So Disappointed with HAL's Pricing Games

[lovetocruise2020]

lorekauf,

I am with Bruce on this one. THANK YOU BRUCE FOR YOUR INSIGHT. Bruce certainly knows how the cruise lines think - be it the way we would like or not. They have the numbers, they know exactly how much folks spend and can relate it to number of cruises/days on their line(s). They know the facts, not opinions or personal experiences.

 

Just look at this board on Cruise Critic. Note all the regulars who are NOT new to cruising. Just looking at shore excursions and the discussions of finding private tours to "save money". Few first time cruisers know enough to do so. Since shore excursions are big time money makers for the cruise lines - who do you think they prefer just for this reason alone? I also know that many folks drink less as they age. Give up booze - no, but drink less. More profits gone.

 

I do not know, nor care, what you consider "plenty", Personally I know that when we first began cruising ships got a lot more onboard money from us be it tours, photographs, special meals, the casino, drinks, bingo. Now, they get very little from me for any of these. Am I typical - perhaps yes, perhaps no, but I know I share some of these habits with many folks on cruise critic.

 

This is a laugh. We got to 3 star in 3 years very quickly BECAUSE we booked suites and our onboard spending. We upgrade our experience onboard and with shore ex and def HMC. We used to get amazing offers the first year. We have gotten NOTHING from them the last 2, but we get offers weekly from Seaborn, Silverseas and Oceania... Just sayin. We have never contacted Seaborn for anything. Funny how THEY now contact us instead of HAL.

 

I took my parents on their first HAL cruise last Nov, and now they get stuff weekly from HAL. I check from time to time my dads mariner number often. Sometimes his prices are lower, but not for the cabin type we have booked.

 

We are considered frequent cruisers.

[cruz chic]

lorekauf,

I am with Bruce on this one. THANK YOU BRUCE FOR YOUR INSIGHT. Bruce certainly knows how the cruise lines think - be it the way we would like or not. They have the numbers, they know exactly how much folks spend and can relate it to number of cruises/days on their line(s). They know the facts, not opinions or personal experiences.

 

Just look at this board on Cruise Critic. Note all the regulars who are NOT new to cruising. Just looking at shore excursions and the discussions of finding private tours to "save money". Few first time cruisers know enough to do so. Since shore excursions are big time money makers for the cruise lines - who do you think they prefer just for this reason alone? I also know that many folks drink less as they age. Give up booze - no, but drink less. More profits gone.

 

I do not know, nor care, what you consider "plenty", Personally I know that when we first began cruising ships got a lot more onboard money from us be it tours, photographs, special meals, the casino, drinks, bingo. Now, they get very little from me for any of these. Am I typical - perhaps yes, perhaps no, but I know I share some of these habits with many folks on cruise critic.

 

I'm not one of those people that do private shorex. 98 percent of the time I do Hal excursions. I also go to the specialty restaurants, buy several bottles of wine, Internet packages etc. I doubt if a tshirt and some pictures that newbies buy would add up to the same. See how following generalizations don't work. I could also say I work for a cruise line and spout all sorts of generalizations. It doesn't mean they are true. As soon as someone posts they work for the cruiseline everything they say is gospel. I think I'll start saying that too:rolleyes:.

[sail7seas]

You hit the nail on the head. Congratulations.

It appears that HAL has finally figured it out where all that butter is coming from.

 

Today's mass market cruise lines only make profit from selling things to you once you get onboard.

 

Who are the biggest onboard spenders? First time cruisers and infrequent cruisers.

 

Who are the worst onboard spenders? The old timers and frequent cruisers.

 

If you owned a cruise line today, which group would you want sailing on your ships?

 

lorekauf,

I am with Bruce on this one. THANK YOU BRUCE FOR YOUR INSIGHT. Bruce certainly knows how the cruise lines think - be it the way we would like or not. They have the numbers, they know exactly how much folks spend and can relate it to number of cruises/days on their line(s). They know the facts, not opinions or personal experiences.

