NORWEGIAN Cruise Line has slashed the price of its South American product to counter a drop in UK demand following the arrest of Chile’s former dictator Augusto Pinochet.
The cruiseline is offering 17 and 18-night flycruise holidays from £2,395 per person during the period from January to March 2000.
This represents a saving of £886 per person. Customers will sail between Santiago in Chile and Buenos Aires in Argentina on the 1,050-passenger ship Norwegian Crown.
National sales manager Nick Sharps said, “Sales have been a bit sluggish for South America.
“I think the Pinochet affair impacted on customers. South America is a destination that people book early.
“The Pinochet affair was at its peak during the time they would usually book, which is around last January.
“The Foreign Office was saying at the time that it was not advisable to travel to Chile, but that has now been lifted. I think the Pinochet affair has died down now.”
He admitted that 50% of passengers booked on South American cruises between between January and March in 1999 had cancelled their holiday as a result of the Foreign Office advice.
NCL has distributed 32,000 six-page brochures promoting next year’s South American programme to travel agents and repeat customers.