I'm all for change and choice. But this latest offering from Stelios is beyond belief http://www.easycruise.com
It is cheap, nasty and does nothing for the world of cruising.
They are running a "fly on the wall" series on TV here in the UK regarding its launch and what it offers and I cannot believe what I am seeing.
I just hope it does not give a false impression to "newbies" regarding cruising. A tarted up old "ferry" running around the Med as a 'liner'. and coming soon to the Caribbean
Have a look at the Our Ships,,, Photo Gallery
Dear oh dear, that hot tub is the pool, and models or what!
This doesn't look like the "bargain" they are touting it to be. I just did an initial pricing and for a seven day roudtrip Barbados cruise it would be $864 for two people in an inside cabin. i had a college dorm room that was much nicer. I went to a bad college.
This is $432 per person. This does not include meals, entertainment and the facilities on the ship are "lacking", to put it lightly. I could do that on a Carnival special. I thought the fares would be at least half that amount for what you are receiving and you still pay for your drinks.
I can't wait to those of us on this side of the pond see the "fly on the wall" series.
Thanks for the heads up.
Mike
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(I would like to see virgin cruise lines, with his out of the box and often futuristic thinking)
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Richard Branson did announce last week that he is looking for a partner to start offering cruises in the Florida or Caribbean area. But presumably it won't be Stelios, because he says he wants to target the upscale market.
I've also been watching the fly on the wall series and can't believe anyone would want to go on an orange boat!!
I'm sure there are people in Stelios' home town of Monaco that are disgusted at the type of people he's bringing into the place - the "party" crowd that just want to get drunk.
The problem with the Caribbean route is that proper cruise ships visit during the day and entertain their passengers on ship at night. Not so with easycruise, so there will be lots of young "party" people looking for a good time on the islands at night.
I see potentially dangerous conditions for young adults in unsupervised surroundings. The islands are nice to visit during the day but at least the young, college-age people who travel on Carnival, etc have to be back on the boat at night. Exactly what many of these young people will find attractive about EasyCruise.
K
David - such language - that "tarted up old ferry" hit kind of close to home )
Can you imagine what the "public" facilities (all two of them) are going to look like after a few days on this one - makes the Superdome New Orleans look like the Ritz!!! Yuk!!!
sailinggal, that's what I was thinking also. That type of cruise is condusive to a lot of young people behaviour (not to stereotype or offend young people). Along with that, comes serious trouble out at sea, and liability issues etc.
I think American youth won't be able to keep things cool. They aren't used to alcohol being given out to them like they are adults. The Europeans are taught to drink small amounts of alcohol and don't binge drink. Look at the people who come back from ports in wheel chairs and "moitered". The ones I see look like they are about 18 years old.
They sure do make Easycruise look great in the pictures though.
K
I hate to stray off topic, but the comment about American youth being the source of trouble with alcohol is slightly offensive. Not that it isnt' true, mind you, but there are just as many problems with "young people" in the UK and Europe. I guess the carload of drunken teens we saw at 9 AM on Sunday morning in Dublin were Americans? And those lovely football riots, all those people are sober?
I'll give the people on the other side of the pond credit, though, at least they talk about, not try to sweep it under the rugs with Public Service Announcements.
Back to topic: "Tarted up old ferry" is being kind.
Cruisin - certainly I wasn't trying to suggest Americans would be the sole source of any problems. Unfortunately those of us in the UK are more than aware of the totally offensive behaviour from some of our "youth" (not always quite so young!). So much so, that I am sometimes embarrassed to be English
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Diana, well said. Most of the time when we are away surrounded by your usual Brits , we feel embarrassed. All they want to do is get drunk, eat fastfood, wear football regalia, walk around with burnt flesh covering up their tatoos and do it all in the sun and they are happy.
and also, many of these so termed 'ugly brits' are heading for Carnival ships now so even more reason to say off them.
As for Easycruise, good viewing but certainly NEVER for me, thanks.
Kind regards,
KG
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The original Cheshire Cat from Chester, England.
