What The H-LL Easy Cruises Travel Channel Show

[patval]

I am watching now two shows on Travel Channel about Easy Cruises. The cameras following crew and customers sailing the caribbean on Easy Cruises.

They use a Cashier System that is all in Spanish not English. Also everyone pays either 2 or 4 USD per day yes 2.00 or 4.00 per day.

The Billionaire idea was to open the cruise market to the young people or people under the age of 40 to cruising.

Paul:eek::eek::eek::eek:

[jtl513]

I think you may have heard wrong, or that's just a short-term promotion. They're cheap, but not $2 or $4 per day. :)

"Meet no-frills easy Cruise (https://www.easycruise.com/): a real cruise ship touring the Caribbean islands on the super cheap. easyCruise cabins start at less than $60 per night (based on double occupancy and a minimum two night stay) -- cheaper than a good hostel. Get even cheaper with cabins for four people (bunk beds): less than $50 per cabin per night or get snooty with two-person suites (windows and a balcony) at $100+ per cabin per night. Bring on the island fever!"

This quote is from About Easy Cruise (http://studenttravel.about.com/od/boardaboat/qt/easycruisecarib.htm) They also do Mediterranean cruises starting at $55/cabin/night.

[patval]

No they said it multiple times and they even went to NYC to see what people thought of it and then told them the price of 2 to 4 per day and most said they could deal with the ugly color.


Also I think they throw promotional rates so they can fill the ship so it is possible because everything is al carte.


Paul

[patval]

I just saw the Captain on a Snorkling excursion with fellow cruisers and he was drinking rum punch with rum not without. I thought this was illegal!

Also he encouraged the women to flash the ship and they did except for one that flashed her other thing!:eek::eek::eek:

Paul

[kryos]

"Meet no-frills easy Cruise (https://www.easycruise.com/): a real cruise ship touring the Caribbean islands on the super cheap. easyCruise cabins start at less than $60 per night (based on double occupancy and a minimum two night stay) -- cheaper than a good hostel.
Yeah, I think EasyCruise's cabins are priced per cabin ... two people can stay for the same price.

But, be aware, that's a bare bones cabin ... two mattresses, practically on the floor ... with a tiny bathroom. Cabin service is extra, food is extra ... there is virtually no entertainment on the ship. Everything is priced ala carte.

Guess for the market they are trying to attract, they are a good alternative. But that is a very, very non-traditional market for cruise ships. These are folks who want to experience the ports, not the ship. They only use the ship to get to the ports. From what I understand, EasyCruise sails between ports late at night ... so that the ship can be docked from early morning until maybe like 11:00 p.m, allowing people maximum time in each port.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[Seago2]

I was surprised to see Easy Cruise in the Caribbean. I had thought they had one or two ships in Europe. The ship looked clean and the people looked human. What's the prob?

Adia's nude deck drew a lot of attention from a couple of pervy guys on our ship- each alone, with binoculars, quitely drinking beer and staring right at the deck- which was right alongside us for two ports. Yuck! I was embarassed to be American, to tell you the truth.

[Stevesan]

Yeah, I think EasyCruise's cabins are priced per cabin ... two people can stay for the same price.

But, be aware, that's a bare bones cabin ... two mattresses, practically on the floor ... with a tiny bathroom. Cabin service is extra, food is extra ... there is virtually no entertainment on the ship. Everything is priced ala carte.

Guess for the market they are trying to attract, they are a good alternative. But that is a very, very non-traditional market for cruise ships. These are folks who want to experience the ports, not the ship. They only use the ship to get to the ports. From what I understand, EasyCruise sails between ports late at night ... so that the ship can be docked from early morning until maybe like 11:00 p.m, allowing people maximum time in each port.

Blue skies ...

--rita

The cabin facilities are far better than most of the dumps the highly regarded Rick Steves promotes.:p

Your comments about pax are right on target. EasyCruise's Med itineraries are used by mostly young backpackers who view the ship as a low cost hotel. They can purchase cabins by the day, disembark at Monte Carlo for example, then rejoin the ship later.

I suppose whathisname (the owner) is hoping the same sort of N. American clientele will repeat that behavior on their Carib itinerary. I'd think the problem is the target market might not want, or be able, to pay for airfare to get to the islands. Airfare could easily erase any cost savings for such a cruise. I watched part of the TV special, and even at a measly two bucks p/head the inaugural sailing was two thirds empty! That may have been due to lack of marketing, or it more likely was location. Med cruises, however, have a large number of potential pax at or near every port.

It's definitely a niche market and no threat to the major (or even minor) cruise lines.

It's a good concept and seems to work in the right location.

[twinkletoes4445]

I came across this yesterday. It's a reality type show which follows the ship and crew through their travels. I about fell off the couch when I heard the passengers say they only paid $2 or $4 per night. But everything else you also have to pay for, from someone to clean your room (or you can do it yourself), to the food and drinks.

It's nothing that I'd be interested in doing, but I think it's an interesting idea, and there's probably a lot of people who'd take advantage of this type of deal. It did seem to be geared more to the younger set, but I did see a few older people on this cruise.

For the money...this would be a great deal, if you were looking for a cheap way to cruise.

Here's the schedule...

http://travel.discovery.com/tvlistings/series.jsp?series=116782&gid=0&channel=TRV

[jtl513]

But, be aware, that's a bare bones cabin ... two mattresses, practically on the floor ... with a tiny bathroom. Cabin service is extra, food is extra ... there is virtually no entertainment on the ship. Everything is priced ala carte.

Guess for the market they are trying to attract, they are a good alternative. But that is a very, very non-traditional market for cruise ships. These are folks who want to experience the ports, not the ship. They only use the ship to get to the ports.
Sounds perfect for me ... but DW would hate it. Do you have any idea how much the meals cost?

[mountainmare]

I think that its a great idea for the backpacker population (of any age).
For the Greek Isles we had looked into the ferries. Easycruise seems nicer than that. The one idea that they do is to stay in port late so that you can go out and try local food if you want to. I would love more late ports, especially in Europe.
If they start cruising out of Florida they'll take off like crazy!!! Are they a public company--is there stock to be bought?

[bepsf]

If they start cruising out of Florida they'll take off like crazy!!! Are they a public company--is there stock to be bought?

Nope.

EasyCruise is part of EasyGroup - a privately held holding company that owns among other things EasyJet, EasyHotel, EasyCinema, EasyOffice...

http://www.easy.com/ (http://www.easy.com/)

[firefly333]

I saw that show on the travel channel as well and thought it was bad publicity to allow such close scrutinty of their employees and problems.

[twinkletoes4445]

If they start cruising out of Florida they'll take off like crazy!!! Are they a public company--is there stock to be bought?

I think it's the last episode, but they talk about moving the ship to Miami (or at least sailing out of Miami part of the time).