Anyone ever paid the brochure price ??

[RedmondCruiser]

I was just curious if anyone out there had ever paid the full freight brochure price for a cruise ? Pricing on cruises seems to be getting more like the airlines each day. I can't recall every paying the borchure price in any of our 35 cruises. The only time I have ever heard of someone paying the brochure price was my aunt. She went to one of the biggest travel agents in the Seattle area and paid full brochure price for an inside cabin. (not on HAL thought) She was thrilled when they informed her that she was upgraded to another inside cabin on a higher deck. What I find is the real wild card in cruise prices is the taxes and port charges -- I have yet to figure that one out.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Not us!!

[zorbaj]

I don't believe this cruises are discounted and if they are only 5% or so.

[obriendan]

I do remember on our first cruise reservation that when I went to the TA's office to make the reservation I expected to pay the brochure price. I was so pleased when she told me that there was a 35% discount from the brochure price! Since then have never paid more than 55% of the so-called brochure price!:)

[happy cruzer]

yep we paid brochure rate on our 1st cruise. Our friends who were the expert cruisers made all arranagements. It turns out we paid full brochure for an outside. We did get an upgrade to a balcony. In Alaska.... so we did get what we paid for, sorta.

Imagine my shock when I booked the next cruise for DH and I??? Live and learn.

My question is: does anyone even have to pay 1/2 brochure?

Oh to be young and dumb again :p

[jhannah]

Never paid full brochure rate. Due to the time we book and the small Mariner discount, our average is probably 60% of the full brochure rate.

[hammybee]

yep we paid brochure rate on our 1st cruise. Our friends who were the expert cruisers made all arranagements. It turns out we paid full brochure for an outside. We did get an upgrade to a balcony. In Alaska.... so we did get what we paid for, sorta.

Imagine my shock when I booked the next cruise for DH and I??? Live and learn.

My question is: does anyone even have to pay 1/2 brochure?

Oh to be young and dumb again :p

Are world cruises and other popular longer intineraries discounted 50?

[sail7seas]

We always book an "S" suite and seeing as they sell out early, we don't always get a 50% discount. However, we definitely have never paid anything approaching brochure rate.

[lougee1043]

yep we paid brochure rate on our 1st cruise. Our friends who were the expert cruisers made all arranagements.

if this is what friends will do to you then you dont need enemies

i once saw a woman walk into an auto dealership and pay sticker price for a new car

[sail7seas]

I seriously doubt that these days you can book a verandah cabin for 50% off for WC.

[SDHALFAN]

I didn't know that anybody ever paid brochure price: I thought that was just "a suggestion".;) However I have to agree with Lougee that "with friends like that you don't need enemies".

I'm booked on two segments of the Amsterdam's 2007 World Cruise and have a deposit on the 2008 World Cruise. I could check to see what my discount is but it would not be a fair comparison since I am sailing "solo" and therefore pay at least 150% of the fare since I'm one person in a cabin meant for two.

I would have to agree with Jim Hannah that 35-40% is about the norm as far as discounts go. 50% off would really be a good deal - I don't think I've found one yet.

Valerie:)

[Aussie Gal]

If we book here in Australia through a T.A. we do pay the full Brochure price plus the exchange rate at the time the brochure is printed which is usually at a much lower rate than at the current exchange rate. Always to the advantage of the Marketing Agents here.

One year (2002) on board the old Noordam, we discovered that practically everyone had paid so much less than us and that is when we decided to book through U.S. Travel Agents which has been a great saving for us.

Also that is the year I discovered C.C. and began to learn so much more about cruising.

Since then, we have always received good discounts but certainly nothing like 50% as we always book early because we prefer to choose our cabin and we do choose the unusual itineraries.

Jennie

[happy cruzer]

I do inside and GTY. I can also go any time of year. I usually can get 50% on any cruise. And no I haven't ever gotten the cabin from Hell.:p

I imagine if I were to pick a cabin on a particular cruise and a particular date, I might have a problem.

But once I did that on a very nice Hawaii cruise and with patience the price did come down.

[SDHALFAN]

I do inside and GTY. I can also go any time of year. I usually can get 50% on any cruise. And no I haven't ever gotten the cabin from Hell.:p .

You have a very good point there. I think that most of us have a particular category and particular area of the ship in mind when we book a cruise, but if we were more flexible and went for a guarantee instead then 50% off the brochure rates might indeed be a reality.

