per-day fare

[palmerett]

Morning, I trying to understand per-day fare.  We took the equivalent 2022 cruise and I feel our charge is higher than others booking the same cruise.  My PCC was trying to explain I should not compare.  Really why?  I also felt insulted  by my PCC reaction. Any insight on this matter?  Thanks

 

Palmerett

[NavArch64]

For 2 guests per stateroom, take the base price for the cruise (not incl taxes, fees, insurance, transfers, etc) and divide by the number of days x 2. So, if the base price is $2800 for a 7 day cruise, the calculation is $2800/(7 x 2) = $2800/14 = $200 pppd. That is about "average" for the cruise industry for a balcony stateroom on the mass market brands. Recently, in the post COVID19 world, that average has increased for sure. Perhaps that is what your PCC is trying to explain. Also, there are a lot of FCC's out there to be "absorbed".

[DaveOKC]

47 minutes ago, palmerett said:

Morning, I trying to understand per-day fare.  We took the equivalent 2022 cruise and I feel our charge is higher than others booking the same cruise.  My PCC was trying to explain I should not compare.  Really why?  I also felt insulted  by my PCC reaction. Any insight on this matter?  Thanks

 

Palmerett

Not sure what you are comparing versus "others".  If it is the EXACT same cruise on the EXACT same day it should be the same, unless the "others" are getting a casino, Mariner or special promotion (sent to specific people) discount.  You can easily check by doing a trial booking on the HAL website or another travel booking website.

 

If this does not explain the difference, you should question your PCC further.  You could also post your exact details (which cruise on which date, what cabin category, etc.) here and someone can evaluate it for you.

[Lady Arwen]

Yes, we do need more information to help you.  If you’re comfortable giving us the price and ship and date, someone would be able to provide some help.  Not fully understanding your question.

[CruiserBruce]

"We took the equivalent 2022 cruise". Equivalent to what?

 

Not sure what is happening here. Are you comparing a fare from a prior year to a 2022 cruise? Of course those aren't going to be the same, even if they are the exact same cruise, in the exact same ship and cabin. Was there a promise that you would get the same cruise at the same price, due to the Covid cancelations?

[kochleffel]

If what you're seeing is that the current fare for that kind of cabin in that sailing is less than what you paid, you may be able to call in and request a fare adjustment.

 

But remember that fares are dynamic. If one type of cabin is selling well and another not so well, the fare for the first type will likely rise or the fare for the second type will likely fall, until demand comes back into balance with supply. While it is not common, I have recently seen oceanview cabins on some sailings priced below inside cabins.

[Mary229]

Additionally does one cruise fare have an added package, such as the Have it All, versus last years.  Yes prices have gone up but there are lots of variables to consider

[Nodakboiler]

We were on the original 21 day maiden voyage of the Rotterdam and chose to take the equivalent cruise that HAL determined was a 19 day Med cruise in May 2022. Our new invoice shows the same fare instead of a reduction due to 2 less days. I spoke with our PCC and he said that should have been less and is having the staff check into it. Our OBC was also reduced but we are waiting for our new booking confirmation to question that and any other benefits that have been changed.

[RGEDad]

it varies based on the place, duration, tide, Phase of the Moon, and WHAT THE TRAFFIC WILL PAY..

I am booking a 50 day South pacific cruise now. Starts in Vancouver, but people can also board in San Diego. The cost to board in in Vancouver was listed as a wapping $4 more, for an additional 5 days of sailing. But when I actually booked it was actually cheaper to start in Vancouver than San Diego - Go Figure. In discussion with others who had earlier purchased from Vancouver, they were paying $200/day in additional fares for those 5 days. 

In short - It is whatever the market will bear. 

There are sites where you can watch the price of cabin categories rise and fall as time progresses. Right now - they are all rising.

[iancal]

We are currently looking at airfare to Morocco.  Change planes in Lisbon.  Same airline.  The fare to Morocco is $200 less (return) than the fare to Lisbon.   

 

We have found that this happens occasionally on air fare.  Seems to me it is down to what others have said...what the traffic will bear. Or a promo to entice traffic to or from a specific market area.

[rucrazy]

The only way to truly compare is to compare pricing, is to use same category, same deck.

If the days of the adventure are the same, then I would simply back out taxes and port charges and simply do the math.

[Horizon chaser 1957]

One of our cruises that HAL cancelled was moved from 2021 to 2022. We were given a short window to book the 2022 cruise in the same cabin for the same price. If we passed on the chance and booked later, we would have to pay the new regular fare, which was going to be higher. That may be what you’re seeing if others have the same ‘2022 version’ booked at a lower rate for the same cabin classification.

