EZcruise new concept

Well as I have stated through the years, it was only a matter of time.
Arline Bleecker's travel column seen in many papers cross country in Sunday
travel sections tells of a new cruise line starting in Med called EZcruise.
Concept is simple. You pay for your cabin daily, EVERYTHING else, even bed
linens $33 a day, is alacart.

George in NY

On Sun, 16 May 2004 16:00:19 GMT, "Georgeny"
wrote:

Well as I have stated through the years, it was only a matter of time.

Hi George,

This cruise line has been planned for some time. It is aimed at the
low budget backpacking crowd in Europe. They are starting off with
one of the old Ren 100 pax ships. It hardly compares to the cruises
North Americans have come to expect. I would expect them to be
successful in their niche.

Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com

Sounds like no fun at all.

Howie


Georgeny wrote:

Well as I have stated through the years, it was only a matter of time.
Arline Bleecker's travel column seen in many papers cross country in Sunday
travel sections tells of a new cruise line starting in Med called EZcruise.
Concept is simple. You pay for your cabin daily, EVERYTHING else, even bed
linens $33 a day, is alacart.

George in NY

"CupCaked" wrote in message
...
snip

Is there a web site for this cruise line?

http://www.easycruise.com/

Ray,

Just visited the web site that was so graciously provided by Legs.
Interesting and really doesn't seem to be relevant to the cruise industry as
we know it in the U.S. yet, who knows. As many know I have been concerned
with onboard revenue changes through the years changing the face of the
cruise industry. Sadly it would seem to be a normal metamorphic process
Americanizing the products. I have voiced through the years concern that
ships would become just another standarized American vacation complete with
Mickey D'ees. Admittedly I have yet to see an actual McDonalds on board, yet
with Johny Rockets was the prediction all that far off base? With more and
more charges for what was once considered included items we continue on the
road to ruining what once was a very unique vacation for most of us. Free
style dining. automatic tipping charges to accounts, elimination of wine
stewards, addition of EXTRA charge restaurants, heck carnival is now even
charging for the " birthday " or " anniversary " cake if requested to
celebrate the event. How long before they offer waiter sing along as an
added charge feature? So this particular story of this new cruiseline and
concept, is it really all that far fetched that it will someday appear on
the regular line. Already some lines have tried additional entertainment
charge for " special " celebrity event.

The alledged trade off to the extra charges is rationalized by claimed lower
cruise rates. Further rationalized by only paying for extras that you
desire. Yet human nature demands that such a concept will eventually evolve
into simply an overpriced product. Continued cutting of service staff leads
to having to go to an extra charge restaurant to achieve prior levels of
included service. Lower cruise prices quietly increase while additional
onboard costs creep quietly and steadily upward. Water carafes disappear and
4.50 bottles of premium water suddenly appear in thier place. 5.95 photo's
become 19.95 packages adding little key chains and other low cost high
margin items. Standard outside cabins suddenly become MINI-Suites by adding
a table and chair. Deluxe outside cabins become PENTHOUSE suites? Standard
cabins suddenly become CONCIERGE suites with an addition of conceirge
service, add $500 PP for what? The list goes on and on and has been rapidly
increasing while cruiseline rates also increase via the renaming of
categoreys.

Yes cruise industry continues to prosper but eventually some other segment
goes out for the market share and starts to offer a better product.
Interestingly in Arlines article this week she also covers a truly all
inclusive land resort package for families.

I am still a cruise fanatic and as such I will continue to sail as long as I
can and still enjoy it. I have scheduled my 3rd Carnival cruise, second in
recent times, this Saturday. Having foresaken carnival for higher service
lines since 1988 I see little difference between product in many areas
having resigned myself to the ships being simply mass markets vacations now.
A far cry from when a cruise was a unique experience. I pay to download my
news now when sailing, afterall they charge for the previously free news fax
now. I have accepted that each day I will get a ton of junk mail trying to
sell me something laid neatly on my bed at night. All of it trying so hard
to appear that they are really " giving " me something for FREE! A FREE
t-shirt on NCL when I purchase $50 or more in the gift shop. A winning FREE
wheel spin in the casino winning a coupon for a FREE T-shirt when I spend
$50 or more in same said giftshop. Coupons provided me as a Diamond
customer, rewarding me with FREE 10 minutes of internet use when I buy 100
minutes for $55.00 All of this most annoying in that some suit in an office
somewhere actually thinks we Americans are so stupid that we really think we
are getting a bargain. Like the old days when all cruise in brochures were
$5000 pp but lucky us we hit on a 2 for 1 or 50% off bargain deal.

So an alacarte cruise? Just doesn't seem all that far away or all that crazy
to me any more.

George in NY


"Ray Goldenberg" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 16 May 2004 16:00:19 GMT, "Georgeny"
wrote:

Well as I have stated through the years, it was only a matter of time.

Hi George,

This cruise line has been planned for some time. It is aimed at the
low budget backpacking crowd in Europe. They are starting off with
one of the old Ren 100 pax ships. It hardly compares to the cruises
North Americans have come to expect. I would expect them to be
successful in their niche.

Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com

Excellent post, George!

I must admit, though, that I might pay an extra charge to get the
waiters NOT to sing.

