Hidden cruise price

[absolutonrox]

Your comparison to an all inclusive is just wrong. You do not necessarily get the "bottom line, this is it" price for an all inclusive either. I've seen plenty of offers that don't include air fare. Even the ones that do could end up charging extra based on the weight and number of bags.

 

Sorry if you feel your being "lied" to, but advertising a cabin price as just the cabin price is not a lie. It's exactly what it says it is, the price of the cabin. A hotel is also not lying when they advertise a room for $89 a night, then you book and it's $120 after taxes and fees. It's not lying when Verizon says $40 a month for phone and data, then you get your bill and it's $55 after taxes and fees.

 

Your right, comparing different cruises DOES take a lot of work. That's half the fun of it for me, and I'd guess for many others here as well. As I stated previously, I get where the OP is coming from, I just don't think it's something we should expect from cruise lines because the taxes and port fees are never a set price and can fluctuate. A small amount of research can get you a "final, out the door" price.

[CRZR58]

Your comparison to an all inclusive is just wrong. You do not necessarily get the "bottom line, this is it" price for an all inclusive either. I've seen plenty of offers that don't include air fare. Even the ones that do could end up charging extra based on the weight and number of bags.

 

Sorry if you feel your being "lied" to, but advertising a cabin price as just the cabin price is not a lie. It's exactly what it says it is, the price of the cabin. A hotel is also not lying when they advertise a room for $89 a night, then you book and it's $120 after taxes and fees. It's not lying when Verizon says $40 a month for phone and data, then you get your bill and it's $55 after taxes and fees.

 

Your right, comparing different cruises DOES take a lot of work. That's half the fun of it for me, and I'd guess for many others here as well. As I stated previously, I get where the OP is coming from, I just don't think it's something we should expect from cruise lines because the taxes and port fees are never a set price and can fluctuate. A small amount of research can get you a "final, out the door" price.

In Canada, most, if not all, all-inclusives include the flights and transfers.

 

We have a different opinion on hidden. I say if it's up front, then it's not hidden. Others say if it's in a mock booking or the small print then it's not hidden.

 

Port fees and taxes are set, otherwise, you wouldn't get the right price when you do the mock booking. Gratuities are set too.

 

You and I have different opinions on lying. Advertising a cruise for $199 or a hotel room for $89 or Verizon for $40 that I can't get for those prices is not true, IE a lie. The fact that everyone advertises something you can't get doesn't suddenly make it true. Just tell everyone what it costs up front, then no one has anything to complain about.

 

Cruise lines, Hotels and Verizon all know exactly what price you are going to have to pay for their services. It wouldn't take any effort to put the full price in their advertising, but they choose not to. If they didn't believe it gave them some advantage, they wouldn't do it.

[sfaaa]

 

We have a different opinion on hidden. I say if it's up front, then it's not hidden. Others say if it's in a mock booking or the small print then it's not hidden.

 

Port fees and taxes are set, otherwise, you wouldn't get the right price when you do the mock booking. Gratuities are set too.

 

You and I have different opinions on lying. Advertising a cruise for $199 or a hotel room for $89 or Verizon for $40 that I can't get for those prices is not true, IE a lie. The fact that everyone advertises something you can't get doesn't suddenly make it true. Just tell everyone what it costs up front, then no one has anything to complain about.

 

Cruise lines, Hotels and Verizon all know exactly what price you are going to have to pay for their services. It wouldn't take any effort to put the full price in their advertising, but they choose not to. If they didn't believe it gave them some advantage, they wouldn't do it.

 

It's 100% legal. So what is your beef?

[cruzinlisa]

I think that as long as they make the full amount with taxes and fees available at the time of booking- before you hit the submit button, they are doing what they have to do. If I buy something online and the price is $100.00, I am usually not going to pay that, because of taxes and shipping. Only when its in my cart and I go to check out do I see the all in price.

 

Now if they said it was $199.00 and I go to check out and that is the price, but it also says taxes and fees TBD and they then figure them up after I have already paid and its too late to back out, that is a different story.

[Retired_to_Cruise]

In Canada, most, if not all, all-inclusives include the flights and transfers.

 

We have a different opinion on hidden. I say if it's up front, then it's not hidden. Others say if it's in a mock booking or the small print then it's not hidden.

 

Port fees and taxes are set, otherwise, you wouldn't get the right price when you do the mock booking. Gratuities are set too.

 

You and I have different opinions on lying. Advertising a cruise for $199 or a hotel room for $89 or Verizon for $40 that I can't get for those prices is not true, IE a lie. The fact that everyone advertises something you can't get doesn't suddenly make it true. Just tell everyone what it costs up front, then no one has anything to complain about.

