Aussies being ripped off, price gorging and the ACCC.

[Pushka]

they know who has not paid the tips

 

But in Cunards case as they are auto tips, everyone pays upfront. Do they know who takes them off? Hope they do find out btw.

[Bescotti]

I've been following the issue of not only cruise pricing but also software and e-book pricing for Australians for some time since they all impact me. Earlier this week the SMH did an article on IT pricing and the following statement caught my attention:

 

"Choice wants the government to investigate whether tools to stop consumers accessing lower prices in overseas markets – such as “geo-blocking” on websites or region-coding – are anti-competitive."

 

http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/it-price-wars-government-no-white-knight-20120829-24zpl.html#ixzz256JF3eBP

 

It would be nice if pressure was brought on the government to look into this as I would hope that it would then flow onto other areas of business - such as cruising!

[Beejay4016]

FYI if its after the time to make a change and you want to have the hosts remove your post for some reason, you can click on the ! in the triangle on the top of your post and ask the host to remove it...and everytime I have done so they have done it for me.

 

Thanks so much for that, Smeyer; I'm sure I will be using that in the future. Kind of you to mention it.

 

Cheers .. Bev

[paddingtonbear]

I don't think the same airline prices are available to anyone, anywhere in the world. I have a couple of examples. We have recently paid for airline tickets from Aust to LA in January (cost $2,650pp return) and I read a couple of days ago that Americans planning to fly to Auckland from USA for a cruise around that time have to pay $980 pp return. :( Another example - my mother-in-law has on a couple of occasions invited (and paid the airfare) relatives in Europe to fly to Australia and back home. The cost was much more than we would pay for flights in reverse at the same time.

 

But isn't this determined by the timing of buying the ticket?

Cruise prices in the US are definitely determined by the time of buying the ticket. Sales, early bird discounts, last minute discounts etc.

[Aus Traveller]

But isn't this determined by the timing of buying the ticket?

Cruise prices in the US are definitely determined by the time of buying the ticket. Sales, early bird discounts, last minute discounts etc.

On overseas flights the pricing is determined by the season of the first leg. However, the price quoted as return from the USA (980 pp) wouldn't ever be available here.

[The_Big_M]

But isn't this determined by the timing of buying the ticket?

 

No, it's similar to cruises. Each country can have its own prices. Sometimes like cruises, they're the same, sometimes they're not.

[paddingtonbear]

No, it's similar to cruises. Each country can have its own prices. Sometimes like cruises, they're the same, sometimes they're not.

 

Thanks I didn't know that.

 

My brother flew Qantas new York to SYD return for $1500 this week. Bought tickets 3 weeks before the flight.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

If you ever want to see some action on a plane,

just turn to the person next to you and ask in a loud voice...

"and how much much did you pay for this flight."

I was on a flight where that happened once and we were late taking off ,

as the staff had to settle everyone down.:eek:

 

[Aus Traveller]

If you ever want to see some action on a plane,

just turn to the person next to you and ask in a loud voice...

"and how much much did you pay for this flight."

I was on a flight where that happened once and we were late taking off ,

as the staff had to settle everyone down.:eek:

 

It's a bit like that on cruises.:D I prefer not to discuss prices with other passengers.

[Oz_Steve]

The disappearing thread has reappeared.:eek:

[lizzy77]

The power of free speech ...... Maybe it's still alive and well

[dingoboy]

The disappearing thread has reappeared.:eek:

 

I too thought it was mighty strange!:confused:

[aussiedisneyfan]

I must have missed something.

 

Hey Dingoboy. How are you guys?

[Aussieflyer]

Someone on another site has said that some posts have been removed though but I have not checked the whole thread to see. If so, not free speech at all, rather the opposite in action :rolleyes:

[Beejay4016]

Someone on another site has said that some posts have been removed though but I have not checked the whole thread to see. If so, not free speech at all, rather the opposite in action :rolleyes:

 

Aussieflyer, I removed a couple of my posts myself because they really were off topic and belonged elsewhere. Sorry if I caused any confusion.

 

Cheers .. :o

[NSWP]

It's a bit like that on cruises.:D I prefer not to discuss prices with other passengers.

Just like on Arcadia 'Worldie', this year. Many of us Aussies got 2 for 1 deals from Australia to UK. The Poms on board knew about it and were not happy. I got hit with it first brekkie out of Sydney..'Yes, we know what you 'Orstralians' paid, £65 ($100) per day and we are perturbed.' LOL. Who gives a....!"£$%^&*(Monkeys Uncle)

[Aus Traveller]

Just like on Arcadia 'Worldie', this year. Many of us Aussies got 2 for 1 deals from Australia to UK. The Poms on board knew about it and were not happy. I got hit with it first brekkie out of Sydney..'Yes, we know what you 'Orstralians' paid, £65 ($100) per day and we are perturbed.' LOL. Who gives a....!"£$%^&*(Monkeys Uncle)

But how would the Aussies have felt if the Poms paid less than they did?? The Aussies would have been less than impressed and then they would have complained on CC and anywhere else they could. :)

[GHDPeter]

If I make a booking it's because I am happy with the price vs product supplied.

 

If there is a sale then I will attempt to get a better deal but if I don't then I'm still happy as I was satisfied with the original price.

 

If you don't think your getting a good deal then don't book! The prices will drop or the ships will leave if passengers are not buying tickets. It's all about supply and demand.

 

I used to work for an international 5 Star hotel chain, my rates to stay in the top of the line hotels ($400 + a night) was $69 but if it was peak season then I risked being bumped or to guarantee the accom I might be required to pay the best available rate.

