Cruises: Beats any package holiday...

hermit-crab

missk_ensington wrote:

Sorry jetboy but Im just not having it that it cost you £120 for a week (7 nights?) on easycruise.

Are you calling jetboy a liar then?

hermit-crab

missk_ensington wrote:

That explains it then, so the upshot is, it was good value last year but the prices are 'normal rate' now and so aren't that cheap

Was that an apology?

IvanOpinion

jetboy wrote:

No I'm not affiliated in any way to easycruise but I am to the bigorangeboat website which is a bulletin board where fellow cruisers share their experiences. It's not a commercial website but full of useful information for anyone considering an easycruise.
My Flights to Barbados cost £280 each with BWIA. The Cabin was £120 for 7 days for 2 people..a 2 berth cabin. we ate both on and off ship as we had the choice due to being in port every night. The food and drink on board is very reasonable. Its not for everyone and certainly not for kids (they aren't allowed). One of the best aspects of the ship is the fact that there are only a max of 140 people on it..therfore you get to know people and staff. So we cruised the carribean for £340 ex UK for 7 nights but had to buy the food..I call that a good deal.
Regards weather I've been to the carribean several times in UK winter (Jan-Mar). Thats generally the best time to go..bad weather then is unlucky. The worst time would be June-Oct...storms and hurricaines

But the difference is you are comparing chalk and cheese ... it is like trying to compare Stellios' Butlins style self-catering chalet to a 5-star hotel with all the food and stage shows thrown in for free. Stellios is carving himself out a niche in the market and I wish him well but it is a totally different market to that expected by traditional cruisers ... Stellios' market is based on alchohol fuelled all night partying and all day sleeping (this came across very clearly on the TV show) as opposed to the relaxed 5-star luxurious pampering exploration type of holiday that a traditional cruise offers.

Given how EasCruise portrays itself and the market it is aiming at I would probably consider the prices you have detailed as no more than reasonable value for money for an introductory season. Based on your prices that gives a price point of £50 per person per night plus food and entertainment ... our last cruise on the P&O Arcadia including flights, all meals, fantastic stage shows and other entertainment came in at a price point of £69 pppd (which I rate as significantly better value for money). Our next cruise (Oceana) is coming in at a price point of £74pppd (although we will have to add flights to Gatwick and an overnight stay ... not flying direct). So, at best, the introductory offers from EasyCruise can only be described as 'reasonable' (and possibly their 'normal' prices can be seen as not particularly good value for money). But as Ocean Village has proved, some people are willing to pay a premium for 3-4 star treatment over a line offering 4-5 star treatment.

Ivan

jetboy

All fair points Ivan however what I should have pointed out was the difference between cruising in the carribean and the med on easycruise. The Carribean was a bit like sharing your own yacht with civilised people. No stags out there just a people from a wide age group having a good time and seeing many more islands in 7 days than you would on an average cruise itinery. OK i certainly wouldn't chose an orange cabin given the choice but its not as bad as it looks in reality. The standards on the ship are high. Its definately aimed at younger people in an attempt to attract them to cruising. Its not really chalk and cheese because not everybody goes cruising to enjoy the 5 star pampering. Cruising is an equally good way to see a lot of places in a short space of time that you wouldn't get to otherwise. I've done the 5 star cruise and found disadvantages to that too.
It is unfortunate that Easygroup marketing portray their products in the way they do via TV. Airline for easyjet portays a poor imagine of a professional airline. Half of it is staged anyway yet apparently bookings rise everytime it is shown. Cruise with Stelios follows in the same vane I fear.

missk_ensington

IVAN- Thank you, think that was the point I was trying to make! Even if easycruise was £300 a week cheaper, I would want a bit of luxury on my annual holiday, not slumming it with the 18-30's! Without being too descriptive, very low prices generally tend to attract a certain type of clientel. Enough said!

Carnival ARE really good, but I still swear by NCL!

IvanOpinion

jetboy wrote:

All fair points Ivan however what I should have pointed out was the difference between cruising in the carribean and the med on easycruise. The Carribean was a bit like sharing your own yacht with civilised people. No stags out there just a people from a wide age group having a good time and seeing many more islands in 7 days than you would on an average cruise itinery. OK i certainly wouldn't chose an orange cabin given the choice but its not as bad as it looks in reality. The standards on the ship are high. Its definately aimed at younger people in an attempt to attract them to cruising. Its not really chalk and cheese because not everybody goes cruising to enjoy the 5 star pampering. Cruising is an equally good way to see a lot of places in a short space of time that you wouldn't get to otherwise. I've done the 5 star cruise and found disadvantages to that too.
It is unfortunate that Easygroup marketing portray their products in the way they do via TV. Airline for easyjet portays a poor imagine of a professional airline. Half of it is staged anyway yet apparently bookings rise everytime it is shown. Cruise with Stelios follows in the same vane I fear.

Maybe Stellios should try to get a programme done about cruising the Caribbean. I just felt that in his cruising the Med TV series the package came across as being really tacky and more to do about 'orange' and alchohol consumption than anything else - that is maybe something he needs to address.

I think though that he could have great opportunity .. such as going down the Amazon or the Nile (etc.) but unless he can shake the 'orange' and alchohol image I am afraid that I will not be looking at his product (now if he wants to pay for DW and I to try it out for free then that is a different matter )

Ivan

jetboy

missk_ensington I'm sure there are a multitude of 18-30 year old people on this site who would take exception to that remark. Enough said.

saveapenny

I think the comments on this thread have proved there are cruise for all tastes ..snobby to booze cruise, 3 star Butlins at sea to 6* luxury
After cruise with many companies only 1 I would never go with again is Thomsons (apart from the Emerald) but that is down to personal taste I would also never again go with Cunard I dont like the segregation its like being back in the dark ages of cruise where your ticket price determines your standard. But each to there own.
Come back Suncruises all is forgiven..might be because they introduced me to cruises so will always have fond memories

nelly_2

IvanOpinion wrote:

Maybe Stellios should try to get a programme done about cruising the Caribbean. I just felt that in his cruising the Med TV series the package came across as being really tacky and more to do about 'orange' and alchohol consumption than anything else - that is maybe something he needs to address.

I think though that he could have great opportunity .. such as going down the Amazon or the Nile (etc.) but unless he can shake the 'orange' and alchohol image I am afraid that I will not be looking at his product (now if he wants to pay for DW and I to try it out for free then that is a different matter )

Ivan

The mojority of british holliday makers fit in that market though mate.

IvanOpinion

Its sad that ... a colleague in work was continually talking about his booze up holidays .. go to some sunny climate, find the nearest British pub and stay there for as long as possible eating pie and chips (I have done that as well but grew out of it about 20 years ago). I finally convinced him to pack away the boozer and go and see the country, try different restaurants and explore ... he did and had so much fun that him and his mates are now going on a hiking holiday out China direction (Tibet?) ... yes they will have a few beers but at least they will also realise that there is a world outside of the bottle they were living in.

Ivan