Will there be group space available for YOUR family/friends cruise in 2016 ? July bookings are selling dates OUT … Even for individual cabins.

Whether folks realize or not, “early birds” like to get their vacation set in stone, 18-12 months prior to sailing … Especially groups of family/friends, who have been doing this for YEARS !

Group space is NOT like individual cabins.  The cruise lines only allow so many groups on any given sailing.  Once they reach MAX, there is no more group space.

And to top that … The more cabins that book on any given sailing, the less chance of your desired cabins being together.  That’s an EXTRA BIG REASON groups need to book early.  Or families with children.

Had call yesterday for 5N’s to the Bahamas June 2016 out Norfolk.  Group space GONE … Both dates !

Also booked yesterday, 2 cabins of 2 people each, for August 2016.  Only place I could get this family together was “far forward” !

Though the cruise lines only consider group space when there’s 8 cabins or more … Cruisers need to remember, as low as 3 cabins and 4 cabins, space gets tight, in booking near each other … Especially if you need cabins with 3 or 4 in a room !

There can be added value in booking your family/friends into group space …

1)      Lock into a rate for at least 30 days, while family/friends get their deposit together.  Otherwise, the cruise lines give max 2 DAYS to get in that deposit, in protecting your rate.
2)      There can be added amenities because group space was held.  Otherwise, if no group space, a 100 cabins can go with you and no added amenities.
3)      And “cruise credits” for the group leader.  But again, no group space at time of booking, and no cruise credits even if 100 cabins sail with you.

 

Peak dates, like Summer, Easter, and even fall, will sell out of group space quickly.  Besides these 2 dates out of Norfolk to the Bahamas, there are many other dates in I already can’t get group space for customers.  Example … Carnival’s new Vista … Carnival’s longer journey adventures !

The cruise lines told Cruises Inc at our convention, that 2016 would prove differently.  It is !

70% of my vacationers for the next year, are already booked by December, the year prior.  So come January, these folks are actually LATE … Which is when another 20% will book (January to mid-March).  The last 10% of my bookings, are the “last minute folks”.  And if they are trying to take a group of folks … Well, location and amenities can be a NULL !

GROUPS … IF YOU KEEP PUTTING OFF CALLING & COMMITTING FOR 2016 … GOOD LUCK !  Individual cabins who only need ¾ too …. Especially if you’re needed “close cabins” for your children.

Call today for 2016 !

Some airlines and hotels - Pulling the plug on discount websites. Future fees may be coming with these sites. Hotels want your direct calls !

So many folks that I know, use websites to buy their airfare and hotel.  I do not.  My fear has always been “the fine line rules” that no one reads !

Though many folks have been successful in using these sites, I have found that others have NOT.  Unless you’re in the industry like I am, you usually never hear about the unsuccessful usage.  Samples I’ve heard have been, hearing 2 weeks later, that their reservation are no longer being honored or when needing to back out, they couldn’t and/or couldn’t receive assistance.

I’ve always told folks, that I buy “directly” from airline sites, as that’s what I’ve read to do, in past years, from Industry Travel Writers.  And with hotels, they’ve told me themselves, the better rooms given to folks who call and buy direct … And if they just call, they most often match.

I also believe these sites cause confusion for folks.  Rates are not always lower !  Yet I find folks seldom check-out original sites, like USAirways or call the hotels directly !  SAVINGS they may be missing !

Read below … Understandably, hotels are tired of their losses !  Most hotels are franchises … This means they are individually owned, like our local McDonalds. 

Soon folks may miss out on more savings by using these sites, if there’s not aware ….

Here’s the “short of the story” on CBS This Morning  ….

“Customers bargain-hunting for the best online travel deals may find fewer options than before. Third-party sites like TripAdvisor and Expedia are featuring less options because airlines and hotel are holding back their business ….

When they started these OTAs ... it came at a time when airlines were in big trouble financially. So they went to them and said, 'Hey, let us sell all your unsold inventory. We'll be your friends," Greenberg said. "Airlines are doing better now than since the Wright brothers. They don't think they need them …

So far, Greenberg said, Delta Air Lines has removed their schedule and fair information from over 12 different sites including TripAdvisor, Hipmunk Inc. and CheapOair.com.

Hotels are stepping onto the battlefield too. Greenberg said a variety of hotels are turning away from third-party sites and may not honor existing reservations booked through OTAs.

"The big brands like Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, Starwood -- they charge high franchise fees. Now the owners are upset, who are operating those hotels. Why? Because they are getting most of their bookings online from people like Expedia and Travelocity and they have to pay them a commission," Greenberg said.

Greenberg offered one piece of advice: Pick up the phone, and call the individual hotel. Customers may be able to find better deals that way …

About 52 percent of all the inventory is online. What about the other 48 percent? That's what they hold back. You should have that conversation even if we weren't doing this particular story," he said”.

Go here for uTube video:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/airlines-hotels-pull-plug-discount-websites-tripadvisor-expedia/