 

It's always my choice whether I book and pay and the conditions under which I do it. it's always a trade off between price and conditions. I travel solo most of the time so I'm paying double what most people pay twin share, and I'm happy with what I get.

 

So to be blunt stop your complaining and get out and enjoy your holiday. If you don't think it's worth it then don't book it.

[cassamanda]

Just like on Arcadia 'Worldie', this year. Many of us Aussies got 2 for 1 deals from Australia to UK. The Poms on board knew about it and were not happy. I got hit with it first brekkie out of Sydney..'Yes, we know what you 'Orstralians' paid, £65 ($100) per day and we are perturbed.' LOL. Who gives a....!"£$%^&*(Monkeys Uncle)

Ah, was that you waiving frantically to us on the Radiance to be rescued:)

Passing Arcadia off Portland between Adelaide and Melbourne 12 Mar 2012

[Pushka]

If I make a booking it's because I am happy with the price vs product supplied.

 

I travel solo most of the time so I'm paying double what most people pay twin share, and I'm happy with what I get.

 

So to be blunt stop your complaining and get out and enjoy your holiday. If you don't think it's worth it then don't book it.

 

I can't agree. While I understand the issue of supply and demand, the prices available to Aussies versus USA simply cannot be explained by this relationship.

 

As for travelling solo, this analogy is wrong too. You are occupying a cabin. So the price you pay is for the cabin. That has nothing to do with this discussion.

 

I don't discuss prices with people inboard. I simply do my own research and pay what I am prepared to pay. Maybe in Australia prices, or maybe not. Such is the power of the Internet and consumer choice. Sad for those who don't have this opportunity.

[GHDPeter]

I can't agree. While I understand the issue of supply and demand, the prices available to Aussies versus USA simply cannot be explained by this relationship.

 

As for travelling solo, this analogy is wrong too. You are occupying a cabin. So the price you pay is for the cabin. That has nothing to do with this discussion.

 

I don't discuss prices with people inboard. I simply do my own research and pay what I am prepared to pay. Maybe in Australia prices, or maybe not. Such is the power of the Internet and consumer choice. Sad for those who don't have this opportunity.

 

Would you perhaps prefer a price that fluctuates with the exchange rate, fuel prices, food prices etc?

 

The US market is huge compared to Australia, therefore market forces of supply and demand do play a part.

 

As for traveling Solo, yes I occupy a cabin, but I consume less food, less power, less resources, less weight to the ship, than 2 people paying the same total price that I am.

 

I agree with your last paragraph because I do the same and if I'm happy with the price and conditions then I have no complaints

[Pushka]

I agree about the risk of currency fluctuations but there are ways to ameliorate that too. As far as solo cruiser costs, the costs of feeding an extra person, fuel etc are minuscule and the cruise lines don't earn extra money from the duo, thinking of drinks, casino and other consumables. I suspect, ie guess, that the costs of feeding the duo are less than the purchases of a duo.

 

As far as weight goes, I reckon hubby and I combined were about the weight of some of the very large individuals we saw cruising the med last month.

 

It pays to shop around and my current price is fixed in that I know what I will pay. In Euros. :).

 

I will probably be a solo cruiser too someday as my other half enjoys port intensive cruises but when I asked him about doing a transatlantic, all he mumbled was something about the titanic. :).

[The_Big_M]

As far as solo cruiser costs, the costs of feeding an extra person, fuel etc are minuscule and the cruise lines don't earn extra money from the duo, thinking of drinks, casino and other consumables. I suspect, ie guess, that the costs of feeding the duo are less than the purchases of a duo.

 

The problem with that is that when you look at the prices of 3 and 4 in a cabin lately, they are often only slightly different from that of twin share, i.e. in a number of cases about 180-190% of a twin share cabin. Clearly the lines are having it both ways, pricing on a cabin basis when less than two, then pricing on a person basis when more than two.

 

I'm with GHDPeter though, sometimes I think things are overpriced and I just don't pay. But if it's worthwhile for me, it's stupid to whinge and attack someone else for what they paid. The lines price for what they can get from the market, and if somehow someone got a better deal like seniors or regions that I wasn't able to, that's just life. It's not that person's fault for being old, or living in another location!

[Gold Coast Cruisers]

If someone discusses how much they've paid and mention a figure less than mine I feel it not right to announce to them that mine was cheaper.

We were talking to these two lovely ladies one morning. It was their first cruise and they were thrilled with everything, and said 'and we only paid $2100.00 each for our Inside cabin because we're travelling with a large group. The cruise was only for 11 days, and in my book that's way too expensive but I wasn't going to burst their bubble.

Jilly:)

[fishtaco]

A basic fact of business called "competition".:) We nearly always book late and get exceptionally good prices.

 

In answer to NSWP - I don't think the amount paid (or not paid) in tips would make the difference in fares that people are quoting.:)

 

On my June cruise out of Longbeach CA on the Splendor every American cruiser i spoke to in person said that they were not tipping anything and most did not pay their gratuities either.

 

Admittedly this was only a Carnival cruise but I think you would find that many Americans tend to over exaggerate tipping amounts on a cruise when speaking on forums and hide this behind some secret society of "Tipping Etiquette"where its rude to let another person or persons see you tip,so its always done in the up most of privacy! lol

 

When i told people i pre paid my gratuities and was tipping extra to cabin staff and waiters they thought i was mad! they always answered with "Look how much we are being charged for Booze!"? It was a lot less than i was used to paying lol

 

I witnessed many a "stiffer" in eateries in USA and heard the waitstaff gripes that went with it.

 

I booked direct with Carnival USA and if my experience was typical then the price difference in cruises booked in USA V Australia can in no way be determined by who tips and who doesnt.

 

 

Den