Could Last Minute Deals Be Back?
John Coan
Could the "last minute deals" the cruise lines dreaded so much be making
a comeback? Consider the following:
I got a brochure today from HAL offering 7 day Eastern or Western
Caribbean for $695 inside, $795 outside for May sailings. They didn't say
the name of the ship, curiously enough, but I figure it's the Westerdam.
More interesting than these rates which in themselves are 55 to 57 percent
discounts, are the 3rd and 4th person rates. If the extra people are under
17, they can sail for only $335 each for that week. If I had children, this
would be the deal to beat if you don't mind a crowded cabin. Singles are
available at $150 percent of the discounted rate too, so a single cabin
could be had for a little over a thousand bucks.
All this is to say (clearing throat), is that last minute deals are on the
way back. Yeah! If this is happening now, I cannot wait to see what the
situation will be like next fall when more newbuild megaships come on line!
I'll be cruising for a bargain for sure!
Any comments? Isn't the "book early pay less" concept dying out in the
face of the prospect of cabins sailing empty? I sure hope so.
Joseph Goodman
>From: co...@netcom.com (John Coan)
>Subject: Could Last Minute Deals Be Back?
>Date: Tue, 28 Feb 1995 02:09:45 GMT
According to HAL they will refund the difference if a cabin that was
booked earlier goes on sale below the booking price.
If this is true, then early bookings still get the best deal, same price but
better selection of cabins.
Also make sure that this available for everyone and not just your state
Joseph Goodman good...@omni.voicenet.com
International Tours & Cruises
(215) 464-9600
ray_goldenberg
HAL will refund your money or give you an upgrade to a higher priced
cabin, your choice. You will not be screwed. I always check on these
prices for my clients. I am sure your travel agent will take care of
this for you. I hope you have a wonderful cruise!
Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
Fax 805-5669305
In article <3j3adp$5...@ixnews3.ix.netcom.com>, Bar...@ix.netcom.com
says...
>
>In <1995Mar1.075402.40801@miavx1> rbul...@miavx1.acs.muohio.edu writes:
>
>>
>>In article <goodmanj.2...@omni.voicenet.com>,
>good...@omni.voicenet.com (Joseph Goodman) writes:
>>> In article <coanD4o...@netcom.com> co...@netcom.com (John Coan)
>writes:
>>>>From: co...@netcom.com (John Coan)
>>>>Subject: Could Last Minute Deals Be Back?
>>>>Date: Tue, 28 Feb 1995 02:09:45 GMT
>>>
>>> According to HAL they will refund the difference if a cabin that was
>>> booked earlier goes on sale below the booking price.
>>>
>>> If this is true, then early bookings still get the best deal, same
>price but
>>> better selection of cabins.
>>>
>>> Also make sure that this available for everyone and not just your
>state
>>
>> As far as I can see your point here has nothing to do with whether
>or
>> not last minute deals are back.
>> Sincerely, R. Bullock
>>>
>>> Joseph Goodman good...@omni.voicenet.com
>>> International Tours & Cruises
>>> (215) 464-9600
>>>
>>>
>>>
>Dos that mean if paid $1100 for a B and they sold it out for $795, HAL
>will provide a refund for screwing my family?
Barry
>
>In article <goodmanj.2...@omni.voicenet.com>,
good...@omni.voicenet.com (Joseph Goodman) writes:
>> In article <coanD4o...@netcom.com> co...@netcom.com (John Coan)
writes:
>>>From: co...@netcom.com (John Coan)
>>>Subject: Could Last Minute Deals Be Back?
>>>Date: Tue, 28 Feb 1995 02:09:45 GMT
>>
>> According to HAL they will refund the difference if a cabin that was
>> booked earlier goes on sale below the booking price.
>>
>> If this is true, then early bookings still get the best deal, same
price but
>> better selection of cabins.
>>
>> Also make sure that this available for everyone and not just your
state
>
> As far as I can see your point here has nothing to do with whether
or
> not last minute deals are back.
> Sincerely, R. Bullock
>>
>> Joseph Goodman good...@omni.voicenet.com
>> International Tours & Cruises
>> (215) 464-9600
>>
>>
>>
Dos that mean if paid $1100 for a B and they sold it out for $795, HAL
Fran Peterson
>
> Dos that mean if paid $1100 for a B and they sold it out for $795, HAL
> will provide a refund for screwing my family?
I wouldn't want to say you'd get a refund for screwing your family. But I
would say you stand a very good chance of HAL making it right by you for
booking early. This has happened to us several times.
My husband and I cruise every year after April 15th. (my husband works for
H&R Block so you can see why we go after April 15th.; although this year
we sail April 13th so tax payers will just have to get into him before
then.) :-) :-)!!
We no sooner get home from one cruise and we're on the phone to our travel
agent to book the next years' cruise. Then when we get the special
brochures from HAL with discounts or upgrades we call our agent again and
ask him to contact HAL and make changes that we are entitled to. One year
we got an extra 5% off the price of our cruise. We had already gotten a
25% discount for early booking and previous cruisers. Last year when we
got the brochure it was a cabin upgrade for booking by Oct. 31st. Our
friends in Seattle got the same thing. Our upgrade was 2 decks up inside
cabin. Our friends were a little late getting their request in. Their
upgrade was 1 deck up outside cabin.
We have been cruising HAL every year since 1989 and have never paid full
brochure price. If you read the material HAL sends you like my husband
does, cover to cover, there's always a savings of some kind for everyone.
I can't compare HAL to other lines because we've only cruised with HAL.
But other lines would have to come up with an awful good deal for us just
to try, let alone switch. Like FREE maybe. Of course, one's persons
satisfaction need not necessarily be anothers. It's just like 'one man's
trash, is another man's treasure'.
BTW, I have no connection with HAL other than a happy, satisfied cruiser.
Happy cruising everyone!! :-)
--
F [ : )