 

Cruise lines, Hotels and Verizon all know exactly what price you are going to have to pay for their services. It wouldn't take any effort to put the full price in their advertising, but they choose not to. If they didn't believe it gave them some advantage, they wouldn't do it.

 

Okay, I want to book a balcony cabin on the Carnival Magic for a 7 day Eastern Caribbean from Miami on November 04, 2018. What is the cost going to be? Tell me what you need to know in order to give me that cost.

[Sixtytwo]

Ok, retired, start with what deck do you want, then is it forward, aft, or mid, then how many occupants, then did you book early saver or military or past guest rate. That should get you pretty close to being at the bottom line. Oh, don’t forget do you want to add insurance and/or pre-paid gratuities. Whew! [emoji15]

 

 

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[billfish]

Okay, I want to book a balcony cabin on the Carnival Magic for a 7 day Eastern Caribbean from Miami on November 04, 2018. What is the cost going to be? Tell me what you need to know in order to give me that cost.

 

 

You know better than that. What category of Balcony ? I think there are 8 or 9 levels What discounts do you qualify for ? Senior, Military, Past Guest . There are also several promos going on for a limited time. Do you want an early saver rate ??

 

These are only a few of the options . Have Fun

[Nic6318]

Okay, I want to book a balcony cabin on the Carnival Magic for a 7 day Eastern Caribbean from Miami on November 04, 2018. What is the cost going to be? Tell me what you need to know in order to give me that cost.

 

 

Hi

 

I'm not sure what you are getting at. Are you trying to make a point or are you trying to understand something?

 

If you really just need an answer to your question, then I would need to know:

 

i. The number of people occupying the cabin

ii. The cabin class you want

iii. The booking rate

 

Important here is you have to understand the different cabin classes, and what the different booking rates mean. That is why I said in a previous post for a new cruiser, it is hard and it would be good if they can ask an experienced friend. To the OP's original comment, that all the information is not all in the "price from"...true, but if you call and ask, or go to a TA, or try to book online, all the other costs show up. So nobody is trying to hide anything, they just want to get your attention. You just can't argue too much with the fact that if you don't go for any bells and whistles, cruising has got to be the cheapest vacation choice one can make short of backpacking.

[Retired_to_Cruise]

Ok, retired, start with what deck do you want, then is it forward, aft, or mid, then how many occupants, then did you book early saver or military or past guest rate. That should get you pretty close to being at the bottom line. Oh, don’t forget do you want to add insurance and/or pre-paid gratuities. Whew! [emoji15]

 

 

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Which is exactly the information, plus more, that the booking engine collects from the potential passenger and turns into a fully detailed price for the cruise. Now if only PAPERBKWRITER and CRUZ58 would realize that the only way to get a complete price is to have a booking engine that leads the user all the way through all of the important pieces of information to get to an actual true number. If they think that it is easier to have every single price already calculated for all of the possible combinations for every cabin on every deck in every category, which also has to account for all of the possible numbers of people in all those cabins, for every single possible cruise that is scheduled out over the horizon, then they are using better drugs that anyone I know. Then, all of that information has to be recalculated at least once a day, probably more, as cabins are sold and prices go up driven by the laws of supply and demand. Me thinks dese guys ain't gotta any kinda idear of wat ida take todo dis. And it will change constantly.

[Retired_to_Cruise]

You know better than that. What category of Balcony ? I think there are 8 or 9 levels What discounts do you qualify for ? Senior, Military, Past Guest . There are also several promos going on for a limited time. Do you want an early saver rate ??

 

These are only a few of the options . Have Fun

 

See my reason for asking the question in post #34.

[Retired_to_Cruise]

Hi

 

I'm not sure what you are getting at. Are you trying to make a point or are you trying to understand something?

 

If you really just need an answer to your question, then I would need to know:

 

i. The number of people occupying the cabin

ii. The cabin class you want

iii. The booking rate

 

Important here is you have to understand the different cabin classes, and what the different booking rates mean. That is why I said in a previous post for a new cruiser, it is hard and it would be good if they can ask an experienced friend. To the OP's original comment, that all the information is not all in the "price from"...true, but if you call and ask, or go to a TA, or try to book online, all the other costs show up. So nobody is trying to hide anything, they just want to get your attention. You just can't argue too much with the fact that if you don't go for any bells and whistles, cruising has got to be the cheapest vacation choice one can make short of backpacking.

 

See my reason for asking the question in post #34.

[carrieluvsgreg]

I agree with the OP. The prices should show the entire price for the trip including port fees, taxes, gratuities, and the cost for the cabin. Extra's are things like specialty dining and shore excursions, not things you have to pay for to get on the boat.

