Time To For A Reality Check For Mr. Fain

[monctonguy]

Its about $1500 from what I can see....so your saying you got it for $399 and what?....Doesn't make sense

[molly361]

Its about $1500 from what I can see....so your saying you got it for $399 and what?....Doesn't make sense

 

It was on yesterday's GGG sale flyer. They went fast

 

http://www.creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/Multi_Dest/Special_Offers/rci_sales_event.pdf

[marci22]

Its about $1500 from what I can see....so your saying you got it for $399 and what?....Doesn't make sense

 

Poster paid $399 after final and feels bad for those who paid $1500 believing that the days of deep discounting after final were over, as per Mr. Fain.

[marci22]

Why does it hurt :what:

Palmlife researched the voyage, found a price that was acceptable and booked

If the price to Palmlife increased after booking, that would hurt

If Royal applied a fuel surcharge, that would hurt

 

Booking after final payment always had the potential to have prices decrease and increase. It's like gambling. It might be better to toss your money on Red and see what happens

 

As always, YMMV

 

Fain's whole point was that he doesn't want to anger customers with deep discounting after final. Some price drops after final have been extremely steep and yes, that hurts some people.

 

It hurts them enough that a huge company is stating that it wants to discontinue the practice in order to make their customers happy.

[John&LaLa]

Fain's whole point was that he doesn't want to anger customers with deep discounting after final. Some price drops after final have been extremely steep and yes, that hurts some people.

 

It hurts them enough that a huge company is stating that it wants to discontinue the practice in order to make their customers happy.

 

I still think that being angry or upset is quite different than hurting them. Maybe it's just semantics. Like I originally said, if prices go up for you, After you contract, that hurts. If it comes down that is just buyers remorse.

 

Once again, YMMV

Edited August 18, 2015 by John&LaLa

[DandDM]

I just bought Allure's Barcelona-to-Florida transatlantic cruise for $399 per person (inside cabin). After the final payment date, prices plummeted! My condolences to all who believed Fain when he declared those days were over.

 

They ain't.

 

Interesting. As a person that books transatlantic cruises very, very early, I initially had an unfavorable emotional response about it being unfair to customers like me. However, as I think about it, there is absolutely no way I could rearrange my schedule to take a TA this close to the sail date. I also wouldn't be willing to delay booking a TA to see if the price went down after final payment. So I think there is a very small group of people that can take advantage of a deal like this and the low price may be necessary to attract them.

 

However, I'm curious if other folks are seeing last minute price drops, contrary to the message from Royal?

[John&LaLa]

Interesting. As a person that books transatlantic cruises very, very early, I initially had an unfavorable emotional response about it being unfair to customers like me. However, as I think about it, there is absolutely no way I could rearrange my schedule to take a TA this close to the sail date. I also wouldn't be willing to delay booking a TA to see if the price went down after final payment. So I think there is a very small group of people that can take advantage of a deal like this and the low price may be necessary to attract them.

 

However, I'm curious if other folks are seeing last minute price drops, contrary to the message from Royal?

 

4 day Enchantment is still going for mid $200's

[Tagsalong]

4 day Enchantment is still going for mid $200's

 

But the Freedom has been flirting with some seriously discounted prices for the upcoming "slow" season. A September 20 sailing got down to $418 pp inside on Royal's site and even lower on an unmentionable internet TA site. We got it booked for $338.50* net after subtracting the OBC offered. That's as good as anything we were able to get in the past several years, so I don't think Fain's words earlier this year are going to pass the muster or cut the mustard.

 

True, we don't see the Enchantment getting to the $129 figure of prior years. Not sure why and I haven't had the time to check occupancy levels this year. But other ships are starting to discount.

 

*The net will actually be $345.25 since we will have to pay RCI $13.50 (6%) to cash out the OBC in the Casino.

[Thoie]

Interesting. As a person that books transatlantic cruises very, very early, I initially had an unfavorable emotional response about it being unfair to customers like me. However, as I think about it, there is absolutely no way I could rearrange my schedule to take a TA this close to the sail date. I also wouldn't be willing to delay booking a TA to see if the price went down after final payment. So I think there is a very small group of people that can take advantage of a deal like this and the low price may be necessary to attract them.

 

However, I'm curious if other folks are seeing last minute price drops, contrary to the message from Royal?

 

I was on the Allure TA in April, and have a number of friends going in October, and like you had a moment of "wow, wish mine had been that cheap".

