Royal’s “creative” math

[Iamcruzin]

4 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

I don't understand all the angst over Royal's marketing. Look at the bottomline and if the price works great.  If it doesn't don't book. Just about every retail establishment in the world does the same thing unless they trying clearance certain products. Car dealers list the MSRP and inflated price they and you know is completely irrelevant to the final sale price, JC Penny has an inflated retail price that they expect to sell very little at.  They know that the vast majority will wait until the big sale... Going all the time but at different times for different items.  It's not deceptive... It's called marketing.

This is the mentality that allows them to get away with what they do.  I work retail and I'm fully aware of the fake MSRP and we were doing BOGO's long before the cruise lines were. However 50% off a fake $100 MSRP is still $50. Simple math. Also department stores list the fake prices. Royal Caribbean uses a % off on board price but doesn't let you know what it is. You need all of the facts being fake or real to know if you have a true value.  Sales alone don't work anymore in retail. Now they need a coupon too. I wonder when the cruise lines will stoop to that.

[Casino Comp Chick]

23 minutes ago, sjb317 said:

After much debate, we decided to go ahead and book so my husband called Royal the next morning.  Here is the final pricing as broken down on our invoice from Royal:

 

Cruise fare for 2:  $1147.00.   3rd passenger (child)  $475.   The total is $56 more than price I was getting on internet but this is a different cabin, although  same category.

 

There are 2 categories listed as Free Kids NRD (non refundable?)  Under the first one, passenger 1 gets $42 off price, #2 gets $500 off and #3 (child) gets $235 off.  The 2nd Free Kids NRD gives #1 nothing, #2 gets $95 off and #3  gets $190.  #1 gets the Flash sale discount of $75.  

 

Taxes/fees are less than yesterday, $118.29 vs. $127.90.

 

Bottom line is passenger #1 total is$1148.29, #2 is $670.29 and the child is taxes/fees only.   However, the total cost of all three is $1936.87 which is $13.02 more than price online.

 

My head is spinning😂😂😂😂

 

Sherri🙂

 

Call and ask (or mock book) to see if code “deal” works for you. If so, have them add it to your booking.

Edited April 16, 2019 by Casino Comp Chick

[sjb317]

8 minutes ago, schmeed said:

 

Well said.  People need to stop trying to figure out the system and just purchase what they can afford.

 

As long as it does NOT cross into a bait and switch situation...that is completely different...

 

I usually don’t look at how the price breakdowns but did this time because $1900 seemed a little high for 7 day cruise on Rhapsody that is Kids Sail Free.😂 

 

I’ve just found the whole pricing game hilarious😂

 

Sherri🙂

[Tree_skier]

We booked a cruise for ourselves and grandkids.  A month later a KSF sale came up.  Had them reprice and we saved a ton.  It doesn't matter to me how they want to market their product.  Whether it is 50% second guest with $150 flash sale or 30% off each guest or whatever cute slogan that marketing dept. comes up with.  At the end of the booking process there a final number that I have to agree with.  That's the only number that matters.

Edited April 16, 2019 by Tree_skier

[Iamcruzin]

1 minute ago, sjb317 said:

I usually don’t look at how the price breakdowns but did this time because $1900 seemed a little high for 7 day cruise on Rhapsody that is Kids Sail Free.😂 

 

I’ve just found the whole pricing game hilarious😂

 

Sherri🙂

That's my issue as well. Experience has taught me what things should cost so when it doesn't add up I dig deeper.

[sjb317]

2 minutes ago, Casino Comp Chick said:

 

Call and ask (or mock book) to see if code “deal” works for you.

Kids Sail Free sale is over so pretty sure I would get a different price break down if I tried.

 

Sherri🙂

[Tree_skier]

5 minutes ago, Iamcruzin said:

This is the mentality that allows them to get away with what they do.  I work retail and I'm fully aware of the fake MSRP and we were doing BOGO's long before the cruise lines were. However 50% off a fake $100 MSRP is still $50. Simple math. Also department stores list the fake prices. Royal Caribbean uses a % off on board price but doesn't let you know what it is. You need all of the facts being fake or real to know if you have a true value.  Sales alone don't work anymore in retail. Now they need a coupon too. I wonder when the cruise lines will stoop to that.

All the facts you need is the final price.  Everything else is smoke, mirrors and marketing.  The only determination of value is the product offered divided by price. 

[PelicanBill]

Let's talk about how a new car with trade-in is priced next.  LOL

[Casino Comp Chick]

5 minutes ago, sjb317 said:

Kids Sail Free sale is over so pretty sure I would get a different price break down if I tried.

