Does Anyone Ever Pay the Brochure Price?

We are new to Viking Ocean after some 35 cruises with Royal and Celebrity, and leaving them for all of the same reasons others have expressed. We want a more grownup cruise, not a floating county fair with a carnival midway.

When we first started receiving marketing materials from Viking, we noticed that they always seem to have a sale with a crossed out greatly inflated price and inserted a 50% off price.

Does anyone ever actually pay the full price or it is just, as we suspect, a marketing ploy?

Looking forward to our first Viking Ocean cruise next spring.

We are new to Viking Ocean after some 35 cruises with Royal and Celebrity, and leaving them for all of the same reasons others have expressed. We want a more grownup cruise, not a floating county fair with a carnival midway.

 

 

When we first started receiving marketing materials from Viking, we noticed that they always seem to have a sale with a crossed out greatly inflated price and inserted a 50% off price.

 

Does anyone ever actually pay the full price or it is just, as we suspect, a marketing ploy?

 

Looking forward to our first Viking Ocean cruise next spring.

In a word, no. It is as, you suspect, a marketing play. It is not used in other markets such as UK and Australia/New Zealand.

In the UK the most we seem to get is an early booking discount!

We are new to Viking Ocean after some 35 cruises with Royal and Celebrity, and leaving them for all of the same reasons others have expressed. We want a more grownup cruise, not a floating county fair with a carnival midway.

 

 

 

 

 

When we first started receiving marketing materials from Viking, we noticed that they always seem to have a sale with a crossed out greatly inflated price and inserted a 50% off price.

 

 

 

Does anyone ever actually pay the full price or it is just, as we suspect, a marketing ploy?

 

 

 

Looking forward to our first Viking Ocean cruise next spring.

You are correct. It is a marketing ploy. As a experienced cruiser,you know how to figure out the best TA to use and if you will opt for Viking Air and its options.

I have enjoyed your posts on Celebrity forum and look forward to your posts as you prepare for your first Viking cruise.

As a Celebrity cruiser, you will not be disappointed with Viking , but blown away by their ships , service and treating you like a adult traveler.

I just set my luggage outside my cabin on the last night of a 15 day TA on the Viking Sea. It was one of the best cruises I have taken.

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I just set my luggage outside my cabin on the last night of a 15 day TA on the Viking Sea. It was one of the best cruises I have taken.

 

 

 

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That sad moment signaling the end of the cruise:loudcry:. Have a safe trip home.

You are correct. It is a marketing ploy. As a experienced cruiser,you know how to figure out the best TA to use and if you will opt for Viking Air and its options.

I have enjoyed your posts on Celebrity forum and look forward to your posts as you prepare for your first Viking cruise.

As a Celebrity cruiser, you will not be disappointed with Viking , but blown away by their ships , service and treating you like a adult traveler.

I just set my luggage outside my cabin on the last night of a 15 day TA on the Viking Sea. It was one of the best cruises I have taken.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

You had a great time! Look forward to new adventures :)

Safe trip home!

You are correct. It is a marketing ploy. As a experienced cruiser,you know how to figure out the best TA to use and if you will opt for Viking Air and its options.

I have enjoyed your posts on Celebrity forum and look forward to your posts as you prepare for your first Viking cruise.

As a Celebrity cruiser, you will not be disappointed with Viking , but blown away by their ships , service and treating you like a adult traveler.

I just set my luggage outside my cabin on the last night of a 15 day TA on the Viking Sea. It was one of the best cruises I have taken.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Thanks, Azulaan, we are really looking forward to Viking Ocean. We usually book well in advance and by the time we decided Royal and Celebrity just were not appealing to us anymore, we had three cruises already booked that we needed to finish out.

We usually squeeze the travel nickel until the buffalo bellows, and we can see the value of all the inclusions on Viking.

It will be interesting to see how they compare with Royal and Celebrity.

Sargasso...

Been on over 50 main stream cruises...almost Diamond Plus on RCI, Elite on Princess, sailed on NCL, Carnival, Holland America, Celebrity, Costa, whatever else (not fancy ones). We did Viking Ocean for 3 weeks from Barcelona to Stockholm last April/May. Loved it. Service was unbelievable as was the food, our cabin was good...could use more drawers and storage(we were DV) but the bathroom was fabulous! All of the staff was crazy nice. We loved it so much that we canceled our RCI cruise for this year and booked Viking Ocean for 2019 fro(m Auckland to Bali...32 days. Only negative was the included tours. We thought that would be a plus, and we figured it into our consideration for the cruise. The includeds were mostly unimpressive. Drive by bus tours. The walking tours were good, but there were too many drive bys. On our other cruises we always did our own thing and booked privately, but since the tours were included we did all of the included ones to get our money's worth (except St Petersburg we booked a local company, Alla, and loved it). On Viking with the wine and beer included with lunch and dinner and the opportunity to bring on your own, you can save money there. I can tell you that I felt so pampered...no kids, no casino, no t shirt sales, no inch of gold....I loved every minute of the cruise (except the included tours). Balconies in every cabin, minifridges...they treat you like a grownup. You will love it!

