People hold cabins (mostly Suites) and don't use them

[Ocean Boy]

JC<----- lives a 1000 miles from an Ocean port and can't spend a long weekend screwing my boss showing up late Monday and skipping out early Friday... O wait he is the boss.:eek::D:rolleyes:

 

Sometimes it is good to be the boss.:) The rest of your post was great too. I cut it only to save some space.

[ThirstyCruiser]

So, I am economist, eh. Math and probabilities and how people react in normal situations is sort of my domain.

 

When I went to Vegas as a 21 year old, there was the perfect game plan for making a free trip, it requires that you have a large sum of money, but it "guaranteed" a winner. Gamblers love winning. So, let's say in 1980 you needed 150$ a day to pay for a hotel room, drinks and a few bits. So, you walk in to a casino any casino, and lay 150 on the pass line. If you win, yeah, you just made the days wage, and you could have a nice dinner, and do something. If you lost, you walk out of the casino, because the casino knows that people know this game. You go next door. You plop $300 down on the pass line, and if you win yeah, you recouped your losses, and you can pay for the day... If you lose, you walk out of the casino to the next, you put $600 on the pass line, and repeat, now, pretty soon you are talking a lot more money than I could afford in 1980, but since the pass line you win 49% of the time.... For most players, you win before you get murdered by the mob.

Casinos love, LOVE, players like this. They'll roll out the red carpet for them. Odds and the Table Limit (Max Bet) ensures this betting strategy results in massive losses for the player. Not every bet. But eventually you hit a string of 7 losses in a row (oh, it happens) that sees you lose $9,600 just to try and win that day's $150. You attempt to push out the next bet of $19,200 (now you are betting over 100x the value of what you are trying to win), but they refuse your bet. "Sorry sir, table limit is $10K".

 

 

 

But I'll ask sincerely again, Why do airlines prohibit reservations that can be cancelled without penalty, but cruise lines don't?

[Clarea]

... But I'll ask sincerely again, Why do airlines prohibit reservations that can be cancelled without penalty, but cruise lines don't?

Maybe competition?

Edited September 3, 2016 by clarea

[Beachammo]

Casinos love, LOVE, players like this. They'll roll out the red carpet for them. Odds and the Table Limit (Max Bet) ensures this betting strategy results in massive losses for the player. Not every bet. But eventually you hit a string of 7 losses in a row (oh, it happens) that sees you lose $9,600 just to try and win that day's $150. You attempt to push out the next bet of $19,200 (now you are betting over 100x the value of what you are trying to win), but they refuse your bet. "Sorry sir, table limit is $10K".

 

 

 

But I'll ask sincerely again, Why do airlines prohibit reservations that can be cancelled without penalty, but cruise lines don't?

 

No one has to take a cruise as a vacation.....

But most people have to fly to get anywhere in a reasonable amount of time. (exception - John Madden)

 

Most hotels Will allow you to cancel up til 24hrs before arrival.

 

I believe Southwest gives a credit if cancelled towards future flights.

Edited September 3, 2016 by Beachammo

[ThirstyCruiser]

Maybe competition?

Both industries have competition.

[Clarea]

Both industries have competition.

Obviously.

 

However, the competition in the cruise industry chooses to allow full refunds (in certain areas). Perhaps one major cruise line will break with that and it will end at some point. Similar to baggage fees for the airlines, and how those are the norm now.

Edited September 3, 2016 by clarea

[ThirstyCruiser]

No one has to take a cruise as a vacation.....

But most people have to fly to get anywhere in a reasonable amount of time.

True. But working on those facts, why do (almost all) airlines penalize you for cancelling a reservation, discouraging just-in-case bookings, while cruise lines don't? Clearly much smarter people than I responsible for billions of dollars have decided this works for their respective industries. I'd like to better understand.

 

Tell you what though, if you can't beat them, join them. I never really paid attention to the sales that included reduced deposits. I always thought, What does it matter, I'm going to pay all of my cruise fare sooner or later for this cruise I'm taking. But, if it means I can lock up some options and only tie up a few hundred bucks....

[Thetrail]

There's a lot of selfish people in the world, including on cruises. So what? The bottom line is people hoarding cabins (I'm still waiting to hear how "many" people do that. I've asked repeatedly and the silence is deadly) doesn't bother most people here.

 

Personally, I don't think it happens that much, therefore the OP is making a mountain out of a molehill.

