easycruise - yes the ORANGE one - an update

[excitedofharpenden]

I know this is the Celebrity board, but there was talk of this new venture here a little while ago as an "alternative cruise experience" so I thought I would post an update. There was a program on the TV in the UK just prior to the first cruise which enlightened me a bit as to what it was all about.

 

The owner, Stelios, made his money in Europe with easyjet (with the assistance of his shipping father's money), a very successful airline that has in many ways revolutionised flying on a shoestring in Europe. No frills. No meals. Just the basic service to get you to your destination. I've used them a number of times and they are fine in my book.

 

The ship is orange. The rooms are orange. And I mean orange! The crew have orange t-shirts. The ship itself is relatively small. It is one of the ex-Renaissance ships and the owner of easycruise's father has one as his private yacht. It was was being used as a floating casino and had been left to its own devices. Stelios brokered a good deal with a company in Singapore and had it fitted out as an easycruise ship (with lots of orange - please see above!). Numerous delays meant he wasn't able to trial the ship in the Med as he wanted, so it was pretty much straight to work in Europe.

 

To recap, this is nothing like your normal cruise. The modern way is to have an all inclusive (albeit with more nickel and diming) ship which for most is the venue for the trip planned. The entertainment, food, housekeeping and the like are all part of the price. Your ship visits the ports during the day and travels at night. easycruise has turned this on its head and does not include food or housekeeping as part of your onboard stay. That is all extra. The ship arrives in ports like St Tropez and Monte Carlo during the day, stays there to wait for you to come back from partying and then departs in the middle of the night, ready for the next port and the nightlife that entails. He has one ship and that spends its time plying the route from St Tropez to Portofino. You buy your trip by the night with a minimum two night stay.

 

I looked at the prices for the trip. It didn't seem that inexpensive to me. I think the basic cabins came out at £60 per night (remember no housekeeping or food) and the entertainment on board seems to be a disco, but then that is cheaper than a hotel in the area. It will take a while for the viability of the project to show itself, but I can't help thinking that the ports of St Tropez and Monte Carlo won't be that happy to see an orange ship in port full of party animals. It will be interesting to see what happens, but for now she sails!

 

Here is a link to a recent story. Even easycruise isn't immune to the fickle nature of the weather:

 

http://travel.independent.co.uk/news_and_advice/story.jsp?story=636825

 

Phil

[garykool81]

...and you thought Carnival's passengers were rowdy...

 

:-)

[rocktheboat]

What does Carnival have to do with this.

[Tatka]

 

I looked at the prices for the trip. It didn't seem that inexpensive to me. I think the basic cabins came out at £60 per night (remember no housekeeping or food) and the entertainment on board seems to be a disco, but then that is cheaper than a hotel in the area. It will take a while for the viability of the project to show itself, but I can't help thinking that the ports of St Tropez and Monte Carlo won't be that happy to see an orange ship in port full of party animals. It will be interesting to see what happens, but for now she sails!

 

I was seriously looking at this..as we loved French Rivere region (visited it on our Splendor cruise last May), and it's too expensive to stay in hotel there.

 

Also I loved itinerary:

 

Nice - Cannes - St. Tropez - Monaco - Genoa - Portofino - San Remo - Nice

 

you can also stay less than 7 days on thip... I tried to do reservations (to check the price) and I got $90 daily in the beginning of July!!! (Only $630 total!) I know it doesn't include food and such, but it's still nice price for a week there.

 

Natasha

[Elaine0138]

In July this little ship will be a floating 'lager palace'.

You don't dock until at least mid-day so you can sleep off the night before excesses, then leave port around 2am-4am so you can soak up the night life in the resorts.

Also the beds are rather low, mattresses are velcro'd to the floor, at least Stelios did decide to provide bed linen at no extra charge.

[dmarch@islc.net]

I don't get it. Why would you pay 60 pounds pp per day when you can go X for sometimes around 60 dollars pp per day and be treated famously? Where's the deal?

[Andym]

$60 a day in the med. You can dream...

[garykool81]

$60 a day in the med. You can dream...

 

Agreed. X's prices in the med are in most cases a tad closer to $200 pp/day.

[Wor Lad]

What's next - a coracle and a Fodor's Guide to sleeping under bridges!

[Elaine0138]

Remember the £60.00 per day is for your room only. No food and if you want a clean room then that is up to you. Oh and there are no drawers or wardrobes

[Tatka]

This price isn't per person...but per room. (30 pounds pp)

 

Also all mass market cruises (X, RCCL , Princess) cover many ports that I don't want to go second time ( Civitaveccia, Livorno). This cruise is great for people who wants to stay particulary in French/Italian Revere.

[superjerryw]

This price isn't per person...but per room. (30 pounds pp)

 

Also all mass market cruises (X, RCCL , Princess) cover many ports that I don't want to go second time ( Civitaveccia, Livorno). This cruise is great for people who wants to stay particulary in French/Italian Revere.

It's also great when you consider the cost of a hotel room anywhere on the French Riviera. If you just consider the Easycruise ship as a floating hotel instead of a cruise ship you can stay on the Riviera rather inexpensively. If you stayed in a land based hotel you would pay a lot more and would not really enjoy any added amenities for the price.

[excitedofharpenden]

Yes, I think Tatka and Jerry have the right idea. This is like no other cruiseline and Stelios thinks he has discovered a niche whereby a younger crowd want the ports in the Riviera as their destination rather than the ship and they will be able to stay much more cheaply than they could do on land. In addition travellers can make use of the cheap flights on easyjet to Nice. UK flights can be had for as little as £15 each way plus tax, if you book at least three months out and don't mind a late flight.

 

Someone mentioned having no wardrobes. There is somewhere to at least hang your clothes. The bathroom has a glass partition only, so when you drop the soap and bend down to pick it up, you better hope your room mate knows you well and is prepared for the view!:)

 

Phil

[wv4891]

Darn Phil,

 

I was eatting my lunch when I read this!!!! Not so great a visual image formed in my mind!!!!:(

 

The bathroom has a glass partition only, so when you drop the soap and bend down to pick it up, you better hope your room mate knows you well and is prepared for the view!:)

 

Phil

[excitedofharpenden]

Bill, I don't think this will help with the image either but try to put it out of your mind whilst you are eating your bread roll:D

 

Phil