Post by Old Techo on Jun 21, 2023 10:11:55 GMT 10
From Quora...
Dansbooks - Former Corporate Finance at Various, Consultant
What do cruise ships do with unsold cabins?
They sometimes give great deals to people who are able to make last minute plans…or game the system
A few years ago, my wife and I decided to take a week long cruise to Alaska. The cost was listed at $1,499/person for a nice cabin. In doing my research, I saw that there were three large cruise ships (Princess, Norwegian, and Carnival) leaving from Seattle on the same day (September 1). That meant at least 10,000 passengers would be needed to fill all those slots.
I called all three cruise lines, plus a number of agencies that negotiated cruises, about six months before the cruises left and told them that I wanted a nice, outside cabin with a balcony and would pay no more than $500 per person. They literally laughed at me. I left my name and number.
About three months before the cruises, I started getting calls. The price was down to $1,249 per person. They assured me this was the best price they had seen. I told them when they got down to $500/person, let me know.
About that time, I booked round trip flights for my wife and I to Seattle. I didn’t have a cruise, but I was sure we would get one.
A month before the cruises left, I was receiving more calls. Now I could book a cruise for the absolutely unbelievable price of just $999 per person. Again I explained that my price was $500 per person.
About a week before the cruises left, I was still receiving calls. Now they were offering us spots for $799/person. I politely told them no, but to let me know when the price was $500/person.
Two days before the cruise, I was offered $649/person. I thanked them.
The evening before the cruise, I received the call I was waiting for. We were offered our nice cabin for $489/person. I accepted. We flew to Seattle the next morning, did some brief sightseeing, then left on our cruise…at a third of the price many others paid. Our cruise cost less than $1,000 total, and because I had booked flights well in advance, the airfare was $158/person—a total of $1,300 for two airfares and a week long cruise to Alaska on Princess.
And it was great!