 

Like you I then remembered that I'd have had to try arrange time off work, pay for flights which could be dear at this stage, organise an hotel where you may not get the best rates...

 

I've already booked my next TA for April 2016. It's possible/probable that I'll pay more than others. But on the other hand I got my flights cheap by booking so far in advance, and I've got a cabin that I'm happy with, so in the long run in probably as well off.

[Big_G]

Data shows that half of this country earns less than $50,000 per year (median income). On the high end, about 3% of Americans earn so much damn money that they wouldn't board a Royal Caribbean vessel -- even if it came as a rescue ship! So that leaves about 47% of the population. Many of those have no interest in cruising. And, we who are actually interested in cruising have more than RCI to choose from.

 

 

As Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of RCI, Richard D. Fain made $6,583,074 in total compensation. Of this total $1,000,000 was received as a salary, $2,083,629 was received as a bonus, $3,371,587 was awarded as stock and $127,858 came from other types of compensation.

 

 

 

I guess Fain's salary has allowed him to falsely imagine that there is more than a teeny, tiny percentage of people would be willing to pay FULL FARE for RCI cruises. Many folks will turn to his competitors. Others will turn to land-based vacations. Some won't go at all.

 

Because in your mind, Mr. Fain, apparently without any marketing information, prices each cruise intentionally beyond the majority of most people's means. :rolleyes:

[The_Big_M]

 

What they declared was that if they dropped the price at 40,30,20,or 10 days out it would not drop anymore. All inside of FP. Which means the price could drop anytime up to 40,30,20, or 10 days out

 

Spot on.

 

Yet some keep posting misleading messages in spite of the above information.

 

Or maybe it's just an irrational desire to gloat and prove someone else wrong.

[barbon2]

I also saw the price of 500 pp for the TA Allure sailing, ocean view.

Many times TA sailings are cheaper.

First, remember, if I am correct, you will spend about 11 days at sea on this particular sailing.

Many people don't want to spend that many days at sea.

The ship has to get back to the Caribbean from Europe and they try to fill it the best they can.

Have cruised many times,but have never done a TA.

I can imagine people shop more on board on a TA and join in more activities that have a price attached to it.

I love to cruise, but if you look into this sailing 8 consecutive days are spent at sea.

 

Barb

[Paulette3028]

4 day Enchantment is still going for mid $200's

 

Even in Fain's original statement, I believe he said that the 3 and 4 day itineraries were not included in the company's plan to minimize last minute discounting. In actuality, I don't believe it fully mentioned that no discounting would occur on longer cruises. I believe it said that 40 days from sail date, cruisers should not expect to see significantly discounted prices.

 

From a business point of view, after final payment, if there are cabins available the cruiseline needs to do what it can to fill them. If final payment is 75 days prior to sail date, they have 35 days (example) to lower prices to fill those cabins, even if they keep a hardline on a 'no discounting closer than 40 days out'.

 

I just don't concern myself with it -- for me. I want to have a better choice of cabin, than booking last minute will give me.

[Biker19]

But the Freedom has been flirting with some seriously discounted prices for the upcoming "slow" season. A September 20 sailing got down to $418 pp inside on Royal's site and even lower on an unmentionable internet TA site. We got it booked for $338.50* net after subtracting the OBC offered. That's as good as anything we were able to get in the past several years, so I don't think Fain's words earlier this year are going to pass the muster or cut the mustard.

$400 pp insides on the Freedom were not unusual most of last fall and I expect the same this year.

 

Biker, who is waiting to book the Freedom for Nov, but not until the prices drop.

[insidecabin]

I also saw the price of 500 pp for the TA Allure sailing, ocean view.

Many times TA sailings are cheaper.

First, remember, if I am correct, you will spend about 11 days at sea on this particular sailing.

Many people don't want to spend that many days at sea.

The ship has to get back to the Caribbean from Europe and they try to fill it the best they can.

Have cruised many times,but have never done a TA.

I can imagine people shop more on board on a TA and join in more activities that have a price attached to it.

I love to cruise, but if you look into this sailing 8 consecutive days are spent at sea.

 

Barb

 

Plenty of people want to do the TA's they just wait for the prices to drop and pick one,, one way flights are still easy this far out(choice air) but many are moving house for the winter so don't need air.

 

Diamond lounge overflow will be heaving with people standing room ony for 3 hours.

 

There are so many ships you can just pick a window when there are a few leaving around the same time.

 

There will always be a deal as long as you are flexible on cabin.

