Crystal Discounts Med Cruises, Citing Softness in the Region

Citing 23 percent additional cruise capacity in the Mediterranean this summer, Crystal Cruises said that the region is experiencing softness, and Crystal is launching an unprecedented discount for customers and a promotion designed to get travel agents on Crystal ships in the region.

“The Mediterranean is soft, everybody is feeling a softness,” said Bill Smith, Crystal’s senior vice president of sales and marketing. “Everyone is slamming away at the Med with big discounts.”

In December, Crystal launched a sale offering a 10 percent discount on Med sailings through Feb. 29; due to the current conditions, Smith said that the discount would now extend through March 31.

Smith said that consumer demand is still high for Med cruises, but that due to so much additional capacity being transferred from the Caribbean to the Med, there was bound to be pricing pressure. Crystal has only one additional Med sailing this year over last.

In addition to the 10 percent discount, Smith said that in order to avoid having to offer deeper discounts, the line is offering travel agents a promotion to get them onboard Crystal ships in the region. Agents that sell three cruises in the Mediterranean or the Baltic regions, in any combination, will receive a complimentary cabin for two on a Crystal cruise in the Med.