Summers End and it’s all change!

I was going to start by saying what a marvellous end we have had to September but I am sat here looking out on torrential rain, and I mean torrential. That said, we really can’t complain can we, it has been a wonderful summer especially over the last couple of months and I just hope that all of you have made the most of it. You can’t beat the UK when the weather is good can you. One of my favourite places in the UK, when the sun is shining is the long beach at Abersoch in North Wales, a place where we have spent many happy family holidays over the years.

So it’s now the end of September, the nights are drawing in and we start the transition into Autumn. As always at this time of year a feeling of change comes over me as we head into winter and this year I feel another change as my youngest turns 21 today. All my children are grown up and I am feeling a bit redundant, although I don’t suppose I am really, they will still need me from time to time.

Finished too are all those fabulous offers from the cruise lines. There has been an almighty rush this week, people keen to book before the offers end. The cruise lines have pulled out all the stops during September, BOGOHO, free drinks, free parking, free wifi, onboard credit, you name it, they’ve been giving it away and it has obviously paid dividends judging by the speed with which cabins have been selling. Waiting to book until the last minute is old hat now as savvy cruisers are realising that last minute price drops rarely happen any more. Cruise lines are really keen to get ‘bums on beds’ sooner rather than later so they are offering some great incentives to people who do book early. P&O and Cunard, for example, have released their Summer 2018 voyages this month with low deposits, early booking discounts (even for new passengers), and free parking, coach or on board credit. The bookings have flooded in with people booking up to October 2018, more than two years in advance. A clever move!

The cruise lines having had such a good month, I am interested to see what offers are about for October. Hopefully more of the same as I am sure the cruise lines want to keep the booking momentum going and keep booking flooding in. Watch this space! Even us agents don’t know what is happening yet. I am hoping things remain similar to the offers we have all enjoyed over the last couple of months.

I shall sign off now ahead of a weekend of celebrating my son’s 21st. Above is my first ever attempt at a gravity-defying cake. Tom would live on Haribo given half a chance so it seemed appropriate to incorporate them into his cake. I’m quite pleased with the result but won’t be giving upu the day job any time soon!

Happy Cruising Folks!