 

Just look at this board on Cruise Critic. Note all the regulars who are NOT new to cruising. Just looking at shore excursions and the discussions of finding private tours to "save money". Few first time cruisers know enough to do so. Since shore excursions are big time money makers for the cruise lines - who do you think they prefer just for this reason alone? I also know that many folks drink less as they age. Give up booze - no, but drink less. More profits gone.

 

I do not know, nor care, what you consider "plenty", Personally I know that when we first began cruising ships got a lot more onboard money from us be it tours, photographs, special meals, the casino, drinks, bingo. Now, they get very little from me for any of these. Am I typical - perhaps yes, perhaps no, but I know I share some of these habits with many folks on cruise critic.

 

 

Yes, I agree Bruce Muzz knows of what he speaks but he speaks in huge generalizations. He never seems to provide for the exceptions and there are a number of us.

 

It gets irksome being lumped into a group repeatedly when it doesn't apply.

 

Some of us mention these generalizations as we feel accuracy lends to more credibility in future postings.

 

[jtl513]

As soon as someone posts they work for the cruiseline everything they say is gospel. I think I'll start saying that too.

It's not just "the cruiseline", it's over 30 years experience on multiple cruise lines, much of it as hotel manager. Yes, no generalization is 100% true, but when it comes to cruise lines I'll take his over yours any day.

[serendipity1499]

I'm not one of those people that do private shorex. 98 percent of the time I do Hal excursions. I also go to the specialty restaurants, buy several bottles of wine, Internet packages etc. I doubt if a tshirt and some pictures that newbies buy would add up to the same. See how following generalizations don't work. I could also say I work for a cruise line and spout all sorts of generalizations. It doesn't mean they are true. As soon as someone posts they work for the cruiseline everything they say is gospel. I think I'll start saying that too:rolleyes:.

 

Yes, I agree Bruce Muzz knows of what he speaks but he speaks in huge generalizations. He never seems to provide for the exceptions and there are a number of us.

 

It gets irksome being lumped into a group repeatedly when it doesn't apply.

 

Some of us mention these generalizations as we feel accuracy lends to more credibility in future postings.

 

 

I have a theory...I'm not sure if this is correct or not, but I have a feeling it is...This is exactly how we did it in the airline field..We knew all the high producing TA's & they were the ones who received the better pricing & the better service..

If Joe Shmoo Travel (a made up name) called in & asked to speak to me, I would automatically pull up their records & know what I could give them..On the occasion that I went out into the field, I would call them & ask them out to lunch.. That was what my expense account was for & believe me I spent it on our Top Agents..

When you go on-line or when you call HAL I would bet they have YOUR Profile in their computer... They know exactly how much "YOU" alone have spent on HAL during your past cruises..What you might consider a lot they might consider it only mediocre..That's why they want to fill their ships with newbies constantly..

Surfergirl said she gets e-mail from Oceania..I don't..You know why? We've sailed on them twice & they know exactly how much we've spent..Lets face it we spend much less than we did on our first few cruises..

That's exactly why we use a Travel Agent,,He knows what we want & he gets the business & a good commission from our bookings....

Again this is my theory only..It may or may not be correct..

Cheers..Betty

[cruz chic]

It's not just "the cruiseline", it's over 30 years experience on multiple cruise lines, much of it as hotel manager. Yes, no generalization is 100% true, but when it comes to cruise lines I'll take his over yours any day.

Do you know him personally? Anyone could say that they work anywhere.

[jtl513]

Do you know him personally? Anyone could say that they work anywhere. I really don't care if you think his opinion is more "important" than mine. Your opinion means very little to me as well.

And I have no proof that anything you say is true either. :p

[whogo]

I have no idea what lurks behind their screen names, but there are three Cruise Critic members whose comments I always value: Globaliser, Hlitner, and BruceMuzz.

