No more TA discounts on NCL cruises

[2Cruise4Ever]

Got an email from my Travel Agent yesterday:

 

"NCL will prohibit travel agencies from offering discounted cruise prices as of August 1st, 2010."

 

This has been confirmed with NCL. As a result, TA's are going to offer higher OBCs, free insurance, and some other incentives.

 

So, if your TA gives you a discount off the advertised NCL fare, better book your next cruise before August 1st!!!

 

Because of the deep discounts we receive from our TA, we've been able to afford a cruise a year (for our family of 4). No more!!! We can't afford the full fare. So, looks like we'll be making other vacation plans from now on.... this is NOT good news! :mad:

[*Luv2Cruz*]

Got an email from my Travel Agent yesterday:

 

"NCL will prohibit travel agencies from offering discounted cruise prices as of August 1st, 2010."

 

This has been confirmed with NCL. As a result, TA's are going to offer higher OBCs, free insurance, and some other incentives.

 

So, if your TA gives you a discount off the advertised NCL fare, better book your next cruise before August 1st!!!

 

Because of the deep discounts we receive from our TA, we've been able to afford a cruise a year (for our family of 4). No more!!! We can't afford the full fare. So, looks like we'll be making other vacation plans from now on.... this is NOT good news! :mad:

Just read another thread about the same subject. Hopefully it won't be that bad!:confused:;)

[howard6933]

I really wouldn't worry too much about what NCL is doing. Other cruise lines like RCI have done that for some time. Travel agents are not dumb and they have many ways to get around the "no discounts" so-called ultimatum from the cruise lines. They can hook you up with other clients and get group discounts from the cruise line; they get you on-board credit and other things that will offset the "no discounts" rules. So don't give up cruising, you'll surely miss it. ;)

[2Cruise4Ever]

I really wouldn't worry too much about what NCL is doing. Other cruise lines like RCI have done that for some time. Travel agents are not dumb and they have many ways to get around the "no discounts" so-called ultimatum from the cruise lines. They can hook you up with other clients and get group discounts from the cruise line; they get you on-board credit and other things that will offset the "no discounts" rules. So don't give up cruising, you'll surely miss it. ;)

 

Well, considering that we have been able to enjoy discounts from $800 all the way up to $1,500, I doubt any group discounts or OBCs will come close to that. We won't give up cruising all together. But, we won't be able to cruise as much as we have been. It's a shame.

[Giorgi-one]

Well, considering that we have been able to enjoy discounts from $800 all the way up to $1,500, I doubt any group discounts or OBCs will come close to that. We won't give up cruising all together. But, we won't be able to cruise as much as we have been. It's a shame.

 

The only way to get a $1500 discount from a TA is to book a $15,000 cabin. There is only so much commission on any booking. If you are booking these types of cabins, it should not affect your cruising.

 

My guess is the types of discounts you are getting are actually provided by the Cruise Line or they were price reductions and these will still be available.

[Dolphins]

I also heard that some cruise lines are requiring TA's to inform them of any alternate discounts such as OBC's, insurance etc. Hardly the way to increase bookings in an economic recession, which if it continues will make it almost impossible to fill all those ships. Fortunately, I have already booked all my cruises through 2011. After that, I will be very selective.

[sjbdtz]

Got an email from my Travel Agent yesterday:

 

"NCL will prohibit travel agencies from offering discounted cruise prices as of August 1st, 2010."

 

This has been confirmed with NCL. As a result, TA's are going to offer higher OBCs, free insurance, and some other incentives.

 

So, if your TA gives you a discount off the advertised NCL fare, better book your next cruise before August 1st!!!

 

Because of the deep discounts we receive from our TA, we've been able to afford a cruise a year (for our family of 4). No more!!! We can't afford the full fare. So, looks like we'll be making other vacation plans from now on.... this is NOT good news! :mad:

 

 

I guess you'll be needing a different name CC :(

 

Besides, if your TA gives you the exact same discount but in the form of OBCs, how is that different? Just use the casino to take out cash advances against your room, and use the OBCs to pay for the advances.... then use the cash to pay-off the credit card.

