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Would you pay $200,576 for a 13-night cruise?

March 7, 2008

Royal Caribbean must think its customers are royally loaded. Or royally insane. How else do you explain the pricing of an inside cabin on a June 2 sailing of the Legend of the Seas for the princely sum of $200,576?

Well, actually there is another explanation. It’s a dreaded fat-finger fare.

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Reader Alan Brill, who brought this apparent glitch to my attention — and Alan, I really hope this is a glitch — says it’s royally absurd.

Given that the smallest inside cabin is 138 square feet, that comes out to only $1453.45 per square foot. By comparison, the Grand Suite, at $4,749 per person ($9,498 per cabin) — plus the surcharge for a 357 square foot cabin (not counting the balcony) is $26.61 per square foot.

I don’t know about you, Chris, but I think that if they get someone to pay the $200,576, they could throw in the $5 per-day fuel surcharge.

Yeah, you would think.

Needless to say, this rate hiccup needs to be fixed immediately. But this does raise a bigger question: Are cruises getting a little overpriced, or are they still a bargain?

Travel agents, what do you think?

Christopher Elliott is the author of Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals. Critics have called it “eye-opening” and “inspiring” — it’ll “grab your attention and won’t let go.” Order your copy now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iTunes.

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4 comments

  • TravelAgentGirl

    This isn’t a fat fingered rate. Instead of pricing things on the back end like a normal human being would; 1st passenger $2,000 2nd Passenger $2,000, etc. They enter it in to their system so that on special rates that have a 2 person minimum they charge the first person $104,000 and the second person -$100,000 .. b/c after all it ends up the same right? However sometimes they forget to make the 2nd (3rd or 4th) a negitive number and that’s how it shows up all weird. They usually don’t worry about it however untill recently the system that takes down any rate over $100,000 has been buggy.

  • Barbara K

    In reply to your question of do travel agents think cruise prices are too much. They are still a bargain when compared to a similar land package. I got a really great price for a client on Celebrity Century. On a quad guests 1 & 2 paid $540 and 3 & 4 paid $268. This was for a 5 night cruise from MIA. When you looked at the cruise fare (before taxes, port charges & fuel!) the 3rd & 4th guest pay only $80 for the 5 nights. Now that’s a bargain.

  • http://hotels.com Thomas Brenneman

    How about $152000.00 a night for a hotel room in Milan? Makes $200000 for 13 days sound cheap!!!!!!!!!
    Four Seasons Milan Guest Rating

    Hotel=April 16 to 20
    No Reviews Yet
    from $152,091.23

    Milan
    Hotel Info: 800-916-4507 + Show More Details

  • Pingback: Beware the Fat-Finger Fare: Don’t Pay too Much for Cruises

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