My Review of Cruise in 2019 ( So Far )

Normally when I do a review or share my thoughts on what the cruise industry has been like I would do it at the end of the year as a recap. Well this year i thought i would do something a little different, So here we are with still one week left in January andI thought I would share my observations os far.

Number 1

It’s busy, very busy. If we are all supposed to be hard up after Christmas then I am not seeing it. Maybe the fact that we currently offer a £1 per person low deposit scheme for cruises departing July 2019 onwards has helped a few book now that would of had to wait until payday. I am finding that so many past customers are getting in touch ( So a BIG thank you for that ) and that lots of new to cruise customers or be people who have maybe not booked with Cruise.co.uk before are contacting us and ther is a fair degree of shopping around going on.

Number 2

People are not booking because of Brexit – WRONG!

To say this is a subject you can not get away from when you put on the TV, Read a paper or on socail media you wouldof thought we would be flooded with questions about who it will affect my cruise. I have not had one customer already booked or looking at booking ask if it will make a difference to there cruise. Dont get me wrong I’m sure it is a thought for some but with the likes of P&O offering brexit promises that it wont affect prices etc then people seem happy enough with that.

Number 3

People are looking at and booking Christmas and New Year cruises now and in some cases are to late. The festive cruises are always some of the most popular sailings and 99 times out of 100 will sail full so it always surprises me when nearer the time people ask what we have got and then seem shocked when full. My advice to anyone thinking about this for this year is to act now. I have already had to say to customers that on some P&O fly Caribbean options only have either Birmingham on one date and Gatwick flights on the next day. For anything further North forget it. Also with P&O if you are a family you need to check if the ages of your child are available as they only allow a number of childred in age age group! Marella have Manchester flights and some great itineraries if it is Caribbean you want. P&O and Cunard from Southampton do still have availabilty and the prices are ok but again they seem to be filling fast so book now and get what ever perk and discount you can!

Number 4

So what and when are people booking well this is really a mixed bag. The main cruise lines I have been booking are what many would still class as the big 2 for us brits P&O and Royal Caribbean. P&O mainly because the do have more Itneraries out of the UK and some of the prices are very keen and when you do the selct fare the on ship spending money can seem to be a decent amount. On some cruises like the Azura on the 20th April which is still Easter holiday for some they have child/third and fourth prices for £1 yes I kid you not £1. I’m doing a lot of Royal Caribbean as the Free Drinks promotion appeals to many of the modern cruisers who want to know they wont have massive drinks bills at the end of the cruise.

People are  booking as many 2020 cruises as 2019, 2019 is more the cruises from the UK and for 2020 I have done loads of Caribbean bookings from February to April 2020, and then lots of Tailormade cruises to the likes of Australia as late as November 2020. North America and Canada seems to be getting a lot of interest too. Our Bucket List cruises especially the Far East and South America are flying out so if you have not seem them have a look as they are fantastic once in a lifetime affordable trips.

Number 5

Every cruise lines has really good offers on at the minute wit it being January but as we only have a week left then if not booked yet start looking now! From, Spending money, Free Coach or Free Parking on select fares with P&O, Free Drink with Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and MSC on loads of sailings, Buy One Get One Free or Massive savings with Cruise and Maritime, NCL are giving reduced deposits, Free Speciality and onbaord spends on top of the Premium all inclusive they do anyway. The list geos on so pick up the phone or email me today.

Number 6

Lastly if something seems to be good to be true I hate to say it but it is! I’ve had a few customers who have either seen silly prices on websites you would normally not relate to cruise and when I have said the can’t possibly do for that price then the customer has come back to me to say I was right. One of the big cruise agents that I wont name either quoted a transatlantic cruise with flights with Royal Caribbean and said it included flights and guess what…………..yes your right when I told the customer it was to early for the flights and to snap there hands off, She rang back to book and it did’nt. I have to thank them for that as I got 7 booking sout of it for my honest advice.

Anyway that is my litte summary of how I see things so far. Let me know if you agree or disagree or would like me to look at anything at all for you.