NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW 4
Scenic removes ‘factually wrong’ comparison chart
Harry Kemble
harry.kemble@
travelweekly.co.uk
Scenic has removed a river cruise line comparison table from its website after rivals claimed it was full of errors and “factual inaccuracies”.
The table pitted Scenic product
against Viking River Cruises, APT Luxury, Avalon Waterways and Uniworld, plus sister brand Emerald Waterways, in 19 categories. Scenic had claimed the table
would help consumers “make a well-informed decision” before
booking their next cruise. Uniworld, Avalon Waterways,
Viking and APT all told Travel Weekly that incorrect information was presented in the table. Uniworld UK & Ireland managing director Chris Townson, who worked at Scenic for nearly 13 years, identified “at least six” errors in Uniworld’s column and three in his former employer’s. He added: “There are a number
of errors in there. I feel sorry for customers and agents. How do they know what’s wrong or not?” The table, first published in September 2016, said Uniworld
River Cruise Lines Staff to Guest Ratio
Number of Guests On Board Largest Suite Size Smallest Suite Size
Fine Dining Venues On Board Step-out Balconies
Unlimited Premium Branded Complimentary Drinks
Complimentary Mini Bar All Shore Excursions
Exclusive Events Personal Butler for Every Guest Complimentary Room Service
had only one fine dining venue on each ship, no e-bikes, a largest suite of 391sq ft and smallest of 128sq ft, and outbound flights from fewer than 15 UK airports, all of which was incorrect. Avalon Waterways chief
On Board E-Bikes Tailormade GPS Devices Hot Tub/Pool/Fitness Laundry
Flights from the UK - fly from up to 15 airports Airport Transfers Tipping, Gratuities and Port Charges
executive Giles Hawke said the table contained “mistruths and factual inaccuracies” and was not in the spirit of the cruise industry. Hawke added: “I have always believed you should be honest
Scenic 1:3 169 475ft2 160ft2 6 Most
Viking River Cruises
1:4 190
445ft2 122ft2
2 Some
Beer & Wine Included with Lunch & Dinner
Yes Suite Dependent Limited
Suite Dependent Suite Dependent
Beer & Wine Included with Lunch & Dinner
APT
Luxury 1:3
164
350ft2 160ft2
7 Avalon
Waterways 1:3
128
300ft2 172ft2
2
5 STORIES HOT
River Cruise Line Comparison Know what’s included before you buy
Scenic guarantees a completely 5-star, all-inclusive service that features an unparalleled level of inclusions. From fine dining and premium branded drinks to tips and gratuities that can amount to £900 per couple on a 15 day cruise. Our chart below showcases the different inclusions across a range of river cruise brands, so you can see the differences and make a well informed decision before booking your next cruise.
Emerald
Waterways 1:3
182
330ft2 162ft2
1 Most
Beer & Wine Included with Lunch & Dinner
Suite Dependent Daily
Scenic has axed its comparison chart
Suite Dependent
about your competitors.” Hawke said five of Avalon’s
Suite Dependent Uniworld 1:3 116 391ft2 128ft2 1 Some
Suite Dependent Suite Dependent
Terms and conditions: Information provided based on specific ships as named in the table above where available. Staff to guest ratio is correct to nearest whole number. Scenic on board drinks are included except for a very small number of rare, fine and vintage wines, champagnes and spirits. Butler and laundry service restrictions apply depending on cabin category. Flights may be indirect and regional supplements may apply. No fly option available only on certain itineraries. For full terms and conditions please see the Europe River Cruising 2017 Brochure or visit
www.scenic.co.uk. Correct at time of going to print (September 2016).
boxes on the table were inaccurate. Viking counted seven inaccuracies. APT said other lines had been misrepresented, but information about its own product was correct. Confirming the table had been taken down, a Scenic spokeswoman said: “Information is constantly evolving. It was never our intention to mislead and we’ll be updating this information.”
5 Turkish lira fall may fuel lates surge
Ben Ireland
ben.ireland@
travelweekly.co.uk
The plunge in value of the Turkish lira could spark a surge in late bookings to the country.
The lira dropped 25% against the dollar last week amid Turkey’s trade row with the US. The pound was up by as much as
89% on the lira against August last year and 37% up on last month. Shares in Tui, Thomas Cook, Jet2holidays parent Dart Group and On The Beach also fell early
this week. However, Alan Bowen, legal adviser to the Association of Atol Companies, said: “I’m not sure why the stock market thinks this is terrible news [for operators]. “They will sell more holidays, and, if they contract hotels in lira, they’ll be quids in.” He said operators contracting
hotels on an ad-hoc basis could pay rock-bottom last-minute rates. Steve Endacott, chairman of
Teletext Holidays, predicted a “mini boom” for adult-only self-catering holidays this autumn, adding that hotels would offer room nights for
6
travelweekly.co.uk 16 August 2018
“Operators will sell more holidays, and, if they contract hotels in lira, they’ll be quids in”
£1 to get customers with higher purchasing power in to spend at bars. “It makes the UK market more attractive to hoteliers,” he said. Alistair Rowland, group general manager for specialist retail at Midcounties Co-operative Travel, said: “Short-term, bargain-hunters will spot the opportunity. There’s
stock available in the lates in Turkey and it will probably sell faster than the western Med.” But he warned that in the
mid-term, economic gloom in Turkey could force hoteliers to up prices of imported goods, such as premium drinks. Tui said despite the exchange
rate leading to a drop in share prices, Turkey still showed “strong growth.” A Thomas Cook spokesman said its Turkish hotels were contracted in sterling, meaning the company had not felt the effect of the lira’s slump.
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