Edited August 19, 2015 by insidecabin

[John&LaLa]

But the Freedom has been flirting with some seriously discounted prices for the upcoming "slow" season. A September 20 sailing got down to $418 pp inside on Royal's site and even lower on an unmentionable internet TA site. We got it booked for $338.50* net after subtracting the OBC offered. That's as good as anything we were able to get in the past several years, so I don't think Fain's words earlier this year are going to pass the muster or cut the mustard.

 

True, we don't see the Enchantment getting to the $129 figure of prior years. Not sure why and I haven't had the time to check occupancy levels this year. But other ships are starting to discount.

 

*The net will actually be $345.25 since we will have to pay RCI $13.50 (6%) to cash out the OBC in the Casino.

 

With taxes, she's $800 now. When was the $400 price available

[TheTruthCanHurt]

Dropping prices brought about cheap cruisers who did not spend once on the ship. They CAN afford to sail with empty staterooms. When the discounting started and the cheap cruisers came, onboard revenue went down as much as 75%.

 

He is a smart man and I for one am glad prices are going up and the discounting will come to an end!

 

1. even when discounted rccl was stil about 20% more than most other brands

2. With a more affordable sailing, I for one would historically spend more money on board, which I would assume is very profitable, especially with the massive increase in drink prices and packages

 

out of curiosity, how much RCCCL stock do you own? LOL

[molly361]

With taxes, she's $800 now. When was the $400 price available

 

The $400 prices I saw here Senior and Military and were there from 8/5 until yesterday 8/18 sometime

[BARNET]

Discounting is still going on no matter what Mr Fain's say's booked a cruise in Jan 15 baseline price £1012 last week higher grade cabin was £617. Royal still could not sell the cabins so release all remaining cabins to internet traders,

today the cruise has completely disappeared for Royal's web site. Royal will continue to do what their want when they want.

[John&LaLa]

The $400 prices I saw here Senior and Military and were there from 8/5 until yesterday 8/18 sometime

 

That's right, I seem to recall that.

 

That's one way to move inventory without lowering official price. Targeted discounts. ;)

[insidecabin]

Selective regional cabin dumping goes on as well,

 

princess are good at that one, UK round britains 1/2 the price of the US last minute

 

It is really handy having the price checking sites out there especialy the ones that carry historic records so you can see the previous years trends and make a more educated guess on potential.

 

Also need to get the emails from the big players when they get cabins to clear at below cruiseline prices

[Tagsalong]

With taxes, she's $800 now. When was the $400 price available

 

Kind of like Ellen said, we booked Aug 16 when she (Freedom) was showing at $451 for an inside, but when we went through the booking process and put in 55+ (senior rate) the price dropped to $418. But as I said, a TA had an even better deal. Only two cabins were available at this price/OBC and my DW's best (cruising) friend got the other after she e-mailed her. I e-mailed Ellen but she declined. One must look every day, maybe several times a day, to get these deals because they don't last long.

[molly361]

Kind of like Ellen said, we booked Aug 16 when she (Freedom) was showing at $451 for an inside, but when we went through the booking process and put in 55+ (senior rate) the price dropped to $418. But as I said, a TA had an even better deal. Only two cabins were available at this price/OBC and my DW's best (cruising) friend got the other after she e-mailed her. I e-mailed Ellen but she declined. One must look every day, maybe several times a day, to get these deals because they don't last long.

 

I appreciate it. And that's for sure about looking everyday several times a day. The Christmas bargain that we (and you) got last year, the deep discount pricing lasted only 2 or 3 hours. I thought about waiting until after I ran errands to book it and was sure glad I did NOT wait as it was gone when I got back home;)

[John&LaLa]

I appreciate it. And that's for sure about looking everyday several times a day. The Christmas bargain that we (and you) got last year, the deep discount pricing lasted only 2 or 3 hours. I thought about waiting until after I ran errands to book it and was sure glad I did NOT wait as it was gone when I got back home;)

 

I'm supposed to be working ;)

Hard enough keeping up with CC threads, much less checking prices all day long. :eek:

I guess I need to set priority

[CVU]

I have read your comments, then re-read them and still can't believe that your are so arrogant. "Cheap Cruisers", that is how you designate those that may have saved for years to enjoy something others can do often, as if they are beneath you! I am about to take my very first RCCL cruise and pray that the majority of the regular RCCL cruisers are not like you.

Cheap cruisers allow more cruises per year than maybe the 1 some may do?

 

Doesn't mean they won't spend on board. They may go to a balcony from an inside with their allowance made bigger?? They just spent more for their cabin!!