On Thu, 12 Aug 2004 16:58:32 GMT, "John & Beverly"
wrote:

If this is true, it sounds like:

1. illegal price fixing

Works all the time. Check out furniture. Trying buying Thomasville
at a discount.

Price fixing would be where RCI, NCL and Carnival all got together and
agreed on a price for their offerings.


2. lots of lost business and empty ships.

We'll see. A lot depends on how the other lines react. Carnival has
already made their move, I expect NCL to be next.


I doubt the cruise lines can afford either.

They're printing money right now. I think they see this as a first
step. To what I don't know.


John
"Jim" wrote in message
.. .
Okay, I looked into this and we even have it confirmed and it is being
discussed on our website in the RCI board. Yes it is true that prices are
fixed and agents cannot offer any rebate on their commission or sell the
cruise for less than the advertised price. Seems like there is options
available for group cruises or special pricing for special events but the
agency itself is bound by the rule of all selling at the same price and it
goes beyond just advertising. The cannot even offer a lesser price if you
talk to them on the phone. Seems very stupid on the cruiselines part and
pretty much smacks the free trade concept in the face. Here is what we are
talking about on our message boards;
http://www.cruisemates.com/MBindex/cruiselines.cfm
Jim
Community Staff Leader
Cruisemates Inc.


"Scotty" wrote in message
link.net...

"Guido"

LAST BLAST...

It was a HUGE move by the executives at Royal Caribbean and Celebrity,
but
they have mandated that effective 8/16/04 (Monday) they will not allow
ANY
of their product to be discounted and sold below the gross cruise
price
that
is available thru the cruise line itself. They have instituted big
penalties
to travel agent offenders if they are caught.

What does this mean for you? It means that if you are planning on
sailing
on
Royal Caribbean or Celebrity in either 2004 or 2005, and if you
typically
book thru and on-line agency, membership association, wholesale house,
booking engine, or any other travel agency who discounts their
commission
and "rebates" this in part to you, then you MUST book before midnight
on
8/15/04. This is effective ACROSS THE INDUSTRY , not just for a few
travel
agencies!!

No Chicken Little, the sky is not falling. The agencies are not allowed
to
advertise rates below the published rates. Doesn't mean they can't give
them. The genie is out of the bottle and he ain't going back in.

Scott






--
dillon

When I was a kid, I thought the angel's name was Hark
and the horse's name was Bob.