hays cruise sale

New to TTG?

Cruise sales surprise boosts hays travel’s ‘record-breaking’ sunshine saturday.

The boss of Hays Travel has lauded a stellar start to the year following a record-breaking Sunshine Saturday owing to a cruise sales surge, with many of the agency’s managers reporting "queues out the doors".

But Hays Travel is continuing to turn up the dial, Dame Irene Hays said, confirming targets for the next two Saturdays were even higher than at the start of the year, echoing the sentiment of agents around the country that stronger demand is expected as the month continues . 

“We’ve had a fantastic start to the new year. January is a really important month, traditionally the busiest in the financial year, so to get off to a good start is really encouraging,” Dame Irene told TTG .

“Last year we did better on the second and the third Saturday, and we’re anticipating that we’ll do the same this year,” she confirmed.

Cruise sales significantly up on 2023

Cruise was the surprise star performer for the UK’s largest independent travel agency, with a significant increase in bookings on the same time last year.

“For us so far, our cruise performance is much stronger than it was this time last year – and it’s the cruise increase in percentage relative to last year has been the surprising factor.”

At Hays Travel’s annual conference in the Algarve in November 2023, cruise was cited as a priority for the business in the coming years , but Dame Irene also nodded to the “appetite for cruise” among customers, along with the benefits of choice and value for money a cruise holiday brings.

“If people are looking for something different over the summer, let’s get them on a cruise,” she remarked.

All regions "performed well" at the weekend, with Northern Ireland turning out a “very strong” performance, Dame Irene said. 

There were also impressive starts to the year for the agency’s network of homeworkers, with Dame Irene adding she expected homeworkers to come to the fore this coming weekend and next. Hays Travel Independence Group members meanwhile saw buoyant sales, with many of those recording their best day ever on Sunshine Saturday.

Bookings for lates 

Dame Irene said the season mix of bookings on Sunshine Saturday had also surprised the business. While just over half were for summer 2024, those for lates in winter 2023 accounted for nearly a third (32%) of Saturday’s bookings. 

A third of the customers coming through the doors on Saturday were “new to Hays Travel, so one in three customers were moving away from online or elsewhere,” she said.

Dame Irene had held on to some caution for expectations for January 2024 after an “exceptional” start to 2023, she conceded to TTG , with a nod to her reference at the conference to research suggesting that customers were holding on to their money for longer.  

Second peaks for agent sales

“To be honest, we thought the exceptional January we had last year was due to pent-up demand and a bounce back. I thought last year’s performance in January and February was particularly strong, therefore if we had matched that performance this year, I’d have been very happy. However, we’ve exceeded it.

“It is our best day on record, and all our people worked so hard to look after customers – they are excited and motivated. Many of them were reporting queues out the door!”

When pressed on expectations for 2024, Dame Irene said she was “quietly optimistic, if the evidence of last Saturday is anything to go by”.

She reiterated her prediction of a pre-summer second peaks, pointing to the capacity coming in over the summer, particularly from Jet2holidays, easyJet holidays and Tui.

“Research was indicating that the customers would be holding on to their money for longer. It might happen over the coming months but at the minute, there’s no evidence of that.

“I still believe there will be a second peaks because of the capacity coming into the market over the summer, and that there are some people who haven’t travelled who will have an appetite to do so this year.”

Tobago closes beaches and marine park following shark attack on Brit

British airways to offer croatia's split from stansted this summer, intrepid chief: ‘we're spending a lot on driving customers to travel agents’, yorkshire's conexo travel expands to second branch after year-long hunt for premises, queen anne: everything agents need to know about cunard's first new ship for 14 years, sas scandinavian airlines to join skyteam from star alliance.

Sarah Dennis

Read TTG April 2024

Editor's pick.

The new flight that brings a quirky Canadian province closer

Ttg crowns new top agency at first manchester ceremony, dublin agency the travel broker acquired by frosch ireland, queen anne's uk arrival delayed to ensure 'final touches are complete', french air traffic disruption prompts foreign office warning, border force officials embark on four-day walkout at heathrow, sign up for weekday travel news and analysis straight to your inbox, recommended for you.

Hyatt adds hundreds of hotels to loyalty programme following Mr & Mrs Smith buyout

Global Travel Collection announces 2024 Elevate Connections

Riviera Travel unveils new 2024 themed river cruises

Carnival Firenze christened in Long Beach

Latest travel jobs.

