THe Carnival family of cruise lines

In the summer of 2007, we sailed on the Star Princess on a Baltic
cruise.

In 2008, when we attended a cruise expo in a neighboring county, the
Carnival representative told me that because of that we would be
eligible for discounts from all of the cruise lines owned by Carnival.
When I spoke to the representative from HAL, he said no, you only got
discounts on HAL if you were a past HAL customer.

Later in 2008, we took a short Canada maritime cruise on Carnival. When
I asked our TA about any past cruiser discount, he said no there was not
one for having been on another Carnival line.

We again went to the annual cruise expo this year on the Sunday before
the Super Bowl. My wife picked up Europe brochures from Carnival,
Celebrity, RCL, and Norwegian. We did not bother to pick up any
brochures from HAL (or Disney).

She had wanted a cruise with Athens this year, but we were finding it
hard to find a cruise that fit our schedule and budget. There was a
Carnival itinerary she liked, but I pointed out that they had pulled
there ships from Europe. There was a pricey RCL cruise and a pricey
Princess cruise (though that one's price came down with the 2 for 1
offer, but was more days than she wanted.)

And then we got a mailing from HAL with a VIP ID# with a great price for
a 10 day cruise. The prices were pre-summer, but when we checked our
TA's site on line, the prices were the same later on. (She's a teacher,
so can not cruise earlier.) In fact our TA even beat their listed price.
Our TA said that number even meant we would be invited to the HAL past
cruiser party on board. (I'll wait to see if that really happens.)

And yesterday we got a mailing from Costa that specifically offered us
discounts on European cruises as past Princess cruisers.

So, has Carnival extended more discounts between lines for those of us
who have used any of their lines? Or, was this something they always
did?

On Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:51:17 -0400, (Jeff
Gersten) wrote:

So, has Carnival extended more discounts between lines for those of us
who have used any of their lines? Or, was this something they always
did?

Hi Jeff,

The Carnival family of brands has always offered discounts when you
have sailed with any of the brands. They modestly call it the
"World’s Leading Cruise Lines". The confusion is that they do not
always offer a discount on every sailing. IOW, if they are offering a
discount due to past passenger status, you are entitled. Sometimes
their other discounts available to anyone trumps the past passenger
discount.


Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com
--

(Ray*Goldenberg) wrote:

On Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:51:17 -0400, (Jeff Gersten)
wrote:

So, has Carnival extended more discounts
between lines for those of us who have used
any of their lines? Or, was this something
they always did?

Hi Jeff,

The Carnival family of brands has always
offered discounts when you have sailed with
any of the brands. They modestly call it the
"World's Leading Cruise Lines". * The
confusion is that they do not always offer a
discount on every sailing. IOW, if they are
offering a discount due to past passenger
status, you are entitled. Sometimes their other
discounts available to anyone trumps the past
passenger discount.

Thanks for the answer, Ray. Perhaps, I should reiterate my original
question. Are they now in this time of economic recession offering MORE
of these deals to past cruisers from other Carnival lines? I know in the
past, we received brochures from other Carnival owned lines we had not
travelled on. Now we receive "special offers". (And, I guess it worked
since we have booked a cruise on HAL.)

On Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:07:27 -0400, (Jeff
Gersten) wrote:

Are they now in this time of economic recession offering MORE
of these deals to past cruisers from other Carnival lines?

Hi Jeff,

IMO,there are more deals of every kind now than at any previous time.

Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com
--

Ray Goldenberg wrote:
On Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:07:27 -0400, (Jeff
Gersten) wrote:

Are they now in this time of economic recession offering MORE
of these deals to past cruisers from other Carnival lines?

Hi Jeff,

IMO,there are more deals of every kind now than at any previous time.

Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com
--


You think more deals now than the post 9/11 period? I'd be curious
about the professional opinions of the TAs on board here. The deals are
looking good to me, but I still think post 9/11 was better. We sailed
in sky suites for nothin back then! Well almost.

Jeff

"Jeff" wrote

You think more deals now than the post 9/11 period? I'd be curious about
the professional opinions of the TAs on board here. The deals are looking
good to me, but I still think post 9/11 was better. We sailed in sky
suites for nothin back then! Well almost.

Kind of both. There were lower fares after 9/11... everything was on sale
and I do mean everything.

Now, fares haven't dropped as much but there are more promotions... and
they are more specific. Sailings might have great prices on inside cabins
but not-so-great pricing on balconies. Past passengers may be targeted
more. What used to be a one day Flash sale is now good for a week.

Marketing and yield management has had 8 years to develop and refine
marketing strategies for times like this.

And... in a new wrinkle, I hear that some cruise lines are willing to accept
a few empty cabins rather than have to lower the fares further. They are
taking a long term look that selling at fire sale prices decreases the
perceived value of the cruise product.

We live in interesting times.


--
George Leppla http://www.CruiseMaster.com

Cruise Specials Weblog http://cruisemaster.typepad.com/my_weblog/

May 10, 2009 ALASKA http://www.cruisemaster.com/moagc4.htm
January 10, 2009 Southern Caribbean
http://www.cruisemaster.com/caribprin.htm
October 16, 2010 OASIS http://www.motherofallgroupcruises.com

George Leppla wrote:

"Jeff" wrote

You think more deals now than the post 9/11 period? I'd be curious
about the professional opinions of the TAs on board here. The deals
are looking good to me, but I still think post 9/11 was better. We
sailed in sky suites for nothin back then! Well almost.

Kind of both. There were lower fares after 9/11... everything was on
sale and I do mean everything.

Now, fares haven't dropped as much but there are more promotions... and
they are more specific. Sailings might have great prices on inside
cabins but not-so-great pricing on balconies. Past passengers may be
targeted more. What used to be a one day Flash sale is now good for a
week.

Marketing and yield management has had 8 years to develop and refine
marketing strategies for times like this.

And... in a new wrinkle, I hear that some cruise lines are willing to
accept a few empty cabins rather than have to lower the fares further.
They are taking a long term look that selling at fire sale prices
decreases the perceived value of the cruise product.

We live in interesting times.


Very interesting George, thanks. I am glad they are trying to protect
value and not absolutely fill every ship by discounting, I agree that
tends to hurt the product over the long run. But there are some very
good bargains out there for sure!

Jeff

On 3/14/09 4:27 PM, in article , "George
Leppla" wrote:

Marketing and yield management has had 8 years to develop and refine
marketing strategies for times like this.

According to one of the majors the average customer currently books his
cruise four months in advance, down from five months in earlier years. Is it
reasonable to assume that, because of this, "yield management" systems will
not start strongly discounting cabin prices until three months before
departure? After 9/11 where discounts available even for departures much
further away?

On Sat, 14 Mar 2009 16:56:27 +0100, p erlenbach
wrote:

Is it
reasonable to assume that, because of this, "yield management" systems will
not start strongly discounting cabin prices until three months before
departure? After 9/11 where discounts available even for departures much
further away?

Hi,

FWIW, we are seeing heavy discounting for later this year and for next
year especially at the premium and luxury lines.

Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com
--

On Sat, 14 Mar 2009 10:27:52 -0500, George Leppla wrote:

We live in interesting times.

As opposed to when times weren't interesting? When was that?
--
Think first! Before you book a cruise from a two bit lying sleazeball
who uses Usenet as free SPAMADVERTISING ground and for purposeful
attempts at personal character assassination? Are you next? Think twice
before booking with Ray Goldenberg. http://tr.im/hlJv