[startwin]

I have no idea what lurks behind their screen names, but there are three Cruise Critic members whose comments I always value: Globaliser, Hlitner, and BruceMuzz.

 

Amazing how we measure such value. There's only one of those names that I would give credence to.

[Hlitner]

I have no idea what lurks behind their screen names, but there are three Cruise Critic members whose comments I always value: Globaliser, Hlitner, and BruceMuzz.

 

OMG! In the same league as Bruce? Not sure if that is a complement or a slur :). But lets keep something very clear. Bruce provides his info from the point of view of a person who has spent a lot of years as a cruise ship employee. My point of view is from someone who has spent a lot of time on many different cruise ships and lines (12 to date) as a passenger. Although we sometimes do agree on certain issues, there are also many times we see things from a totally opposite perspective.

 

I will add a couple of other CC screen names to your list. A majority of my posts on the Ports of Call boards (primarily for Europe) where we provide detailed info from the point of view of a frequent traveler who nearly always does their own thing and avoids tours (tour is a 4 letter word). On those boards we have grown to really respect the posts from Eurocruiser and -LEW. What is fun about posting to those ports boards is that a group of us work hard at keeping each other honest. If I make a mistake, Eurocruiser (or others) will quickly correct the error of my ways :). But on the cruise line boards we have an entirely different situation. We think there are 3 types of posters. First we have the so-called "Cheerleaders" who mostly lurk on the board of their single favorite cruise line (many have never tried other lines or have not done so in many years) and can find no wrong with their favorite line. And then we have those who cruise many different ships and lines and can usually see the pros and cons (for Cheerleaders there are often no cons) of each line and/or ship. And then there are those folks, who may not have a lot of travel experience, who are simply seeking honest opinions and good advice.

 

Hank

[Ship's Wake]

lorekauf,

I am with Bruce on this one. THANK YOU BRUCE FOR YOUR INSIGHT. Bruce certainly knows how the cruise lines think - be it the way we would like or not. They have the numbers, they know exactly how much folks spend and can relate it to number of cruises/days on their line(s). They know the facts, not opinions or personal experiences.

 

Just look at this board on Cruise Critic. Note all the regulars who are NOT new to cruising. Just looking at shore excursions and the discussions of finding private tours to "save money". Few first time cruisers know enough to do so. Since shore excursions are big time money makers for the cruise lines - who do you think they prefer just for this reason alone? I also know that many folks drink less as they age. Give up booze - no, but drink less. More profits gone.

 

 

Off topic, and I agree with you on this, but it sure seems otherwise for some Celebrity Elite cruisers. I get the impression reading the Celebrity board here on CC that the elite booze benefits are the primary reason many (not all, but many) cruisers stay loyal to Celebrity.

[iancal]

We certainly spent more (onboard) on our first cruise, especially the first cruise with our children.

 

Now, we seldom look at the pictures, always do our own excursions (for quality more than price), and only frequent non smoking lounges or casinos. We buy very little in the shops-we are not big shoppers and we find them all to be the same old same old. We do frequent the upcharge restaurants.

 

So I can understand HAL's perspective. I would think a better course might be to change the on board environment to become more attractive to families or to younger adults. If HAL wants this business they need to do more that just gear their marketing messages to the group. Otherwise they will be stuck with the same aging group of cruisers whose on board spending or lack thereof does not contribute very much to HAL's bottom line.

[Jade13]

Amazing how we measure such value. There's only one of those names that I would give credence to.

 

Credance regarding what? One of them sure knows a lot about the airlines.

[jtl513]

Otherwise they will be stuck with the same aging group of cruisers whose on board spending or lack thereof does not contribute very much to HAL's bottom line.

OTOH many retirees have far more money available to spend than younger families when they choose to. On our recent Prisendam cruise I overheard a conversation about the thousands that each couple had spent on jewelry in the ship shop ... more than we had paid for our cruise and airfare!