Senior Sales Consultant

Branch Manager

Sales & Marketing Manager - UK, Ireland, Scandinavia & North America

Competitions.

Dive into our Colombia guide and win one of five £100 vouchers

Win £500 worth of shopping vouchers with Oceania Cruises

Win an easyJet holidays suitcase and a £100 shopping voucher

Win a three-night stay in Austria this summer 

Ttg luxury journey.

TTG Riviera Fest 2024

Fairer Travel Month 2024 by TTG

TTG Fairer Travel Festival 2024

TTG Fairer Travel Diversity Forum 2024

• Favorites & Watchlist Find a Cruise Cruise Deals Cruise Ships Destinations Manage My Cruise​ FAQ Perfect Day at CocoCay Weekend Cruises Crown & Anchor Society Cruising Guides Gift Cards Contact Us Royal Caribbean Group
• Back to Main Menu
• Search Cruises " id="rciHeaderSideNavSubmenu-2-1" class="headerSidenav__link" href="/cruises" target="_self"> Search Cruises
• Cruise Deals
• Weekend Cruises
• Last Minute Cruises
• Family Cruises​
• 2024-2025 Cruises
• All Cruise Ships " id="rciHeaderSideNavSubmenu-4-1" class="headerSidenav__link" href="/cruise-ships" target="_self"> All Cruise Ships
• Cruise Dining
• Onboard Activities
• Cruise Rooms
• The Cruise Experience
• All Cruise Destinations " id="rciHeaderSideNavSubmenu-5-1" class="headerSidenav__link" href="/cruise-destinations" target="_self"> All Cruise Destinations
• Cruise Ports
• Shore Excursions
• Perfect Day at CocoCay
• Caribbean Cruises
• Bahamas Cruises​
• Alaska Cruises
• European Cruises​
• Mediterranean Cruises​
• Cruise Planner
• Make a Payment
• Beverage Packages​
• Shore Excursions​
• Dining Packages​
• Royal Gifts
• Check-In for My Cruise
• Update Guest Information
• Book a Flight
• Transportation
• Book a Hotel
• Required Travel Documents
• Redeem Cruise Credit
• All FAQs " id="rciHeaderSideNavSubmenu-7-1" class="headerSidenav__link" href="/faq" target="_self"> All FAQs
• Boarding Requirements
• Future Cruise Credit​
• Travel Documents​
• Check-in​ & Boarding Pass
• Transportation​
• Perfect Day at CocoCay​
• Post-Cruise Inquiries
• Royal Caribbean
• Celebrity Cruises

SAVE ON CRUISES TODAY

+ 60% off second guest, + kids sail free, the best cruise deals & special offers.

CARIBBEAN CRUISES

STARTING FROM 

europe cruises

ALASKA CRUISES

KIDS SAIL FREE

NEWEST. BOLDEST. BEST.

utopia of the seas

star of the seas

ICON of the seas

60% OFF SECOND GUEST

+ Kids Sail Free

{{error.text}} {{error.link.label}}

LAST CALL ON CRUISE DEALS

Score big savings on last minute cruises

SAIL FROM LOS ANGELES

ENSENADA CRUISES

WEEKEND GETAWAYS

SAIL FROM FLORIDA

SAIL FROM GALVESTON

Western Caribbean

GIVE THE GIFT OF ADVENTURE

New Gift Cards Now Available

Vacation Financing

Booking a cruise has never been easier with flexible payment methods and payment options..

  DISCOUNT CRUISE DEALS. SIGN UP FOR CURRENT PROMOTIONS

Sign up to receive information about our special offers and deals. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more details about how we use your information, view our Privacy Policy .

