CRIUSELINES are offering discounts of 50%-70% in an effort
to fill their ships this summer, according to cruise specialist agents.
Jeremy Scott manager of Chigwell-based Atlantis Travel,
said: “Cruiseline discounts are far higher this year because companies have got
problems on both sides of the Atlantic. The deals we are seeing are just silly,
such as 70% off the brochure price.”
Frank Dullop, managing director of Bromley-based Cruise Club
International, said there are plenty of two-for-the-price-of-one cruise deals
in May and June.
“Our sales are the same as last year,” said Dullop. “We
haven’t been expecting a rise since we heard last November that the Americans
were going into a recession. They sneeze and we catch a cold.”
A Cunard Line and Seabourn Cruise Line spokesman said
customers could get discounts of 30%, but this figure is reduced as the ship
fills up.