 

Isn't that possible?

[sjbdtz]

I also heard that some cruise lines are requiring TA's to inform them of any alternate discounts such as OBC's, insurance etc. Hardly the way to increase bookings in an economic recession, which if it continues will make it almost impossible to fill all those ships. Fortunately, I have already booked all my cruises through 2011. After that, I will be very selective.

 

 

there's nothing in this change which prevents the cruiseline from setting every fare at $1. The only change is that the TA's can't THEN price it at $0.80

[2Cruise4Ever]

The only way to get a $1500 discount from a TA is to book a $15,000 cabin. There is only so much commission on any booking. If you are booking these types of cabins, it should not affect your cruising.

 

My guess is the types of discounts you are getting are actually provided by the Cruise Line or they were price reductions and these will still be available.

 

Not true. The penthouse suite we booked 4 years ago (about 6 months before sailing) was $8,000 for the 4 of us on NCL. com. We booked it through our TA at $6,500. Another TA advertised it at $7,000. And, yes, it was the full fare, including the port charges and fees. It wasn't just their commission, they booked a block of cabins at a group discount.

[2Cruise4Ever]

I guess you'll be needing a different name CC :(

 

Besides, if your TA gives you the exact same discount but in the form of OBCs, how is that different? Just use the casino to take out cash advances against your room, and use the OBCs to pay for the advances.... then use the cash to pay-off the credit card.

 

Isn't that possible?

 

The highest OBC I've seen them advertise (through purchase with points) is $1,000, which would require a much higher cruise fare to get than we we would typically pay. There is no way the OBC offer will be anywhere near what the discount was.

[peg013]

Not true. The penthouse suite we booked 4 years ago (about 6 months before sailing) was $8,000 for the 4 of us on NCL. com. We booked it through our TA at $6,500. Another TA advertised it at $7,000. And, yes, it was the full fare, including the port charges and fees. It wasn't just their commission, they booked a block of cabins at a group discount.

 

From what I read group rates, military discounts, latitude discounts etc will still be in effect. They just can't arbitrarily discount the rate.

[Giorgi-one]

Not true. The penthouse suite we booked 4 years ago (about 6 months before sailing) was $8,000 for the 4 of us on NCL. com. We booked it through our TA at $6,500. Another TA advertised it at $7,000. And, yes, it was the full fare, including the port charges and fees. It wasn't just their commission, they booked a block of cabins at a group discount.

 

You cannot book suites at group discounts. Your discount was greater than the maximum commission on that stateroom.

[newmexicoNita]

I really wouldn't worry too much about what NCL is doing. Other cruise lines like RCI have done that for some time. Travel agents are not dumb and they have many ways to get around the "no discounts" so-called ultimatum from the cruise lines. They can hook you up with other clients and get group discounts from the cruise line; they get you on-board credit and other things that will offset the "no discounts" rules. So don't give up cruising, you'll surely miss it. ;)

 

exactly; this isn't anything new. As a TA they can still do other things to encourage customer loyalty,

 

NIta

[AmandaAnn718]

Hi,

 

Given you normally book a penthouse, and the price you paid was $6500. And you say that you can't afford a cruise a year anymore.

 

Maybe I'm just being dense, but couldn't you just book 2 balcony cabins for around $3000? If you love to cruise, and want to go on one a year, this would be what I would do. You could even possibly afford 2 cruises a year and still have $500 left over.

 

I wouldn't give up cruising because you aren't getting the same discount, I would just improvise.

 

 

Just my 2 cents.....:)

[2Cruise4Ever]

Hi,

 

Given you normally book a penthouse, and the price you paid was $6500. And you say that you can't afford a cruise a year anymore.

 

Maybe I'm just being dense, but couldn't you just book 2 balcony cabins for around $3000? If you love to cruise, and want to go on one a year, this would be what I would do. You could even possibly afford 2 cruises a year and still have $500 left over.

 

I wouldn't give up cruising because you aren't getting the same discount, I would just improvise.