[serendipity1499]

Your generalizations are beyond tiresome. I spend plenty and I've heard of some very cheap new cruises from people that want to smuggle booze on to people that don't want to pay $25 to upgrade from an inside to a balcony. Yeah, those are the people Hal should be chasing:rolleyes:. I'd rather have me then cheapskates.

 

Do you know him personally? Anyone could say that they work anywhere.

 

We all know that Bruce Muzz is a long time Hotel Mgr, has been on several different cruise lines & he knows of what he speaks..

I have not personally met him but several on this board do know him personally..

Phillip217 is another long time Hotel Mgr on other cruise lines..I haven't seen him post here in a long time, but I could be missing his posts...

Cheers...Betty

[cruz chic]

Amazing how we measure such value. There's only one of those names that I would give credence to.

You are doing better than I am..........

[cruz chic]

We all know that Bruce Muzz is a long time Hotel Mgr, has been on several different cruise lines & he knows of what he speaks..

 

I have not personally met him but several on this board do know him personally..

 

Phillip217 is another long time Hotel Mgr on other cruise lines..I haven't seen him post here in a long time, but I could be missing his posts...

 

Cheers...Betty

Betty, with all due respect, when someone says if they have an overweight employee that they don't work as hard as their skinny coworkers I don't value an opinion like that. I'm a chunky gal, and I work circles around my colleagues. For all we know those 2 posters could be the same person.

[cruz chic]

Off topic, and I agree with you on this, but it sure seems otherwise for some Celebrity Elite cruisers. I get the impression reading the Celebrity board here on CC that the elite booze benefits are the primary reason many (not all, but many) cruisers stay loyal to Celebrity.

That's for sure. One poster constantly sings the praises of Celebrity. For that poster the praise seems to come from the free booze.

[lovetocruise2020]

Surfergirl said she gets e-mail from Oceania..I don't..You know why? We've sailed on them twice & they know exactly how much we've spent..Lets face it we spend much less than we did on our first few cruises..[/size][/

 

In our 9 years together, so far we have been on 26, the b2b this year will be 27/28...I consider that frequent, and frequent enough to get to 3 star in 3 years, because we enhance our experience onboard, we have limited time so we really make the most of it. Funny thing is, my personal email never gets HAL emails, and we never get mailers at home. It is like they ignore us, because they think we are loyal... Instead Seaborn sends everything. Its really really weird, my dad gets contact from HAL all the time, i paid his onboard bill last year, it was low/ moderate. Makes no sense at all.

[lovetocruise2020]

That's for sure. One poster constantly sings the praises of Celebrity. For that poster the praise seems to come from the free booze.

 

If it was a free Tiramisu martini, i would sing it too! ;)

[cruz chic]

In our 9 years together, so far we have been on 26, the b2b this year will be 27/28...I consider that frequent, and frequent enough to get to 3 star in 3 years, because we enhance our experience onboard, we have limited time so we really make the most of it. Funny thing is, my personal email never gets HAL emails, and we never get mailers at home. It is like they ignore us, because they think we are loyal... Instead Seaborn sends everything. Its really really weird, my dad gets contact from HAL all the time, i paid his onboard bill last year, it was low/ moderate. Makes no sense at all.

My friend is as cheap as they come. She gets smokin' deals as a one star from HAL. I guess she's considered one of those prize spenders that HAL wants to keep in the fold. I get bombarded from Princess and Cunard with a sprinkling from the other cruise lines.

[lovetocruise2020]

My friend is as cheap as they come. She gets smokin' deals as a one star from HAL. I guess she's considered one of those prize spenders that HAL wants to keep in the fold. I get bombarded from Princess and Cunard with a spinkling from the other cruise lines.

 

So weird...

[sail7seas]

Do you know him personally? Anyone could say that they work anywhere.

 

 

There ARE people here who know him personally. ;)

 

He is what he represents himself to be.