RCL to end last minute discounting ??

[Paulette3028]

We just returned in january from 4 night cruise on the Indy. We noticed two major changes reduced staff, and empty cabins.

 

I have read it was not suppose to have affected the 4 night group, but i had watched closely the prices of this cruise and noted that the only price drop was for the interior cabins only.

 

We spoke to many diamond and diamond plus members who seemed quite content with their interior accommodations. We chose the wraparound aft balcony. Most of the aft balconies were empty BTW.

They were not offered an upgrade, nor an upsell offer.

 

I thought it was curious. We were mostly upset with the lack of available service.

 

 

Please be more detailed in what upset you in the way of "lack of available service". That is very vague and everyone's interpretation will be different, so please be more specific.

[Biker19]

They cant fill the ships and the reviews compared to 2 years ago have got worse on this website. Share pricing and revenue have been hit whilst they claim its due to costs but any CEO will blame anything other than poor bookings as the problem.

Unless you believe the RCI is lying to the SEC, RCI has been reporting 104% occupancy rates for years and expect to be about the same this year. The reviews might be horrible but somehow, RCI manages to fill the ships. The share price drop was due to lower than expected revenue - Wall Street always punishes stocks that don't preform - nothing unusual about RCI is that regard.

[Biker19]

Fill ships at what cost? Also look at how many new ships have come out occupancy has to be up. They were giving away anthem last year. I'm seeing heavy discounts on indi already this year for may sailings soon to be June then July. People not going to pay £1750 for 2 weeks of **** food. Its got to hurt sooner or later. This year we booking z inside bottom price and going speciality dining instead.

 

For someone that has very little good to say about RCI, it is curious that you still book with them. I'm not sure how you are punishing RCI by booking an inside and eating at specialty venues? The bottom line is that the ships are sailing full and the revenue generated (apparently without the discounts) are creating increased profits - not stellar profits that Wall Street will reward, but profits nonetheless.

[ccletzgo]

They won't sail with empty cabins very often.

Its all nonsense.

More cabins will be added to the Casino Club for low priced cruises(fees and taxes only).

Empty cabins don't spend money on drinks, excursions, and specialty restaurants.

 

and they turn them over to interline agency's. (airline employee's, etc.) Right now liberty is base price 599 for a balcony feb 14th interline rates.

[insidecabin]

There will still be deals just got to change the way you look for them often a bit earlier.

 

Ncl were doing cabin on Epic <£50ppd with drinks package in sep/oct for Jan Feb this year. There policy change no perks from 30days out has changes things.

 

With RCI/X they throw out GTY rates no frills occasionally with a price error and BOGOH.

 

The current policies have hints of cartel about them in unison they all said no more last minute race to the bottom from around 30days lets just compete between final and 30d.

[Biker19]

I haven't noticed this before, but next week's GGG flier lists no sailing under 7 days less than 30 days away. The only sailings on sale less than 30 days out are the short 3-4 day ones - like RCI's stated policy. I wonder if that's just a one week fluke.

 

BTW, a good deal on the Harmony on the 5/29 sailing on the list.

Edited April 8, 2016 by Biker19

[Clarea]

I haven't noticed this before, but next week's GGG flier lists no sailing under 7 days less than 30 days away. The only sailings on sale less than 30 days out are the short 3-4 day ones - like RCI's stated policy. I wonder if that's just a one week fluke.

I suspect it's a fluke. Sometimes the fliers are 2-3 pages, sometimes 10 pages.

[royalmariner24]

I booked my cruise for April 17 2016 on March 14th 2014 on board the ship got a great deal. Watched the prices as the fare doubled in price then about 3weeks ago they had a drastic price drop and the price I paid and the price they were offering were $30 difference.

I booked a balcony on a 7 night cruise so there was a significant price drop. I checked cruise.com because there web site is way easier to use and there were over 94 balconies when I checked that were empty...... Never got to check other categories to see what was available. Now the cruise is sold out.....

[Paulette3028]

I booked my cruise for April 17 2016 on March 14th 2014 on board the ship got a great deal. Watched the prices as the fare doubled in price then about 3weeks ago they had a drastic price drop and the price I paid and the price they were offering were $30 difference.

I booked a balcony on a 7 night cruise so there was a significant price drop. I checked cruise.com because there web site is way easier to use and there were over 94 balconies when I checked that were empty...... Never got to check other categories to see what was available. Now the cruise is sold out.....

 

So if I am reading this correctly....about 3 weeks ago, which would have been a few days outside of 30 days to sail away on your cruise, Royal lowered prices back down to very close to what you had paid booking it over two years ago. As you say, during the past 2 years you watched prices only increase to double what you paid. All that time you had felt like you landed a great price, and picked the cabin location you wanted.

 

Are you saying your disappointed? I would not be, you chose the cabin you wanted and it probably was in a great location rather than the left over cabins that were in less desirable locations.

 

Are you saying they should not have lowered prices to fill the ship? Based on what you said, it was still more than 30 days from embarkation day. Or did you want a $30 OBC?