All Inclusive Cruising

[thephillykid]

Today, I got an offer from Royal Caribbean offering me their drink package to me free or included with passage. Now we have seen Carnival, Celebrity and RCCL all offering some kind of an all inclusive package to attract customers to fill their ships. Once you offer something to people to get them to buy something, it's really difficult to go back on it. That being said, people are going to come to expect it as part of an incentive to go. I see the day in the very near future that mass market cruising by the big 3 companies are marketed as all inclusive all the time. Let me know what you think. Do you remember when you had to pay for a cell phone, kinda the same idea.

 

Howard

[Orator]

Hope not. If they do I'll stop cruising. I'm not a drinker and don't want to pay for someone else's drinks unless I choose to.

[Happy2cruise]

Hope not. If they do I'll stop cruising. I'm not a drinker and don't want to pay for someone else's drinks unless I choose to.

Agree totally:D:D

[neverbeenhere]

Can't see all inclusive as a total strategy for cruise lines. Are they going to all inclusive the spa, tours, along with the drinks? Don't think so. But as another option to attract a certain group of clients, no doubt they will do that.

[miched]

I think everthing should be ala carte.

 

I don't eat as much as most so why should I pay for their food?

 

I don't attend many of the shows so why should I pay for someone else's entertainment?

 

I don't dance so why should I pay for a dance band?

 

If they keep making me pay for things that other passengers do I think that I will stop taking cruises.

 

 

 

:mad:

 

 

.:D

[davekathy]

I think everthing should be ala carte.

 

I don't eat as much as most so why should I pay for their food?

 

I don't attend many of the shows so why should I pay for someone else's entertainment?

 

I don't dance so why should I pay for a dance band?

 

If they keep making me pay for things that other passengers do I think that I will stop taking cruises.

 

 

 

:mad:

 

 

.:D

 

Ouch!!

[Orator]

I think everthing should be ala carte.

 

I don't eat as much as most so why should I pay for their food?

 

I don't attend many of the shows so why should I pay for someone else's entertainment?

 

I don't dance so why should I pay for a dance band?

 

If they keep making me pay for things that other passengers do I think that I will stop taking cruises.

 

 

 

:mad:

 

 

.:D

I don't use the swimming pools so why should I pay for them?

I don't use the elevators so why should I pay for them?

I don't use the deck chairs so why should I pay for them?

 

We could really drive down the base price of a cruise if we really try.

[carolslc]

I have my first cruise coming up. Last year we went to an all-inclusive resort. LOVED it. Never worried about anything - paid one price and we were done. It was so relaxing. I have to tell you that it's very confusing trying to figure out what is included and what is not on my upcoming cruise. I don't drink alcohol, and it makes sense that I could get some sort of discount - a drinker's price vs. non-drinker, but I can drink my weight in virgin pina coladas :), so I'm even okay with just one price for everybody. I would love cruising to be more simple.

 

At the resort, spa treatments were extra, as were excursions. But ALL food and drink was included.

[Orator]

I have my first cruise coming up. Last year we went to an all-inclusive resort. LOVED it. Never worried about anything - paid one price and we were done. It was so relaxing. I have to tell you that it's very confusing trying to figure out what is included and what is not on my upcoming cruise. I don't drink alcohol, and it makes sense that I could get some sort of discount - a drinker's price vs. non-drinker, but I can drink my weight in virgin pina coladas :), so I'm even okay with just one price for everybody. I would love cruising to be more simple.

 

At the resort, spa treatments were extra, as were excursions. But ALL food and drink was included.

 

There a a number of excellent lines that will provide you what you are looking for. Of course there is a price to pay for the all inclusive experience.

[jpthomas27]

I think your theory go against everything that is ACTUALLY happening with the cruise industry. The mass market cruise industry has been moving in the exact opposite direction and becoming less inclusive. Cruise fares have maintained prices for 10+ years which is absolutely unheard of for anything. Accounting for inflation cruise prices have actually gone down over time!!! Listen to the accounts of those on these boards that have been cruising for 10, 15 or more years.

