Cruise Lines

Before you get too excited, it's not actually happening. But what a brilliant idea for easing a few more dollars out of cruisers' pockets.

While docked in Grenada, Ocho Rios, Kusadasi (the point being it can be anywhere), cruiseships open their doors so passengers from vessels docked alongside can go on board and see what they are missing. For a fee, of course.

I admit a couple of Cruise Critic members actually came up with the idea but I think it's a winner. Passengers on, say, Spirit of Adventure could nip across to Freedom of the Seas to see what it's like to be on an big American ship; those on Ruby Princess could venture onto Balmoral and see what a very British cruise ship is all about.

I can see it now. Crew at the foot of the gangway with a placard advertising the ship tour. Only $100 per person and you get a free keyring and souvenir picture to take home.

Cruiselines would not only increase their on-board income, albeit from people who are technically not on board, but might win over a few sceptical passengers from their rivals. What the marketeers call a win-win situation. I believe.

It would certainly make a change from charging passengers to see the laundry.

Incidentally, I see NCL's new ship's tour has not gone down a storm on Cruise.co.uk. Some great comments. Check them out here.