Hi,
Well, I never noticed the ugly Brits on cruise ships. I must be too busy joining them. hahaha But , seriously, I was thinking of people in the Med areas when I spoke of the young people who are less apt to binge drink. Specifically, the Italians. Isn't that where the EasyCruise sails to at this time? I don't know what it is like to be a young person in Britain. It sounds like there is an abuse of alcohol just like the US.
KimmieGirl,
If I was British, I would find your comment about the "usual Brits" that are vacationing to be offensive. Why would you talk about your fellow countrymen in such a manner?
Karen
Venice,
You have a nice response. We shall see how things go. Hopefully, it will attract the adventurous of all ages. I can think of people who would like a low key, unglamorous cruise and they are not classless people either.
K
Sailingal - coule they be after Carnival Cruisers lol - I love Carnival. Just did a Princess and was quite bored. This company looks like they are really aiming at the younger crowd - there is a niche market out there. I hope it works out for them - it's quite a gamble.
For the record - I have been writing up a report on EasyCruise for a panel I am going to be on for the Caribbena Tourism Organization. And it is important to remember that the way STELIOS works is to start out charging a very low price and then raiese the price as the product fills up. It is possible to get cabins for two on the boat (ship is a questionable word) for about $31/cabin that sleeps two pere night.
Yes, nothing is included, but that is DARN cheap!!!
Good ones Hazelson and Paul...let us not forget that when Southwest started out in the 70's, the traditional airlines and most flyers said that concept will never work..and don't forget about Federal Express hubbing thru Memphis (why would you fly a package from the SFO to MEM to go back to LAX ?)...you have to give people like him credit for seeing an "opening" in the market place and trying to exploit (or capitialize depending on how one looks at it) on it to make a profit and introduce the next generation to cruising...and I have to think that behind the scenes the "legacy cruise lines" are watching this effort very closely and will respond with a product line of their own to match it, if there is even a sign of success...if the industry does not evolve it will die, hence my point (and as my mother always says), don't knock it until you try it..I'm quite sure some features will wind up in the legacy cruise product
your points are valid venice, and there may be a market for this product. We'll see if it "flies".
However, I don't think this is the "next generation" of cruising. I think the southwest example is inaccurate also. Flying is a means of transportation and there was a need in the marketplace for the southwest model. Cruising is strictly a leisure product and I don't think the analogy applies. People do not get on a cruise to get from point A to B.
Hey Jen,
I'd be the Carnival type too. Not ready for the Princess thing yet. I like lots of fun. Now if I was 25 years old again, I would go for it on the Easycruise.
I was picturing the backpaking baby boomers as maybe trying out Easycruise. Well, I have a lot of them around here. People who are stuck in the sixties with tie dyed shirts and they did organic before it started becoming popular. People who have money like artsy types.
Anyway, I would try Easycruise if I felt it had a cross section of ages and I was safe on it. I would do it in addition to a regular cruise.
I met a couple who seemed like they have money on a Carnival ship out of NYC. Picture the Howells on Gilligan's Island. He describd a ship like Easycruise and how he would like to do a cruise like that. His wife just looked at him like he was crazy.
There are alot of cheap people out there.
K
Had a chance to finish my Stelios presentation for the Caribbean Tourism Organization. Very interesting fellow actually, and he has created many businesses in travel - easyJet, easyCar (rental) easyHotel, easyBus and now easyCruise.
Keep in mind though, that he comes from a Greek shipping family. He grew up around ships, and this is his first (self-started) ship-related business. He usually starts small but builds through acquisition. EasyCruise in Europe goes to land-locked ports, but in the Caribbean it is all small Southern Caribbean Islands - easy to reach by cheap European airfare.
However, if je moved it closer to the traditional Caribbean cruise ports, such as Nassau, San Juan, St Thomas, St Martin, etc, then he would get more US cruisers, and could very well make this a real deal.
By the way, I found fares as high as $108 per room per night. The suite is $1008/week (sleeps 2).
Oddly, the ship sails at about 6:00 AM and lands at 10:00 am. Made for late-night partying. But can you party that late on Grenada? I don't think so.
Sorry it's terrible
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