RCCL advertises way too many "sales"

[lysolqn]

Does anyone else subscribe to the theory that when everything is always on sale, nothing is ever on sale?

 

I don't think there is another cruise line out there that boasts as many sales as RCCL but most turn out to be little, if anything, more than discounts based on hyped up fares. Yes, I know some people make a killing with a sale but it appears the vast majority of us know when we're being had. When your published price is $1000pp on Monday and you up the price to $1800pp on Tuesday and advertise a 30% off sale, where exactly is the "sale"? I get that cruise lines, like airlines, depend on the science of yield management to set prices and that prices regularly fluctuate but if you're going to advertise a "sale", make it a real one or don't bother at all. Just MHO.

[Biker19]

Welcome to May 2014.

[voyager70]

Agree. I find that whenever I check prices for a particular cruise the bottom line is almost always the same, whether there is a "sale" or not. I really think it's just a marketing plan to attract new cruisers who don't know any better. Make them think they're getting a great deal.

[leaveitallbehind]

That's been their model now for a couple of years and I agree, it is the same general format disguised differently each time - 30% off, 1-2-Free, 50% off second person, etc. And in the end of the day the pricing always seems to net out about the same and not a real sale at all. Tiring.

[webzila]

Yes but it's not just Royal Caribbean. Carnival, NCL, etc...all do the same. One sale ends and another one begins right away. I stopped paying attention to sales and just determine if the price is good or not based on prior experience :)

[SheehanDJ]

It's not just cruise lines, that is Kohl's entire pricing model, and they are very successful using it.