two for one???
Sep 15, 2018 | 10:52 am
#1
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: south of WAS DC
Posts: 10,131
two for one???
what is the 2/1 deal. i see it as empty BS. what am i missing? while on the subject of bs, what is the 2 or 3 grade upgrade. i presume it is all nonsense, but does anyone really knowaaaaaaa? i have sailed on royal carribbevn 4 times in the past 2 years. i never got any offers of upgrade. wife and i paid "full price" for the offered price on each trip. the reason we ride on RC is they pick us up within 45 min of our house.
Sep 15, 2018 | 11:05 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Lake Oswego, Oregon or Costa Alegre take your pick
Programs: AS MVP, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,123
SOP in the cruise business. Everyone over the age of 3 can see the shame that it is. No one pays double with the exception on of single travelers booking in a normal double cabin. It is so stupid to play this 2 for 1 game with the brochure price. Even the luxury cruise companies insist on this pricing game. There is no why.
Sep 16, 2018 | 6:08 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: Delta Gold, silver, what yr is it?
Posts: 2,516
In my opinion, the only way to know if a price is "good" is to know what the standard offering price for a certain itinerary on a certain line is. Track the lines/itineraries you're interested in (at least to have a general idea). [what I mean is the standard price in a TA or cruiseline email, not the brochure price - as noted, no one pays the brochure rate ;-)]
On the other hand, sometimes those 3/4 passenger cruise free rates can be very good deals for families. Or so I'm told -we don't have kids. But in certain cases I've seen (I've tracked HAL in the past) those are actually good deals.
On the other hand, sometimes those 3/4 passenger cruise free rates can be very good deals for families. Or so I'm told -we don't have kids. But in certain cases I've seen (I've tracked HAL in the past) those are actually good deals.
Sep 16, 2018 | 3:36 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Represa CA
Programs: Hilton LTD, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Amb/ LTTE, AA LTP, Avis PC, National EE, Seabourn DE
Posts: 3,109
Sep 16, 2018 | 8:37 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 71
There are several ways to qualify for category upgrades. There are valid offers out there. For example Azamara is currently offering to house you in a balcony cabin by paying an oceanview (and sometimes inside cabin) rate. If you were to sail on Celebrity and gain status and join the Captain's Club you are also entitled to move up a category, within limits. Both are owned by RCI and offers do come and go. The Captain's Club offer is, for now, standard.
As for two for one pricing...that's another kettle of fish. We get offers from Viking Ocean, HAL, Oceania, Regent, Silverseas and Crystal etc. constantly offering 2fers but rarely see a standard rate. I don't consider this more than advertising. There is almost no way to compare standard rates.
The most advantageous offers seem to be on top of the individual cruise lines with sweeteners from cruise travel agents.
I wish someone would pick me up for a cruise. You've got great travel agent.
As for two for one pricing...that's another kettle of fish. We get offers from Viking Ocean, HAL, Oceania, Regent, Silverseas and Crystal etc. constantly offering 2fers but rarely see a standard rate. I don't consider this more than advertising. There is almost no way to compare standard rates.
The most advantageous offers seem to be on top of the individual cruise lines with sweeteners from cruise travel agents.
I wish someone would pick me up for a cruise. You've got great travel agent.
Sep 24, 2018 | 1:30 am
#6
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: Delta SkyMiles Gold, Hilton HHonors Diamond, and Royal Caribbean Pinnacle Club
Posts: 1,009
2 for 1 and 2 to 3 class upgrade varies from cruise lines to cruise lines... from experience I've taken advantage of "class upgrade" the most on Carnival.. it's where several category of staterooms are priced the same... so the more expensive ocean view is the same price as the cheapest ocean view... although the room are identical in terms of layout, the location on the more expensive ocean view can be significantly better. On Royal Caribbean, my experience with "class upgrade" at the time of booking is mostly when the balcony stateroom is priced the same as ocean view. So instead of getting an ocean view, it'll assign you a balcony stateroom for the same price.
As for 2 for 1... I never really took advantage but it's when they charge you what the advertise price is for that cruise once... normally the fare you see advertise for a particular cruise is for the per person cost... so if the cruise is $499/person... you will normally pay $998 but with the promo, you're paying $499... HOWEVER.. if you track the cruise prices, they normally raise the fare just before the promo and drop the fare after the promo so in the end you're basically paying similar to what you would of paid if you didn't use a promo. Some time you do save money and some time you don't. On Royal Caribbean, the most common promo is buy 1 get 1 for 1/2 off or 1/3 off.
As for free upgrade.. i've scored some decent upgrades based on my status with the cruise line's loyalty program. I've got upgraded 4 times on Princess as an Elite and it's always Ocean View to Balcony. On Royal Caribbean, I never got upgraded until I reach Diamond Plus.. as Diamond Plus I only got upgraded 5 times. two times from a studio to a full interior and 3 times from an ocean view to balcony.
As for 2 for 1... I never really took advantage but it's when they charge you what the advertise price is for that cruise once... normally the fare you see advertise for a particular cruise is for the per person cost... so if the cruise is $499/person... you will normally pay $998 but with the promo, you're paying $499... HOWEVER.. if you track the cruise prices, they normally raise the fare just before the promo and drop the fare after the promo so in the end you're basically paying similar to what you would of paid if you didn't use a promo. Some time you do save money and some time you don't. On Royal Caribbean, the most common promo is buy 1 get 1 for 1/2 off or 1/3 off.
As for free upgrade.. i've scored some decent upgrades based on my status with the cruise line's loyalty program. I've got upgraded 4 times on Princess as an Elite and it's always Ocean View to Balcony. On Royal Caribbean, I never got upgraded until I reach Diamond Plus.. as Diamond Plus I only got upgraded 5 times. two times from a studio to a full interior and 3 times from an ocean view to balcony.
Sep 24, 2018 | 1:32 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: Delta SkyMiles Gold, Hilton HHonors Diamond, and Royal Caribbean Pinnacle Club
Posts: 1,009
In the end I just ignore the promo and look at the total cost of the cruise and see if it's reasonable or a good value. Some time it make sense to book the promo and some time it doesn't. The key is to be flexible.
Sep 24, 2018 | 6:12 am
#8
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,876
Probably the best advice. Typically we research and plan our cruises up to two years out. Since were destination cruisers and not particularly loyal to one line well often have two or more lines that have the same or similar itineraries. My wife has an Excel spreadsheet where she captures all the basic information. Over time we track fares and incentives like reduced or included airfare, on-board credits, cabin category upgrades, etc. I guess over 25 years of cruising weve seen almost every kind incentive from early booking discounts to two-for-one to reduced fares with non-refundable desposit to whatever. Some are good to excellent and some are nothing more than sales slight-of-hand and no real savings. At some point we engage our travel agency/agent but thats usually after weve picked our cruise so were using them to book the cruise and to get their discount.