easyCruise 86% full for its inaugural month in the Caribbean

posted: 10.10.05

easyCruiseOne finishes its Mediterranean itinerary in mid-October and then sails to the Caribbean for the winter season. From 12 November 2005 until 26 April 2006 the ship will be sailing weekly itineraries between Barbados, St Vincent, Martinique, The Grenadines, Grenada and St Lucia. The main ports on each island will be used apart from Bequia in The Grenadines where easyCruiseOne will remain at anchor. This island is so small and intimate that only private yachts can actually moor on the beach.

Interest in easyCruise in the Caribbean has been very strong and from the first night of sailing - 13 November - until the end of that month easyCruiseOne is already 86% full. However, there is more availability for December, the Christmas holidays and the rest of the season.

Prices start at £9 ($15 or 13 euros) per person per night, based on two people sharing a standard cabin. As demand increases, so does the price of the cabins. There are also cabins with four beds and suites available. All prices are for accommodation only on a nightly basis as passengers themselves decide whether to dine on board or on shore.

50% of the passengers booked on easyCruise in the Caribbean so far are US nationals and 30% are UK passport holders. The average age of easyCruise passengers in the Caribbean remains in the mid-30's, similar to the Mediterranean profile of this summer and 20 years younger than the published average from other cruise lines in the industry.

The main reason that easyCruise attracts a far younger crowd than the industry average is that the ship stays in port every night, allowing this more independent type of passenger to go ashore and party the night away if they wish. There are, of course, facilities on board the ship for those passengers who do not want to go ashore every night.

Another reason why easyCruise attracts young, independent passengers is that they can join the ship where and when they want, subject to a two night minimum fourteen night maximum stay. However, due to the relatively large time and expense in getting to the Caribbean, many more easyCruise passengers in the Caribbean are booked for a week as opposed to the Mediterranean where long week-ends were very popular.

"I am delighted to be introducing the easy brand to more young American consumers and to continue to attract young consumers to cruising," said Stelios the serial entrepreneur and easyGroup chairman.