TA's brought this on

[TWOFERTWO]

[B]Kathleen P.[/B]

[QUOTE]For what category and how much are you saving?? I am not asking how much you paid, that is not my business, but how much did you keep in your pocket? [/QUOTE] As you said earlier (not about how much), it is none of your businsess. As far as weather or not I got a senior discount, is also none of your business. Senior discounts are available to all that qualifiy.
The point, and the only point that I care about, is what the Aug. 13th policy statement by RCCL, takes away from![QUOTE]Maybe you are a senior and you get a discount that way, which is below rack rate.[/QUOTE] No! As I said, I have agreat TA, that books cruises for LESS than price point. Take this for what it is worth! :D

[Kathleen P.]

[quote name='marienbad']let's say that the cruiseline sets a fixed price, and 59 days before sailing the ship is 50% full. What do you think will happen to the price? Will those who booked at the higher price get a rebate?[/QUOTE]

don't the crusie lines do that already???

[Kathleen P.]

[quote name='TWOFERTWO'][B]Kathleen P.[/B]

As you said earlier (not about how much), it is none of your businsess. As far as weather or not I got a senior discount, is also none of your business. Senior discounts are available to all that qualifiy.
The point, and the only point that I care about, is what the Aug. 13th policy statement by RCCL, takes away from! No! As I said, I have agreat TA, that books cruises for LESS than price point. Take this for what it is worth! :D[/QUOTE]


geeze twofer, you sound awfully angry...I think its time you got out of the Nevada heat.

The problem is is that no one seems to be giving up how much they saved...so how do you know it's a savings?? It's always "none of anyone's business...but for you coupon clippers out there, I really think you should compare prices. Like I said I don't rally care because I pay less than anyone because I am a TA. But maybe you should all get together and post your costs...it's not like anyone knows who you are or anything. Maybe you will all be in for a real eye-opener. Like I stated above...I am a TA, I also scour the internet and have inquired about costs on agencies people have recommended here....I have yet to find a GREAT price. I have found prices varying 50-75 dollars...not exactly a deal breaker if you ask me. It's all about value really..if you are booking a room cabin that is the least popular...how do you know you got the best deal...your TA could be laughing all the way to the bank. Keep in mind no body works for free...

FreesiaE it does not make you a bad person...I think you are taking this way too far...I think some people are saying they get great bargains...but on what....no body seems to want to answer what price and what cabin. Unless you know that to say you have a great price is just the end of the equasion.

Just because the cruise lines may want to standardize prices, does not mean you will be paying more for your inside stateroom. Since they are the most undesireable...the price may actually go down.

I did notice however that many many people cheap out on the last night of the cruise by not showing up so they do not have to tip...which is just so awful. So if the cruises have to charge a little extra to cover the cost of tipping in the form of a mandatory service charge and the sneaking of drinks so you don't have to buy them and everything else people do...so be it.

Did you ever think that maybe the cheapskates brought this on?

[kwsunset]

I have read many of the treads regarding this new Rebate Policy. The first thing that comes to mind is why? The cruise line still gets whatever pricing it has set for that agency (based on volume sales). If the agency wishes to rebate part of their commission, why should it matter. There are several possibilities. 1). Force out the TA. Since no breaks can be given by the TA, why not book the with the cruise line, especially if they hold certain cabins back. 2). Raise the standard of passenger, by forcing the pax to pay more. Possible, but most agencies do not make more than 16% for each pax. (Remember the TA does not get commission on Port Charges or taxes. Therefore if the cruise is $2,000 they really can only give back between $100-200. per pax. That won't raise the standard of pax. (Actually money does not equal class anyway). 3). Cut out internet agencies, who traditionally advertise discounts. This is certainly one good way to possibly accomplish this. BUT
Their Poiciy Notice states that "Our existing marketing policies with respect to group bookings will remain, FOR THE TIME BEING, unchanged. (they did't put it in caps)."
Most internet companies have multiple groups for certain dates. When a "put-up-or-shut-up" date comes the price can revert back to the published rate. This is probably how the internet companies can give a larger than commission discount. There is a danger here, however. If they book only a few in that group, they may loose group status and that rate will not be honored.

