A WAVE OF INSPIRATION
W L
A WAVE OF INSPIRATION
BY ANN ANGLESEA OF DELMAR WORLD
I am a huge fan of ultra-luxury cruising - ” Who wouldn ’ t be , if money were no object ”, I hear you cry ! But , hold on , I am not a fan of spending for the sake of it : I do like luxury BUT only if it represents great value for money .
So , is ultra-luxury cruising great value ? Well , mathematically speaking - which is how my husband approaches most financial debates ! - the answer is a resounding YES ! And this is why .
The cost of mainstream cruising on , say , a 14 night itinerary to Asia is , typically , around £ 4,000 per person , including flights and based on a balcony cabin . Included in this is all your food but not drinks , excursions , gratuities or speciality restaurants .
The cost of an ultra-luxury cruise for a similar 14 night itinerary would be around £ 7,000 per person but included in this price is all your beverages - including champagne , fine wines , top quality spirits , speciality teas and coffees and mineral water . Plus several speciality dining options - of which there are usually at least three or four different choices - as well as the main dining room and other casual dining options .
Your accommodation is larger and classed as a suite due to the marble bathroom , walk-in wardrobe , balcony furniture and , in some cases , even a Butler ! Excursions are usually included in this grade of cruise and , as anyone who has paid for a mainstream cruise excursion knows , this adds massive value - particularly if you are visiting new and exciting destinations that you want to immerse yourself in .
The standard gratuities on a 14-day mainstream cruise are likely to be at least £ 200 per person - plus a further 15 % -20 % on each and every drink you buy : these are all included in the price of an ultra-luxury cruise .
And then there are the things that I DON ’ T want on a cruise like ( dare I say it ?) other people ’ s cute but noisy offspring ; loud music and raucous games around the pool area when I ’ m trying to soak up the sun with a good book ( and a Pina Colada or , perhaps , a Strawberry Daiquiri for a change !); set meal times , a lack of choice in table size ( I prefer to dine with company of my choosing rather than the Maitre d ’ s !); and being bombarded with endless up-selling .
All of a sudden , we find that the price gap has closed substantially - in fact , if you take a few excursions , enjoy a pre- and / or post-dinner cocktail , a glass or three of wine with dinner , a different dining experience every night , fun and games if you want it - peace and quiet if you don ’ t - and the company of interesting , like-minded people , the cost comparison begins to look extremely attractive .
It ’ s not what you pay to get on a cruise , says my mathematical genius husband , but what you have ended up paying by the time you get off it that matters !
So true .
Ann Anglesea is the M . D of Delmar World and Perfect Cruises based in Wrexham and Heswall . They have recently won the AAA title of Best Small Travel Agency in North West England and North Wales
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