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Crystal promises no last-minute discounts
Upscale cruiseline Crystal has pledged not to discount its Book Now fares to make it easier for agents to persuade customers to book early.
UK-based vice president international sales and marketing Philip Ordever promised the discounts would reduce rather than increase closer to departure.
Cruises for 2012 start at £1,699 for a seven-night flight inclusive voyage.
Ordever said prices had been completely revised to make the Crystal more competitive in the UK, and the Book Now fares were the "lowest possible". He said these would be reviewed every 60 days and the discounts reduced on those that were selling well.
"We will commit to increasing fares every 60 days for those that are selling well or we will maintain fares on those that aren't doing so well," he said.
Prices on both Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity will be all-inclusive from next spring.
The line has also introduced a range of short 'taster' cruises from £850, which the Ordever said were selling well. "The idea behind these cruises was to get people on board who had never tried us before and we are getting younger people trying us out," added Ordever.
"It is important for cruiselines to attract more 35 to 50 year olds because this is where the growth is in the luxury market and these customers potentially have a 30 year lifespan."
Crystal recently appointed Jack Anderson, a 35-year veteran of the cruise industry, to the position of senior vice president of marketing and sales.
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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