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Stelios acquires EasyCruise ship
Stelios Haji-Ioannou has reportedly sold some four million shares in EasyJet to pay for a ‘shopping spree’ – a cruise ship, a hotel and 10 minibuses. Having raised some £14 million from the sale, he assured shareholders: “I have not sold out of EasyJet and do not intend to sell out.” Mr Haji-Ioannou is now aiming his sights firmly on the cruise market with EasyCruise, another “no-frills” company that will charge passengers extra for “luxuries” like bedding and housekeeping. He has acquired the ship Renaissance 2, which had operated for US line Renaissance Cruises, which folded in 2001. Reports today suggest that 14-day cruises, taking in destinations including Nice, Rome and Corsica, could cost as little as £14.50 per night. Passengers will be able to join and leave the ship as they wish from next year. Mr Haji-Ioannou is quoted as saying: “It will be aimed at people in the twenties, thirties and forties who would not normally consider going on a cruise.” Bryony Coulson, general manager of PSARA, the Passenger Shipping Association’s retail agents’ scheme, welcomed the EasyJet founder’s move into the cruise sector. She said: “From an industry perspective it has to be good news because it will open up the market to a new group of passengers. Stelios has obviously seen the growth potential that exists in cruising and is approaching it in an innovative way.” She added that Mr Haji-Ioannou could be the first offer dynamic packaging in the cruise market. “He has been talking about doing this for quite some time by breaking down the package into different components such as paying separately for food, cabin service etc.” Plans are also coming on well for Easyhotel.com, which will reportedly be launched later this year in south-west London. Guests at the hotel, which has rooms “only nine times the size of a phone box”, will have to bring their own sheets and toiletries. Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad and Phil Davies
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