Most often, I literally just get up on line and look at all kinds of things, just any time !
For me ...
* It's a great past time.
* Can truly be educational !
* It’s fun, figuring out, how to take something that is complicated and make it work !
Do I always have the goal of buying ? No.
I’m often just “wishing” I could !
Or sometimes just hoping I’ll figure out how to make it work.
And, sometimes, it’s about getting the whole package at that lowest price, with a goal that forces me to just jump on it !
No matter …
Usually, when I’m looking up info, it’s in the middle of the night; only thing I’m basically loosing out on is sleep (but I was watching TV ½ way anyway) !
And sometimes, while playing around, I run across travel info that someone else might be able to use.
Sometimes, if I don’t have time to figure it all out, I have to put it down, and work on it again later. Unfortunately, when I do this, like the rest of you, I'm forced to start all over in my thinking or looking up info !
Just lately, I did this. I think it took me over 6 weeks to finally decided on my train ride, just from here to New Jersey, to catch my Bermuda cruise on Royal Caribbean. I wanted to incorporate something else; couldn‘t find that thing that jumped out at me. Finally settled, and I’m actually happy ! First to Bridgeport, CT, in hopes of some fall foliage; staying in an economy hotel, but it’s right on the water at a cost of only @ $ 65 a night ! Then we renting car, cause learned cab for 5 miles r/t @ $ 30 ! Have found a few things to do, but yet to decide.
Noticed, I said the cruise was already booked; so it was the amenities that I took a long time on. Yet, in honesty, I did take 3 weeks to decide cruise … There was one, all Bermuda for 6N’s that was only out of Baltimore; an 8N, out of Baltimore that include Bermuda, Newport, RI, and Boston; and then the one out of NJ on one of a BIG BOAT of RCI. With a little help from my roommate, we decided, the BIG BOAT was the most important concept to us !
All-n-all, what I am saying, had I just STOPPED and thought strictly on my vacation, versus all the other things going on around me, I could have gotten this over and done with and moved on with other important personal things on my to-do-list. Instead, I let this hang over my head, for awhile; actually some what frustrating me, every time I had to start over in thought.
The difference between me doing this and you, or even one of my own existing customers, is that …
* I better know the “play time” I have in making a decision.
* And even if I’m not yet making that decision, I’ll go up and watch that cruise, to be sure it does not sell out of go up in price.
* And, I have a different type computer system than you; I’m not on the cruise lines website, and not making the computer think I’m going to buy; which can actually DRIVE THE RATE UP !
So I’m actually suggesting here …
When you’re in the market, move on, by devoting specific time and get the basis of your vacation (like the cruise part) confirmed as quickly as possible !
WHY ?
* Get best price NOW, not tomorrows rate
* Get best cabins
* Get it off your to-do list and stop playing around
* You don’t have the same resources of insight that I have
AND BE AWARE …
You keep looking up that price … Like cruises … Like airfare … YOU’RE DRIVING THE RATE UP ! You’re making the computer think there’s a SUPPLY-AND-DEMAND for that sailing !
AND …
If you know people who DO NOT KNOW ANY BETTER than call every agent in town for a rate (cause they don’t realize all the rates are the same; exception, a distribution house are given lower rates, such as Cruises Inc), again …
* This person too, is not only driving up their own rates up ...
* When they are ready to “buy for real“, all the cabins MAYBE SADLY BE GONE, because …
Every agent called WILL hold a cabin !
FYI, sometimes, the cruise line does NOT put the cabin back into inventory, which in turn, will DRIVE RATES UP or cause the ship to be SOLD OUT ! Possibly, your own friends, are doing this to YOU and to the industry !
(1) Person found me on the net; he had been planning, in his mind, to cruise on a select ship and date for over a year; called me 3 months prior to sailing to check for space; didn’t opt to buy; called 2 weeks later, ship SOLD OUT.
(2) Woman wanted to sail with friends; I reserved space & rates; didn’t opt to buy; called 2 weeks later; ship SOLD OUT.
I'm not actually fussing cause they drove their ownselves out of getting a cabin ... I'm more disappointed that they didn't just buy, when they knew space was MINIMAL before they even called me !
WHY do people do this ?
NO, I don't get it ! I've been here 21 years. I do nothing but tell people the truth. And even from someone who will tell you everything you want to know, they still didn't choose to listen ! Sad, everyone looses !
The name of the game … If you want to go … when you start planning ... FINISH IT !
OR ... get out of the way and STOP DRIVING RATES UP or SELLING THE BOAT OUT for everone else (cause the cruise line won't put the cabins back into inventory) !
Please don't be offended here (smile) ... I'm speaking up for all of us, who want to sail at a reasonable cost !
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