Major price drop!

[Cnevada]

My TA turned out to be a gem (this was a cruise specialist I found through an online ad).

When Princess wouldn't budge on the lowered price for those already booked -- mind you they sent us a brochure in the mail with the NEW price listed -- the TA first checked to make sure there was room on the ship. He then canceled and rebooked us -- at a savings of more than $200 per person.

We had initially booked at a BG guarantee. But the price had dropped for all balconies, so that lower price is now on a BA balcony!

Then he got on the phone and argued for 30 minutes with Princess that we should not be punished for booking early. As a result, we still got the $50 pp room credit and a bottle of wine!

Whatever commission travel agencies earn. . . this guy did his job. I wish I could name him, but I know the rules.

Charlene

[caribill]

The industry as a whole thinks 2009 will be a good year:

 

Cruise industry: 2009 shaping up as another record year

The sharp downturn in the economy in recent months isn't going to stop the growth in cruise bookings.

 

That's the word from the Cruise Lines International Association, which says major lines are on track to carry a record 13.5 million passengers in 2009 — a 2.3% rise from 2008.

 

If the forecast holds true, it'll be just the latest in a long string of annual increases for the long recession-resistant industry. The association estimates the industry carried 13.2 million passengers in 2008, a 4.8% increase from the 12.6 million who cruised in 2007. And 2007, in turn, was up from the year before.

 

The industry has nearly tripled in size since the mid-1990s, when about 5 million people a year were cruising.

 

Helping to prop up the industry is the rapid growth of cruising among Europeans, Latin Americans and Asians. Through the third quarter of 2008, the industry saw a 30% annual increase in international passengers, and the association estimates that 3.05 million people from outside North America sailed on CLIA member lines in 2008. About 10.45 million people from North American cruised.

 

The industry's biggest players also have been rolling out significant discounts to keep ships full this winter and for the coming spring and summer. Just last week, for instance, Regent Seven Seas Cruises announced it would throw in free airfare and shore excursions on some voyages to jump start bookings.

 

The association notes that member lines are unveiling 14 new vessels in 2009. While several of the new ships are small riverboats that carry around 100 passengers, the list of newcomers includes several much-ballyhooed giants such as Royal Caribbean's record-setting, 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas.

 

Other vessels debuting in 2009 include the 450-passenger Seabourn Odyssey (June), 2,850-passenger Celebrity Equinox (July), 3,646-passenger Carnival Dream (October) and 540-passenger Silversea Spirit (November).

 

Source: http://www.usatoday.com/travel/cruises/2009-01-14-record-cruise-year_N.htm?csp=Travel

[pegpowell]

I know that different people pay different amounts for the same thing all the time. I don't like it, but try to work with it. What I don't like, is when you know there are bargains there, but you are prohibited from getting them.

[cruisecrasy]

The industry as a whole thinks 2009 will be a good year:

 

Cruise industry: 2009 shaping up as another record year

The sharp downturn in the economy in recent months isn't going to stop the growth in cruise bookings.

 

That's the word from the Cruise Lines International Association, which says major lines are on track to carry a record 13.5 million passengers in 2009 — a 2.3% rise from 2008.

 

If the forecast holds true, it'll be just the latest in a long string of annual increases for the long recession-resistant industry. The association estimates the industry carried 13.2 million passengers in 2008, a 4.8% increase from the 12.6 million who cruised in 2007. And 2007, in turn, was up from the year before.

 

The industry has nearly tripled in size since the mid-1990s, when about 5 million people a year were cruising.

 

Helping to prop up the industry is the rapid growth of cruising among Europeans, Latin Americans and Asians. Through the third quarter of 2008, the industry saw a 30% annual increase in international passengers, and the association estimates that 3.05 million people from outside North America sailed on CLIA member lines in 2008. About 10.45 million people from North American cruised.