Well said and as far as "how many", who knows, does the OP know? I would venture a guess and say no clue, zero idea of the number. I book out as far as possible sometimes almost two years out. I feel I always get the best price this way and am happy, period.....K.O.:)

[123funcruiser]

True. But working on those facts, why do (almost all) airlines penalize you for cancelling a reservation, discouraging just-in-case bookings, while cruise lines don't? Clearly much smarter people than I responsible for billions of dollars have decided this works for their respective industries. I'd like to better understand.

 

Tell you what though, if you can't beat them, join them. I never really paid attention to the sales that included reduced deposits. I always thought, What does it matter, I'm going to pay all of my cruise fare sooner or later for this cruise I'm taking. But, if it means I can lock up some options and only tie up a few hundred bucks....

 

Not quite true. Airlines have a completely different pricing structure and many (almost all) Airlines offer fare codes that allow full flexibility including full refundability up until departure of the plane. Then they offer semi Flex fare codes where usually some fees are involved with cancellations and / or changes to the ticket. Of Course they also have tickets that are not refundable at all. It´s all a matter of fare Code and T&C´s attached to the fare Code.

 

Hotels often work in a similar way. You can book Hotel rooms that are fully refundable up to 24 hours Prior to Arrival. You can book Hotel rooms that are fully refundable up to varying periods of time Prior to Arrival and you can book Hotel rooms that you Need to pay in full right away and are non-refundable at all.

[123funcruiser]

Well said and as far as "how many", who knows, does the OP know? I would venture a guess and say no clue, zero idea of the number. I book out as far as possible sometimes almost two years out. I feel I always get the best price this way and am happy, period.....K.O.:)

 

I agree, especially with the bolded part.

[troykahack]

Cabin hogs do not have a positive or even neutral impact on other cruisers.

It might be argued they increase the price others pay for their cruise. Even if they increase it by "just" 10%, that is serious scratch.

 

I don't know how many Cabin hogs there, but its greater than 0.

 

My problem is not with them, but with the rules that allow the practice with zero penalty. If I had the desire to tie up all that money with multiple bookings for options, just in case, I would take advantage of the policy too. But I don't...I just lament on the poor selection and high price should the desire strike to cruise < 12 months.

 

Because it is within the rules, imagine if 50% of the people did it.

 

RCCL would probably like it if more people did it......cue up the ominous music, a darkened board room full of RCCL big wigs...."Gentlemen, we need to figure out a way to get more $ per cabin, and if we can get some folks to lend us their cash interest free at the same time, that would be great, and if we can show our cabins booking faster to promote a false sense of urgency, even better. Now, lets see.....how can we accomplish that? Hmmmmm...."

 

Honest question, why don't the airlines allow the practice? If its because it was a problem for airlines but not for cruise lines, how / why?

 

See.... at least a few feel nearly the same way as me.... I don't mind someone who takes an honest guess at one or two cruises, but I KNOW that many locals reserve nearly all, or more than 4-5 weekends on local ships, local to them.... it is worse on the two ships with no balconies unless a suite.

 

Just something to prevent this practice... I don't have a good answer, that would be fair to all... but like anything else, drink package sharing, whatever, it will eventually punish the masses if it continues...

Edited September 3, 2016 by troykahack

[A&L_Ont]

See.... at least a few feel nearly the same way as me.... I don't mind someone who takes an honest guess at one or two cruises, but I KNOW that many locals reserve nearly all, or more than 4-5 weekends on local ships, local to them.... it is worse on the two ships with no balconies unless a suite.

 

Just something to prevent this practice... I don't have a good answer, that would be fair to all... but like anything else, drink package sharing, whatever, it will eventually punish the masses if it continues...

 

How about increase the deposit amount. They actually decreased it a few years ago.

[troykahack]

How about increase the deposit amount. They actually decreased it a few years ago.

 

Works for me...... not a bad idea... however, I think RCCL uses this to get more to book and use more cruises.....

[AdGuyMG]

I don't know how or why a travel agency would hold specific rooms. When they plan a group booking they go to the cruise line and ask for say 100 cabins so they can get a discount. They have no idea what the mix will be so this way they can sell any category they want and apply the discount to that.

 

This is mostly true. Group space is held by category such as N, I, M, E2, D1 etc. Specific cabin numbers are not held. Only with money down does a specific cabin get assisgned In addition, cruise lines do not offer Suites for Group space and do not offer Triple and Quad occupancy cabins for group space.

[xpcdoojk]

Casinos love, LOVE, players like this. They'll roll out the red carpet for them. Odds and the Table Limit (Max Bet) ensures this betting strategy results in massive losses for the player. Not every bet. But eventually you hit a string of 7 losses in a row (oh, it happens) that sees you lose $9,600 just to try and win that day's $150. You attempt to push out the next bet of $19,200 (now you are betting over 100x the value of what you are trying to win), but they refuse your bet. "Sorry sir, table limit is $10K".

