Sold Out Ship Strategy

Commentary by CruiseMates' Editor Anne Campbell:

The Inside Scoop

Intelligence gathering in the cruise industry consists of talking to
travel agents, friends at cruise lines, a financial analyst and a few
journalist colleagues. Here's what I've gleaned over the past few days:

Cruise fares are now roughly 15-20% higher than they were last year.
And, it's a rare vessel that isn't leaving home port full. These days
it's common to call a travel agency to ask about a specific ship and
departure date, only to be told: "Sorry, the ship's full."

But I urge you not to give up because knowing a bit about how the cruise
industry works -- and how to maneuver around it -- might land you on the
sold-out departure you want, and at a bargain price. Even when a travel
agency's computer shows a ship as sold out, it might not be.

That ship could well have several cabins blocked for one or more
agencies that negotiated group rates months in advance, in hopes of
luring cruisers who want lower fares. (This is especially true now that
Royal Caribbean and Celebrity have mandated an end to agency discounting
except for group rates.) With blocked group space, the cruise line gives
the agent a cutoff date for selling the cabins; if the agent doesn't
fill them, the unsold cabins go back into the general inventory for any
agent to sell.

What's more, agents get a bonus commission every time they sell blocks
of eight or 10 cabins, so they have plenty of incentive to sell out
their group space allotments =96 and they may go an extra mile to get
you to book. The trick is to find that remaining blocked group space on
"sold-out" ships

Aloha

(Mark O. Polo) wrote in news:9664-4224B2F5-39@bsg-
storefull-3111.bay.webtv.net:

Commentary by CruiseMates' Editor Anne Campbell:



What's more, agents get a bonus commission every time they sell blocks
of eight or 10 cabins, so they have plenty of incentive to sell out
their group space allotments – and they may go an extra mile to get
you to book. The trick is to find that remaining blocked group space on
"sold-out" ships

What is being left out here is that Carnival has just announced a policy of
getting tough on people selling group space essentially to individuals and
the lines are geting very aggresive in recalling the space. This makes it
real tough to hold space for that nice last minute package.

(Mark O. Polo) wrote in news:9664-4224B2F5-39@bsg-
storefull-3111.bay.webtv.net:

Commentary by CruiseMates' Editor Anne Campbell:



What's more, agents get a bonus commission every time they sell blocks
of eight or 10 cabins, so they have plenty of incentive to sell out
their group space allotments – and they may go an extra mile to get
you to book. The trick is to find that remaining blocked group space on
"sold-out" ships

What is being left out here is that Carnival has just announced a policy of
getting tough on people selling group space essentially to individuals and
the lines are geting very aggresive in recalling the space. This makes it
real tough to hold space for that nice last minute package.

On Tue, 01 Mar 2005 12:44:20 -0600, jcoulter wrote:

What is being left out here is that Carnival has just announced a policy of
getting tough on people selling group space essentially to individuals and
the lines are geting very aggresive in recalling the space. This makes it
real tough to hold space for that nice last minute package.

Correct. They no longer play that game.

Sold out?
Urban legend from the Cruise lines.
I'm getting a SUPERIOR balcony as an UPGRADE for a Western C trip on
April 9th.
Sold out my @##.

Thus spake jcoulter :

(Mark O. Polo) wrote in news:9664-4224B2F5-39@bsg-
storefull-3111.bay.webtv.net:

Commentary by CruiseMates' Editor Anne Campbell:



What's more, agents get a bonus commission every time they sell blocks
of eight or 10 cabins, so they have plenty of incentive to sell out
their group space allotments – and they may go an extra mile to get
you to book. The trick is to find that remaining blocked group space on
"sold-out" ships

What is being left out here is that Carnival has just announced a policy of
getting tough on people selling group space essentially to individuals and
the lines are geting very aggresive in recalling the space. This makes it
real tough to hold space for that nice last minute package.

I was just going to say the same thing. I'm trying to get an idea of
what they mean by "general public". Can I go to all the dive shops in
the area and advertise a group on the Valor (Roatan, Belize, Grand
Cayman and Cozumel), or is that too much of "general public"?

--
dillon

"When the French are against it, you know we can't
be far wrong." - Adm. Bobbie Ray Inman