One of America’s largest cruise agents is offering customers the chance to book their cruise without paying a deposit.
Florida-based CruiseOne has launched a ‘book now, pay later’ promotion that means customers don’t need to put down a deposit when booking a 2012 sailing.
The offer applies to cruises booked before the end of February and for sailings until February 28 2013.
The promotion comes just weeks after the Costa Concordia tragedy which has led to a slowdown in cruise bookings.
Cruise lines and agents are looking to stimulate demand with offers like free upgrades.
P&O Cruises and Cunard Line are offering a new four-day promotion from February 10 to 13 offering a stateroom with a balcony for the price of an inside cabin.
But a spokesman insisted the deal was not in reaction to any fall in demand.
"It is not unusual for cruise lines to offer various booking incentives throughout the year and especially at the beginning of the year. Sales are where we expect them to be at this time of year," she said.
The deal applies to new bookings for all three of Cunard’s ocean liners – Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria, and new bookings on Aurora, Azura, Oceana and Ventura in the P&O Cruises fleet.
The upgrade is available on selected departures sailing from Southampton between April and September 2012.
by Bev Fearis
