We had easyJet (which spawned low cost imitators
including Ryanair) and now easyCruise is coming our way in
2004. Not many people know that the low cost pile ‘em
high and give them crap so called low cost airlines was
started by the serial entrepreneurial Stelios Haji-Ioannou.
Now, Stelios, as he likes to be known, is looking at a low
cost cruise business. Don’t forget that he comes from
a shipping background before making his name creating the
UK’s extremely successful first no-frills
airline.

He has plans to charge around £30 or US $50 per night on
Mediterranean and Caribbean cruises. Prices will be
berth-only, with extra charges for meals and drinks –
sound familiar? (The Beetle rather cynically wonders if you
have pre-allocated cabins or is survival of the fittest as
to who can get there first?!) Passengers can choose where
they join and leave the ship subject to availability.
Summer cruises will take place in the Mediterranean and in
the winter months in the Caribbean.

He hopes to attract a younger clientele, backpackers and
even young families for whom previously, the notion of
cruising has been prohibitively expensive.

If anyone can take on the big cruisers such as
Carnival-Princess, RCL and Star Cruises, he can. The
company is currently looking for smaller passenger ships
and says that operations may start at Easter 2004. The
easyCruise concept will be bookable on-line with early
booking discounts available. Watch this space!