A pet peeve of mine is marketing that is not quite 'honest'. It might not technically be deceptive but it certainly takes liberty with reality. When Donna and I started our business our goal was to provide the best personal service possible and be honest with our clients. I thought it might be helpful to put together some thoughts on vacation advertising we have seen.
* 75% off cruise line prices!! This claim is off of brochure prices. NO ONE ever pays these prices and they are actually rarely even published. This would be like taking the hotel rates off the back off the hotel room door and saying prices are 50% off the 'door' prices. The reality is that most cruise lines do not allow any discounting of their rates. Every agent has access to all of the same pricing. In some cases some agencies will block group space at special pricing (with our size we are able to do that).
* Lead in Pricing - Most cruise lines advertise prices that start at the lowest category of stateroom which is usually the inside stateroom. Be sure to compare apples to apples. After speaking with a client about a romantic getaway and quoting a great price for her she called back to say she saw a lower advertised price on the internet. Well the quote she received was lower ... for a stateroom with bunk beds only! Good thing she called us back or there would not have been much romance on that trip. When space allows we try to advertise inside, outside, and balcony rates to give our clients a choice and a better idea of cost.
* 90 Day Specials - It is true that for some sailings the prices will come down closer to sailing date. This is mostly true for shoulder season cruises. But do not be lulled into these deals for everything. This spring we had many calls for popular summer sailings such as Disney. Disney had been sold out for a while and finding cabins for families become scarce as well. We recommend always booking early. A good agent will monitor for any eligible fare adjustments so you do not have to worry about getting the best price.
* Two for One Pricing - Some of the luxury lines advertise this type of promotion. Be aware that the price you see is the already discounted fare. It is still a great deal but sometimes can be confusing. As an aside ... some of the luxury lines can be a great value. They have lots of inclusions depending on the line - inclusion examples: gratuities, wine, port transportation, shore excursions, and airfare!!
So take these all into consideration when shopping around for a good deal. And remember that you want to look a the best value (with an agent that provides outstanding service)... not necessarily the lowest price.
Happy Cruising!!
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