 

How can that be possible? They have gone more a-la-carte and work to upsell passengers with extras. They are making their money by keeping cabin prices low but selling you everything else on an individual basis. Personally I love it. My prices don't go up in order to pay for what other passengers want. We don't drink all that much so our bar bill is much lower than those that do. If it was inclusive we would end up paying for more than what we drink. Others may end up paying for the other restaurants that they don't use and so on and so on. Bottom line is we all end up paying for other passengers' preferences and no one wants that to happen.

 

I think the cruise lines have figured this out which is why they have gone in the direction they have. I also believe it's the reason that there are usually choices with "free" offers like free gratuities or free drink package or free shore excursions.

 

Personally, I don't want free stuff. I want low prices and OBC. That way the money is mine to do with what I please. The ultimate perk is freedom of choice! If they take that away, they will lose a lot of business.

[Orator]

I think your theory go against everything that is ACTUALLY happening with the cruise industry. The mass market cruise industry has been moving in the exact opposite direction and becoming less inclusive. Cruise fares have maintained prices for 10+ years which is absolutely unheard of for anything. Accounting for inflation cruise prices have actually gone down over time!!! Listen to the accounts of those on these boards that have been cruising for 10, 15 or more years.

 

How can that be possible? They have gone more a-la-carte and work to upsell passengers with extras. They are making their money by keeping cabin prices low but selling you everything else on an individual basis. Personally I love it. My prices don't go up in order to pay for what other passengers want. We don't drink all that much so our bar bill is much lower than those that do. If it was inclusive we would end up paying for more than what we drink. Others may end up paying for the other restaurants that they don't use and so on and so on. Bottom line is we all end up paying for other passengers' preferences and no one wants that to happen.

 

I think the cruise lines have figured this out which is why they have gone in the direction they have. I also believe it's the reason that there are usually choices with "free" offers like free gratuities or free drink package or free shore excursions.

 

Personally, I don't want free stuff. I want low prices and OBC. That way the money is mine to do with what I please. The ultimate perk is freedom of choice! If they take that away, they will lose a lot of business.

 

You are absolutely correct. These is another factor as well: a la carte pricing allows the company to make "special offers" like the 1-2-3 promotion to tempt cruisers by making them believe that they are getting something extra. Actually if one tracts base prices they would find that in most cases the base price is lower when there are no special promotions. The so called promotions do in fact increase the base price, but people think that they are getting a deal and they book. A wonderful marketing device that would not be possible with all inclusive pricing. The cruises I've been taking are sailing full. Celebrity has strong future bookings. As someone once said: "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

[Azulann]

I have stayed in AI resorts which fit the bill for many of my vacations and these included air.

I think with all the promotions becoming standard, there is still options for individual passengers. These pomotions are not going away.

But there is a business model out there in a new cruise line: Viking Ocean.

Their first ship will be built and ready to sail in April 2015.

It includes, all beverages, wifi, walking tour in every port and all speciality dining options. All the staterooms will be veranda, no insides or OV. And no casino. Long overnight ports of call.

It is priced like Azamara, Oceania but with a perfect pitch for many cruisers looking for a new way to cruise.

[hcat]

Hope not. If they do I'll stop cruising. I'm not a drinker and don't want to pay for someone else's drinks unless I choose to.

 

I agree with comments by Carol slc.

 

DH just took the free offer on X (why not?)...so I had to as well....at least it includes teas and other interesting add ons. Will spend our other OBC at the spa.

 

Sadly, IMHO, the alcohol packages included, has already changed the demographics on Celebrity. Seems they are trying to make it more of a party type ship! Many more "bulk drinkers" signing up!

 

but what they offer on the ships (other than a diff port each day) still can't beat the better all inclusive resorts! We are phasing in more of those trips and cruise less frequently these days...too much of a shopping mall atmoshphere on ships and less stressful at AI

[Orator]

All inclusive resorts are very popular and are a good value for many. All inclusive cruises are also very popular and are also a value for many. However, they may not be seen as a "value" for people like me who would prefer to pay for what we actually use. It's all about personal choice for the consumer and business model for a company. I like the Celebrity model the way it is and thus choose it for most of my vacation time. All I've been saying is that if the things that attract me to Celebrity, or any product change, I will most likely switch to a product that more reflects my preferences.