The cruise line is not going to let cabins go unfilled. They will adjust there prices up and down as needed. Nowhere does it say that your price cannot be adjusted based on current published rates. Several agencies do this including ones on the internet.

Personally, I think its an attempt to cash in on the supply finally catching up with the demand. When more ships come on, prices will go down. If cruising gets to be too expensive, people will go back to land vacations. I remember the 50s and 60s and even early 70s when cruises were for the very elite and wealthy. In the meantime, RCL, Carnival and probably others, are just as greedy as other publicly traded companies trying to increase their bottom line.

Michael

[Lois R]

deleted..........

[Ocean Boy]

[quote name='Kathleen P.']The problem is is that no one seems to be giving up how much they saved...so how do you know it's a savings??[/QUOTE]

You know how much it would cost to book directly with the cruise line and you know how much you paid through your TA. So what, exactly, is so hard to understand about this concept of savings?? This is not rocket science.

[awatt]

"The problem is is that no one seems to be giving up how much they saved...so how do you know it's a savings??"

While I don't know teh dollar amount off teh top of my head, I am in the process of booking a Bermuda cruise for next summer. My TA quoted me 13% off brichure. I am sure that is a savings.

And I am quite happy with that. Don't really care what the guy in the cabin next door is paying.

What makes me unhappy is that this way of doing business with my TA will not happen anymore,if I understand the new rules correctly.

[CRUISEinTIME]

[quote name='kwsunset']IPersonally, I think its an attempt to cash in on the supply finally catching up with the demand. When more ships come on, prices will go down.

Michael[/QUOTE]

Kwsunset,

I think you hit it on the nose !!!! "Supply & Demand" After 9/11 the entire travel industry was hit, including the cruise industry. I think the industry has grown tremendously over the past year + and the cruise lines are slowing down on ship building. Sure they are building a few but not like the past 3- 4 years. I think we will see a shift in the way they do business, similiar to the airline industry (cutting out all of the incentives and slowly bringing the prices up to a level that the market will bare.

I think what is important to remember that cruising today is still a real bargin !!!

Just my thoughts !

Tom

[joannie]

Just checked on a cruise I was looking at my online travel agent for two people.

Celebrity Millennium Dec 5 Sky Suite - 380 Square feet $3,726
Holland America Westerdam Dec 5 Deluxe Verandah Suite - 530 Square feet $2,687 with Plasma TV and Sound System.

Holland is some $1,000 lower in price.

Let the competition begin.

Joannie

[ABSCruiseLuvers]

[quote name='joannie']Just checked on a cruise I was looking at my online travel agent for two people.

Celebrity Millennium Dec 5 Sky Suite - 380 Square feet $3,726
Holland America Westerdam Dec 5 Deluxe Verandah Suite - 530 Square feet $2,687 with Plasma TV and Sound System.

Holland is some $1,000 lower in price.

Let the competition begin.

Joannie[/QUOTE]

I think you just hit it. This is what will keep Celebrity in line.

[ajcruise]

"While I don't know teh dollar amount off teh top of my head, I am in the process of booking a Bermuda cruise for next summer. My TA quoted me 13% off brichure. I am sure that is a savings."

The new policy does NOT mean that you will be paying brochure pricing!
It simply means that TA's can NOT rebate their commission to the client.

[bob278]

[quote name='ajcruise'].......
The new policy does NOT mean that you will be paying brochure pricing!
It simply means that TA's can NOT rebate their commission to the client.[/QUOTE]
I'm not clear as to what will fall out from this, but if the TAs can't rebate any commission, just what rate will we pay if not "brochure"?

Keep in mind that the brochure usually has two rates (or more recently a range) and the internet has another. My guess for now is that the internet rate will become the "official" rate that TAs can provide with some promotional rates the cruiseline provide to their bigger producers being available, but not advertised.

