach will be appreciated by Hebridean’s passengers, who even with the £1,500 discount are prepared to pay substantial sums for their holidays. Suites on the September 30 sailing from Oban are available from £2,520 to £5,500 per person for seven nights. A five-night cruise from Greenock in November is on offer from between £860 and £1,830 – and there’s a single cabin available for £950.
But I’m not telling which bed Her Majesty used.
http://www.prideofbritainhotels.com/Competition_Registration/
You can win £250 of luxury hotel gift vouchers that you can use on the Hebridean Princess