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Cruise prices fall 20% in past five years
The average price paid for a cruise is now over a fifth less than it was five years ago.
Statistics provided by online cruise specialist Bonvoyage.co.uk show prices are down 22% compared to 2008.
The company says cruise lines are compensating for the drop in the headline price by generating more from onboard spend, such as spa treatments, speciality dining and higher drinks costs.
However, customers are becoming more wary of added onboard costs – and the report suggests operators cannot get away with pushing up onboard costs any further.
Bonvoyage.co.uk reveals the average respondent paid £1,600 per person (about $2,400) five years ago, while the average respondent planning to cruise this year or in 2014 will pay 22% lower, at £1,248 (about $1,900) per person.
The price difference in cruises from 2011 – when the Bonvoyage.co.uk site launched – compared to prices for cruises leaving this year or in 2014 show a 19% decrease in cost.
Encouragingly, over a third (38%) of respondents said that, despite the lower costs and potential onboard cuts, they had noticed improvements in services onboard cruises in the past five years.
However, 46% said they are now a lot more wary of added costs onboard a cruise, as well as the perceived value of amenities, than they were five years ago.
When asked to elaborate, aspects of cruises including food and entertainment quality (31%), level of service (22%) and quality of staff (19%) topped the list of the places these individuals could see that improvements had been made in the previous five years.
Of those questioned in the study, 24% stated that the reduced costs advertised in the past five years were one of the main reasons they decided to choose a cruise holiday.
Steph Curtin, cruise development manager at Bonvoyage.co.uk, said cruisers are becoming "increasingly money savvy…not being afraid to ask for a discount or to wait closer to the departure date."
by Lisa James, TravelMole UKCruis
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