Low interest rates hurt the sales of Crystal Cruises, the Los Angeles based luxury cruise company, in Britain, the lines general sales agent told Cruise Business.

"Whereas some people would cruise with CrystaL three of four times a year, they now do it once or twice. They use income from their investments," said Matthew Londsdale, co-owner of the line's UK general sales agent.

Speaking on board Crystal Symphony, he said that although interest rates in the UK are expected to start to rise next year, it will take a long time before they will reach the levels last seen in 2007, before the financial crisis.

He added that in his personal opinion, the strongest point of Crystal Cruises against its competitors is its consistency in delivering a high quality product.