Savvy cruise passengers are climbing on a massive wave of cruise bargains in January.
The period immediately after Christmas until the end of this month is the key selling season for cruise companies as they seek to drive up summer booking levels.
This new year is no different, with one of the most competitive ‘January Sail’ periods kicking off over the past few days.
Known in the industry as the ‘Wave’ selling season, this time of year is when cruise lines working with specialist travel retailers such as Virgin Holidays Cruises pull out all the stops to boost business with amazing bargains and value added offers.
I would say this wouldn’t I, but I particularly like the cheeky ‘We’ve taken off everything we can’ Virgin Holidays Cruises’ ads.
This differentiated promotional campaign certainly draws the eye, as do the special deals available such as six-night transatlantic cruises on the amazing Queen Mary 2 for less than £700 per person including a return flight and free balcony cabin upgrade.
Discounts abound at this time of the year and there appear to be no limit to the lengths cruise lines are prepared to go to entice you on board in 2010.
In addition to money-saving offers, there are an abundance of added value options. These can range from cabin upgrades and on board spending money to free car parking at the departure port or complimentary coach transfers to join your ship.
New ships on the horizon
Cruise lines are especially keen to fill cabins this year due to additional capacity being added by the likes of P&O Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and Cunard Line during the year.
A particular emphasis is being placed on the increased number of departures being offered from the UK with all three companies introducing new vessels providing sailings from the key departure port of Southampton.
I flagged up hassle-free no-fly cruises as one of my top tips for 2010 in my previous blog, and I stand by my prediction that more people than ever will be taking this convenient option.
So what about the three new ships making their debuts out of Southampton during the course of the year?
First up is P&O Cruises’ latest superliner Azura. While the same size as 3,100-passenger, family-friendly sister ship Ventura, the new vessel is being aimed squarely at more traditional P&O Cruises passengers.
To be named on April 10 by ex-Royal Ballet star and Strictly Come Dancing judge Darcey Bussell, the 115,000 ton ship will, appropriately enough, boast a dance floor in the centre of its atrium.
The ten restaurants on board include Sindhu, created by Atul Kochhar, the first Indian chef to be awarded a coveted Michelin star.
The health and beauty spa features an open-air spa terrace while the giant outdoor cinema will screen British film classics and World Cup matches in the summer.
A 750-seat live show theatre and separate nightclubs, plus a full range of daytime activities including sports courts, whirlpool spas and fully equipped gym, dance and art classes, all offer non-stop entertainment.
Azura verses Eclipse
Following swiftly after Azura will be Celebrity Cruises with its first new ship ever to be based in the UK.
Celebrity Eclipse, the latest in the state of the art Solstice-class range of premium vessels, will be named in Southampton on April 29 before embarking on a series of five different itineraries from the port throughout the summer.
The third Solstice-class ship, which carries just under 3,000 passengers, will offer 26 cruises, with a combination of short and longer itineraries.
The ship, which features a lawn club with real grass, a selection of dedicated spa cabins and a range of contemporary dining options, is expected to generate around 40,000 new passengers in its first summer.
It will certainly be fascinating to compare and contrast Azura and Celebrity Eclipse as both ships offer a similar appeal, yet one is staunchly British while the other will adopt the American ‘can-do’ attitude of service.
Last, and by no means least, in the line up of sparkling new cruise ships to appear on famous Southampton Water will be Cunard’s £365 million Queen Elizabeth in October.
The 2,O92-passenger sister vessel to Queen Victoria will bring the Cunard fleet back up to three ships, following the retirement of QE2.
Queen Elizabeth will be slightly larger than its sister ship and has been designed to pay homage to the original Queen Elizabeth, launched in 1938, with art deco features, tea dances, big band balls and Ivor Novello-style piano evenings.
Cunard aims to recreate the atmosphere of an English country house party of the 193Os on board.
As successor to the QE2, Queen Elizabeth will reflect the illustrious previous ship with artworks, memorabilia and a new version of the QE2′s aft Yacht Club lounge with 270 degrees of windows.
New to the ship will be a games deck featuring bowls, croquet and paddle tennis.
The Garden Lounge with a vaulted glass ceiling is inspired by the glass houses of Kew Gardens in London.
Eight five per cent of the ship’s 1,046 cabins and suites will have outside views, including two thirds (738) with balconies.
Other features include a library carrying 6,000 books and a Play Zone and Zone for children and teenagers on deck 10.
The Royal Spa and Fitness Centre will include an extensive gym, hydro pool and thermal suite.
The ship will run six cruises from Southampton in its maiden season between October and January 2O11.
These, and many other new ships, are making the 2010 Wave period a buyer’s market, so make sure you don’t miss the boat.
Click here for the Virgin Holidays Cruises January Sale
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