Some of my most virulent rants have come from info I got from that book, as well as a few others... including what I feel is my most rabid spin-out ever on cruise chat: http://cruise-chat.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/738601132...391058451#9391058451 I actually accumulated a lot of material raving on that subject!!
While some of the stuff is true, I also think those writing the cruise-bashing books, and those who run websites dedicated to showing everything "that can go wrong" on a cruise, are different variations of the very people they are bashing. They aren't writing the books to be noble human beings acting as a crusader of the seas. (Hmmm, perhaps RCCL can use that last bit for a new ship name). They are looking to make a buck on the backs of successful companies. Nothing wrong with that, but I look at them with a jaundiced eye.
I agree about the tipping debacle. The major lines have successfully transferred most of their employee salary requirements to the laps of the passengers and have totally co-opted the traditional meaning of "tips".
All I was saying is that since about a year ago, Carnival has had a pricing policy where they require the same fare to be quoted by anyone selling a cruise - brick and mortar TA, internet TA, internet megasite, or Carnival itself. What happens behind the scenes is another thing, but if I go on line and check out pricing, a 4A cabin on the Elation cruise of X date is supposed to be the same price on Carnival's website and Expedia, and anywhere else. They do allow exceptions, which means the policy is not much of one in my view.
Dave, I have read all the posts in this section and if what you say and believe are true about cruise lines and the level playing field. Why is it that a website such as cruise compete exists? Cruise Vaule center? Just fun vacations. They are seriously discounting cruises and the Cruise companies know it. The reason they turn their back is because they really dont care what people pay to get on board. They just care how much you spend once you get on board. If cruises were not discounted, Cruise ships would not be filled with people drinking and losing money in casino's! Therefore, there is no incentive for the Cruise companies to keep a discounter from sending spending customers to them! This is a case of the cruise lines talking out of both sides of their mouths by keeping the local TA's happy with a "notional" level playing field and by keeping quite about the on line discounters (who make their profit though volume and kickbacks fromt he cruise lines)who keep the on-board spenders coming!
I've been reading tht book for a week or so, and honestly I don't consider it a "cruise-bashing book".
What really got to me while reading that book were the monopolistic practices and tax free status of the cruise lines. I was an admiralty lawyer, as I have said, and cruise ships were not something I ever learned much about. In the trade literature all I ever saw much about were the environmental issues and the chandler contracts.
This is boring. The poor OP has probably gone away for good!
The thing is that the brokers you mentioned are not seriously discounting all of their cruises. I just did a quick check of a random cruise - the Conquest on June 4. The same price offered at Carnival.com, Travelocity, and Cruise Values. As I said, there are exceptions granted to specific agencies for specific cruises.
The thing is that the brokers you mentioned are not seriously discounting all of their cruises. I just did a quick check of a random cruise - the Conquest on June 4. The same price offered at Carnival.com, Travelocity, and Cruise Values. As I said, there are exceptions granted to specific agencies for specific cruises.
Try cruise compete and then use a Holland America cruise and you will notice a wide difference in pricing. If you do not notice different pricing between the HA site to CVC then you just are not looking. Then Try contact just fun vacations and watch them discount a RCCL or a Celebrity Cruise which everyone else claims they cannot do. Through Cruise compete you may find others that will give you "perks". How they do it is just as I said, Cruise lines will close there eyes to the discounting. I was not really talking about Carnival as I do not sail them and have never priced them!
Originally posted by Carlalena1:
Question: how come one cannot book Cunard through Expedia?
I don't know. I tried recently to book a Cunard cruise online with anyone, but apparently the only way to do it - at least for the cruise I wanted - was to call Cunard or call an agent.
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