COSTA Cruises is planning to raise the prices of its standard cabins by 25%-40% over the millennium period.
UK managing director Peter Richardson said the air content segment of package prices was much higher than usual because airlines had pushed up fares by up to 100% over the Christmas and New Year period.
Specific prices will not be unveiled until the millennium brochure is published in a few weeks’ time, but Richardson expects rates to lead in at under ú2,000 for a seven-day cruise in the Caribbean on Costa Victoria. The usual price would be around ú1,500, he said.
The voyage departs Fort Lauderdale on December 26, and calls at destinations including Cozumel, Ochos Rios and Grand Cayman.
An 11-day Caribbean cruise on Costa Romantica, which departs Fort Lauderdale on December 22, is expected to cost in the region of ú2,500.
Costa Classica will operate a seven-day trip out of Pointe a Pitre in Guadaloupe from December 26. And Costa Riviera will carry out a 12-day itinerary in the Mediterranean, departing Savona in Italy on December 28.
The remaining two ships in Costa’s fleet will operate millennium cruises aimed exclusively at the South American market.
Richardson says Costa has generated a steady 14,000-15,000 UK bookings for the past three years.
However, he expects volumes to receive a boost following the launch of its new ship, Costa Atlantica, in spring 2000.
The $375m vessel, which will have a capacity of 2,680 passengers, will increase Costa’s total capacity by 30%.
“The exact areas in which it will operate have not yet been finalised. However, the ship will be in the Mediterranean in the summer and the Caribbean in the winter,” said Richardson.