Cruise Deals

Saga, the travel company specialising in holidays for the over-50s, has not had the best of luck with its cruise operation. The fleet shrunk from three to two last year with the closure of associated brand Spirit of Adventure and the retirement of Saga Ruby. The company pulled out of world voyages a couple of years ago and now operates mostly ex-UK cruises from Southampton and Dover. The two remaining ships, Saga Pearl II and in particular Saga Sapphire, have been less than reliable in recent months. Sapphire was temporarily left without power off the coast of Mull after a [...]

Good news for Britain's cruise passengers - the industry's latest annual report shows their holidays at sea are better value than ever before. The review compiled by the UK and Ireland arm of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) shows the average fare paid in 2013 was £1,376. In 2007 the figure was £1,334, but taking inflation into account the cost in today's money would have been £1,568. Seven years ago, the cost per day was £137 - or £170 after inflation. Last year's daily rate, for a holiday which almost always includes all meals and entertainment, was just £134. [...]

P&O Cruises' Marketing Director, Christopher Edgington joined the company only last hear, and he is new to the whole world of holidays at sea. But having seen what is planned for his line's newest ship, Britannia, he says he wants to find a way to set up his office on board. Announcing the ship's maiden season of cruises today, he said: "We have ensured that our prices remain constant throughout the year irrespective of the timing of the peak school holiday periods. We are conscious of the hardship families face when taking holidays at these time and are therefore committed [...]

MY COLUMN FROM SATURDAY'S DAILY MIRROR Not sure whether you would enjoy a cruise? Now there's a way to find out that could cost absolutely nothing except time. Fred Olsen Cruise Lines' Enjoyment Promise will give any customer who has not travelled on the company's ships before the chance to try a cruise and to get their money back if the don't enjoy it. What's more, having made the decision - and it has to be within 48 hours of boarding - they will be flown home at Olsen's expense. The scheme will be launched on Monday [December 2] and [...]

Cruising is the best-value family holiday around. It's a point that has been made so often it surprises me it needs to be made again. But the start of National Cruise Week is as good a time as any to issue a reminder. Step forward, Carnival Cruise Lines, who have compared the cost of a land-based holiday in the Caribbean with a five-day cruise. And guess what, a family of four would pay £2,902 for the cruise compared with £6,905 for a hotel resort. In working out the figures, Carnival has included transfers to the ship and an itinerary which [...]

National Cruise Week is approaching - it's just over three weeks away - and the lines are falling over themselves to come up with special deals that will stand out from the rest. Royal Caribbean set the ball rolling with $100 onboard credit per cabin for cruises booked between September 21 and 29. Passengers can put the money towards spa treatments, excursions, or bookings in the ships' speciality restaurants. But the deal is for a limited number of cruises between October 1 and December 31 and only for guests booking a balcony cabin or better. Celebrity Cruises will throw in [...]

It's hardly news that the cost of cruising has been falling for several years, but now we have concrete proof. A study by an online travel agency has calculated that the average fare has been cut by almost a quarter since 2008. Cruise specialist www.bonvoyage.co.uk gathered information by taking account of statistics from its own website over the past three years and by polling 1,274 people who had been on a cruise five years ago and had booked another for this year or next. The data revealed the average fare now is £1,248, a full 22 per cent less than [...]