My major complaint with all this is I will have no way to judge if there are any promotional rates available or if I've found a good one. With this policy, I have to take the word of the cruise line and I just don't believe for a minute that this new policy is intended to save me money.

Bob

[Kathleen P.]

[quote name='joannie']Just checked on a cruise I was looking at my online travel agent for two people.

Celebrity Millennium Dec 5 Sky Suite - 380 Square feet $3,726
Holland America Westerdam Dec 5 Deluxe Verandah Suite - 530 Square feet $2,687 with Plasma TV and Sound System.

Holland is some $1,000 lower in price.

Let the competition begin.

Joannie[/QUOTE]


If you check the Celebrity website, your price is actually $26 more than what Celebrity has posted.

There are many people that do not mind paying $1000 or an additional 142.00 per day to sail on Celebrity. HAL is a nice line but draws a much older crowd.

However, I did not see the Deluxe Veranda Suite available for Dec 5 on a discount on line agency, I have only seen it on available on HAL website for $3157.

I guess "bargains" are what you make of them.

Have fun on HAL!

Also I might add that Celebrity is rated much higher than HAL, in terms of food, service etc..that is where the "value factor" comes into play. You definately get what you pay for.

[Giorgi-one]

I am saiing on Celebrity in January, but I just booked a crusie on HAL for next August. The price I paid was about $600 less per person than the price quoted on the HAL site. This is way more than any agency can discount by giving back some of their commission. Can anyone explain the big difference? If cruise lines expect everyone to pay the prices they advertise on their web sites, I have no doubt that many people will choose not to cruise. Certainly, the cruise lines will make way more money on each booking, but they will loose all the money associated with tips, casino, excursions, shops, etc. if ships sail with lots of empty cabins. I know that there are a lot of people on these boards who say they will cruise at any price, but I believe that is a very small percentage of the total people who cruise. Many people will look at the prices and go somewhere else for a vacation.

[halos]

[quote name='bob278']
I do enough research to determine what seems like a good price to me and then that's my target.



I
In the meantime, I am glad that we have 3 of the next four cruises we want to take already booked with prices that are "fair" by MY definition, [COLOR=DarkRed]not someone else's.
[/COLOR]
Just one more opinion of many that are out there.

Bob[/QUOTE]


[U]Very[/U] well said

[smeyer418]

I am saiing on Celebrity in January, but I just booked a crusie on HAL for next August. The price I paid was about $600 less per person than the price quoted on the HAL site. This is way more than any agency can discount by giving back some of their commission. Can anyone explain the big difference? If cruise lines expect everyone to pay the prices they advertise on their web sites, I have no doubt that many people will choose not to cruise. Certainly, the cruise lines will make way more money on each booking, but they will loose all the money associated with tips, casino, excursions, shops, etc. if ships sail with lots of empty cabins. I know that there are a lot of people on these boards who say they will cruise at any price, but I believe that is a very small percentage of the total people who cruise. Many people will look at the prices and go somewhere else for a vacation.

 

 

there are at least three possibilities on this that I know of.

1. Group pricing

2. The Travel agent purchased a block of rooms and is resellling them.

3. a net fare which the TA may mark up as they see fit.(similar to block of rooms for resale)

 

In these cases this new policy should not effect this for the future...yet

[awatt]

"The new policy does NOT mean that you will be paying brochure pricing!

It simply means that TA's can NOT rebate their commission to the client."

 

ajcruise,

 

Obviously I am misunderstanding the new policy. Can you please explain? I thought this meant brochure pricing for all. Or if a lower rate, to be determined by the cruise line only. Would appreciate some clarification,thanks. Maybe I'm getting worked up about nothing.

[smeyer418]

No it doesn't mean no discounts from the Brochure. It means that the Cruise line will control the pricing much as they do now. The proposed difference seems to impy no rebating of the commision paid by the Cruise line to the agent-no rebating in cash. The policy said nothing that can be turned into currency. So that leaves a lot of room for other things---more of a tempest in a calm seas than anything else but I do wonder when the next change will take place but as for me I am taking two cruises... and yes I did get additional discounts....