 

Sherri🙂

It has been extended. Screenshot attached:

 

 

Edited April 16, 2019 by Casino Comp Chick

[PopeyeDaSailor]

1 minute ago, Iamcruzin said:

This is the mentality that allows them to get away with what they do.  I work retail and I'm fully aware of the fake MSRP and we were doing BOGO's long before the cruise lines were. However 50% off a fake $100 MSRP is still $50. Simple math. Also department stores list the fake prices. Royal Caribbean uses a % off on board price but doesn't let you know what it is. You need all of the facts being fake or real to know if you have a true value.  Sales alone don't work anymore in retail. Now they need a coupon too. I wonder when the cruise lines will stoop to that.

 

I remember back in 1986 when I was 18 I really like this shirt at Macy's.  It was $24 dollars and I was a freshmen in college and poor (who isn't?) but $24 dollars was a big chunk of my pay back then.  I worked at part time job that paid next to nothing but I had saved up money. I figured I'd wait for one of Macy's famous Wednesday ONE DAY SALE! 

 

Sure enough one rolls around and I see 20% off men's clothes!  Wahoo, this baby was dropping below $20 dollars!  I come rolling into Macy's after work and the price of my shirt .... wait for it .... $30 dollars! 

 

$30 less 20% = $24 dollars!

 

Now I was a Computer Science major in school so the math was easy to figure out, but that was my first experience with Marketing 101. 

Son of a .... 🤬

[sjb317]

1 minute ago, Casino Comp Chick said:

It has been extended. Screenshot attached:

Yeah, I just saw that so I did a booking and get the same, slightly cheaper price and breakdown that I was getting on line Sunday.😀

 

Sherri🙂

[Tree_skier]

I exclusively buy a particular Stafford dress shirt at JC Penny.  They are listed at $60.  I have purchased an untold number and have never once paid $60.  Sometimes I have paid $30, sometimes I have paid $24.  One time I think I paid $22.  I don't rail on JC Penny because the day I want to buy them I happen to have to pay $30.  The $60 isn't a real price, I know that, the price that matters is the price that rings up on the register.

 

Just like when I buy a cruise

 

Edited April 16, 2019 by Tree_skier

[sjb317]

23 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

We booked a cruise for ourselves and grandkids.  A month later a KSF sale came up.  Had them reprice and we saved a ton.  It doesn't matter to me how they want to market their product.  Whether it is 50% second guest with $150 flash sale or 30% off each guest or whatever cute slogan that marketing dept. comes up with.  At the end of the booking process there a final number that I have to agree with.  That's the only number that matters.

I’m glad that worked for you. Our son had this cruise booked already and when he saw the KSF promotion on it called Royal to see if they could add their son . He was told sure but they would have to change cabins and pay close to $700 more.😳 

 

Sherri🙂

[Glide_Path]

12 hours ago, fsjosh said:

Some of the difference is to get the kids sail free, you don't get the bogo offer on the second guest. You are paying full price on passenger 2 on the KSF pricing. That doesn't account for why the initial pricing is different unless they do indeed price the cabin different depending on how many people are in the cabin. 

Don't think thats true.  KSF is suppose to be combinable with other ongoing promos, here the disclaimer language:

 

  COMBINABILITY: BOGO and Kids Sail Free are combinable with each other as well as with Instant Savings Offer Extension, promotional OBCs, NextCruise offers, Instant Savings, restricted discounts (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military), Promo Code driven offers, Free Upgrades, Crown and Anchor discounts and Shareholder Benefits. Instant Savings Offer Extension is combinable with promotional OBCs, NextCruise offers, Instant Savings, restricted discounts (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military), Promo Code driven offers and Free Upgrades but not combinable with Crown and Anchor discounts and Shareholder Benefits. Offers are not combinable with any other offer or promotion, including, but not limited to, Standard Group, Interline, Travel Agent, Travel Agent Friends and Family, Weekly Sales Events, Net Rates. Promo Code driven offers are based on select ships and sail dates and must be applied at time of booking, limit one promo code per booking.

[MaddyandMax]

We've found whenever we sail with my brother and his family we always save money with the kids sail free and he does not.  Looks like if you only have one child the sale isn't sale, but having two kids in the room makes me worth while.  We saved over $300 on our upcoming cruise when we repriced during the kids sail free.  So from my experience if you only have one child in the room it isn't a sale.

[Ourusualbeach]

3 hours ago, sjb317 said:

Kids Sail Free sale is over so pretty sure I would get a different price break down if I tried.

 

Sherri🙂

Kids sail free is on until May 7th.  The part that ended was the instant savings which is a mini sale within the main sale.

Edited April 16, 2019 by Ourusualbeach

[Ourusualbeach]

2 hours ago, sjb317 said:

I’m glad that worked for you. Our son had this cruise booked already and when he saw the KSF promotion on it called Royal to see if they could add their son . He was told sure but they would have to change cabins and pay close to $700 more.😳 

 

Sherri🙂

It’s been like that for quite a while now.  There are cabins that only hold 2 and cabins that hold more than 2.  Both are different categories and are priced differently due to the fact that there are fewer cabin# that hold more therefore greater demand.  