 

It wouldn't be hard for the cruise companies to do this. They are already doing it when you do a fake booking. What's the matter with showing the real price up front?

 

 

 

I think it’s a little much to ask for in an advertisement...

Can you imagine?

Prices for inside every category

Ocean view every category

Balcony every category

Suite every category

Not to mention spa rooms

Family harbor rooms

Havana rooms...

also all of those things for past guests, casino rates etc...

 

it would be insane and something I don’t want to filter thru.

It seems much easier for me to run the mock booking for what I want and then give me my totals.

Practically every purchase we make in the US is “plus tax”.

It seems normal to me.

 

 

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[billfish]

See my reason for asking the question in post #34.

 

Sorry I missed that and you are right on.. The bottom line its a moving target at light speed .

[carrieluvsgreg]

In Canada, most, if not all, all-inclusives include the flights and transfers.

 

 

 

We have a different opinion on hidden. I say if it's up front, then it's not hidden. Others say if it's in a mock booking or the small print then it's not hidden.

 

 

 

Port fees and taxes are set, otherwise, you wouldn't get the right price when you do the mock booking. Gratuities are set too.

 

 

 

You and I have different opinions on lying. Advertising a cruise for $199 or a hotel room for $89 or Verizon for $40 that I can't get for those prices is not true, IE a lie. The fact that everyone advertises something you can't get doesn't suddenly make it true. Just tell everyone what it costs up front, then no one has anything to complain about.

 

 

 

Cruise lines, Hotels and Verizon all know exactly what price you are going to have to pay for their services. It wouldn't take any effort to put the full price in their advertising, but they choose not to. If they didn't believe it gave them some advantage, they wouldn't do it.

 

 

 

So perhaps the issue is at most basic- cultural differences. “Plus tax” is not part of the purchase. You see, the retailer (any and all regardless of who) do not keep those monies. They belong to the government. So when I go to the “Everything’s $1” store here in Florida where my sales tax rate is 7% I know that if I go in and buy anything I will pay $1.07. Have they lied to me? Everything is supposed to be $1! No, the store doesn’t keep that money. They report and submit it to the government.

It’s no different with Carnival. They do not keep taxes or port fees. Those go to the individual ports and government.

Personally- I like seeing and knowing the breakdown. I know what I’m paying for what.

 

 

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[billfish]

Now lets try to discuss how to analyze how to figure out how to get the lowest price on Ram 1500 pick up truck. Its simple $ 100 over invoice price

[SadieN]

I’m confused. Not too sure what exactly is the problem.

Just booked a cruise and I was able to see the taxes and fees on the tiles before I even picked the cruise. The exact price popped up when I chose my Cabin category.

At least it’s easier than buying concert tickets. Didn’t see the surcharge anywhere until I was ready to put in my card number.

 

 

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[PAPERBKWRITER]

Now lets try to discuss how to analyze how to figure out how to get the lowest price on Ram 1500 pick up truck. Its simple $ 100 over invoice price

 

You check for any factory rebates and any other discounts you are eligible for (recent grad or military) and contact (email) 4 or 5 dealers and ask for their best price and go from there. email gives you proof of offers that you can play one against the other...Just bought a new vehicle and that worked for me...So much many people don't know about such as factory holdback and dealer incentives.

[PAPERBKWRITER]

I'm not a rookie. I've booked 30 + cruises and I know how to get the final price BUT sometimes its a pain to try to get the bottom line when you're just shopping. I look at a lot of cruise before I act since we have to fly so I need to look for 2 bargains at once.

[DebJ14]

After reading the first 40 posts, I have come to the conclusion that I am right to use a travel agent. I let her sift through all of that and find the best deal on the itinerary I want around the dates I want . She knows my preference of cruise lines and what kind of cabin I want. I usually call and tell her what I am looking for and she provides me with the options and the bottom line price for each, including air and pre night hotel, if necessary. But, sometimes we get calls about deals that are too good to pass up. Sorry, but I just don't have time to wade through it all.

I am heading to an all inclusive in January. I gave my TA the dates and told her it has to be Cozumel and she came back with the prices for the various hotels that are at least 4 star, including all taxes, fees and first class air. The decision took all of 5 minutes to make, but probably took her hours to do the legwork.

[Retired_to_Cruise]

I'm not a rookie. I've booked 30 + cruises and I know how to get the final price BUT sometimes its a pain to try to get the bottom line when you're just shopping. I look at a lot of cruise before I act since we have to fly so I need to look for 2 bargains at once.

