Rebate checks = cruise? Probably not

[Mikel1733]

Three (3) new surveys show sentiment changing on how rebate checks will be spent once received. It now appears the money will be spent in large part on food, gas, and paying down current debts. Is there a large enough segment of the economy that can keep cruise lines sailing at capacity or will bookings show weekness this fall into next year creating bargains for those who can afford it?

 

http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid={E8608D54-3173-4550-A042-C96847139235}&siteid=nwhpf

[zillabe]

My DH and I used our rebate check for our cruise :D Probably not the best thing to spend it on...Oh well

[Kurbanfan]

or will bookings show weekness this fall into next year creating bargains for those who can afford it?

 

 

This is what I believe..........

[cruise_pirate]

This is what I believe..........

 

Hope so!:)

[noahsark99]

I used mine to book a cruise! Would have booked anyway but maybe not this early.

[GTO-Girl]

The economy is becoming very scary. We are in our 50's with no more children at home and even we find ourselves scaling back a lot and preplanning multiple errands in one trip.

 

I work for a public utility and I see families every day trying to decide whether to keep their lights on, eat or buy gas. It's very sad.

 

We will still cruise once a year (when we can) but we will not be traveling near as much as we have in the past.

 

I agree with the above poster......for those who can afford it there should be some bargains come Fall.

 

Dianne

[Catrin]

We are using ours for a cruise....

 

BUT>>> this will be it for a while.....

 

Unless the cruise prices come down instead of going UP, we will have to take a break next year.

 

Cat

[deborahjo]

Paying of one cruise with part and then using the rest to pay bills.

[allgeeteredup]

We are using ours as part of a downpayment on a small farm but then again, we already have two cruises booked and are looking into booking our third for our anniversary. Those who can afford to cruise will always cruise and those who can't well, there won't be as many people not dressed up on formal night. Anyway, $1,200 is not really going to stimulate the economy with gas prices at $3.59 a gallon here and higher in other places. It's funny that there are car dealerships now offering a year's free gas with the purchase of a USED vehicle. Now that is a deal. But then you get the regular red herring (based on 12,000 miles and $3.29 a gallon). In a couple of months that won't even be a good deal. So, now that I am completely off the subject.... call the check what it really is. A rebate check. We, as Americans, know just how to blow $1,200. I VOTE 3rd CRUISE!!!!!

[JENNIEROEBUCK]

We used half of ours for a cruise, but we were going anyway.

 

It would be great to see some bargains in the coming year!

[linda_22003]

I'm just glad we're not getting a "stimulus/rebate" check at all, and I'm certainly looking at the glossy cruise books piled up at home.... :p

[Rockee4055]

The economy is becoming very scary. We are in our 50's with no more children at home and even we find ourselves scaling back a lot and preplanning multiple errands in one trip.

 

I work for a public utility and I see families every day trying to decide whether to keep their lights on, eat or buy gas. It's very sad.

 

We will still cruise once a year (when we can) but we will not be traveling near as much as we have in the past.

 

I agree with the above poster......for those who can afford it there should be some bargains come Fall.

 

Dianne

 

Well Diane, that's a good thing for those who are looking for bargains. We are fortunate enough to be able to take two next year so maybe our price will drop and allow more money for gas.

[BubbleYum]

We wouldn't be going on this cruise if it weren't for the rebate check!:)

[firefly333]

Im buying kroger cards with mine. You get 10% free on the cash cards.

 

Im still cruising, not changing my plans. My Sept 08 cruise is now up $200 pp from what I paid for Conquest. I dont see any drops in prices out of Galveston. Florida and California markets have less demand so you might get a deal out of one of the coasts.

[KruznKel]

We don't have the luxury of a stimulus cheque this way.. but we will still be cruising.. ;)

[sassyredhat]

We used ours during the WOW sale.

 

Pat

[war_eagle99]

Im buying kroger cards with mine. You get 10% free on the cash cards.

 

Ditto on the Kroger cards - we shop there anyway so might as well make another 10%. I will admit though that some is going along with me to be doubled in the Glory casino this summer.

[angelsbaby1]

Still waiting for my check...hoping it comes before we sail! The schedule says that it should be mailed this Friday (5/23/08), but we'll see. If it comes before we leave (5/25/08), it will be used for shopping while on the cruise (so much for using it in the US....lol)! If not it will be used for bills when we get back.

[MetalPrincess8]

I used mine to book a cruise! Would have booked anyway but maybe not this early.

 

ME TOO!!! That's EXACTLY what I'm doing...I love being able to plan ahead and I will be thanks to this rebate check!!

[HereIam]

We didn't get to book a cruise, but we are using it for vacation. We rented a house on Jekyll Island for a week and we plan on doing nothing but relaxing with a little swimming and fishing. It's not a cruise, but I still get my beach fix (and I don't have to leave the state):)

[Mikel1733]

I definitely believe the money should be spent so the economy is stimulated to the largest degree possible. Unfortunately I have used mine to buy carpet rather than a cruise. But hopefully that is good for the manufacturer, the local carpet store, and the local carpet layers. Maybe they will take a cruise.:)

[allgeeteredup]

Im buying kroger cards with mine. You get 10% free on the cash cards.

 

Im still cruising, not changing my plans. My Sept 08 cruise is now up $200 pp from what I paid for Conquest. I dont see any drops in prices out of Galveston. Florida and California markets have less demand so you might get a deal out of one of the coasts.

Firefly - We got the military discount and the difference in that is 350 pp. That is incredible. I was talking to my husband and letting him know that if we were going to cancel our cruise it needs to be before June 23, so we get a full refund but with the difference in cruise costs, it wouldn't be worth cancelling and rebooking. It would be like paying for three persons. We are actually saving more than it cost us for one person. We paid $629 pp for the Sept 7 sailing. We also just got our fuel surcharge back today. Yippee!!!!

[sjcruiser]

My rebate will be going towards an excursion or something else I charge on my S&S account. I may just save it and use it while onboard to book my next cruise.

[cruiselover999]

The rebate check came at the perfect time...just as my washing machine washed its last load! I spent mine on a new washing machine :eek:

[ShedQueen77]

I had to use mine to pay for my summer and part of my fall college tuition. My husband's check (we weren't married last year) paid for some new furniture for our new house. No cruise or economic stimulation with our money. :(