Cruising 'Staycations'

August 18, 2008 By: Susan Young Travel Agent

---

These smaller trips offer a lot of bang for fewer bucks

Agents have heard a lot about “StayCations,” those close-to-home vacations where consumers frazzled by increasing costs at home or fearful of travel overseas are seeking to find value in their own backyards. But many agents might wonder if it’s worth the time and effort to book these inexpensive trips.

Consider two factors. First, StayCations can keep your present clients traveling, even if they’re not traveling far or for as robust a vacation as in the past. If you help them now to enjoy an affordable getaway, you’ll most likely be top of mind with these clients in better times when they do want to take a more extensive vacation.

Second, you can sell a StayCation asset of your own: the short cruise. So when clients say, “Oh I don’t need an agent, I’m just taking a StayCation,” perhaps respectfully probe a bit. They may not have considered a short cruise, which is highly affordable when considering that food and entertainment are included in the fare.

What kind of client takes a short cruise? “Mostly, they’re folks wanting a quick getaway and for the ones that really don’t have the money to do a big vacation,” says Sabine Harris, MCC of Cruise Planners in Tampa. Many short cruise embarkation ports are close to home or within a reasonable driving distance for many U.S. travelers. Even with high gasoline prices, clients might save money over booking air tickets for a family or couple.

Short cruises operate from such cities as Galveston, TX; Jacksonville, FL; New Orleans; New York City; Seattle; Miami; and Los Angeles, as well as many more. Gerry Cahill, Carnival’s president and CEO, told Travel Agent last month that his firm was definitely seeing strong demand across all cruise segments, including short cruises. And from Harris’ trade perspective, “Bahamas cruises are great because the destination isn’t that far and it’s super easy to sell.”

New this fall, Carnival will expand its short cruise offerings from Miami. The Carnival Imagination will sail on year-round, three- and four-day cruises starting September 22. Three-day cruises depart Fridays and overnight in Nassau, Bahamas. Four-day cruises will depart Mondays and call at Key West, FL, and Cozumel, Mexico. The Carnival Destiny will offer year-round, four- and five-day cruises from Miami starting September 27.

Royal Caribbean’s Majesty of the Seas sails this fall and winter from Miami on three- and four-night short cruises to CocoCay, the line’s private island in the Bahamas, and Nassau; the four-night itineraries also call at Key West. The lowest available price for a three-night cruise in a recent check by Travel Agent was $249 per person for an interior cabin, certainly comparable in price to a three-night StayCation on land—not counting the inclusive perks of food and entertainment.

The popularity of short cruises is quite evident when looking at Royal Caribbean’s 2009-2010 lineup. The line will operate 18 different Caribbean/Bahamas itineraries ranging from two to five nights—that’s 306 short cruises just in that region. For example, travelers from Florida and the southeastern U.S. might drive to departures from Tampa, Port Canaveral, Port Everglades and Miami aboard Navigator of the Seas, Enchantment of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas, Majesty of the Seas and Monarch of the Seas.

Imperial Majesty Cruises also operates two-night cruises on the classic Regal Empress; she sails roundtrip from Port Everglades to Nassau and back. Inside cabins start at prices ranging from $129 to $149 per person double. If clients are seeking a five-night cruise, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Jewel sails November 9 and November 23 from Miami to George Town, Cayman Islands and Cozumel, Mexico.

Short cruises aren’t just limited to the contemporary market lines. Celebrity Cruises’ 1,814-passenger Century operates four- and five-night Caribbean sailings from Miami. The Century had a $55 million makeover in 2006, including the addition of 314 new verandas. The five-night cruise sails to Key West and Grand Cayman.

In central Florida, Disney Cruise Line operates three- and four-night cruises from Port Canaveral, just 60 miles from Walt Disney World. Destinations on the Disney Wonder’s short cruises include Nassau, along with Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island.

From Norfolk, VA, Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas will offer five-night Bermuda cruises starting next May. Further north, Carnival Triumph and Carnival Victory are now sailing four- and five-day Canada/New England cruises from New York City.

Along the West Coast, Holland America operates short cruises this fall on several ships including Oosterdam, Ryndam, Statendam, Veendam and Volendam, sailing from Pacific Northwest ports. For example, Oosterdam operates a three-night September 27 voyage from Seattle to Vancouver with port calls at Victoria, British Columbia, and Astoria, OR; at presstime, prices started at $408 per person double.

Clients really wanting a super-saver getaway might book the one-night cruise on Golden Princess on September 27 from Seattle to Vancouver; rates start at $88 for an inside cabin, $118 for a balcony cabin. Princess also operates other short cruises in varying lengths.

Carnival and Royal Caribbean operate year-round West Coast cruises. Royal Caribbean’s Monarch of the Seas currently sails on three- and four-night cruises Ensenada, Mexico; four-night cruises include Catalina. In fall 2009, Radiance of the Seas will begin operating short cruises from San Diego.

Carnival’s Elation sails four- and five-night cruises from San Diego; the four-night cruises head to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, while the five-night itineraries also include Ensenada; the four-night cruises start at $259 per person double.

This is just a sampling of the many short cruise opportunities available. The good news is that despite the economy, demand for close-in bookings remains solid. If clients drive to a cruise port and sail for a few days at an affordable cost with food and entertainment included, you likely will satisfy the client and retain them for business in future years when the economy improves. And the next cruise they book might be one to Europe or beyond.