EZCruize WOW
Posted on: Tue, 2006-10-24 00:27
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EZCruize WOW
There is a new company in buisiness for cruises. Normally thats not worth writing about, but wait ....
Maybe you all know the british discount airline EasyJet. They now have EasyCruise and guess what, the same concept. Lowballing the whole sector. Whats so amazing about this cruise line is their concept.
Basically they got rid of all luxury and are now offering cruises at unbelievable prices (from EU-40/day up). I read this on a german news site:
http://www.spiegel.de/reise/fernweh/0,1518,443810,00.html
They were basically saying how funny it was to be looked down at from the people on the big ships and how their eyeballs almost popped out when they told them how much they pay. No pool and no all inclusive but you can get on and off at any destination.
Here is a view of a standard cabin (they also have bigger rooms):
Pretty funny! Not even a pool but a tiny hot tub.
For a photographer, a cruise is about the worst case travel experience. Being herded along in an organized group will make sure you will miss out on the best photo opportunities and having a schedule will make sure you miss out on the best light. Thats why I like the concept of getting on and off whenever I like. This may actually be a cruise I'd go for (more like a shuttle between destinations but so what).
You could save thousands and blow them on your day trips taking helicopter rides, waterski and try out every possible form of entertainment.
If you never could afford a cruise you might want to check them out too:
And think about the great party atmosphere with all the young people on board. Its like the youth hostel of cruising.
At least its a new concept and I wish them the best of luck. They are sure to stir up some waves in the cruise industry with their concept.
Andre
Definitely not for the claustraphobic is it? Do any of the cabins have windows? If it only had a window I would think it would be tolerable. Wouldn't that be great, a cruise I might actually be able to afford someday.
They even have suites. Even though they are not as luxurious as suites on other ships, I think they even have a balcony.
They also have cabins with windows. Or you could just stay outside and party and then drop into your cabin to sleep only (not to live there). I think its the ultimate party boat. Couldn't ask for more. A place to party and a place to crash, LOL.
Andre
Travel Photos
i have seen a report about this cruises, 2 people and a camerateam went from hamburg to south france. so basicly they dont make money with the accomodation or cruise, but with all the extras you need on board. food is quite expensive on this cruises, the cabins are VERY small and you have no space for your stuff, you see only 1 small shelf at this pic but 2 beds. the bathroom was also very small and the girls complained about the layout and the materials used in the cabin, one girls said something like "eveything looks as if the want it to get dirty very fast", because there is no bin or daily room cleaning service - you have to order and pay for this.
this 2 test travellers recommended to buy your own instant food on land and make it with an electric kettle in the fitness room - because the had no standard outlets anywhere else on board. and no, its not like a youth hostel or party every day, the also had some older (50+) guests on board and not so much passengers betwen 20 and 30.
if you already live in a 3m² mess and like instant noodles every day, you probably also enjoy this cruise and dont miss any comfort
Well, I hadn't thought about it from that angle. I guess that sounds somewhat different. I was just thinking about all the backpackers having a great time at the campfires while the people in luxury hotels are bored to death.
Andre
Travel Photos
Hmmm, I like the thought of being able to have a cruise trip at a lower cost, even if it means that you have to do a little suffering of the food that you will have to take, the small and skimpy space in the cabin. Well, afterall, you pay only for less so there's no reason to complain. For me, the most important thing is the experience because it is not at all times that we can experience such kind of travel. At least, for budget conscious people, this cruise would be worth trying out. Bear the consequences afterwards, of course... it's part of the deal.
A friend and I thought about doing this a long time ago, although not as a cruise. We looked at it as an overnight ferry. Then we read that they were sort of discouraging seniors from taking the trip, and decided we didn't want to be with a bunch of partying gap year students. However, it sounds as if senior backpackers latched on to it. Maybe it is time for us to reconsider.
I would never consider it as a cruise ship. The real cruise ships have specials that are probably cheaper than this once the cost of food and getting your room cleaned gets added in.
Maybe it is time for us to reconsider.
I don't know. At first I thought it may be a great party boat, but from what I read here it doesn't sound like it.
Just in case you do try it out, make sure to tell us about it
Andre
Travel Photos
The fact that it didn't turn out to be a party boat is the only reason I might reconsider. I'm about to turn 62, I still stay in hostel dorms and spend a fair amount of time with young people, but I don't want a party boat or a party hostel.
Got you
I think the cabins are not really very comfortable. So for people who are not in the cabins most of the time it may be just fine.
I saw this in the New York Times On-Line edition:
http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/02/25/travel/25easy.html?th&emc=th
I'm not sure how long the link will work, as they charge to get to old editions.
Anyway, it does sound a lot like a young crowd party boat after all. And I think the area where they sail may have a ferry system anyway. When I originally read about it, you could book as little as one night, or book several nights and do a sort of hop-on, hop-off thing.
I'm not sure how long the link will work, as they charge to get to old editions.
bastards
Anyway, it does sound a lot like a young crowd party boat after all.
Um yeah it does.
If easyCruise — the two-year-old low-cost, no-frills cruise line that is an offshoot of easyJet, the low-cost, no-frills European airline — was aiming for a younger crowd, it had succeeded.
Well I thought that the boat would be more appealing to the younger crowd that is always strapped for cash.
... in a corner of Deck 5's outdoor bar, on the black-cushioned banquette next to the hot tub, two gorgeous French women — part of a trio who'd resolutely refused to converse with the rest of us — were engaged in an erotic wrestling match. They were slapping each other's faces with hands and flip-flops, their sundresses riding up their thighs, their mouths stretching to form wide, ecstatic smiles.
The girls had, as they say, gone wild.
Huh. Endless spring break? Reminds me of that Simpsons episode where Homer is in endless spring break fever.
And I think the area where they sail may have a ferry system anyway. When I originally read about it, you could book as little as one night, or book several nights and do a sort of hop-on, hop-off thing.
Thats what I thought it would be. I can't imagine spending a longer period of time in the cramped cabins.
Andre
Travel Photos
If you watch, and subscribe to a couple of news travel letters, like www.travelzoo.com, you can get prices that are almost as low and include everything. But, as the article points out, the big cruise ships leave in the afternoon or early evening, partly because a lot of what you paid for is the evening meal and the entertainment.
Affordable cruises, this is something that it's rare to see. I would definitely give it a try, everything sounds great, specially the costs. I used to go in canal holidays, they are wonderful opportunities for fun and relaxation, just like a cruise only in a different shape.
I agree with you Geremy, it really sounds great...
Thanks a tonne for sharing the info.
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Get Paid To Travel
but the bottom line is this type of cruise give us travelers choices. We can end up paying for an extravagant cruise or ride on this type of cheap cruise and spend our money on something else.
I can see the appeal of cruises, waking up in a different country every few days. But really any ship is going to be pretty limited for things to do and when you hear all the stories of people getting sick on the ships i think i prefer to explore on land!
At least there's an option for those whose on a tight budget.
Aaaand one of those options is *drumroll* an auction!
Example
Well...at least the starting bid is half the retail price...(but still expensive as hell)