Cruise Deals

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Updates on exceptional value-for-money cruise deals and last-minute offers

Fare deal for dinner, or a fee too far?

The denizens of LinersList, a members-only community of ship enthusiasts on Yahoo!, usually concern themselves with recalling memories of vessels which sailed into the history books years ago, or with lamenting the fact that today's cruise ships all look the same - like office blocks turned on one side. Most of them would normally look quite kindly on Fred Olsen Cruise Lines because the company operates ships - especially Boudicca and Black Watch (above) - that have elegant profiles and some heritage about them. But this week they are getting their collective lines in a twist over a new charge [...]

By | 2017-06-15T15:59:31+00:00 5 June 2013|Cruise Deals, Cruise News|2 Comments

Family bargains this summer holiday

Latest news on the best cruise bargain front: here's how a family of four can save up to £870 on a 10-night cruise during the summer holidays. MSC is marking National Family Week with deals for bookings in July and August for cruises on MSC Opera. Parents booking a second stateroom for one or more children get a 50 per cent discount on the additional cabin. And if it's a balcony cabin or suite, then gratuities are taken care of as well - a potential saving of £660 for the accommodation and £210 in tips. In addition, families can have [...]

By | 2017-06-15T15:59:33+00:00 23 May 2013|Cruise Deals|0 Comments

Why the best holiday bargains this summer are on board cruise ships

Continuing pressure to keep fares low in order to fill its ships has forced Carnival Corporation - parent company of Cunard, P&O and Princess Cruises - to slash its financial expectations this year. The company warned that earnings per share are likely to be around $1.45-$1.65, compared with its earlier guidance of $1.80 to $2.10. Carnival shares, which are traded on the London and New York stock exchanges, fell by as much as 15 per cent in early trading today - going in the opposite direction to the FTSE index which has reached its highest level since 2000. In recent [...]

By | 2017-06-15T15:59:33+00:00 21 May 2013|Cruise Deals, Cruise News|0 Comments

Savings for single passengers

Single cabins are all the rage at the moment. P&O's Ventura has just gained 18 during its recent refit and newcomer Norwegian Breakaway has followed big sister Norwegian Epic by having 59 studio cabins for solo passengers. Some cruise lines have had them all the time and are now realizing that they should be shouting about them. Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines have even announced that in addition to the stock of 109 single cabins on their fleet of four ships, twin cabins on a number of cruises next year will be available for single occupancy with no single supplement. Sales [...]

By | 2013-05-14T06:32:44+00:00 14 May 2013|Cruise Deals|0 Comments

Cruise fun fills the small screen

"There's something for all the family," and "You get treated like royalty, no matter what cabin you're in" are just two of the reasons customers in this video give for choosing a cruise holiday. Cruising holidays accounted for one in eight package holidays bought last year; one in five people who took a cruise were under 45 years old, while 36 per cent of the passengers who travelled were first time cruisers, dispelling the myth that cruises are exclusively for the older generation Giulio Libuttii from MSC Cruises says, "You don't need to spend a lot to go on a [...]

By | 2017-06-15T15:59:34+00:00 2 May 2013|Cruise Deals|0 Comments

Even more fun in the fjords

You can cruise the Norwegian fjords at bargain-basement prices, as I advocated yesterday. Or you can pay rather more and make the trip in sheer, unadulterated, all-inclusive luxury. The six-star-plus Crystal Serenity is making just one visit to the region this summer, on a 15-day cruise which takes it from Copenhagen to North Cape, on to the Russian outpost if Murmansk, and then to the Swedish capital, Stockholm. The thought of watching the majestic scenery glide past as I sit on the balcony of my suite while the butler serves afternoon tea is making me reach for my credit card [...]

By | 2017-06-15T15:59:34+00:00 23 April 2013|Cruise Deals, Cruise Destinations|0 Comments

Carnival switches on fare cuts

It's not just the Norwegian fjords where cruise bargains are to be found - fighting back after a succession of public embarrassments, Carnival Cruise Lines have announced discounts of up to 40 per cent. In view of the engine room blazes on Carnival Triumph in February and Carnival Splendor in 2010, some observers are referring to the latest promotion as a fire sale - which is in dubious taste. Nevertheless, passengers responnding to the company's heavily-promoted "Switch On Fun" TV commercial (above) can pick up substantial bargains on bookings made before April 30. Flexible pricing means some prices are falling [...]

By | 2017-06-15T15:59:34+00:00 23 April 2013|Cruise Deals|0 Comments

The fjords are so affordable

For several weeks, my email inbox has been filled with promotions for cruises to Norway at almost unimaginably low prices. Resisting the obvious and painful puns, I can only agree that the fjords have never been more affordable. The destination consistently wins praise and awards as the most scenic in the world, and a cruise to the region has so many benefits. There's departure from a UK port for a start, so no need to fly or to worry about airline baggage restrictions. A ship takes you effortlessly past rugged cliffs, spectacular waterfalls, and deep into the heart of the [...]

By | 2017-06-15T15:59:34+00:00 22 April 2013|Cruise Deals|0 Comments

Cheers! I’ll drink to $140 credit

There's a picture alongside here of yours truly sampling a lurid blue cocktail, a Sapphire Martini if I remember correctly. The photograph was taken in the Commodore Club on Cunard's Queen Mary 2 some years ago, and it may now be time for an update. In which case, I could probably do worse than have my portrait taken with a new cocktail devised to mark the 140th anniversary of Holland America Line. The Dutch Heritage is orange, in keeping with the official colour of the country's Royal Family, and is a mix of Aperol, vodka and triple sec, shaken and [...]

By | 2017-06-15T15:59:35+00:00 14 April 2013|Cruise Deals|0 Comments

Oasis of the Seas’ first European cruises go on sale from £61 a night

Details emerged today of the itineraries for Oasis of the Seas' first European cruises , which will take place in 2014. The voyages go on general sale next week and UK travel agents are predicting they could be sold out within 72 hours. Oasis, carrying 5,400 passengers and joint holder of the "biggest cruise ship in the world" title, is based in Fort Lauderdale and operates seven-day cruises to the Caribbean throughout the year. But next September the ship will be travelling to Europe for a routine dry dock overhaul. Royal Caribbean have taken the opportunity to offer two 12-night [...]

By | 2017-06-15T15:59:35+00:00 5 April 2013|Cruise Deals, Cruise Destinations|0 Comments