Sold out, or not?

[littlesteelo]

I keep looking on my cruise page on the P&O site, to see how fast its filling up. I checked a week ago, and all but one grade of balcony cabin was sold out, all the obstructed and superior balconies were gone and half the insides were sold. Checked today, all are for sale again. Anyone know whats going on with this?

[jeanlyon]

Yes, simples! People cancel, people upgrade. P&O upgrades someone, that frees up another cabin in a different grade. It goes on ad infinitum.

[hooked cruiser]

P&O like other lines play the percentage game. They only release a certain amount of each grade of cabin and then observe how they are selling, and if their projections are as expected they then release more at either an increased or decreased price (depending on the demand for the cabins initially).

Doing it this way they will make more at the early stage which will then allow them to sell the last remaining cabins nearer the cruising date at a reduced price to ensure they have no empty cabins.

[littlesteelo]

P&O like other lines play the percentage game. They only release a certain amount of each grade of cabin and then observe how they are selling, and if their projections are as expected they then release more at either an increased or decreased price (depending on the demand for the cabins initially).

Doing it this way they will make more at the early stage which will then allow them to sell the last remaining cabins nearer the cruising date at a reduced price to ensure they have no empty cabins.

 

So when it says 'sold out', this is in fact only for the particular 'batch' of rooms they are selling at that point, yes?

[hooked cruiser]

Absolutely and this then ensures that anybody who want's to book will pay for the next grade hence the increase in revenue for the cruise line. You may also see that on certain cruises that the cabin grades change as well. This happens frequently on the larger ships (Ventura and Azura).

When we were on her again at easter our usual cabin was 1 grade further up the cost scale but the following cruise back down again. It is all supply and demand.

[littlesteelo]

Damn that's sneaky of them! Thanks for explaining that for me. :)

[hooked cruiser]

Only too pleased to pass it on.

Now that P&O and Princess have reduced the commission to the Cruise agents they are unable to undercut P&O prices and subsequently they are hoping that people will now book direct with the company and not the agents.