Royal Caribbean to Cruisers: Stop Expecting Last-Minute Discounts

The cruise industry is often awash in last-minute deals designed to fill ships. Royal Caribbean Cruises is hoping to end these bargains, which anger travelers who plan vacations in advance only to see a better deal pop up as their sailing date nears. “Last-minute discounting is a significant source of discontent to many of our early-booking guests,” Royal Caribbean Chief Executive Officer Richard Fain said last week during an earnings call with analysts.

Fain said the “more consistent approach on pricing” has been enabled by an easing of cabin capacity in 2015, when cruise lines are expected to move some ships from the Caribbean to Asia. The company also wishes to shore up the profitability of its cruises. Depending on how aggressively the line pushes its pricing, Royal Caribbean may find itself with fewer passengers. Even so, Fain said, “we think it will raise the satisfaction level of our guests and strengthen the perception of our brand superiority.”