[Miss JAD]

How did you receive this offer from Royal Caribean? I have been waiting for them to put some kind of promo where the drink package is included similiar to what Celebrity has out right now. If they had this offer as well it would be a tough choice for me as I am trying to decide wether or not to book the Oasis or the Reflection. I think the Oasis would be really neat to see and try but also think that Reflection could be better fit for us (less children, more elegant). If we went on the Oasis I would want to try one of the central park balcony rooms (better for people like me with motion sickness). If we went on the Reflection I would more than likely book Concierge class.

[welshfamily]

We, as a family, are on the side of Celebrity staying as it was. The cruises with drinks packages are, IMHO, not good value for money unless you drink cheap drinks heavily. Anyone who thinks they are getting something for nothing has not looked at the per day cruise rate. The cruise we have just returned from is £85 ($127 ) per day more expensive next year. We prefer to spend our money on premium wine and water. The premium water is included if you upgrade to the premium package but we would still end up paying for our own wine. Meanwhile I can cruise on Azamara and Oceania for only a couple of hundred pounds more. We, in the UK, cannot have OBC instead of the drinks package.

We are die hard Celebrity fans who travel Aqua ( usually 4 cabins ) and spend plenty on board but we are not heavy drinkers. We usually book our next cruise whilst onboard, this year we haven't.

It is becoming increasingly obvious we are not the sort of cruisers Celebrity wants. Hopefully this promo will end, prices will drop and we can continue to enjoy Celebrity.

[thephillykid]

How did you receive this offer from Royal Caribean? I have been waiting for them to put some kind of promo where the drink package is included similiar to what Celebrity has out right now. If they had this offer as well it would be a tough choice for me as I am trying to decide wether or not to book the Oasis or the Reflection. I think the Oasis would be really neat to see and try but also think that Reflection could be better fit for us (less children, more elegant). If we went on the Oasis I would want to try one of the central park balcony rooms (better for people like me with motion sickness). If we went on the Reflection I would more than likely book Concierge class.

 

I got an email from the online ta that we used to book our upcoming Reflection sailing and they send us offers almost weekly.

 

Feel free to email me and I will give you the information

thephillykid@yahoo.com

 

PS I am in no way connected with them or am I soliciting business for them.

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

Hope not. If they do I'll stop cruising. I'm not a drinker and don't want to pay for someone else's drinks unless I choose to.

 

Ditto. That's not in the least attractive to me since I don't drink. One of the reasons I don't look at the "all inclusive" lines. Much prefer the a la carte pricing which keeps my cruise costs reasonable.

[Smiles3usa]

Royal Carribean's drink package is VERY different from Celebrity's. Royal's package does not include water -- premium or regular bottled water -- nor does it include specialty coffees or teas nor does it include fresh squeezed juices. I think what makes Celebrity's package palatable, if but a bit expensive, is that it does include all but the most expensive of drinks (in the premium package). As presently construed, I cannot see the value in buying a Royal Carribean drink package.

 

As for a marketing ploy by Celebrity to include the pick your perk, I noticed that I signed up for the classic drink package but my cruise cost was the exact same as when I initially signed up for it three months earlier. It cost me $5.00 more in taxes to add the classic drink package. So while this may be a marketing play for some cruises, it was clearly not one for my October 2014 cruise -- unless it is to fill the ship at the same price as previously offerred.

 

If cruise ships are trying to increase the bottom line, I don't see all inclusive as a means to do so for the mass market cruises. But then again, I am not a cruise line executive who is privy to all the necessary data to make such a conclusion.

[Orator]

 

As for a marketing ploy by Celebrity to include the pick your perk, I noticed that I signed up for the classic drink package but my cruise cost was the exact same as when I initially signed up for it three months earlier. It cost me $5.00 more in taxes to add the classic drink package. So while this may be a marketing play for some cruises, it was clearly not one for my October 2014 cruise -- unless it is to fill the ship at the same price as previously offerred.

