Cruiselines should not destabilise the inclusive cruise model by charging for more facilities and services on board.
Speaking at the Cruise Forum held during the Travel Convention in Barcelona this week, Thomas Cook cruise director Marc Bennett said the perception that cruising is good value fuels demand and stimulates bookings.
He said: “The cruise model has worked well. Don’t upset it.” But he also hinted that agents could help cruiselines increase their on-board spend if they were paid commission.
Traditionally, all food and entertainment on cruise ships has been free, but increasingly optional items have been charged as extras, from decent coffee to dining in speciality restaurants.
Royal Caribbean Cruises vice-president and managing director UK and Ireland Robin Shaw said the cruise model has to change, especially with the advent of such enormous ships such as Oasis of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean’s mega-ship launches in December and will hold 5,400 passengers.
Shaw said: “To try to cost everything we offer on that ship into the price is impossible. We are adding incremental charges as making everything free for all is not the way to go. There is a commercial reality involved. We have to find a way to recover our investment in our ships.”
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines general sales manager Lol Nichols admitted on-board spend is very important and said passengers are given every opportunity to buy extras, for instance drinks and shore excursions.
He said: “I wish people would spend more than they do but our passengers are of an age where they prefer to stay on the ship and not go ashore.”
Nichols said the wow factor in relation to food and service on cruise ships helps to override issues about on-board prices, which anyway were “not that expensive”.
He said: “We have close to 50% repeat passengers, which speaks volumes. The food and service are so spectacular that passengers are impressed and come back again and again.”