W o w is right!!!!

[hockeypapa]

Why does royal caribbean keep advertising a wow sale when all they do is jack up the prices and then act like you are getting a 50% discount on the second person?? How dumb do they think people are???? We booked about 10 months ago on a 11 day cruise for feb on a inside cabin for about $ 2600 i ve been checking prices for a balcony and they want over $5200 and thats with a 50% discount on the second person time to book with another cruise line the only thing you get from royal caribbean is a royal screwing!!!

[Ourusualbeach]

If people were not booking at these high prices they would not be still running the sale.

[molly361]

If people were not booking at these high prices they would not be still running the sale.

 

I was just going to post the same thing. I don't know who those people are but apparently they are out there somewhere.

[Starry Eyes]

if the cruise is this Feb, they may have sold almost all the cabins. If you see some cabins listed as available, most of them may eventually go to people holding a gty booking. if so, they can offer the last few at a high price. somebody who decides they must be on that sailing may just pay it.

 

Your figures also argue against the poster who claim people should wait until after final payment to book for best prices. Sometimes the early bird gets the better price; sometimes the last minute deal is better. All depends on supply and demand.

[Not-My-Real-Name]

Don't know if they still do it, but Princess used to do something very similar. We would receive brochures advertising either the second person half off, or free, but they were using the published brochure prices (way back in the days when they still had printed brochures).

 

I'm sure most, if not all, of the cruise lines have their own marketing trickery. Buyer beware.

 

We just look at the bottom line when we want to go, and if we are comfortable with the price, we book it.

[SnorkelBoy]

Although the 1/2 off caught my eye I realized that it was already figured into the displayed pricing. I bought but the RCCL cruise met my budget, time frame (can only cruise during fall, spring break etc cause wife is a a teacher) and itinerary.

 

I could have gotten a balcony cabin for about $250 to $350 less than I have paid in the past but chose to spend a little more than I was expecting ($1,000/pp) and got a junior suite with the most on board credit than I ever received. Other weeks after my cruise were considerably more so I think I also lucked out with selecting a cruise they are having more difficulty selling. I paid before taxes $1,177/pp with $250 on board credit so $927/pp for a junior suite fr a week. I think its a great deal based on being limited to certain time frames.

 

For me its bottom line and am I willing to pay. I have changed travel plans before when I couldn't get the pricing I was willing to pay, but I'm flexible.

 

Dave

Edited January 10, 2015 by SnorkelBoy

[belmontcrew]

We did our first cruise on Royal. We now have five on Royal and one on Carnival with a March cruise planed on Freedom. The only reason the March cruise was a good deal is because we are doing a Family Ocean View for six. The first two in the cabin were way over priced, but we got the next four for taxes and fees. With the current pricing structue we probably do not see any cruises with Royal in the near future. Thier pricing games are getting old and stale. We will most likely do our next cruise on Princess or NCL even if the cost is similar....just tired of feeling like I am being taken. I think it's similar to a furniture store we had in town. They had this going out of business sale with everything at 50% off. I think that sale lasted for three years. They must have had a lot of inventory.

 

The thing is Royal had us from the get go. We fell in love with cruising because of them. All they had to do was make us feel like they wanted our business and at times we don't get that any more. Not just pricing, but other things that have been posted on these boards before.

 

I would think we will sail again with Royal at some time, but they have certainly opened our eyes to other options.

[Lionesss]

I am ok with the WOW sales.

 

But, I have never booked a cruise during one.

 

I watch closely when they are done, because that is when I have gotten price reductions on my booked cruise.

 

This past summer we ended up getting over $1800 for part of three in reductions. (We were booked in a suite).

 

So keep watching.

 

Safe travels.

[delacruz]

We have booked 2 cruises where I priced out the cabin we wanted during a non-sale period but when I went to book the next day a BOGO half off sale was on. The first person rate was jacked up, and by the time it was all said and done, the total cost was EXACTLY the same.

 

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Forums mobile app

[loubetti]

Smoke and mirrors marketing and pricing, folks; smoke and mirrors. They're looking for new cruisers, not you experienced pros. :cool:

[Ourusualbeach]

I was just going to post the same thing. I don't know who those people are but apparently they are out there somewhere.

 

Newbies driving the prices up.:(

[The Sunset Glow]

I was just going to post the same thing. I don't know who those people are but apparently they are out there somewhere.

 

Yes, those elusive BOGO HOs. :D

[American Bear]

If people were not booking at these high prices they would not be still running the sale.