 

 

Normally they would use a price reduction to fill a ship. However, in this case they simply added a "bonus" rather than lowering the price. They tell you that the package is worth x dollars which is their full retail price. However they are paying a significantly lower price for the benefit and are actually making more than they would have made with a lowered cruise price. Still its a good deal for people like you who want the package and since the drinks have been prepaid you are able to control your total price.

 

I would suggest that you continue to follow the pricing for your cruise. At some point you might notice the elimination of the benefit, but a drop in the base price. Benefits are usually based on a percentage of the price you pay excluding taxes and port charges. If the drop is considerate you might consider dropping the benefit in exchange for a better price. You need to do the math and decide what you want. Whatever you may ultimate decide I'm sure you'll enjoy your cruise.

[miched]

I can do with or without the drinks. For almost every cruise that we been on We never spent more than $100 between us on extra drinks that weren't included.

 

The coffee and water that the ship provides is sufficient. I will buy a few buckets of beer and my wife will have a few drinks.

 

I have always commented to her about getting a drink package and she says that we don't need it. Truth is we (I) don't. 3 of the 4 last cruises we had on X have had the drink package. We drank more than normal and enjoyed the package but I still wouldn't pay for it. When it is included even though it may raise the cost of the base price of the cruise is a easy way for me to justify getting the drink package to my wife. She accepts that as part of the cruise cost. If we paid a lower fare without the package we would not pay for one so it is basically giving us the package at a reduced rate. It is also increasing X's revenue as they are getting us to pay more for something that wouldn't purchase so it is basically a win/win if that makes sense.

 

 

.

[Smiles3usa]

[i would suggest that you continue to follow the pricing for your cruise. At some point you might notice the elimination of the benefit, but a drop in the base price. Benefits are usually based on a percentage of the price you pay excluding taxes and port charges. If the drop is considerate you might consider dropping the benefit in exchange for a better price. You need to do the math and decide what you want. Whatever you may ultimate decide I'm sure you'll enjoy your cruise.

 

I agree that this is good advice. For me, however, I seriously doubt that I would change the package for a decrease in the cruise price (unless the price drop is more than $1500). I thought the initial cruise price was reasonable, albeit not cheap, and the itinerary superior. The addition of the classic beverage package was an unforeseen and greatly appreciated benefit. I doubt that I would ever pay $1416.80 for the package (14 day cruise including gratitutes) -- regardless of the cost of the initial cruise. But I sure do like the package being added to a cruise price that I already deemed acceptable and reasonable to pay. For those who are lamenting that there will not be significant price drops in cruise costs to those cheap levels because other promotions are used to fill the ship, perhaps those days are over. Maybe it's time that the cruise line stopped having fire sales to fill the ships and use other promotions which maintain and reflect the actual cost of cruising. Change is inevitable. I am sure there will still be price drops after final payment to fill any left over cabins, but as promotions fill the void of significant price drops, those should be fewer and fewer. This has the added benefit of not angering those who signed up early. A win all around...except for those who still want really cheap cruises.

[nafanny29]

I think everthing should be ala carte.

 

I don't eat as much as most so why should I pay for their food?

 

I don't attend many of the shows so why should I pay for someone else's entertainment?

 

I don't dance so why should I pay for a dance band?

 

If they keep making me pay for things that other passengers do I think that I will stop taking cruises.

 

 

 

:mad:

 

 

.:D

 

I do all the above and everything else available on the ship, and I do it 24 hours a day.

 

Not only am I getting a bargain cruise, I am annoying boring people by the 1000s!!!

[miched]

I do all the above and everything else available on the ship, and I do it 24 hours a day.

 

Not only am I getting a bargain cruise, I am annoying boring people by the 1000s!!!

 

Zoom

 

Bang

 

Look at post #6. They get it :D

 

 

:D

[sabookkeeper]

Hope not. If they do I'll stop cruising. I'm not a drinker and don't want to pay for someone else's drinks unless I choose to.

I also agree..one of the reasons we do not do land all inclusive resorts is because we are paying for other people who do drink.