All-inclusive cruise packages are popular among South Africans looking for a more comprehensive experience on a budget.
But cruise experts say it's important for travel agents to understand that there are two types of “all-inclusive” cruise fares. One requires passengers to purchase a premium alcohol package and additional experiential tours over and above the bundle price. , and those included in the fare.
Gaynor Galbraith-Neal, CEO of Cruise Vacations, says South African cruisers have been affected by the weak rand and are favoring all-inclusive packages that include drinks and experiences, offering value for money. Explain that it is thought that there is.
“With Land, when a cruiser signs up for a drink deal or buys a tour or whatever, your credit card gets charged and you can get a little bit of a surprise because of the exchange rate.” Neil says.
She says this comprehensive model benefits customers by knowing upfront how much they are paying for their cruise experience and staying within their budget.
“You pay more before you leave, but you pay less by the time you get home,” Neil summarizes.
She said Cruise Vacations received little acceptance when Silversea introduced its “less-inclusive” Essential fares – significantly cheaper fares with fewer inclusions and steeper cancellation fees.
“It wasn't popular. That's a very interesting statistic from us as the GSA of Africa. They thought the rand was so low that markets like ours might jump on it. But strangely, I think for Africans, it's more inclusive. It's actually more valuable to us.”
However, Sean McCarthy, founder of White Star Cruises & Travel, said all-inclusive fares that include alcohol can lead to overspending, especially among customers who drink less.
“I think there is a perception from a South African perspective that it’s better value. But that’s not always the case. If you buy a drinks package, it’s around USD 70-80 per person per day ( 1 250 to 1 430 Rand) That's a lot of money. They end up drinking about R1,500 worth of drinks a day, which is a lot when you consider the cost of a cruise ship,” says McCarthy.
He said that while all-inclusive packages are growing in popularity, not all cruise lines are adopting this model because the experiences offered by the cruise lines vary.
Neal added that these variations in all-inclusive packages also depend on the cruise line's means of generating revenue. Cruise lines that offer all-inclusive packages and add-ons value the additional revenue generated onboard as passengers decide to purchase additional beverage packages and embark on excursion experiences mid-trip. .
“Meanwhile, other premium cruise brands like Silversea, Seabourn, Azamara and Seadream want their champagne to flow. That's the look and feel they want their products to have. We don’t want people signing every time they drink,” McCarthy added.
