Trans-atlantic cruise prices

[Sonny V]

On the Navitartor 14 night cruise: A couple of days ago the price for a balcony was over $1,700 per person; today they're $849. It's really strange how the prices are going up and down so eratically. Does anyone remember seeing price this low for a trans-atlantic cruise?

Sonny

[TrvlPro]

RCCL has been all over the board lately. They have sailings that one day are $499. pp and the next day the same Cat is $899. Then later the same day I'll go back into the same sailing and they've re-opened the promo for the $499. rate. It's almost like they're putting out a handful of cabins for a promotion and then when they're gone they pull the promo and it starts all over again the next day with a handful more cabins. I don't know what's going on with their inventory control but it's not managed the same way it has been in the past. I called someone there that's usually in the know and she said she was not aware it was happening. She hasn't called me back with an explanation so either they're keeping it close to the vest or something in the system is not working properly.

One thing I'll tell you for sure. When you see these abnormally low rates pop up, call immediately and book a cabin. They may be gone in an hour. The sites that get live pricing feeds are all screwed up. I get calls all day on things that are gone and have things available that weren't there when the feed came through the night before. Hopefully they'll get it fixed or if it's not broken, go back to a system that makes sense.

Cheers, Neil

[TrvlPro]

Another thing they're in the process of doing with a lot of sailings is "Savings Certificate" promotions. They have a website for agents to enter promotions for onboard credits and $$$ off on sailings. They were once few and far between. In the last week+ I've entered more promo codes than I have in the past year. Seems every sailing has some kind of promo code that needs to be entered. They're obviously playing with their marketing approach. They have so many of these, at one time when you entered one you had confirmation it had been applied within 24-48 hours. I called on one I entered a few days back and was told it may take 2-3 weeks to show up. That's just way too long to have to baby-sit my notes on each booking and have to follow up with the cruiseline to see if it's been done. I can't see my desk! Okay, I'm finished with my rant and whining. Sorry!

Cheers, Neil

[f-mattox]

And some people think all you guys do is take orders.

[TrvlPro]

Yep Rick, I like taking the orders. It's all the stuff after the order is taken that's no fun. Still a pretty great way to make a living, I'm not complaining about what I do. I'm also getting better at the multi-tasking. I can now enter a booking in the system and answer a post on cruise-chat all at the same time! Aren't fancy new computers great? I have two screens working all the time and a headset in my ear with three phone lines. I'm still in training for doing the faxes with my toes at the same time!

Cheers, Neil

[LisaP]

Originally posted by TrvlPro:
I'm also getting better at the multi-tasking. I can now enter a booking in the system and answer a post on cruise-chat all at the same time!

Neil, in this situation, our cruise-chat members can wait a few minutes.

I'd love to do a transatlantic cruise someday. We've done a crossing, which is very different. Too bad these cruises are during the school year...unless I go without my husband...hmmm...nah.

I haven't a clue as to how cruise pricing works. I agree, Sonny, this is indeed interesting.

[sun_seeker]

We are 36 days away from our Transtlantic. Our docs are here.