 

 

 

But I'll ask sincerely again, Why do airlines prohibit reservations that can be cancelled without penalty, but cruise lines don't?

 

Read what I posted in the last line of your quote of me.... Or you get murdered by the mob...

 

Actually, if you place the double bet at the same table (or even the same casino) you get escorted away. I have witnessed it.

 

JC<---- never a fan of casinos, but I do enjoy some of their shows.:D

[Mark_K]

There's a lot of selfish people in the world, including on cruises. So what? The bottom line is people hoarding cabins (I'm still waiting to hear how "many" people do that. I've asked repeatedly and the silence is deadly) doesn't bother most people here.

 

 

 

Personally, I don't think it happens that much, therefore the OP is making a mountain out of a molehill.

 

 

Don't know how many people hold multiple cabins, but Royal Caribbean's last balance sheet shows $2.2 billion in deposits being held. That's a lot of cabins.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[xpcdoojk]

Don't know how many people hold multiple cabins, but Royal Caribbean's last balance sheet shows $2.2 billion in deposits being held. That's a lot of cabins.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

 

That doesn't mean much since they have a lot of ships and lots of sailings with thousands of cabins per ships, and I personally had 3 cabins held at some point last winter, I have taken 1 of them, about to take the second, and will take the third next Spring, and I am just one couple, except during that time friends sailing with us had a total of 5 held. All will be taken, lord willing and the creek don't rise....:eek::D

 

JC

[Ourusualbeach]

Don't know how many people hold multiple cabins, but Royal Caribbean's last balance sheet shows $2.2 billion in deposits being held. That's a lot of cabins.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

 

That amount would also include all payments of cruises that are paid in full up until the time of sailing as Royal does not record the revenue until the cruise has been completed.

[#MannersMatter]

So many bad posts. So many, who doesn´t understand the issue.

 

But not all : !!!

 

So true. It is selfish, plain and simple.

 

Treat others the way you would like to be treated.

 

Take what you need, and no more.

 

If everyone lived this way, we wouldn't have chair hogs, cabin hogs, buffet line cutters, etc etc...

[bjtll]

Light up people cruises are fun. Stop raining on the rainbow.

[rubrrick]

OMG! Thanks for that memory prod. Good ol' Bicker.

 

And Flagger. Remember Flagger?!?!?!? :eek:

 

Thanks Carol, for the reminder of Flagger. I remember him.:D

 

Rick

[troykahack]

That amount would also include all payments of cruises that are paid in full up until the time of sailing as Royal does not record the revenue until the cruise has been completed.

 

Really.... be careful... many will say they can and will use this money at will without any recourse.... I agree with you...

 

Watch out for the flames now... CC Police will be out soon

[troykahack]

So true. It is selfish, plain and simple.

 

Treat others the way you would like to be treated.

 

Take what you need, and no more.

 

If everyone lived this way, we wouldn't have chair hogs, cabin hogs, buffet line cutters, etc etc...

 

I agree with you.... As was the post you quoted.... it is an issue... mostly in local ports.... weekends mostly.... it prevents many cruisers from being able to book a cruise in their cabin of choice out about 4 to 9 months....

 

But the same folks are the first to complain about chair hogs.... and diamond lounges....

 

It is not the ones that book a few cabins and use some of the... it is the ones that book them all and use only the ones they want.... it happens people...

[Paulette3028]

Their seems to be a practice on HOLDING Suites or cabins, way ahead of time and then releasing them. I personally know some that have a practice of booking almost all weekends of particular ships and then release them at final payment, so they can pick and choose which times they use.

 

This practice creates several problems for those of us that can not book so far in advance...

 

If a person wants to book lots of cruises (regardless of cabin chosen) and pays their deposit, good for them....if some of those cruises end up cancelled and their deposits returned....so be it.

 

That is much much different from travel agencies being allowed to 'put on hold' many cabins without deposits from cruisers committing to use those cabins. That is unfair, but since travel agencies to bring to the cruise lines lots of business, I imagine that it is done quite a lot.....do I like this capability --- NO.

[Ourusualbeach]

Really.... be careful... many will say they can and will use this money at will without any recourse.... I agree with you...

 

Watch out for the flames now... CC Police will be out soon

 

I'm one of them. All I stated was that up until the cruise takes place it is listed as an accounts payable (liability). They do not have to wait until it is recorded as revenue to spend it. Look at the financial statements, they do not have the 2.2 billion in deposits sitting anywhere in cash...it is being used.