 

 

Just my 2 cents.....:)

 

Great suggestion. But, I don't want my kids in a cabin by themselves (even though it's adjoining). And, we just can't cruise without the perks that come with a suite anymore ;) We're spoiled like that.

 

We won't give up cruising. We just won't do it as often. Already started planning for next year... we're probably going to Vegas (piggy-back off my business trip there in August).

[mpk218]

2Cruise4ever , I understand where you are coming from . We too have been able to acquire significant discounts from online TA's. Much more than the $300 or $400 people talk about . We are also a family of 4 and my current booking on the Sun(AC) that is bought and payed for ($3800) is being sold by NCL.com for $6300.

As God as my witness ;)

[nikkin]

Well, considering that we have been able to enjoy discounts from $800 all the way up to $1,500, I doubt any group discounts or OBCs will come close to that. We won't give up cruising all together. But, we won't be able to cruise as much as we have been. It's a shame.

 

There was a thread I think in Celebrity.. that talks of amount of OBC, and amount pd for cabin..and I have seen OBC of 800-and higher mentioned.. I would think that would be for a high end room.. Is that the type of room you usually get?

[2Cruise4Ever]

There was a thread I think in Celebrity.. that talks of amount of OBC, and amount pd for cabin..and I have seen OBC of 800-and higher mentioned.. I would think that would be for a high end room.. Is that the type of room you usually get?

 

Nikkin ~ we typically get a 2-bedroom penthouse suite... so yes, I guess that would be considered "high end." When I looked at OBCs on our TA's website, we would have to spend over $10,000 in order to get the OBC equivalent to what we've saved in the past. Now, after August 1st, that may change.... we'll see...

[2Cruise4Ever]

2Cruise4ever , I understand where you are coming from . We too have been able to acquire significant discounts from online TA's. Much more than the $300 or $400 people talk about . We are also a family of 4 and my current booking on the Sun(AC) that is bought and payed for ($3800) is being sold by NCL.com for $6300.

As God as my witness ;)

 

I believe THAT!

[avalanche2]

Thats great that NCL finally woke up. They spend quite a bit of money on their cruise consultants and its disappointing to see that certain online travel agencies offer large discounts for Garden Villas Penthouses, etc. I booked a a2 and an online discounter was considerably less. I prefer to book through NCL

[nikkin]

I just checked my records for a cruise in Feb.. I paid 3,559.66 for a A4 room ..w/ an online agency ..for the same room NCL wants 4,409.60..a savings of 850.00. So I take back what I said above.. I doubt that I would see that much in OBC for that priced room.

[2Cruise4Ever]

Thats great that NCL finally woke up. They spend quite a bit of money on their cruise consultants and its disappointing to see that certain online travel agencies offer large discounts for Garden Villas Penthouses, etc. I booked a a2 and an online discounter was considerably less. I prefer to book through NCL

 

Just curious: why is it disappointing to spend LESS for a cruise????

[nikkin]

Just curious: why is it disappointing to spend LESS for a cruise????

 

Yea I don't get that as well!

[Giorgi-one]

2Cruise4ever , I understand where you are coming from . We too have been able to acquire significant discounts from online TA's. Much more than the $300 or $400 people talk about . We are also a family of 4 and my current booking on the Sun(AC) that is bought and payed for ($3800) is being sold by NCL.com for $6300.

As God as my witness ;)

 

That may be but the price was not $6300 when you booked it. The maximum commission on a $6300 cabin is less than $1000, so there is no way anyone could discount $2500. You are talking apples and oranges.

[2Cruise4Ever]

That may be but the price was not $6300 when you booked it. The maximum commission on a $6300 cabin is less than $1000, so there is no way anyone could discount $2500. You are talking apples and oranges.

 

Maybe, but a reduction in price is still a reduction in price (whether it's from commission or otherwise ~ the savings is still passed onto the consumer). The online TA we're talking about typically books a group of cabins in order to secure a lower price per cabin. That's how we are able to receive deep discounts.

 

And, yes, the price WAS $6,300 at booking. We have received a cabin as much as $1,500 less than the NCL direct price (comparing both at the same time).