Prices went way up!

[stillfrantic]

I am sailing in September on the Zuiderdam and check the rate daily. For months it never varied. I figured after final payments were due, the rate would likely drop. While categories that had previously been closed or guaranteed did open up as available, the price really jumped. It is only the first week in September that is a good bit higher. It had been a little lower than the other weeks. I am just surprised.

[Roz]

Frantic,

I've noticed that on other cruises. I think it may have something to do with the Labor Day weekend. Lots of working people (myself among them!) like to combine cruises with long holiday weekends in order to maximize our annual leave.

Anyone else have another explanation?

Roz

[KAKcruiser]

It seems dumb to me but as the day of the cruise draws closer, HAL raises its prices on their web site but the travel agents lower their prices. I think HAL must sell them to the travel agents for less as the sailing date gets closer. For instance, HAL is selling their category S on the Volendam for December 6 for about $3,000. Cheaper Travel has it for about $1,900. This doesn't make any sense to me. Same thing for the Rotterdam Category S on December 2. HAL web site lists it for $3,700. Cheaper Travel is charging about $2,800. I think I heard that travel agents sell 90% of cruises. I guess that's why the cruise lines don't care so much about selling directly to passengers.

[Krazy Kruizers]

On our January cruises the price dropped quite a bit last weekend.

But on our Feb/Mar cruises the prices have gone up nearly $500 per person per cruise.

[Roz]

I think the law of supply and demand is at work.

Roz

[gizmo]

KAKcruiser is correct. I have seen this many times. It seems the closer the cruise gets, the price on Hal's site goes up and the TA prices go down.
This may not always be the case but I have seen it lots of times.

[stillfrantic]

I guess it doesn't help me even if TA's lower the prices since the HAL price is higher and our reservation is with them.

[localady]

I would recommend you contact the agency advertising the lowest price and ask them if you can transfer the booking to one of their agents. Bookings are routinely transfered from HAL to an agent as most cruises are cheaper that way. All it requires is you faxing a letter to HAL saying you wish to transfer your booking and the booking number, along with the name of the Agent and agency.

If you haven't made final payment yet, you can still do this. Good luck!:D

[Tatka]

I would recommend you contact the agency advertising the lowest price and ask them if you can transfer the booking to one of their agents. Bookings are routinely transfered from HAL to an agent as most cruises are cheaper that way. All it requires is you faxing a letter to HAL saying you wish to transfer your booking and the booking number, along with the name of the Agent and agency.

If you haven't made final payment yet, you can still do this. Good luck!:D


Why does anybody want to book thru HAL (or any other cruiseline anyway)?
Price difference always seems huge!

[catlib55]

We sail on the Rotterdam in December, and I have been watching the prices on the cabins just about daily. They all seem to have gone up rather than down. There are no inside cabins available any more, and most suites are full.
It is interesting to watch.
When we sailed on the Statendam in April of '03, I watched the price of our category go down significantly, so I called our TA and he got us the lower rate. So I am watching the prices of this cruise also. But they are significantly higher than what we have paid, and they have gone even higher since I have been watching them.
Wierd!
Til we sail on Rotterdam,
Mary Ellen

[Debi_D]

I notice that for our next cruise on the Oosterdam, we booked Suite (S) for 1,240.00 and now it is up to 2,270.00 on travelocity and it does not included all the fees.

I can't believe how much the price jump:confused:

Debi

[localady]

Tatka-
I think it may be that some are concerned that they will lose control of the booking. Or possibly they don't realize the financial difference. :eek: I am not the brightest choochoo on the block and it took me a while to understand how it works! I find the best of both worlds by securing the cabin directly thru HAL, then transferring it to my Agent for a competitve price. :D

Debi D- That veranda will be even sweeter knowing what you paid for the Suite:cool:

[KAKcruiser]

I also book directly with HAL and after I have everything in order like dining requests, shareholder shipboard credit, then I search for a travel agent. I usually transfer right before final payment is due. I never used to do this because HAL used to offer pretty good prices when the sailing got close. But, nowadays I always get a better deal with a travel agent.

[stillfrantic]

My husband booked the trip as a gift to me and at the time HAL had the same prices as online agencies he checked with. The trip is paid in full so I will just keep checking the HAL website, although it sounds like HAL sells high at the end to individuals. I was just surprised by the change since the 4th had been the cheapest week in September, and now, although it has more availability, the price has really escalated.

[cusyl]

My travel agent told me that the cruiselines raise the price considerably at times on one category in able to book more in the other categories.

[Orcrone]

Took a look at my cruise today. The inside and outside categories stayed the same, although the lowest priced insides vanished. However, the verandahs went up by about $150 per person. Glad I'm locked in.

[F5Loar]

Cruise rates must be tied to the federal interest rates! They went up today too! Look for more trickle down increase in everything including your cruise.

[stillfrantic]

Trickle down crusinomics!

[Orcrone]

I really wish Greenspan would consider the average cruiser before setting policy.:mad:

[Sinbad37]

Trickle down crusinomics!
GREAT WAY WITH WORDS!

[KAKcruiser]

Always check with HAL for the lowest price. You can't always rely on their web site. Last week the Zuiderdam for September 25 in the S category went up to $1,698. I called them and found out promo #300 was still in place and the suite could be purchased for $1,402. When I asked them why the web site wasn't showing the lowest price, they said that sometimes that just happens.