  GREAT CRUISES NEAR ME

CRUISES FROM

CAPE LIBERTY

top cruise destinations 

THE BAHAMAS

THE CARIBBEAN

AMAZING SEASONAL CRUISE DEALS  

SPRING CRUISES

Summer CRUISES

fall CRUISES

winter CRUISES

Royal Caribbean Cruise Deals Guide

When it comes to planning the ultimate getaway, there are so many reasons why cruise vacations rank among the most popular travel options. First of all, they’re completely stress-free. On a cruise vacation, all the planning is taken care of by the cruise line — from the destinations you sail to and the shore excursions available at each port, to a full range of entertainment and activities happening onboard every day. If you’re not a planner, or if the only things you’re looking to focus on during your getaway is savoring great food, relaxing, and soaking up the sights, cruise vacations are the way to go. A cruise vacation is also a great option if you’re traveling with the whole family, especially when you opt for a Royal Caribbean cruise. All of the ships in this cruise line’s fleet offer family-friendly experiences for guests of all ages. Even little ones will find plenty of ways to play with spaces and activities designed for tots to tweens. One of the top reasons savvy travelers love cruising, though, is because of the incredible value it offers. With Royal Caribbean, your cruise fare includes access to most of the ship’s attractions, select dining venues and all of the entertainment onboard. If you want to make your experience even more all-inclusive, you can opt for beverage and specialty dining packages that cover drinks and dinner at some of the most exclusive restaurants in the fleet. On top of all that, the cruise line presents frequent limited-time offers and seasonal sales, making it easy to score big savings when booking your vacation.

I’m ready to start planning my cruise — how can I score the best deals?

Whether you’re looking to book a short getaway or a longer adventure to far-flung destinations, Royal Caribbean makes it easy to save big on everything from your cruise fare to special experiences onboard and onshore. The first step to making sure you get the best deals is to join the cruise line’s email list. Once you’ve signed up, you’ll receive regular updates on all the latest offers, like deals by destination , kids sail free promotions and flash sales. The savings don’t end when you book your cruise, though. Once you’ve made a reservation, you’ll also receive notifications about special offers for onboard experiences — like discounts on beverage and specialty dining packages, shore excursions, spa services, and more via My Royal Cruise .

Does it pay to plan ahead, or should I wait until the last minute?  

It’s an age-old question — does the early bird really get the worm, or are there perks to taking a “wait-and-see” approach? If you’re booking a cruise vacation, you’ll find there are benefits to both strategies. Planning ahead is a great way to score big savings , as Royal Caribbean often runs early saver deals to guests booking well in advance. It’s also pretty safe to assume prices usually go up as availability goes down the closer you get to your sail date, so booking ahead is a surefire way to lock in a great rate. That said, booking a cruise at the last minute can also yield some unexpected savings — but only if the itinerary you’re interested in hasn’t sold out yet.

If you can be flexible when it comes to your travel dates, you’ll have your pick of unbeatable savings. Popular vacation dates — like the holidays , spring break , summer vacation and week long cruises — sometimes see the highest prices (though you might get lucky with a seasonal sale). If you have the flexibility to travel during the shoulder season or off season, you’ll likely enjoy big savings on popular stateroom categories , like Balconies and even Suites. The deals don’t only apply to your cruise fare, though. Once you’ve booked your vacation, you could easily unlock discounts and specials on add-ons, including beverage and dining packages , Voom® high speed internet, shore excursions, and amazing experiences not included in your cruise fare — like a day of pampering at Vitality SM Spa, a behind-the-scenes tour of the ship’s galley followed by brunch, VIP seating at shows, and much more.

How can I maximize the value of my cruise vacation?

There are plenty of ways to get more bang for your buck when you sail on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Every ship in the fleet offers a range of delicious complimentary dining options , but you can dig into even more crave-worthy flavor by purchasing a Specialty Dining Package for less ahead of your cruise. Add a Specialty Beverage Package — which includes unlimited alcoholic beverages, soda, and more — and your experience is as close to all-inclusive as it gets. And with so many complimentary shows and attractions onboard, you can easily fill every sea day without spending a single dollar extra.

Royal Caribbean also offers deals based on departure ports  and destinations, so if you’re a flexible traveler looking for great savings, you can plan your next vacation around which itineraries are on sale. Just check your email or visit RoyalCaribbean.com/cruise-deals to stay up to date on promotions, sales and special offers. You can even browse sailings and deals by homeport, destination and season, so you can rest assured you’re getting the best possible deal no matter when or where in the world you choose to set sai.

Ready to start planning your next getaway? Start exploring cruise deals now.

Explore more.

Previewing: Promo Dashboard Campaigns

My Personas

Code: ∅.

Thank you for signing up!

Look out for your first email with our latest news and offers heading straight into your inbox!

