Struggling to fill ships, cruise lines offer deals in europe

On second thought, maybe it wasn't such a good idea to send all those ships to Europe this year.

Industry watchers say lower-than-expected demand for summer cruises in Europe is behind a rash of unusual last-minute discounts -- and more deals could be on the way.

The offers, which have begun popping up over the past month, include a "fly and sail" promotion from Celebrity Cruises that boasts significantly reduced airfare to reach ships in addition to discounted cabins; and a rare "standby fare" promotion from Crystal Cruises that includes sharply reduced rates.

"The cruise lines are going into panic mode," says industry watcher Mike Driscoll, editor of Cruise Week. "They have moved all this hardware over there, and they need to fill the beds."

Source: USA Today