Advertising watchdogs uphold cruise complaint
Saga Holidays has been ordered to amend its advertising after it was found to have misled customers over the price of a cruise.
The operator's parent company Acromas Holidays admitted to advertising watchdogs that the maximum 35% discount off a North Cape Saga cruise was no longer available by the time many customers received its brochure.
A customer had complained to the Advertising Standards Authority that he was told there were no longer any cabins available at the maximum discounted price for the Voyage to the North Cape cruise, even though he called as soon as the brochure was out.
Saga argued that its advertising made it clear that the saving of up to 35% was subject to availability and that the price was current at the time the brochure was printed.
The ASA upheld the complaint and told Saga to ensure that its future advertising did not imply advertised discounts were the prices that were currently available if that was not the case. It said a company should not imply maximum discounts were "currently" available in brochures with a long shelf life.
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season