[Ocean Boy]

Obviously I am misunderstanding the new policy. Can you please explain? I thought this meant brochure pricing for all. Or if a lower rate, to be determined by the cruise line only. Would appreciate some clarification,thanks. Maybe I'm getting worked up about nothing.

 

Don't confuse "brochure rate" with what the cruise line is actually charging for a cruise. When the brochures are printed up the cruise lines use as guess as to what they may be charging. Often times the listed rate has very little to do with the actual charge. As you know the price of a cruise can vary by the date of sailing and the brochures make it look like every week has the same price. Of course there is some small print that states that the price of your sailing may differ from that quoted in the brochure.

 

You have to either call the cruise line, or check the web site, for the rate for your sailing and cabin catagory. That is the price that the TAs are no longer able to discount from. And it is determined by the cruise line only.

[smeyer418]

also the price can vary for the same cruise each week and sometimes every day, All cruise lines have a deparment that on the airlines is called load control... it watches how a cruise is selling. they set targets for what load factor they want at a given time before a cruise. If the cruise has filled up beyond that factor they may raise the price for all future bookings(although there may be group rooms still available at the lower prices), if the load is below that factor they may drop the price for a some time. They may have last minute specials to fill up a cruise. this has very little to do with rebating.

 

You know you have seen the threads that talk about whether it is a good idea to book earlier or later, a guaranteed room or a fixed location...the brochure rate is a starting point. Personally I like to pay at least 1/2 half off the brochure rate. IMO opinion the brochure rate is set too high to encourage you to book a deal...

[awatt]

thanks to both of you for the clarification. I thought brochure rate was similar to rate quoted on their website, but now iI see that's not so. I never look at the brochure ,just the website. Website price has always been higher than that of my TA. But now it sounds like they may be the same going forward. Thanks again for all your help.

[louiesowner]

Our travel agency just got another notice about the new policy and from what I understand is that we just can't cut our commissions. If there are Senior or Resident Promotions, we can still sell those. There are always great prices on different cruises using some kind of promotion. Our agency gets Key Account promotions and we can still use those to sell to our clients. We even got a happy hour notification today and so those are still being sent out. The bottom line is just the commissions. If you book through Celebrity/RCCL you might not get some of the promotions that an individual agency might get because they are a high producer. All these promotions are approved by the Cruiseline.

 

Just my thoughts

[joannie]

Kathleen Posted:

 

 

There are many people that do not mind paying $1000 or an additional 142.00 per day to sail on Celebrity. HAL is a nice line but draws a much older crowd.

 

However, I did not see the Deluxe Veranda Suite available for Dec 5 on a discount on line agency, I have only seen it on available on HAL website for $3157.

 

Kathleen, without posting the name of the agency, their rate is still as of 5 minutes ago $2,686.44 for that Holland Category S Suite for two adults. The agency you are using for a price shop is almost $500 more than the agency I checked. You might shop around more for bargains.

 

That's just my issue, there are bargains in the market place for quality cruise lines and its far better to have competion rather than being told you will pay this amount and that's it.

 

Joannie...Have a good one

[TWOFERTWO]

also the price can vary for the same cruise each week and sometimes every day, All cruise lines have a deparment that on the airlines is called load control... it watches how a cruise is selling. they set targets for what load factor they want at a given time before a cruise. If the cruise has filled up beyond that factor they may raise the price for all future bookings(although there may be group rooms still available at the lower prices), if the load is below that factor they may drop the price for a some time. They may have last minute specials to fill up a cruise. this has very little to do with rebating.

This is just about the same explaintion that I just got from my TA, this morning. They are still discounting, until Aug. 20th, the same as always, on that date forward, the prices will be determined by policy and what this quote says. :(

[dabear]

we've been on CELEBRITY, HAL and Princess and we rate them in that order. Altho we currently on scheduled on the Connie next winter, in the future, if the others are significantly less expensive, (trust me, they are not significantly less in quality), adios Celebrity. PS, the Hal reputation for older crowds does not apply in the Caribbean. The PAX on the Zuiderdam were the same age as that on the Millie.