 

I have also booked 30+ cruises, and I can easily find the total cost of any cruise broken out by each cost element in less than 10 minutes using the existing booking engine. I also have to fly to every port I use and can find all airline options and cost breakdowns in less than 10 minutes using the existing airline booking engines. In these situations, it is impossible for you to get "hidden costs" imposed on you. You are exactly right, suppliers are required to provide you the exact cost breakdown before you buy their products. And everyone I have ever worked with will give you that breakdown before you "sign on the dotted line" unless they are running a scam on you and you don't realize it. There is nothing in any legislation that says they have to give you their final number before you provide the information that clearly defines to them what you are requesting a price for. Until you have provided all of the information they need to formulate the price, it is legal for them to tell you that "taxes and fees" and other financial things may apply. When you want detailed answers, you have to give detailed requirements. And that is what booking engines are designed to do. "Ain't no such thing as a free lunch".

[CRZR58]

It's funny to suggest that folks don't know what I'm asking for, because I put it in my original post. It's simply a realistic price that you could actually purchase on the main page.

 

Maybe an example would help... I just went on to Carnival's web site. Clicked on deals. Chose a week. Clicked on the big red best price option of $309 for 7 days. Great deal eh? Add in $111 for port fees and $90 for tips and the cost is now $511 PP (unless you're travelling solo), about 65% more than the original price. From $511 per person doesn't sound as good, but it's the actual price you're going to pay before drinks, specialty restaurants, shore excursions, etc.

 

It's child's play to give users choices at the beginning of the search instead of after they click on a choice. A check box for the 'Full' price instead of the unrealistic cabin price would be a great start. While I'm at it, ask for # of Adults, # of Children, # of +55, minimum cabin type once at the beginning of the search process so I don't have to re-click on them each trip I want to price.

 

FTR: I'm not suggesting that every price or a complete breakdown be shown on the front page. I'm not suggesting that flights or hotel or anything else that the cruise line isn't selling be included.

 

Everyone who has cruised before knows that tips are extra. Newbies don't, because other vacations don't break the tips out into a separate line item.

 

Everyone who has cruised before knows that there are port fees on top of the price. Newbies don't and a 35% fee isn't the same as a 10-15% hotel tax.

 

Is what they are doing legal? Sure. Is it deceptive? I think so.

[thinfool]

Is what they are doing legal? Sure. Is it deceptive? I think so.

 

It's the American way.

 

Big business opposes anything that would benefit the consumer.

 

Currently the airlines are trying to change the regulation that requires that truly complete prices be shown.

 

I like being in Europe where the price shown is the price that you pay (when shopping on land).

 

As far as cruise pricing...booking cruises that are priced thru the Australian market reflect gratuities...not sure about port fees and taxes.

[PAPERBKWRITER]

Pretty sure years ago when we first stated cruising the advertised price included all charges except the auto tip.

[Retired_to_Cruise]

It's the American way.

 

Big business opposes anything that would benefit the consumer.

 

Currently the airlines are trying to change the regulation that requires that truly complete prices be shown.

 

I like being in Europe where the price shown is the price that you pay (when shopping on land).

 

As far as cruise pricing...booking cruises that are priced thru the Australian market reflect gratuities...not sure about port fees and taxes.

 

The airline rules that were put into effect January of 2012 dealt with advertising offers that were misleading. hidden, not booking engine costs. Some airlines would advertise a flight for $169. In reality, that flight for $169 was a "come on" price that was really just the one-way fare before taxes, government fees, and fuel surcharges kick in on a ticket that actually required a round-trip purchase. So, when you went to the booking engine and put in your information, you would then see a price more like $900 -- the full round-trip fare including taxes, fuel surcharges, and government fees. Apples and Oranges and is now illegal. And this new rule only covered mandatory fees, not the fees for discretionary components of the contracts like baggage fees, seat upgrade, flier status benefits, etc.

[Retired_to_Cruise]

I am curious as to what the OP found as a good deal. Did he see an ad saying a 14-day Panama Canal cruise for $199? Or, did he actually do a mock booking and suddenly discover that the advertised price is for a Deck 1 inside cabin and had the word "FROM $199" that he failed to see? I cannot imagine taxes and fees adding 70% to the cost of the cruise! :o

 

Seems as if the poster you were responding to failed to understand what the "FROM $199" means. In every case I have checked, that FROM price is the cheapest one day price for a cabin in that general category if you do early saver and let the cruise line choose your cabin. That way, if you buy that situation, you will pay that one day price for the cabin you get no matter where it is located. You do not even gt to choose your cabin number. In the booking engine, once you make that choice, it displays all of the cost for that selection. You have no other choices bu to reject it or buy it. Once you make that decision to pick you own cabin, much more information is needed to give you complete cost.