Any idea how RCCL handles unsold premium cabins?s

[roquejo]

Looks like RCCL is serious about no more last minute price drops just to fill unsold cabins. I've seen several cruises a week or two to sailing date with still many unsold cabins esp at the JS level, yet prices still remained the same.

 

with this new strategy, more likely the ships will sail with many empty premium cabins, and what if even the last minute upsell failed to occupy them?...

 

anyone familiar on what RCCL usually do?

 

do they fill them as much as possible by freely upgrading C&A members based on points who are booked one category level lower?

 

or they just simply sail with many JS empty..even if it won't cost them anything to upgrade C&A members

Edited May 6, 2015 by roquejo

[cynicalscotsman]

They sometimes offer paid upgrades at discounted prices for C&A members to release balconies etc which presumably they will then 'discount' as guarantees

[roquejo]

They sometimes offer paid upgrades at discounted prices for C&A members to release balconies etc which presumably they will then 'discount' as guarantees

 

True, but what if in spite of that, there are no takers?

 

It's harder to upsell JS to crown and anchor members as most of us know there will be no extra points for suites that is acquired via an upsell. Plus JS has no suite perks.

 

So will RCCL sail with many empty JS cabins? Just want to know if anyone knows what is their policy for this case.

[Clarea]

Looks like RCCL is serious about no more last minute price drops just to fill unsold cabins. I've seen several cruises a week or two to sailing date with still many unsold cabins esp at the JS level, yet prices still remained the same.

 

with this new strategy, more likely the ships will sail with many empty premium cabins, and what if even the last minute upsell failed to occupy them?...

 

anyone familiar on what RCCL usually do?

 

do they fill them as much as possible by freely upgrading C&A members based on points who are booked one category level lower?

 

or they just simply sail with many JS empty..even if it won't cost them anything to upgrade C&A members

Sometimes the Revenue Department will move people from lower category staterooms into higer category staterooms because they can more easily sell the lower category staterooms. It has to be an interesting analysis they do to determine when they have to start cutting their losses.

[roquejo]

Sometimes the Revenue Department will move people from lower category staterooms into higer category staterooms because they can more easily sell the lower category staterooms. It has to be an interesting analysis they do to determine when they have to start cutting their losses.

 

True, but for it to be effective, they have to do that earlier to give more time for selling.. but what if it is already a week or less before sailing?

 

I've seen a ship sailing tomorrow, but the prices remained the same, and there are way too many vacant JS.

 

It's different from my previous experience with NCL where the prices kept on dropping consistently as sailing date gets closer.. to a point that a 7 day Alaska cruise balcony room costs only $200 a day before sailing...

Edited May 6, 2015 by roquejo

[cynicalscotsman]

True, but what if in spite of that, there are no takers?

 

 

 

It's harder to upsell JS to crown and anchor members as most of us know there will be no extra points for suites that is acquired via an upsell. Plus JS has no suite .

 

 

This stopped us upgrading on our TA there is just no point!

[skiiergirl]

For the un-purchased RS this week on JW, they offered it as a casino prize. You had to acquire 100 points on slots to be eligible for the drawing. Must have worked as 30 minutes before the drawing there was not one empty machine!

[fragilek]

when is this meant to happen - my summer sailing just reduced by a quartered- In fact we were able to get 2 OV (2 in each) cabins for $868 less than the 1 cabin for 4 we originally booked. It was $1298 less than the original price for 2 equiv cabins (I had that previous price written down -but we booked the cabin for 4 due to cost,originally priced in feb). So that to me still feels like a very large last minute price drop.

 

Also found out that if booked through TA or agency (the main way the UK book) it would have been paid in full yesterday but we are not due to pay in full as direct with RCI for a week or so. Not sure if that is why the price changed today.

Edited May 6, 2015 by fragilek

[American Bear]

True, but for it to be effective, they have to do that earlier to give more time for selling.. but what if it is already a week or less before sailing?

 

I've seen a ship sailing tomorrow, but the prices remained the same, and there are way too many vacant JS.

 

It's different from my previous experience with NCL where the prices kept on dropping consistently as sailing date gets closer.. to a point that a 7 day Alaska cruise balcony room costs only $200 a day before sailing...

 

 

TA's that work with RCL(their biggest sellers of cabin)get their hands on last minute 'quiet deals' that could be as much as 40-50% off, and if that's not enough, they'll go lower! These quiet deals are never published cause they'd make the rest of the ship angry they paid a lot more.

RCL ships rarely cruise with many empty cabins.

And yes, not sold suites are filled with C&A members.

So an important tip, make sure if you can do last minute cruises, to give your phone number/email/etc. to your TA, and make sure your TA knows you're interested. And pick the right TA who works a lot with RCL.

Edited May 6, 2015 by American Bear

[buckeye rob]

I was following our August 22 cruise almost weekly for price reductions. I booked about October almost a year prior. Fares seemed to go up and down, and about January, February had a large price reduction or two that I called RCL about and was given about $ 9-950 in discounts. Seemed there were always several GS left along with several lofts. About 6-8 weeks ago prices soared and all of the rest of the suites sold, (allocated ?) . Many balconies also many gone. Seems if August 22 cruise is almost a sellout. Or so it seems. Gerry

Edited May 6, 2015 by buckeye rob

[John&LaLa]

June 21, 2015 Freedom.

