Are Cruise deals over?

Charles wrote in
d:


One problem I see them having with too many empty cabins is that
the staff has depended on tips for the major part of their income.
It seems that if RCI does not want an unhappy staff they will have
to follow Carnival and NCL and have automatic or mandatory service
charge....


Still won't help ... with less passengers, the $10 per person service
charge would total less tips as well.


--
----Sagittaria----

"Just think how boring life would be if everyone liked and respected
everyone else."
cmsix wrote in a.s.s.d on 4/17/04

Let me say that the discussions got very, very heated. In my 14 years in the
business, I've never seen anyone yell at a cruise line executive, much less 3
at one time, like one guy did. But it happened yesterday. It's obvious that
this is definitely going to negatively affect a lot of travel agencies who
depend on discounting.

The only exception to the rebating policy will be:

1. Crown and Anchor and Captain's Club coupons issued by Royal Caribbean to
their past guests.

2. Onboard Booking Incentives - Book your next Royal Caribbean or Celebrity
Cruise while you are on a cruise and you'll get a shipboard credit or other
incentive. Travel Agents will continue to get the credit if their client books
on board. If you are booked on a Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruise, it
really does benefit you to book your next cruise onboard since you can't get a
rebate when you get back.

3. Group Space - if a travel agency has group or block space, then that's an
approved promotional rate.

So how will the cruise line's police the "No Rebating Online or Offline"
policy? For all bookings made after August 16th, the travel agent must call in
the entire balance due to Royal Caribbean or Celebrity. In the past, if a
travel agent sold a $1000 cruise to his customer for $950, then the travel
agent could call in $950 on the customer's credit card. Now he has to call in
the full $1000. If he doesn't, a red flag goes up and identifies the agency as
a rebater.

On another note, here are some other highlights from the Partners in Excellence
Meeting I attended yesterday:

1. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity will be extending past passenger benefits to
each other's cruise lines. Announcement and details to come later this year.

2. Richard Fain spoke a little bit about the lengthening of the Enchantment of
the Seas and the new Ultra Voyager class.

3. Zenith will be doing 4 and 5 night cruises from Miami and Celebrity
Xpeditions are unbelievable, once in a lifetime vacations.

Once again, if you're planning a Royal Caribbean or Celebrity cruise and you've
got someone who takes care of you on the rates, you better call them this
weekend.

Take care.

Uf Tukel
WMPH Vacations
Home of CruiseCheap.com and AlaskaCruises.com
1-800-439-1909

www.cruisecheap.com

Let me say that the discussions got very, very heated. In my 14 years in the
business, I've never seen anyone yell at a cruise line executive, much less 3
at one time, like one guy did. But it happened yesterday. It's obvious that
this is definitely going to negatively affect a lot of travel agencies who
depend on discounting.

The only exception to the rebating policy will be:

1. Crown and Anchor and Captain's Club coupons issued by Royal Caribbean to
their past guests.

2. Onboard Booking Incentives - Book your next Royal Caribbean or Celebrity
Cruise while you are on a cruise and you'll get a shipboard credit or other
incentive. Travel Agents will continue to get the credit if their client books
on board. If you are booked on a Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruise, it
really does benefit you to book your next cruise onboard since you can't get a
rebate when you get back.

3. Group Space - if a travel agency has group or block space, then that's an
approved promotional rate.

So how will the cruise line's police the "No Rebating Online or Offline"
policy? For all bookings made after August 16th, the travel agent must call in
the entire balance due to Royal Caribbean or Celebrity. In the past, if a
travel agent sold a $1000 cruise to his customer for $950, then the travel
agent could call in $950 on the customer's credit card. Now he has to call in
the full $1000. If he doesn't, a red flag goes up and identifies the agency as
a rebater.

On another note, here are some other highlights from the Partners in Excellence
Meeting I attended yesterday:

1. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity will be extending past passenger benefits to
each other's cruise lines. Announcement and details to come later this year.

2. Richard Fain spoke a little bit about the lengthening of the Enchantment of
the Seas and the new Ultra Voyager class.

3. Zenith will be doing 4 and 5 night cruises from Miami and Celebrity
Xpeditions are unbelievable, once in a lifetime vacations.

Once again, if you're planning a Royal Caribbean or Celebrity cruise and you've
got someone who takes care of you on the rates, you better call them this
weekend.

Take care.

