Dillon Pyron wrote:
>Thus spake Brian K :
>
>>On 8/2/2006 9:08 AM Bocephus wrote:
>>> I've asked this of two other people and so far, an answer has not been
>>> offered. It seems like all the flack about trolling for business takes
>>> priority over discussing cruises. Maybe someone, who has a free moment and
>>> no ax to grind, could please provide an answer.
>>> When cruises are advertised, either via a TR or the sunday newspaper, how
>>> far in advance of the cruise would the announcement be made public?
>>> Therefore, how far in advance of the cruise date, should I make my
>>> reservation, so as to get a good choice of cabins?
>>>
>>> Bocephus
>>>
When we used to be able to use Sabre (before 2000), I used to go and
check the fares to places I wanted to go (like St. Thomas USVI) weekly
or more often starting in May or June. This was for travel in January
of the following year. I would usually book the tickets, and then in
August or September, the fares would go down $100-150 for a very short
time. If I was quick, I could re-book. Even with the service charge
(in those days they used to either give you a full price voucher for
use on a later ticket or charge $50 if you wanted actual money back)
it was cheaper. At one point, I flew on an actual ticket round trip
ticket (not a pass) to Miami for $14.00 each, because I had a voucher
for $90 from a Barbados trip, plus the fare to Miami had gone down.
>>If it's in the Sunday newspaper the cruise fare already is public. If
>>it's a good fare for somewhere you want to go and at a peak travel time,
>>the sooner you book the better. Simple supply and demand. As cabin
>>space becomes more scarce the price usually goes up. An un-published
>>fare is one that is not available through newspaper ads, internet travel
>>bots like Travelocity. Generally un-published fares are available from
>>the cruise line directly or a travel agency that has an arrangement with
>>that cruise line.
>
>I've never seen any special fares that weren't published to the whole
>world. I get notice on the Happy Hour specials a little earlier than
>the general public, but since they're only good on Tuesday, it really
>doesn't matter except that I can contact my customer list first.
>
>I've never heard the term "un-published fare".
>
>The fares in the newspapers are always for the worst possible dates.
>That's why the ads always say "from" or "as low as".
I got a notice from AAA about a cruise out of Baltimore, but by the
time I got it, all the dates were sold out.
Last March, I asked for bids on a cruising website for two cruises in
December, and decided on one of them and booked it. Then last month
(July) I decided to do the other one too. The price had gone down
from what I was quoted in March. I'm assuming that the pricing of
cruise ship cabins is pretty much the same as airplane seats.
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