If it says "panorama" in the included tour, it's a bus tour with a couple photo stops.

Some people do pay the brochure price. They want a specific cruise on a specific date in a specific cabin category. Met a couple last year that paid brochure prices for a suite on a cruise that sailed into a specific port on their 50th anniversary. If that is really important and you have the money, you will pay top dollar for it. Most people do not pay brochure prices. I never tell anyone what I paid. Many people like to brag about the DEAL that they got. If you discuss what you paid, somebody will feel badly. That 2 for 1 is a sales tool that makes some people book. If you use a booking tool for airfare or hotels, they always print a message that only 1 or 2 left at this price. It's a mind game. In cruising, some TAs push clients using such ploys. For the uninformed client, it can be a way to secure a booking. Most TAs will hold a cabin for a few days while you think about it. I book when I find an itinerary, dates, and price that work for me. I have cruised often. I use booking apps that inform me of price changes. I am flexible and am not very fussy about cabin location. I have booked some excellent deals. Most good deals happen close to the sail date. Be patient, wait, check prices, and book when the deal works for you.

Stretchcruz- are you combining Komodo and the Australian Coast with Australia and New Zealand itineraries? If so, Were you able to obtain a B2B type of discount? The Komodo and Australian itinerary are looking really interesting to me....so just curious. Thanks much!

Yes we are. We got $400 pp off for past passenger and $900 pp off for booking onboard as well. $400 off for one cruise, $500 for the other. $200 pp off for pass passenger each cruise. Plus $250 shipboard credit to use on the cruise that we already on. Somebody posted that they thought that the days would be combined or something, but that's not true. It is 2 separate cruises and we got 2 separate discounts worth $1300 per person. Well worth it.

Thanks to everyone for their insights into Viking Ocean. I suspect we are going to love it. Besides Viking Ocean, we've booked a cruise on Cunard as well.

Some folks on the Celebrity board took offense when I described our dissatisfaction with Royal and Celebrity because cruising with them had deteriorated to the point where their cruises are akin to alcohol fueled, over-amplified, floating county fairs with a carnival mid-way and populated by the Beverly Hillbillies and their feral children.

While that probably appeals to the mass market that those lines have been courting, it has driven us to look elsewhere for a more grownup and genteel style of cruising.

When I am tempted by their prices and ports of call, I look at my photograph from a recent Celebrity cruise where two Aussies were allowed in the MDR on smart chic night wearing shorts and T-shirts and, after their dinner dishes were cleared away, started arm wrestling at the table while their waiter and asst. maître d looked on with smiles. That was bad enough, but when I showed my cell phone photograph to the head maître d on the way out, he shrugged it off like there was nothing wrong or to be done.

At that point we decided to start looking elsewhere to spend our cruise dollars.

Yes we are. We got $400 pp off for past passenger and $900 pp off for booking onboard as well. $400 off for one cruise, $500 for the other. $200 pp off for pass passenger each cruise. Plus $250 shipboard credit to use on the cruise that we already on. Somebody posted that they thought that the days would be combined or something, but that's not true. It is 2 separate cruises and we got 2 separate discounts worth $1300 per person. Well worth it.

Thank you stretchcruz. I can see that we should have a good idea of our future Viking cruise already chosen when we board again later this year!

Sargasso, you will thoroughly enjoy Viking ships and crew, food and ambience.

 

 

 

Some folks on the Celebrity board took offense when I described our dissatisfaction with Royal and Celebrity because cruising with them had deteriorated to the point where their cruises are akin to alcohol fueled, over-amplified, floating county fairs with a carnival mid-way and populated by the Beverly Hillbillies and their feral children.

.

I can’t imagine why. [emoji33]

While that probably appeals to the mass market that those lines have been courting, it has driven us to look elsewhere for a more grownup and genteel style of cruising.

 

(y) Agreed! Very well put.

Our last mass market cruise was almost 10 years ago. We tried our first river cruise in 2010 and didn't even consider another ocean cruise until Viking announced it was entering the market. In 2014, we booked, and paid for in full, Midnight Sun for 2016, on a cruise line that hadn't even launched it first ship let alone sailed its first season--and since the ship was sold out by December 2014, apparently we weren't the only ones.

Hi everyone,

I am looking for information on booking, new to Viking having sailed on Princess, NCL, Carnival and Royal C, previously. Heading to the Med with our new friends and looking for a more refined experience, much like you all. It seems like this is the new in-vogue choice!

So the best option is to use a TA to book.? Does Viking have a list of ones, like some of the other lines do?

I was wondering if the pricing was a come on as listed on the website. Seems almost too good to be true.

If anyone has a great TA in the Houston/ or web based could you PM me?

Thanks!