I didn't ask for a guarantee, but rather a particular category, on the 2007 GWV but was given a guarantee anyway. In this case I think that HAL is just waiting to see how many people are interested and what they are willing to pay for this grand adventure. Who knows, maybe the upgrade fairy will pay me a visit? Whether or not she does, I'm going to be happy with the category I booked and am looking forward to a fantastic cruise.

Valerie:)

[kryos]

I'm booked on two segments of the Amsterdam's 2007 World Cruise and have a deposit on the 2008 World Cruise. I could check to see what my discount is but it would not be a fair comparison since I am sailing "solo" and therefore pay at least 150% of the fare since I'm one person in a cabin meant for two.

I was under the impression, though, that they had special deals for solos on the World Cruise. I recall getting a brochure in the mail from HAL ... or perhaps it was an email brochure ... that specifically listed the rate for a solo along with the double occupancy rates on last year's World Cruise. As I recall, the solo rates weren't that bad. Of course, they only listed solo rates on insides and outsides ... not on Verandas ... leaving me to assume that the single supplement on those cabins was probably 200%.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[Randyk47]

My ex bought my first real cruise back in the early 90's and I have no idea what she paid. Crank the clock forward since then and I've done the research, etc., and I'd say we've paid in the 60-70% range on average, certainly nowhere close to the brochure rate.

[SDHALFAN]

I was under the impression, though, that they had special deals for solos on the World Cruise. I recall getting a brochure in the mail from HAL ... or perhaps it was an email brochure ... that specifically listed the rate for a solo along with the double occupancy rates on last year's World Cruise. As I recall, the solo rates weren't that bad. Of course, they only listed solo rates on insides and outsides ... not on Verandas ... leaving me to assume that the single supplement on those cabins was probably 200%.

Blue skies ...

--rita


The single rates in the brochure are for the entire World Cruise and are shown for all categories (including the Penthouse Suite:D). I am doing only the first two segments of the cruise, and the pricing is different.

To quote the brochure: "Single fares are quoted above and are subject to change. A limited selection of double staterooms are available for single occupancy. Singles fares are available for segment guests upon request."

Valerie:)

[iceman93]

By "brochure rate", do you include the column that lists the early booking discount? IME, the fare I pay is usually at or very close to that. If you mean the full, FULL fare then I can't imagine ANYONE paying it. Even if you look up cruise prices on Expedia or Travelocity they show early booking, repeat cruiser, senior, etc. discounts. It seems that one would have to go out of their way to pay the full fare.

[happy cruzer]

hi iceman, My experience with my friends taking care of me happened in the good ole days when all you had was a paper brochure and brick and mortar travel agent. all though you didn't know they were brick and mortar because that term was not invited yet. The internet wasn't there yet, well sorta, it had a very few computer geeks on it but absolutely noone would ever do business on it, no way.

Old Chinese proverb: It is better to have a clever enemy than a stupid friend.:p

[Randyk47]

Can't speak for the others but when I say "brochure rate" I mean the lowest published rate by HAL which would include, if available, any early booking rate or Mariner discount, etc. We've gotten in the habit of booking around a year out and then watch, at least lately, the rates go up over the year. We've not been fortunate enough to have the rates go down so we've not been in the situation of having the opportunity to rebook or get a further discount/rebate.

[majkat]

Thanks for all the great advice here. Can you tell me if the below link is a good deal or not. You are all very informative and I have been reading and reading and you are also very knowledgable. Thanks in Advance


:confused: http://nwtravel.com/alaska.php (http://nwtravel.com/alaska.php)

[Charliesmom]

I had a very long term relationship with my travel agent and while I used her, I always paid brochure rate, unless I got a promotion from the cruise line.

My first inkling that I could get a discount or get a rebate on the price came from reading Cruise Critic for a cruise on Celebrity in January of 2003. I was able to pick up a senior discount and I found out myself on Celebrity's website that they had lowered the price from the brochure price. I called the travel agent and got rebates from Celebrity for both the senior discount and the lowered price. However, had I not seen this stuff, I would have paid full price (early booking discount printed in the brochure), as I had in the past.

After that I started looking for bargains (and got them). My agent retired in 2004 which made it easier on my conscience.

Roberta

[bdcbbq]

After that I started looking for bargains (and got them). My agent retired in 2004 which made it easier on my conscience.

Roberta

She sure didn't have one!