46 days out, JS is around $4,200 with D+ discount applied

22 unsold, including a Deck 7 aft

On top of that, there are 9 GS

Now there may be some guaranteed balconies still not assigned, that would mix it up a bit

Anyway, I'm trying desperately to get put on a list for when revenue gets the cabins and starts dumping them.

If I upgrade today they want $2,700 on top of the value of my D2. This cabin was bought during BOGO2 with visa points and has no value at all it seems. It cost 125,000 points plus $1,016.

 

I have my upgrade preferences set and am waiting for that magical email in 16 days.

 

Wish me luck

Edited May 6, 2015 by John&LaLa

[dacsmom]

True, but what if in spite of that, there are no takers?

 

It's harder to upsell JS to crown and anchor members as most of us know there will be no extra points for suites that is acquired via an upsell. Plus JS has no suite perks.

 

So will RCCL sail with many empty JS cabins? Just want to know if anyone knows what is their policy for this case.

 

I got the upsell e-mail last year for the Allure. It was $200 to go from a balcony to a JS. Even though the JS does not get all the perks of a full suite, and I did not get the extra point, it was worth it for me. I loved the extra goodies in a JS.

[marci22]

I have often heard announcements onboard advertising a suite as the bingo prize.

[John&LaLa]

I got the upsell e-mail last year for the Allure. It was $200 to go from a balcony to a JS. Even though the JS does not get all the perks of a full suite, and I did not get the extra point, it was worth it for me. I loved the extra goodies in a JS.

 

Do you recall how close to sail date you received the notification.

[PompeySailor]

For the un-purchased RS this week on JW, they offered it as a casino prize. You had to acquire 100 points on slots to be eligible for the drawing. Must have worked as 30 minutes before the drawing there was not one empty machine!

 

That would of been a blast

100 pts $300 dropped in a $5 spin at max bet of $50, 6 spins a winner:D

Could of won that RS in less than a minute:eek:

 

Happy Days!

[Ourusualbeach]

The free upgrades are still happening. A relative of mine was upgraded from a regular D balcony to a Superior Grand Suite on a Quantum sailing in April. It was a last minute upgrade as someone had cancelled. They are D+.

[Merion_Mom]

The free upgrades are still happening. A relative of mine was upgraded from a regular D balcony to a Superior Grand Suite on a Quantum sailing in April. It was a last minute upgrade as someone had cancelled. They are D+.

 

I'll bet that there were some ticked off PC on board! :eek:

[John&LaLa]

I'll bet that there were some ticked off PC on board! :eek:

 

There always are. :p

[suzyluvs2cruise]

June 21, 2015 Freedom.

46 days out, JS is around $4,200 with D+ discount applied

22 unsold, including a Deck 7 aft

On top of that, there are 9 GS

Now there may be some guaranteed balconies still not assigned, that would mix it up a bit

Anyway, I'm trying desperately to get put on a list for when revenue gets the cabins and starts dumping them.

If I upgrade today they want $2,700 on top of the value of my D2. This cabin was bought during BOGO2 with visa points and has no value at all it seems. It cost 125,000 points plus $1,016.

I have my upgrade preferences set and am waiting for that magical email in 16 days.

 

Wish me luck

 

Curious what you mean about a magical email at 16 days?

[Spurschick]

when is this meant to happen - my summer sailing just reduced by a quartered- In fact we were able to get 2 OV (2 in each) cabins for $868 less than the 1 cabin for 4 we originally booked. It was $1298 less than the original price for 2 equiv cabins (I had that previous price written down -but we booked the cabin for 4 due to cost,originally priced in feb). So that to me still feels like a very large last minute price drop.

 

Also found out that if booked through TA or agency (the main way the UK book) it would have been paid in full yesterday but we are not due to pay in full as direct with RCI for a week or so. Not sure if that is why the price changed today.

 

If you are not at final payment date yet then it is not last minute price drop:rolleyes: last minute pricing is normally cruises within a couple of weeks at most.

 

It is not unusual for TA's to have an earlier final payment date as they need to receive and clear funds and then get those funds to RC by their final payment date.

[John&LaLa]

Curious what you mean about a magical email at 16 days?

 

30 day window. Last C&A rep told me revenue gets unsold cabins at 30 days out and would start discounted upgrades at that time

[RCCL Fan]

I have to say I've never been on a ship that didn't sail nearly full.

 

I've also never got an upsell call or email, never an upgrade offer.

 

What I pick has been what I got.

 

Usually I'm so picky about what room I choose, I'd have a hard time picking between my perfect location JS and a GS or OS near the front of the ship which I typically avoid.

[papcx]

Hi all.

 

(Slightly) off topic question.

 

Winning a suite in the bingo or casino? Is it really worth the bother of moving cabins mid cruise?

[John&LaLa]

Hi all.

 

(Slightly) off topic question.

 

Winning a suite in the bingo or casino? Is it really worth the bother of moving cabins mid cruise?

 

They usually do it first night. :mad:

 

We were in a GS next to RS on Brilliance for a 12 night Mediterranean. They played bingo for it around 10PM. Around midnight they moved in, very noisy.

 

Here is my issue, I paid pretty good money for my cabin, and had to put up with a lot of excessive noise for over an hour in the wee hours. I guess I could have raised a stink, but I didn't. This was 5 years ago

 

I do think I told the concierge that in the future, they might think about moving them in the next day, but it was just a comment

Edited May 7, 2015 by John&LaLa

[Barnaby100]

We once has an os and a gs on adventure. We were wait listed for the os next door to move from the GS as a paid upgrade but it never came up. It was raffled on the ship. I assume the people didn't show.