At Hays Travel we promise to respect your privacy and we will not give out your details to any 3rd party. Take a look at our privacy policy for more information.

News & Latest Offers

Call our experts on

• Destinations
• Cruise Lines
• Cruise Types
• Hays Travel
• Hays Faraway

Featured Destinations

More Destinations

Featured cruise lines.

More Cruise Lines

Featured cruise types.

More Cruise Types

Last Minute Cruises: Unbeatable Deals, Book Now!

* All selected offers are from prices per person.

• Destinations
• All Inclusive
• City Breaks
• Summer 2024
• Pay Monthly Holidays
• Winter Holidays
• Holiday money
• Travel Money Card
• Travel Insurance
• Cruise Holidays
• Faraway Holidays
• Costa Del Sol
• Costa Dorada
• Gran Canaria
• Fuerteventura
• Praia Da Rocha

News & latest offers

Hays Cruise

Sail away into a world of destinations with Hays Cruise! Whether you’re looking to explore the world less-travelled or want to visit a popular destination, we will make sure you experience exceptional levels of service and first class facilities when you sail.

Related Articles

A cruise around Iceland brings opportunities to explore a one-of-a-kind destination. Almost every view that awaits in Iceland could be a sce...

Carnival Venezia is the first ship to debut “Carnival Fun Italian Style.” Distinct entertainment programming, such as a special ...

We’re thrilled that our very own Dame Irene Hays is godmother to P&O Cruises Iona!  The offical naming ceremony took ...

Cruising is the ideal family holiday, with fun-filled activities and memorable destinations to make your cruise one for the photo albums! Fr...

Whether you want to explore a bucket-list destination, enjoy an uninterrupted day at the spa with your partner, or simply relax with a good ...

INTRODUCING CELEBRATION KEY™ AT GRAND BAHAMA Nestled on the south side of Grand Bahama Island, between the town of Freeport and the...

Let Cunard introduce you to their newest ship, Queen Anne. With breathtaking interiors, there’s a space to suit every mood, and you&rs...

Looking to embark on your first ever cruise? Once-in-a-lifetime destinations, world-class facilities, unmissable excursions and that all imp...

Whether you’re new to cruising or looking for your next value for money, seven seas adventure we have the perfect holiday for you. Why...

Let us introduce you to Ambassador, Britain’s premium value no-fly cruise line. From luxe ships and breathtaking destinations to unwav...

The ultimate in luxury vacation experiences. The Retreat isn’t a place. It isn’t an amenity. It isn’t a service. It&rsqu...

The word EXPEDITION evokes images of adventure, tracing the passages of Scott, Amundsen, and Darwin. It entices us with the prospect of watc...

Erin from our Social Media team enjoyed a cruise from Liverpool to Southampton with P&O Cruises, Arcadia. Here’s what she got up t...

Welcome to no-fly cruising with Ambassador Cruise Line - journeying to new lands to explore their landscape, culture, and cuisine, in a styl...

After an absence of six years, Royal Caribbean’s Brit popular Independence of the Seas® is returning to Southampton for a series o...

From humble beginnings on a campsite in Southern France to becoming the UK’s leading operator of river cruises and tours across Europe...

After her naming ceremony by her godfather, the Inter Miami footballer Lionel Messi; the highly-anticipated inaugural cruise on Royal Caribb...

New name, new logo — same unforgettable expeditions. Welcome to HX, Let’s show you around. Exploring, just as before HX, s...

Celebrity Cruises 2025-2026 season of sailings takes world travel to new heights of excitement, featuring everything you love about holidays...

Voyages Beyond Expectations Exclusives + Escorted Groups offers an unparalleled cruising experience that goes beyond your expectations! W...

• Bahasa Indonesia
• Slovenščina
• Science & Tech
• Russian Kitchen

Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

If using any of Russia Beyond's content, partly or in full, always provide an active hyperlink to the original material.

to our newsletter!

Get the week's best stories straight to your inbox

• What to do in Moscow City, if you’re not mega-rich
• Moscow after dusk: 10 places to drink, dance, and groove
• 5 things you must do in Moscow in 2018 between football matches (or without them)
• Sandwiched between Moscow and St. Petersburg: How to spend a perfect weekend in Tver 
• 24 or 48 hours in Moscow: Where to go and what to do in 2019

This website uses cookies. Click here to find out more.