Edited July 5, 2021 by Horizon chaser 1957

[Hlitner]

On 6/29/2021 at 7:56 AM, palmerett said:

Morning, I trying to understand per-day fare.  We took the equivalent 2022 cruise and I feel our charge is higher than others booking the same cruise.  My PCC was trying to explain I should not compare.  Really why?  I also felt insulted  by my PCC reaction. Any insight on this matter?  Thanks

 

Palmerett

LOL.  Asking a PCC the reasons behind pricing differentials is like asking a car salesperson to justify the price of a car they sell.  Insulted?  Why?  You are asking an employee and salesperson paid by HAL a question for which they will have a properly scripted answer.  

 

But here is a secret (shhhhh).   We have always paid significantly less (for HAL cruises) then the price we could get from our PCC.  In fact, a few years ago when our PCC made a call trying to get our direct business I suggested that we did not want to pay the 7-10% premium it would cost us if we booked through the PCC (as compared to what we can get from any of our favored cruise agencies).  The PCC had a quick suggestion which was that we should book through the PCC and then transfer the reservation to a cruise agency to get the better deal.  My response was also quick (and simple) which is why on earth should I do a multi-step booking process when I could simply go on to my cruise agencies web site and book with a few clicks of the mouse (or a phone call) and save thousands of dollars?

 

I am not telling you are anyone else how to book your cruises but simply suggesting that if you want to save money there are better options then booking through a PCC or any other reservations agent working for a cruise line.   For those who prefer to deal with their PCC I thank you on behalf of all the CCL Stockholders :).

 

Hank

[rucrazy]

57 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

For those who prefer to deal with their PCC I thank you on behalf of all the CCL Stockholders :).

You are welcome!

[JeffElizabeth]

2 hours ago, Hlitner said:

LOL.  Asking a PCC the reasons behind pricing differentials is like asking a car salesperson to justify the price of a car they sell.  Insulted?  Why?  You are asking an employee and salesperson paid by HAL a question for which they will have a properly scripted answer.  

 

But here is a secret (shhhhh).   We have always paid significantly less (for HAL cruises) then the price we could get from our PCC.  In fact, a few years ago when our PCC made a call trying to get our direct business I suggested that we did not want to pay the 7-10% premium it would cost us if we booked through the PCC (as compared to what we can get from any of our favored cruise agencies).  The PCC had a quick suggestion which was that we should book through the PCC and then transfer the reservation to a cruise agency to get the better deal.  My response was also quick (and simple) which is why on earth should I do a multi-step booking process when I could simply go on to my cruise agencies web site and book with a few clicks of the mouse (or a phone call) and save thousands of dollars?

 

I am not telling you are anyone else how to book your cruises but simply suggesting that if you want to save money there are better options then booking through a PCC or any other reservations agent working for a cruise line.   For those who prefer to deal with their PCC I thank you on behalf of all the CCL Stockholders :).

 

Hank

We used to use the PCC's but tried a TA recently.  So much better deals even with their fee. It doesn't make sense that the price goes down using a middleman but it is reality. The travel agent is working for you. The PCC is working for Holland. 

[oakridger]

@JeffElizabeth

 

In the US anyway, a good TA should not charge a fee to book a cruise!  They already get a commission from the cruise lines.  I have never paid a fee to a TA for a cruise or hotel!!

 

~Nancy

[colonialinnkeeper]

On 7/4/2021 at 11:23 PM, RGEDad said:

 

   ...There are sites where you can watch the price of cabin categories rise and fall as time progresses. Right now - they are all rising.

Can you tell us the sites that show the changing cabin pricing?  (or is this not allowed by CC)

[iancal]

We never, ever pay a TA for booking a cruise.  OR for re-pricing, or for changing our cabin.

 

In fact....the TA pays us to some extent for placing our business with her in the form of a TA provided OBC equal to anywhere from 6-12 percent of the commissionable fare.   Plus the occasional group price or a gratis third party excursion.

 

 We would use a TA even without the OBC because of the impartial advice, feedback, and alerting us to competitive offers that we may not have been aware of. 

 

 This is the only time we use a TA, everything else we do ourselves on the web.

Edited July 6, 2021 by iancal

[trixiee]

Unfortunately, I have not been able to find a TA that knows enough about cruising to make it worthwhile.  And our last TA gave us a $20.00 card to use in the Casino.  (We don't gamble)... 

I can quickly email my PCC with a request, and it's taken care of quickly.  

[JeffElizabeth]

1 hour ago, trixiee said:

Unfortunately, I have not been able to find a TA that knows enough about cruising to make it worthwhile.  And our last TA gave us a $20.00 card to use in the Casino.  (We don't gamble)... 

I can quickly email my PCC with a request, and it's taken care of quickly.  

Exactly.  Our first TA in 1997 was a waste but our current one we actually met on a cruise and she has done some amazing things for us. She knows what we want and doesn't try to put us on the monster ships. (She hates them herself. )