easyCruise starts taking summer bookings

Low-cost cruise line easyCruise has begun to take bookings for the 2006 summer season, with prices starting from as little as £14 per person per night.

Holidaymakers searching for cheap cruises are being urged to book early to avoid disappointment, as prices are set to rise as demand increases.

easyCruise, brain child of easyJet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou, began operating earlier this year as a low-cost and younger alternative to established cruise lines.

The average age of an easyCruise passenger was just 32 years old during 2005 – more than 20 years below the industry average.

Part of the attraction for younger holidaymakers is that the ship stays in port until the early hours of the morning, allowing passengers to enjoy the local nightlife, before sailing to the next destination, arriving by lunchtime the next day.

For 2006, it will be calling at the same destinations on the Italian and French rivieras that proved popular during the 2005 season, including St Tropez and Monaco.

"Without easyCruise the only way to visit this playground of the rich and famous in this style would be with a private yacht," said easyGroup chairman Stelios.

"After a successful 2005 season I am looking forward to introducing the French and Italian rivieras to more of the young crowd at great prices in 2006."

The ship, easyCruiseOne, is heading to the Caribbean for the winter season, where it will be visiting Barbados, St Vincent, Martinique, the Grenadines, Grenada and St Lucia.

The list of destinations for the summer of 2006 are: Nice (Friday), Cannes (Saturday), St Tropez (Sunday), Monaco (Monday), Genoa (Tuesday), Portofino (Wednesday), and Imperia for San Remo (Thursday).

easyCruiseOne carries a total of 170 passengers aged 14 and above, for anything between two and 14 nights. Food is not included in the price.

For more information see: www.easycruise.com