To reflect the growth in the‘all-inclusive’ holiday market, and following the successful introduction ofits ‘all-inclusive’ drinks package on four limited availability 2013 Canariesfly-cruises, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines says it is extending this offer.
“If guests book by 30thSeptember 2012, for all cruise departures on, or after, 6th April2013 and featured in its current ‘2013/14 Worldwide Cruises’ brochure(excluding the 2014 Balmoral and Black Watch ‘Grand Voyages’ andtheir sectors, and full-charter Boudicca cruise JMGD1321), they willautomatically qualify for a freeupgrade to an ‘all-inclusive’drinks package, including beers, wine, spirits and soft drinks,” the companysaid in a statement.
“This excellent deal will beadded to all applicable bookings retrospectively. But future cruise guests willneed to be quick to secure their place, as this offer is limited to the first100 bookings per sailing taken between now and the end of September 2012,” the company said.
Nathan Philpot, Sales andMarketing Director for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “We know that many ofour guests are on a tight budget in this challenging economic climate, and withthis ‘all-inclusive’ drinks package, our 2013/14 cruise programme is evenbetter value for money. Our ‘drinks inclusive’ package on the four selected2013 Canaries fly-cruises, which we launched earlier this year, has provenextremely popular, and sold out three times as quickly as our cruises withoutthis valuable add-on.
“There is a huge demand for‘all-inclusive’ holidays, which now account for one in three package holidaysbooked, with a 50% growth between 2008 and 2011.” [Source: Key Note,‘All-Inclusive Holidays Market Assessment 2012’ http://www.keynote.co.uk/market-intelligence/view/product/10535/all-inclusive-holidays
As well as the accommodationon board its fleet of four traditional, more intimate ships – Balmoral, Braemar,Boudicca and Black Watch – Fred. Olsen’s cruise prices includeall meals on board, free access to its award-winning Vistas onboardenrichment programme, glittering evening shows and entertainment, and porttaxes.
To offer guests the bestpossible price on their cruise, Fred. Olsen is also introducing a newearly-booking ‘Price Pledge’ for guests securing their cruise from 20thJuly 2012 and before 30th September 2012, to apply to all sailingsdeparting on, or after, 6th April 2013 and which are featured in thecurrent ‘2013/14 Worldwide Cruises’ brochure (excluding the 2014 Balmoral andBlack Watch ‘Grand Voyages’ and their sectors, and full-charter Boudiccacruise JMGD1321).**
The ‘Fred. Olsen PricePledge’ means that, if the price of the cruise is reduced for the cabin gradebooked, Fred. Olsen will refund the difference through one – or a combination –of measures: a cabin upgrade; onboard spending credit; or a cash refund, all atFred. Olsen’s discretion. Fred. Olsen will contact all relevant guests beforethe applicable cruise departure date to advise them of how they havebenefitted, so that guests can relax and have no need to monitorprices.
Nathan Philpot continued: “Wehave been discussing a ‘Fred. Olsen Price Pledge’ with our key trade partnersfor a number of weeks, and this is one of a range of options that we areintroducing to help to restore confidence in the cruise market to encourageguests to book early. We want to offer our guests the best possible deal on theircruise with us, and by booking early with the ‘Fred. Olsen Price Pledge’, theywill have the peace of mind that, should the cruise price reduce, then we willmake up the difference, whilst they will be able to secure the best choice ofcruise and cabins.
The ‘Fred. Olsen PricePledge’ applies to the cruise element of the holiday, and not to other packagecomponents, such as flights, hotels and transfers.