 

You are exactly right, and that reminds me of an article I read yesterday, only 38% of Americans have at least $500. cash/credit to pay for an emergency!:eek:

Maybe the high prices are using up all the extra money!:D:D

[MCC retired]

Lots of First Timers and Non-shoppers out there that will jump on anything that says "Sale" .

Be patient and wait it out .

[RSLeesburg]

I agree with SnorkelBoy, we set a budget for vacation, and as long as the total trip is within that budget, we book - regardless if there is a sale on or not. We happened to book while we were on our last cruise, and got a Thanksgiving cruise on Freedom within our budget, plus $500 OBC. First time I have ever gotten OBC - I am happy with that :).

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[Desert Cruizers]

I just priced a JS on our SOS Quebec sailing next Oct, and they are asking $1,000 more ( 2 people) then what I put myself, DH & daughter in a JS when dates first opened.

Edited January 10, 2015 by Desert Cruizers

[lah66]

Why does royal caribbean keep advertising a wow sale when all they do is jack up the prices and then act like you are getting a 50% discount on the second person?? How dumb do they think people are???? We booked about 10 months ago on a 11 day cruise for feb on a inside cabin for about $ 2600 i ve been checking prices for a balcony and they want over $5200 and thats with a 50% discount on the second person time to book with another cruise line the only thing you get from royal caribbean is a royal screwing!!!

 

Hockeypapa, We are watching balcony rooms too. We would love to upgrade if the price is right! We booked July 2013 for this cruise at $899 pp. Inside M. The price as been as high as $2036 and is down to $1272! We both got great deals by booking early. I think that is the only way we can afford to cruise anymore! I am watching balcony prices so will post on our Rollcall if I see it go down! This WOW sale is definitely not a WOW!

Lauri

[Starry Eyes]

Hockeypapa, We are watching balcony rooms too. We would love to upgrade if the price is right! We booked July 2013 for this cruise at $899 pp. Inside M. The price as been as high as $2036 and is down to $1272! We both got great deals by booking early. I think that is the only way we can afford to cruise anymore! I am watching balcony prices so will post on our Rollcall if I see it go down! This WOW sale is definitely not a WOW!

Lauri

 

Also watch your email for possible unpublished discounted upsells for C&A members. I called about such an offer and got a decent price on an upgrade from connecting OV to connecting balcony cabins.

[SthrnCruiser]

I don't have running knowledge of cruise rates. So for someone like me, I don't know if these are good deals or not. On the surface they appear to be. So that is probably who Royal is targeting.

[CRUSINGFAMILY]

Pricing is always a roller coaster, as others have said experienced cruisers like most of us know we need to book early to get the best rates. Early is not always the the cheapest we often sail at last minute during the fall and are able to get excellent deals. I have sailed as a single for less than $180 for 4 nights all in and get 50 dollars on board credit which is just crazy. We have some cruises booked currently which are thousands of dollars cheaper that what is on the 50% off sale now.

 

Quite often when certain dates are not selling you will see crazy prices, as always the objective of the cruise is to sail full which they sure seem to all the time. They will generate rev once you are the ship, even if you didn't pay much.

 

Happy sailing

 

Brian J

[matj2000]

I went ahead and booked a "Princess" cruise.

 

Their prices were much more reasonable for the week I needed....

[jenn6743]

They started the 50% off the 2nd guest promo May 2014 and it was a really good deal I booked a Grand Suite on the Oasis for $3,000 which is an awesome deal. In June I thought about using the promo again and realized they jacked up the prices... It's been like that since :( I hate when companies try to make it seem like a good deal when is just normal pricing. I'm willing to pay normal pricing but just call it what it is!!!

[John&LaLa]

Newbies driving the prices up.:(

 

You sound just a tad bit elitist

[joandian]

I'm not a Newbie (actually D+) and I booked :mad: We wanted to cruise on Oasis in March. Lots of reasons I won't bore you with but only March 2015 would work.

 

I waited months to book hoping the stupid BOGOHO promotion would end. I hoped it would end Dec 31 but here it was January and it was still going and balcony cabins were nearly sold out, so I booked.

 

We wanted to cruise, we are cruising and we will enjoy it but I hate these stupid ongoing promotions and hate that I had to book during one.

[rt1092]

They are actually abusing their loyal cruiser.

I was just cruise surfing and looked up a 5 nighter next January. It gave me a price bogoho and included $200 on board credit. I signed in and looked at the same cruise to add my balcony discount $150. The onboard credit went away.

So even if they went straight to the casino and took cash ($210 for $200). A first time cruiser would get the better deal.

This is what I deserve with 30+ cruises?

A year ago I would not even have thought about it, but with a few more enhancements. We will go elsewhere. After I get my Crystal block on the Quantum. We have nothing booked.