Next year's brochures are appearing accompanied by offers"save up to 50% if you book before X".
Surely this encourages people to think that if such large discounts can be offered,and the Cruise Line can still make a profit,then a realistic price must be even lower.Therefore one will wait for further discounts/offers.
Even the luxury Lines are not exempt from this practice.
If people knew that brochure prices were realistic,would they not be encouraged to book early,and thus improve the Line's cashflow?

EV:

I disagree. The brochure prices have to be set as high as you think you might be able to get. After all, you will never have the opportunity to charge higher than the brochure price.

Except in one instance when I saw the Diamond transatlantic drop to peanuts a few days before sailings, I have not seen last minute prices drop below those offered very early. In addition, Radisson has been very good at lowering prices for those that are already booked.

I was hoping the fall transatlantic on Voyager would go free air (was already 2 for 1). Today, 2 for 1 disappeared and an obnoxiously high price appeared (10% EBD only). That signifies that this sailing is for all practible purposes sold out. Same thing happened on last New Year's Canal. Then, I actually did know folks who paid the non 2 for 1 price.

Out of six cruises, I have been able to get an effective 2 for 1 rate (due to various discounts or future cruise credity) on all of them. Of course, the industry has been hurting post 911. I expect that will disappear. However, if Radisson wants to offer deep discounts well in advance to start a cruise selling, I will be first in line.

I can only speak for what I know about Radisson. They have a whole new idea for 2005. REWARD early bookers and then price increases for late bookers. Of course it remains to be seen if this plan will work as effectively as they wish it to but I do think this is a much better way to do it.

Almost all 2005 cruises have special offers with your choice of excellent savings

They include the following
FREE AIR or a DISCOUNT off the Cruise Fare
TWO for ONE offers
DISCOUNTS off the Regular Fare

These are for a limited time ONLY and will be withdrawn without notice. Already this week I have found two 2005 cruises that gone up in price from the original offering. There may be more I just have not discovered them yet.

Therefore you will see a huge variance from brochure price to the current offering price. As time goes on that variance will lessen. Radisson used to sell AT brochure price for almost everything with no reductions so things are changing all the time.

I think the mainstream has such unrealistic prices that they never sell at so people "think" they are getting a deal. Everything is all about marketing and perceived value. Same thing with the FREE AIR for Tahiti. If you live in CA there was less than $50 difference on some FREE AIR dates and other dates that had a lower cruise price with such low cost add on air. However people insisted on the FREE AIR even when it put them in a bind time wise even when you tried to explain the small difference in cost. It is a perceived value.

Marc,
just look at the recent offers from Silversea,and Seabourn.
In fact our cruise next month on Seabourn was booked only two months ago because of the offered discount of 63%.

EV, the problem with booking that late is you might not receive the catagory and cabin you really wanted. I like this new RSSC system that awards the early bookers!

It may be better to book late on Seabourn BUT as Karen said - left over cabins.

I do not know about Seabourn but I do know that Silversea will give a previously booked person the lower price if they ask so once again you cant hurt by booking early.

Of course the only argument there is you may be on the one week that is not discounted and that can happen of course. However, all things considered early booking is usually a far better option.

We booked our Paul Gauguin cruise very early to get our choice of cabin. The week after final payment was made Radisson offered free air and 50% off the second passenger fare. Ngaire recalculated everything (could not apply early booking discount in addition to special promotion) and refunded us a hefty amount on our credit card. :app:

As we have discovered with our forthcoming cruise on the Diamond,the price attached to the original offer may not be reduced,but subsequent offers re the same cruise may be more attractive.
It is true that by booking late one will not receive the category/location of one's choice,but given the high quality of the entry level suites on the luxury Lines one is not exactly slumming it!
Perhaps we have been lucky,but twice,on our guarantee basis,we have been upgraded by as much as three categories.

EV, you are right, on the Mariner or the Voyager, I would be happy with any catagory. (then again, I have to take into consideration that the back or front of the ship isn't desirable to me) On the Navigator, Diamond, PG and and any Silversea ship, I would need a balcony. If I was booking a Silversea cruise, I would probably want one of those great priced shared balcony cabins which I assume go like hot cakes.

Since balconies are #1 in my cabin choosing process, I wouldn't even consider Seabourn.

If I wasn't so fussy about where my room was, I suppose waiting until the last minute to book would be a good way to grab a bargain.