Massive surge in UK cruise bookings due to the recent flight disruption
The UK’s cruise operators have reported a surge in bookings, up by 50 per cent in some cases, following the recent wave of flight cancellations and airport closures. They predict that the popularity of cruises will continue growing this summer when many British holidaymakers choose to steer clear of airports as they head overseas.
Latest figures from the Passenger Shipping Association forecast that, despite the recent recession, 1.65 million Britons will book a cruise this year – more than ever before – representing a seven per cent increase on last year.
Among those holidaymakers opting to cruise rather than fly are the newly-named social group known by the acronym “Vavs”, standing for Volcanic Ash Victims, air travellers whose travel plans have been disrupted by Iceland’s eruptions.
One cruise line currently experiencing “unprecedented demand”, including bookings from “Vavs”, is Cruise and Maritime Voyages, based in Dartford, Kent, that sails from eight British ports including Tilbury, the London cruise terminal. Mike Hall, the company’s marketing manager, said yesterday: “The ash cloud situation and BA strikes have affected, and will continue to affect, many people’s travel plans. We have seen an unprecedented demand for last-minute availability on our no-fly cruises.
Latest figures from the Passenger Shipping Association forecast that, despite the recent recession, 1.65 million Britons will book a cruise this year – more than ever before – representing a seven per cent increase on last year.
Among those holidaymakers opting to cruise rather than fly are the newly-named social group known by the acronym “Vavs”, standing for Volcanic Ash Victims, air travellers whose travel plans have been disrupted by Iceland’s eruptions.
One cruise line currently experiencing “unprecedented demand”, including bookings from “Vavs”, is Cruise and Maritime Voyages, based in Dartford, Kent, that sails from eight British ports including Tilbury, the London cruise terminal. Mike Hall, the company’s marketing manager, said yesterday: “The ash cloud situation and BA strikes have affected, and will continue to affect, many people’s travel plans. We have seen an unprecedented demand for last-minute availability on our no-fly cruises.
“One couple who had their holiday cancelled due to the ash cloud, booked one of our cruises to the Norwegian Fjords and became cruise converts. At the end of their cruise, they submitted a customer feed-back form, “It read: ‘Because of the volcano our travel plans were disrupted. We booked for a holiday at the last minute that did not involve flying and booked this cruise – wonderful! Every ash cloud has a silver lining. It’s been a treat.’ “
Here at cruise.co.uk Britain’s largest online cruise specialist we have had a significant increase in cruise bookings since the BA strikes and volcanic eruptions began. The phones have gone ballistic. Sukie Rapal, our company’s head of marketing, said: “Since early April, we have seen a significant increase in the number of phone inquiries and bookings regarding operators who sail from UK ports.
“The current situation with BA and the second volcano incident has resulted in even more interest for our agents. While we also offer international fly-cruises, we expect to see a continued interest from customers who simply don’t want to risk flying, even to mainland Europe.”
Cruises leaving main UK ports, such as Southampton, Dover, Portsmouth, Newcastle and Liverpool, for destinations including the Mediterranean, the Norwegian Fjords and the Baltic, are especially popular.
There are now 19 cruise lines sailing direct from British ports this summer, allowing holidaymakers anxious about disruption to avoid airports altogether.
MSC Cruises, one of the world’s fastest-growing cruise lines with a fleet of 10 ships, also reported an increase in bookings for cruises leaving UK ports, attributing this current trend to “passengers showing a lack of confidence in flying”. A spokesman said: “MSC Cruises has seen an increase in bookings for its ex-UK cruises during the volcanic ash crisis at a time when passengers are wishing to continue to book a summer holiday but do not want to risk flying.”
Among the most popular types cruises being booked at the moment are ultra luxury cruises to northern Europe favoured by couples and “multi-generational” family cruises, mainly to the Mediterranean.
Many holidaymakers are also booking river cruises in mainland Europe, taking Eurostar to the main departure ports on European rivers such as the Rhine.
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I started at Cruise.co.uk back in April 2009. I was new to the travel industry as my previous work was within the mortgage industry, due to the credit crunch (and being made redundant) this wasn't a great industry to be in so I looked for something new which is when…
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