Gill’s Cruise Centre has reported an 80% surge in bookings for balcony cabins this year compared with 2008.
Gill’s Cruise Centre chairman Alistair Gill said the increase is due to heightened demand from customers wanting to get the most out of their cruise – and the travel agency’s sales team upselling the balcony cabins as an option.
Discounting is also playing its part: in addition to the cruiselines making balcony cabins more affordable, Gill’s Cruise Centre discounts around 90% of its balcony cabins.
There is also increased capacity as many of the new generation of cruise ships, such as Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas, have a higher proportion of balcony staterooms.
Gill said: “The gap in pricing between balconies and inside or outside cabins is narrowing.
“Gill’s Cruise Centre is often encouraged by the cruiselines to sell cabins from top to bottom, thus ensuring balconies and suites are the first to be sold. On some occasions we are encouraged to sell balconies with extra incentives.”