Uf Tukel
WMPH Vacations
Home of CruiseCheap.com and AlaskaCruises.com
1-800-439-1909

www.cruisecheap.com

Let me say that the discussions got very, very heated. In my 14 years in the
business, I've never seen anyone yell at a cruise line executive, much less 3
at one time, like one guy did. But it happened yesterday. It's obvious that
this is definitely going to negatively affect a lot of travel agencies who
depend on discounting.

The only exception to the rebating policy will be:

1. Crown and Anchor and Captain's Club coupons issued by Royal Caribbean to
their past guests.

2. Onboard Booking Incentives - Book your next Royal Caribbean or Celebrity
Cruise while you are on a cruise and you'll get a shipboard credit or other
incentive. Travel Agents will continue to get the credit if their client books
on board. If you are booked on a Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruise, it
really does benefit you to book your next cruise onboard since you can't get a
rebate when you get back.

3. Group Space - if a travel agency has group or block space, then that's an
approved promotional rate.

So how will the cruise line's police the "No Rebating Online or Offline"
policy? For all bookings made after August 16th, the travel agent must call in
the entire balance due to Royal Caribbean or Celebrity. In the past, if a
travel agent sold a $1000 cruise to his customer for $950, then the travel
agent could call in $950 on the customer's credit card. Now he has to call in
the full $1000. If he doesn't, a red flag goes up and identifies the agency as
a rebater.

On another note, here are some other highlights from the Partners in Excellence
Meeting I attended yesterday:

1. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity will be extending past passenger benefits to
each other's cruise lines. Announcement and details to come later this year.

2. Richard Fain spoke a little bit about the lengthening of the Enchantment of
the Seas and the new Ultra Voyager class.

3. Zenith will be doing 4 and 5 night cruises from Miami and Celebrity
Xpeditions are unbelievable, once in a lifetime vacations.

Once again, if you're planning a Royal Caribbean or Celebrity cruise and you've
got someone who takes care of you on the rates, you better call them this
weekend.

Take care.

Uf Tukel
WMPH Vacations
Home of CruiseCheap.com and AlaskaCruises.com
1-800-439-1909

www.cruisecheap.com

I'm curious, Tom. What do you think an extremely experienced TA should
earn
per hour, IF they are university-educated, like yourself, and are
full-time
TA's:

1. Employed by someone else and earning full benefits, which you probably
are.
2. Self-employed and not earning benefits.
3. Owner of a travel agency and booking one of their own clients.
4. Any other combination of your choice.

Just to provide an alternative answer to this question. I really don't care
what an extremely experienced TA should earn and I care less if they are
university educated. They are either in business for themselves and are
subject to the competitive marketplace, or they are employed by someone else
and have accepted a compensation plan. IT'S NOT MY BUSINESS. If they are
not earning enough then they can try another line of work which may pay
better. If they're doing great, then they can buy a fancy car or whatever
and enjoy their success. Best of luck to all who work in the industry but
it's not my business - it's how free enterprise should work and whether I
think you deserve $1.50 per hour or $1000 per hour just isn't relevant.

end of rant.
Stephen

I'm curious, Tom. What do you think an extremely experienced TA should
earn
per hour, IF they are university-educated, like yourself, and are
full-time
TA's:

1. Employed by someone else and earning full benefits, which you probably
are.
2. Self-employed and not earning benefits.
3. Owner of a travel agency and booking one of their own clients.
4. Any other combination of your choice.

Just to provide an alternative answer to this question. I really don't care
what an extremely experienced TA should earn and I care less if they are
university educated. They are either in business for themselves and are
subject to the competitive marketplace, or they are employed by someone else
and have accepted a compensation plan. IT'S NOT MY BUSINESS. If they are
not earning enough then they can try another line of work which may pay
better. If they're doing great, then they can buy a fancy car or whatever
and enjoy their success. Best of luck to all who work in the industry but
it's not my business - it's how free enterprise should work and whether I
think you deserve $1.50 per hour or $1000 per hour just isn't relevant.

end of rant.
Stephen

In article , Sagittaria
wrote:

Still won't help ... with less passengers, the $10 per person service
charge would total less tips as well.

No doubt they will also reduce crew numbers.

--
Charles

In article , Sagittaria
wrote:

Still won't help ... with less passengers, the $10 per person service
charge would total less tips as well.

No doubt they will also reduce crew numbers.

--
Charles

In article , FUNCRUISES
wrote:

Better book em while you can.

I won't be stampeded into making any bookings. Particularly with RCI.

--
Charles

In article , FUNCRUISES
wrote:

Better book em while you can.

I won't be stampeded into making any bookings. Particularly with RCI.

--
Charles