TUI cruise website gets telling off from advertising watchdog

A complaint about an advertisement by a TUI-owned company has been upheld by the Advertising Standards Association.

Consumer publication Which? Travel issued a complaint to the ASA about an advert in the News of the World last October for CruiseDeals.co.uk, a trading name of TUI UK.

The advert claimed the onboard spend included in the cost of the cruise was $220 per couple.

But, when Which? Travel researchers posed as potential customers, they were told the onboard spend was only $120 per couple.

Rochelle Turner, head of research for Which? Travel, said: "Holiday companies should be completely upfront with consumers - advertising offers that don't exist is not just frustrating for holiday bargain hunters, it's also illegal.

"We will continue to monitor press adverts like the one for CruiseDeals.co.uk to ensure they don't mislead consumers, and will report any further discrepancies to the ASA."

In response to the complaints, TUI told the ASA that the advert should have said that onboard spend was up to $120 because the spend depended on the type of cabin booked. The company apologised about the oversight.

The ASA ordered TUI not to repeat the advert.

With permission from Travelmole