Are Royal Caribbean really after the family market?
Having worked in the industry a long time I have seen cruise grow and grow, with selected cruise lines wanting to expand into the family market. Royal Caribbean are doing a fantastic job with flow riders, rock climbing walls kids clubs etc. But when it come to pricing the cruises I think they are either missing a trick or seriously taking the michael (to put it politely)
I have just priced a Christmas cruise on Independance of the Seas for 2 adults and a 13mth baby – the adult price was fantastic at £1800 for an 18night cruise in a high grade balcony cabin. But Royal’s price for the baby meanwhile came in at around £800, the same price as a 3rd adult would have paid. This is ridiculous, what is the baby going to get for this? A free babysitter every night? 18 nights supply of nappies? I doubt it, in fact I doubt she’ll even get a chocolate in her cot every night. Plus they have the cheek to charge her the full £117 gratuities for the cruise.
Maybe it’s a ploy to discourage babies, and I quite understand this kind of pricing from cruiseslines that are not family orientated. But if they are trying to expand and take the family market from the likes of Thomas Cook and Thomson then they definitely need to address this.
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I have worked in the travel industry for over 25 years now since beginning as a holiday rep on a campsite in France and I have a real passion for travel. I've worked in all aspects of the industry including sales, marketing and management and I've specialised in most products…
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Further to this – I have just quoted someone else for 14 nights in September and their baby was only £219. A far better price. So maybe they are worth considering afterall!