 

The industry's biggest players also have been rolling out significant discounts to keep ships full this winter and for the coming spring and summer. Just last week, for instance, Regent Seven Seas Cruises announced it would throw in free airfare and shore excursions on some voyages to jump start bookings.

 

The association notes that member lines are unveiling 14 new vessels in 2009. While several of the new ships are small riverboats that carry around 100 passengers, the list of newcomers includes several much-ballyhooed giants such as Royal Caribbean's record-setting, 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas.

 

Other vessels debuting in 2009 include the 450-passenger Seabourn Odyssey (June), 2,850-passenger Celebrity Equinox (July), 3,646-passenger Carnival Dream (October) and 540-passenger Silversea Spirit (November).

 

Source: http://www.usatoday.com/travel/cruises/2009-01-14-record-cruise-year_N.htm?csp=Travel

 

I am just a tad skeptical of Cruise Lines International Assoc - who have a 'vested' interest ....

 

Have a friend who owns a travel business and she tells me something a bit different. Bookings are down for cruises..If true and with all this discounting going on, the cruiselines 'bottom line' is going to suffer..

 

Time shall tell I guess..

 

Have happy cruisin'!

[TonyFred]

I did not receive any email about the 2 for 1 offer, but noticed the price difference when I was pricing an Alaskan Cruise. When I priced it not logged into the Princess site, the rate was 1049 pp for a balcony. (May 9 cruise). When I logged in the rate was 634 pp. I called Princess and they checked and said yes, I qualified. That was on Monday of this week. I still havent booked but think I am about to.

[NancyIL]

The May 14th Pacific Princess 14 day Alaska Cruise I gave folks the heads up on yesterday has gone bonkers as far as pricing -- Inside and obstructed OV are selling at $1799.00 and unobstructed OV are starting at $1199. (Past passenger pricing) Does that make any sense to anyone??:confused:

 

I just looked at prices for the May 14 Pacific Princess, and oceanviews are now also $1799. Guess the cheap cabins got snapped up quickly!

[rcacace]

I am just a tad skeptical of Cruise Lines International Assoc - who have a 'vested' interest ....

 

Have a friend who owns a travel business and she tells me something a bit different. Bookings are down for cruises..If true and with all this discounting going on, the cruiselines 'bottom line' is going to suffer..

 

Time shall tell I guess..

 

Have happy cruisin'!

 

I can recall reading stories about the housing industry not slacking off at the same time people were desperate trying to sell homes. Could it be they're trying not to cause a panic slack off as lots of folks suspect already.:rolleyes:

[bhopal21]

I think you are both correct!:D

 

Mike:)

[LoveThisCruisingThing]

Since our original booking for 7/9/09 14 day RT Seattle to Alaska, the price has dropped $1100. YIPPEE....that will be more than enough to transfer to excursions. Plus we have close to $500 in shipboard credits.

[jhannah]

Well, my cruisetour apparently isn't coming down. My TA has checked multiple times. Other itineraries are two-fers ... but they miss elements of the tour that we really want. :( Guess we'll just have to suck it up and go with what we have.

[kathynorth]

Over a week ago, Princess e-mailed a special Alaska 2 for 1 promotion to selected people both for cruise only R/T Seattle(some past passengers only) and the new 11/12 night cruise tours(prospects only). Only those people whose name was on the e-mail could get the discount. It was not eligible for "spread the wealth", meaning other cabins traveling with the person who got the e-mail could not get the discount. Some people who only had one cruise got the cruise only promotion while some of those with 20 sailings did not. In the case of the cruise tours, past passengers did not receive any of the e-mails, only prospects.

 

The promotion caused such a uproar from travel agents and others, the phone lines to Princess have been jamed since. Several days ago, travel agents began to find some ways around the limititations and were able to book some clients who did not get the e-mails. Further, Princess began to grant "spread the wealth" bookings on an individual basis, but only after travel agents requested the denial of each case be escalated to Guest Relations.