Eileen

Georgeny wrote:

Ray,

Just visited the web site that was so graciously provided by Legs.
Interesting and really doesn't seem to be relevant to the cruise industry as
we know it in the U.S. yet, who knows. As many know I have been concerned
with onboard revenue changes through the years changing the face of the
cruise industry. Sadly it would seem to be a normal metamorphic process
Americanizing the products. I have voiced through the years concern that
ships would become just another standarized American vacation complete with
Mickey D'ees. Admittedly I have yet to see an actual McDonalds on board, yet
with Johny Rockets was the prediction all that far off base? With more and
more charges for what was once considered included items we continue on the
road to ruining what once was a very unique vacation for most of us. Free
style dining. automatic tipping charges to accounts, elimination of wine
stewards, addition of EXTRA charge restaurants, heck carnival is now even
charging for the " birthday " or " anniversary " cake if requested to
celebrate the event. How long before they offer waiter sing along as an
added charge feature? So this particular story of this new cruiseline and
concept, is it really all that far fetched that it will someday appear on
the regular line. Already some lines have tried additional entertainment
charge for " special " celebrity event.

The alledged trade off to the extra charges is rationalized by claimed lower
cruise rates. Further rationalized by only paying for extras that you
desire. Yet human nature demands that such a concept will eventually evolve
into simply an overpriced product. Continued cutting of service staff leads
to having to go to an extra charge restaurant to achieve prior levels of
included service. Lower cruise prices quietly increase while additional
onboard costs creep quietly and steadily upward. Water carafes disappear and
4.50 bottles of premium water suddenly appear in thier place. 5.95 photo's
become 19.95 packages adding little key chains and other low cost high
margin items. Standard outside cabins suddenly become MINI-Suites by adding
a table and chair. Deluxe outside cabins become PENTHOUSE suites? Standard
cabins suddenly become CONCIERGE suites with an addition of conceirge
service, add $500 PP for what? The list goes on and on and has been rapidly
increasing while cruiseline rates also increase via the renaming of
categoreys.

Yes cruise industry continues to prosper but eventually some other segment
goes out for the market share and starts to offer a better product.
Interestingly in Arlines article this week she also covers a truly all
inclusive land resort package for families.

I am still a cruise fanatic and as such I will continue to sail as long as I
can and still enjoy it. I have scheduled my 3rd Carnival cruise, second in
recent times, this Saturday. Having foresaken carnival for higher service
lines since 1988 I see little difference between product in many areas
having resigned myself to the ships being simply mass markets vacations now.
A far cry from when a cruise was a unique experience. I pay to download my
news now when sailing, afterall they charge for the previously free news fax
now. I have accepted that each day I will get a ton of junk mail trying to
sell me something laid neatly on my bed at night. All of it trying so hard
to appear that they are really " giving " me something for FREE! A FREE
t-shirt on NCL when I purchase $50 or more in the gift shop. A winning FREE
wheel spin in the casino winning a coupon for a FREE T-shirt when I spend
$50 or more in same said giftshop. Coupons provided me as a Diamond
customer, rewarding me with FREE 10 minutes of internet use when I buy 100
minutes for $55.00 All of this most annoying in that some suit in an office
somewhere actually thinks we Americans are so stupid that we really think we
are getting a bargain. Like the old days when all cruise in brochures were
$5000 pp but lucky us we hit on a 2 for 1 or 50% off bargain deal.

So an alacarte cruise? Just doesn't seem all that far away or all that crazy
to me any more.

George in NY


"Ray Goldenberg" wrote in message
...

On Sun, 16 May 2004 16:00:19 GMT, "Georgeny"
wrote:


Well as I have stated through the years, it was only a matter of time.

Hi George,

This cruise line has been planned for some time. It is aimed at the
low budget backpacking crowd in Europe. They are starting off with
one of the old Ren 100 pax ships. It hardly compares to the cruises
North Americans have come to expect. I would expect them to be
successful in their niche.

Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com

they also are a big air carrier in europe.

www.easyjet.com

I have heard they are horrible.

"Howie" wrote in message
...
Sounds like no fun at all.

Howie


Georgeny wrote:

Well as I have stated through the years, it was only a matter of time.
Arline Bleecker's travel column seen in many papers cross country in
Sunday
travel sections tells of a new cruise line starting in Med called
EZcruise.
Concept is simple. You pay for your cabin daily, EVERYTHING else, even
bed
linens $33 a day, is alacart.

George in NY

Yes, it is part of the barebones business concept of a Businessman in England,
whose name I forget. His plan is to offer just the bare minimum and then charge
for anything over that.

He is already rather successful with the concept with EasyJet, EasyCar,
EasyHotel, and now EasyCruise.

With the Cruise it is more of a ferry boat than a Cruise Ship. Kind of a sea
going bus. He hopes to fill it with Gen X types who will want the no frills
experience because the ship will only move at night when all should be asleep.
Docked during the day and evening and goes to the next port late at night.

Have not experienced personally any of these but am looking at an EasyJet
booking this August when we are in France visiting friends.

Cal Ford
Lido Deck Cruises



In article , Georgeny says...

Well as I have stated through the years, it was only a matter of time.
Arline Bleecker's travel column seen in many papers cross country in Sunday
travel sections tells of a new cruise line starting in Med called EZcruise.
Concept is simple. You pay for your cabin daily, EVERYTHING else, even bed
linens $33 a day, is alacart.

George in NY

On Sun, 16 May 2004 15:29:33 -0400, Howie
wrote:

Sounds like no fun at all.

Howie

Just your thing then.

On 18 May 2004 09:18:39 -0700, Cal Ford
wrote:

He is already rather successful with the concept with EasyJet, EasyCar,
EasyHotel, and now EasyCruise.

Hi Cal,

You forgot easyinternetcafe, easytelecom, easyhotel, easymusic,
easypizza, easybus, easycinema, easymoney, easyvalue, & easycar. I
will be sampling his Internet franchises starting this Saturday from
London. ;+)
BTW, the founder's name is Stelios.

Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com