I was fascinated to learn this week that the so-called “staycation” is alive and well with more of us considering taking holidays in Britain.

Apparently more people were lured to stay within these shores last year by what turned out to be ludicrous forecasts of a barbeque summer and the chance to save money during the height of the economic downturn.

I fully understand the sentiment and have nothing against domestic breaks as being convenient getaways. But I’ve yet to be convinced at how cost effective they can be.

According to research conducted for domestic tourist board VisitEngland, 13% of people switched from a foreign holiday to a UK break last year due to the credit crunch. A further 15% chose to take more UK trips as well as overseas breaks.

Excuse my maths, but I reckon that leaves a whopping 72% who did not change their behaviour and stay in the UK for their holidays, despite financial constraints.

I highlight this study as what it fails to do is demonstrate the cost of taking a domestic holiday compared with overseas holidays and cruises in particular.

The reason being that my curiosity took me to have a look around a newly-opened country house hotel near where I live a few days ago.

Very grand it was too, with impressive grounds, beautiful décor and an extremely up market restaurant.

Home truths

All very nice until I realised how much it would cost to spend a night in what I would describe as a small suite with an average bathroom. I would get £5 change from £600, and that’s without breakfast or evening meal.

Sure the view from the room over rolling hills was spectacular but I could hardly describe that rate as good value.

Having made my excuses and rather sheepishly made for the exit, I began to think about the cost of cruising and just what you get for your money. And, frankly, there’s no comparison with my posh country hotel.

I’m the first to concede that the price of taking a cruise has probably been at an almost historic low due to the world’s economic woes.

Price obviously plays a huge role in attracting people on board – but the last thing a cruise could be described as is cheap and cheerful. Quite the opposite in fact.

Figures being released this week by industry body the Passenger Shipping Association are expected to confirm just what amazing value cruise holidays can be.

The PSA’s Annual Cruise Review is likely to show how effectively cruise lines reacted to the economic storm and, I’m led to believe, will highlight some pretty extraordinary figures (see next week’s blog for a full report).

Fierce competition

For unlike my sample hotel in the country, cruise companies understand they are operating in one of the fiercest and most competitive sectors of the travel industry, which is seeing additional ships being added all the time – 16 in 2010 at the last count.

So while the rate of growth in the number of people taking cruises may have slowed in 2009 after three consecutive years of rises of more than ten per cent, more people were still attracted to cruising and the industry remains on course to attract two million passengers by 2014.

The overriding reason for this continued love affair with cruising is how little relative impact it has on the wallet.

You only have to look at the offers available through Virgin Holidays Cruises to realise that it would be a tough call matching the prices available on a similar land-based holiday. And in some instances added extras are thrown in as well such as on board credit, cabin upgrades and free port car parking.

Coincidentially, I see that there are cruises available for seven-night getaways which cost the same or even less per person than a single night’s stay at my aforementioned hotel in the country.

Those week-long cruises not only provide the opportunity to visit multiple destinations, but also include all meals and entertainment together with childcare facilities.

I hate to use the term “no brainer” but on this occasion I can’t think of a better way of summing up why I would always opt for a cruise over a UK break even if I could afford to stay at a costly country house hotel.

Excuse me while I slip off to book my next cruisecation…

Phil Davies

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