 

Sometime after noon yesterday(EST), 9 AM Princess corporate office time, Princess relented and seems to have made both promos now available to all past passengers.

 

Was this just for the May sailings or were there any dates for July or Aug? I received an email which indicated 50% off on select sailings. However, only the first date of sailing for each ship was bolded as applying to the offer.

[cat herder]

we got the 2 for 1 email for alaska, europe, & the med...it says the promo code is PLA.

[kywildcatfanone]

we got the 2 for 1 email for alaska, europe, & the med...it says the promo code is PLA.

 

If you book on princess.com, where do you input the promo code, I don't see where you add it to your booking?

 

Mike

[cacy6893076]

The pla promotion should come up automatically if the promtion was emailed to you. If it was emailed to you and there is a problem and you don't see it call princess....its weird the way the promo works typically such promos are for entry level cabins withn a category,this one not so, interiors for instance start at cat j, balconies at bc/ you may have to edit cat to see it. . .........

[Colo Cruiser]

If you book on princess.com, where do you input the promo code, I don't see where you add it to your booking?

 

Mike

 

You can't, you would have to call Princess.

[KansasScrapper]

We finally received the email, after having a fit with several people at Princess. Anyway, I don't see the discount when I select it on Princess web site so I am a bit confused how this works.

[Angsa]

My cousin received the 2 for 1 email, but can he book cabins for all of us who did not receive it? Or is the offer only for him and his companion?

[TonyFred]

I called Princess. It is only good for the person who received the discount email. I wanted to book a cabin for friends at the rate but was told this was a non-sharable promotion.

[Mapu]

I called Princess. It is only good for the person who received the discount email. I wanted to book a cabin for friends at the rate but was told this was a non-sharable promotion.

 

Looks like the promotion is over as of this morning. Gail

[can786]

Looks like the promotion is over as of this morning. Gail

 

I still show the special pricing when logged in. I don't believe the promotion is over yet, especially since I just got another e-mail from Princess yesterday refarding it.

[Mapu]

I still show the special pricing when logged in. I don't believe the promotion is over yet, especially since I just got another e-mail from Princess yesterday refarding it.

Europe seems to be over but Alaska may seem to be still ongoing.

[KAWS]

We finally received the email, after having a fit with several people at Princess. Anyway, I don't see the discount when I select it on Princess web site so I am a bit confused how this works.

 

You might not see the promo in this case, since it ws something they added to your file after the fact. Same thing happened with me. But my TA was able to call Princess back and get them to refare.

 

So if you haven't booked yet, calling into Princess (now that you have the promo attached to your name) will result in them quoting you the lower price.

[mamaday]

I called Princess Thursday to inquire about a 2 for 1 cruisetour, only to find out it is waitlisted. Then I found online my price was reduced for the cruise only portion to half of our original booking price last April. Somehow I am now receiving the price that I didn't qualify for earlier in the week. I was also told it would not apply to the other 4 rooms in our family reservation that were all booked together. If these prices apply for Europe and the Med I will check into something for the fall. Are the prices still 2 for 1? Limitations on dates? Thanks.

[cdngrl]

sigh...no twofer deal for me, no emails, and i am always the one who pays more and ends up in the middle seat. please tell me i'm in good company!

[Mapu]

I called Princess Thursday to inquire about a 2 for 1 cruisetour, only to find out it is waitlisted. Then I found online my price was reduced for the cruise only portion to half of our original booking price last April. Somehow I am now receiving the price that I didn't qualify for earlier in the week. I was also told it would not apply to the other 4 rooms in our family reservation that were all booked together. If these prices apply for Europe and the Med I will check into something for the fall. Are the prices still 2 for 1? Limitations on dates? Thanks.

When I checked Europe and the Med this morning the PLA (captain's Circle 1/2 price promotion was not there; only "balcony bonanza" which was lower pricing than the early booking promotions in July 08 for 09 cruises. but not as good as the PLA promotion.