[sjb317]

4 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

It’s been like that for quite a while now.  There are cabins that only hold 2 and cabins that hold more than 2.  Both are different categories and are priced differently due to the fact that there are fewer cabin# that hold more therefore greater demand.  

Yes but, he booked this cruise while on another cruise a few weeks ago and specifically chose this cabin because the next cruise associate said  the cabin could hold 4 so it would not be a problem to add their son if they decided to take him.😀

 

Sherri🙂

 

[molly361]

15 minutes ago, sjb317 said:

Yes but, he booked this cruise while on another cruise a few weeks ago and specifically chose this cabin because the next cruise associate said  the cabin could hold 4 so it would not be a problem to add their son if they decided to take him.😀

 

Sherri🙂

 

That's why I always do my own due diligence 

[schmeed]

4 hours ago, sjb317 said:

 

I’ve just found the whole pricing game hilarious😂

 

 

100% agree!!!

[RCCLNYMETS41]

I was pricing out a cruise for June 18, 2020 Adventure of the seas 8night.

I can't figure out how $1939 is BOGO 50%?  50% of what $$ did they start with?

I know it's RCCL math, but I can usually figure it out.

We also have the C&A balcony discount.

Can someone decipher & explain this to me? Thank you.

Pricing by Guest

View Summary

 

Ocean View Balcony

$6,082.00

3 Guests

Deck 8 Room 8254

Guest 1

Cruise Fare

$2,346.00

Taxes & Fees

$163.67

Guest 2

Cruise Fare

$2,346.00

Taxes & Fees

$163.67

Guest 3

Cruise Fare

$1,390.00

Taxes & Fees

$163.67

Discounts & Credits

BOGO50 NRD

$1,939.00

Balc Suite NRD

$226.00

Average cost per person

$1,469.34

Total

$4,408.01

[Clarea]

13 minutes ago, RCCLNYMETS41 said:

 ... 50% of what $$ did they start with?

 

They make up this number, depending on how the monthly fake sale terms change. 

[cruisinfanatic]

26 minutes ago, RCCLNYMETS41 said:

I was pricing out a cruise for June 18, 2020 Adventure of the seas 8night.

I can't figure out how $1939 is BOGO 50%?  50% of what $$ did they start with?

I know it's RCCL math, but I can usually figure it out.

We also have the C&A balcony discount.

Can someone decipher & explain this to me? Thank you.

Pricing by Guest

View Summary

 

Ocean View Balcony

$6,082.00

3 Guests

Deck 8 Room 8254

Guest 1

Cruise Fare

$2,346.00

Taxes & Fees

$163.67

Guest 2

Cruise Fare

$2,346.00

Taxes & Fees

$163.67

Guest 3

Cruise Fare

$1,390.00

Taxes & Fees

$163.67

Discounts & Credits

BOGO50 NRD

$1,939.00

Balc Suite NRD

$226.00

Average cost per person

$1,469.34

Total

$4,408.01

from my favorite  TA site

Passengers	Cruise Rate	Discounts	Taxes & Fees	Total
Guest 1 (Adult)	$2,346.00	$-212.00	$163.67	$2,297.67
Guest 2 (Adult)	$2,346.00	$-1,279.00	$163.67	$1,230.67
Guest 3 (Adult)	$1,390.00	$-448.00	$163.67	$1,105.67
Processing & Service Fees				FREE - No Booking Fees!
Fare Type: Buy One, Get One Half Off Non-Refundable Rate     Subtract $226 balcony discount and you have   $4408		Total Price:		$4,634.01

[ShillyShally]

53 minutes ago, RCCLNYMETS41 said:

I was pricing out a cruise for June 18, 2020 Adventure of the seas 8night.

I can't figure out how $1939 is BOGO 50%?  50% of what $$ did they start with?

I know it's RCCL math, but I can usually figure it out.

We also have the C&A balcony discount.

Can someone decipher & explain this to me? Thank you.

Pricing by Guest

View Summary

 

Ocean View Balcony

$6,082.00

3 Guests

Deck 8 Room 8254

Guest 1

Cruise Fare

$2,346.00

Taxes & Fees

$163.67

Guest 2

Cruise Fare

$2,346.00

Taxes & Fees

$163.67

Guest 3

Cruise Fare

$1,390.00

Taxes & Fees

$163.67

Discounts & Credits

BOGO50 NRD

$1,939.00

Balc Suite NRD

$226.00

Average cost per person

$1,469.34

Total

$4,408.01

I can get the math close, what I expect a lot of the discrepancy is, is the discount they offer to book under a NRD!  They don't offer that as a set discount since I expect it changes and varies like the wind.  

[josephmz]

Reminds me of the old optometrist joke.

 

How do they price glasses? When you put them on he says $250.00. If you don't flinch, he says for the frames. The lenses are $150.00. If you still don't react, he says each.