Nancy

Hi everyone,

 

I am looking for information on booking, new to Viking having sailed on Princess, NCL, Carnival and Royal C, previously. Heading to the Med with our new friends and looking for a more refined experience, much like you all. It seems like this is the new in-vogue choice!

 

So the best option is to use a TA to book.? Does Viking have a list of ones, like some of the other lines do?

 

I was wondering if the pricing was a come on as listed on the website. Seems almost too good to be true.

I have only sailed Celebrity before my first Viking cruise, used online TA which gave perks but was terrible in being able to get a quick relpy if I had any questions.

 

If anyone has a great TA in the Houston/ or web based could you PM me?

 

Thanks!

 

Nancy

One rule of Cruise Critic is that we cannot give out Travel agents name or firm.

I just did a web search of " Travel agents for Viking Ocean Cruises" and got a long list. The first one was an agnecy in Houston Texas! the rest were local TA near where I live. Good luck..

I used a TA for my Vikng cruise. He was a great help with Viking Air and various fees and dates, etc. He replied quickly to all my emails for over two years from by booking.

The Viking web site prices are for real. One caveat is to make sure that you negoiate 6 months from sailing for final payment if you book real early.

I would also consider booking direct in the future now that I know how Viking Ocean bookings work.

Some people do pay the brochure price. They want a specific cruise on a specific date in a specific cabin category. Met a couple last year that paid brochure prices for a suite on a cruise that sailed into a specific port on their 50th anniversary. If that is really important and you have the money, you will pay top dollar for it. Most people do not pay brochure prices. I never tell anyone what I paid. Many people like to brag about the DEAL that they got. If you discuss what you paid, somebody will feel badly. That 2 for 1 is a sales tool that makes some people book. If you use a booking tool for airfare or hotels, they always print a message that only 1 or 2 left at this price. It's a mind game. In cruising, some TAs push clients using such ploys. For the uninformed client, it can be a way to secure a booking. Most TAs will hold a cabin for a few days while you think about it. I book when I find an itinerary, dates, and price that work for me. I have cruised often. I use booking apps that inform me of price changes. I am flexible and am not very fussy about cabin location. I have booked some excellent deals. Most good deals happen close to the sail date. Be patient, wait, check prices, and book when the deal works for you.

The Viking 2 for 1 price IS the brochure price. If you call Viking for a price THAT is what they will quote you. I suspect that couple you met were confused about what is brochure price OR they were referring to the lower price in the Viking brochures.

Once in awhile Viking will offer to include the beverage package, or some OBC, but there really aren't many offers that are different from what is listed on the website. They do vary the airfare deals - it generally changes from month to month.

There is no difference between booking direct with Viking or booking with a TA. The prices are the same. Viking used to allow travel agents to give a discount but that ended more than a year ago. What a travel agent can give you though is OBC.

For a 1 to 7 night cruise you get $150 OBC pp, for acruise of 8 to 15 nights you get $300 OBC pp and for a cruise of 15+ nights youget $500 OBC pp.

So although the price will be the same by booking direct or with a TA, it is worth it to book with a TA who will give you the OBC.

We've done 30+ sailings across many lines and are now contemplating our first Viking sailing, October 2018 from NY - Mia on the Star.

Not familiar with Viking promotions. They're currently running a "Mothers Day" event which includes free coach airfare. The deal expires tonight and we're really not ready to book just yet. Is it reasonable to expect this promo or something equivalent to be repeated in the next two months?

Thanks

We've done 30+ sailings across many lines and are now contemplating our first Viking sailing, October 2018 from NY - Mia on the Star.

 

Not familiar with Viking promotions. They're currently running a "Mothers Day" event which includes free coach airfare. The deal expires tonight and we're really not ready to book just yet. Is it reasonable to expect this promo or something equivalent to be repeated in the next two months?

 

Thanks

I have been watching various Viking savings for 2019-2020. I do not see Viking discounting the actual price for staterooms, but they do often use the air as a marketing tool. I think the free air for the NY to MIA cruise is better than $199. pp for air from select US cities. I just looked at the sailing and it still has staterooms open... final payment of six months is May for a sailing in Oct.

I do know when we booked our TA 2018, two years early the actual price did not change but the air fare increased over time. We sailed with a full ship. I do know that some folks booked in the final two weeks but they were from San Juan. Other were offered an upgrade for a reasaonble price point.

I see you live in NJ, so is free air worth more that $199pp offering outside of this sale for you?

I see you live in NJ, so is free air worth more that $199pp offering outside of this sale for you?

Thanks for the timely feedback.

Actually hoped to trade in the free air for a price break or obc and book air on my own. DD will provide taxi service to pier in NY and UAL 1st class is available at $286 on return flight MIA - EWR

Gotta go talk to the wife.

Well, got the wife's ok and called my ta. They contacted Viking who said that in return for declining the free air they would give us.................nothing.

So we decided to back burner this one for a while. Will probably end up going anyway,