For Gandalf - Diamond Rewards Price Comparison Test

[Mark @SFX Industry Representative Find all posts View Profile Close Mark @SFX]

Originally Posted by gandalf252002I am not planning on depositing anything in the near future, but would prefer the old system myself. Having experience with ICE and not necessarly Diamond Rewards membership, the points system is giving you discounts on inflated prices so there there is no real value. They quote a before price, and an after price but the price with discount is always more. I have done numerous comparisons on cruises and resorts and their prices after taking off the points value, still leave them more expensive then retail. Anytime where there would be actual value say on prime time weeks you cannot use them.


Gandalf - Thank you for your post and sharing your thoughts with us. Why don't we put this to the "Test"?

Why don't you select 3 different quality level cruises.

1. Lower-end
2. Mid-range
3. Higher-end

We would like you to post the name of the Cruise Line, Ship, Itinerary, Cabin type, sailing date and PRICE. Then lets do a price comparison, and we will see what kind of savings we can offer.

We look forward to your participation in this Price Comparison.

Thanks,
Mark @SFX
Member Communications

[Keep Traveling Member Find all posts View Profile Close Keep Traveling]

Cruises I will actually take

While not Gandalf, Here are the three cruises I will actually be taking and for me they are low,medium and high I can't afford $8k for a cruise (super high for me)

All are for balcony rooms from a major cruise website.

Saturday, March 01, 2014
Caribbean-Southern
, 7 Days
Jewel of the Seas
/ Royal Caribbean Int.
Deluxe Oceanview w/ Balcony (E3)
2 Adults
/Cabin 8590
(2) Cruise Fare
$1,738.00
(2) Government Fees
$99.82
(2) Prepaid Gratuities
Free
*EST. TOTAL $1,837.82

Saturday, August 03, 2013
Hawaii
, 7 Days
Pride of America
/ Norwegian Cruise Line
Balcony Stateroom (BF)
2 Adults
/ Guaranteed Cabin*
(2) Cruise Fare
$3,358.00
(2) Government Fees
$155.00
(2) Government Fees
$159.80
*EST. TOTAL $3,672.80


Sunday, August 03, 2014
Alaska-Inside Passage
, 7 Days
Norwegian Pearl
/ Norwegian Cruise Line
Balcony Stateroom (BD)
2 Adults
/ Guaranteed Cabin*
(2) Cruise Fare
$3,758.00
(2) Government Fees
$365.28
(2) ON BOARD CREDIT ($25.00)
Free
*EST. TOTAL $4,123.28

[Presley Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Presley]

FWIW, I did a side by side comparison for a NCL cruise booking directly on the NCL site vs. SFX travel store. Looking at the exact same category, in fact rooms were side by side, the overall price looked higher for SFX. I looked more closely and found out why. The SFX total included insurance and a $20. processing fee. The actual cost of the cruise was $100./ less per person using 1000 Sfx rewards points and all taxes and port fees were exactly the same. I wasn't booking, so I didn't think to compare trip insurance costs.

At any rate, I think the SFX travel store works as it is supposed to, but the key is to make sure you are comparing the exact same category. Most cruises offer several categories of each type of room at different prices. So, it would be easy to mix them up

[StressCadet Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close StressCadet]

The trip insurance is a good point. There does not appear to be a way to opt out in the SFX travel store...maybe if you get further down the line in processing there is but I don't know. Trip insurance should be optional.

[gandalf252002 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gandalf252002]

Thanks Keep Traveling, this made my jub much easier as I am new to cruising and would have had a somewhat difficult time doing this. Of course quality level is extremely subjective so I would have looked at most of these has mid-range and higher end as I would not normally choose balcony and would go inside state cabins.

While not Gandalf, Here are the three cruises I will actually be taking and for me they are low,medium and high I can't afford $8k for a cruise (super high for me)

All are for balcony rooms from a major cruise website.

Saturday, March 01, 2014
Caribbean-Southern
, 7 Days
Jewel of the Seas
/ Royal Caribbean Int.
Deluxe Oceanview w/ Balcony (E3)
2 Adults
/Cabin 8590
(2) Cruise Fare
$1,738.00
(2) Government Fees
$99.82
(2) Prepaid Gratuities
Free
*EST. TOTAL $1,837.82

On SFX the E3 is not listed as having Balcony, only the E2 but I used the same room 8590. The E2 rooms listed with balcony were $20 more per room. I was also only able to use a MAX of 2500 points, when I tried to use 10,000 only discounts on the highest level suites were applicable.

Cruise Details
7 Night - Caribbean, Southern
Purchase Type:
2500 Travel Credits
Cruise line:
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
Ship name:
Jewel of the Seas
Total passengers:
2 - change
Departs from:
San Juan
Sailing date:
2014-03-01
Cabin category:
E3 - Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom
Cabin number:
8590
Preferences:
Cabin Configuration: 2TWIN-CONVERT
Dining Preference: 6:00 PM
Table Size: Not Applicable
Cost of Cruise: $1,658.00
CSA Insurance:
$0.00
Govt Fees:
$99.82
Processing Fee:
$19.95
Total Price:
$1,777.77
Cruise Special ID:
SID29019958

This results in a savings of a $60. Keep in mind the points discount equated to $100 per person, so the actual price BEFORE points would have actually been $1,977.77 making it higher.

Saturday, August 03, 2013
Hawaii
, 7 Days
Pride of America
/ Norwegian Cruise Line
Balcony Stateroom (BF)
2 Adults
/ Guaranteed Cabin*
(2) Cruise Fare
$3,358.00
(2) Government Fees
$155.00
(2) Government Fees
$159.80
*EST. TOTAL $3,672.80

Cruise Details
7 Day - Hawaii
Purchase Type:
10000 Travel Credits
Cruise line:
Norwegian Cruise Line
Ship name:
Pride of America
Total passengers:
2 - change
Departs from:
Honolulu
Sailing date:
2013-08-03
Cabin category:
BF - Balcony Stateroom
Cabin number:
GTY
Cost of Cruise: $3,818.00
Govt Fees:
$312.42
Processing Fee:
$19.95
Approx.
Total Price:
$4,150.37
Cruise Special ID:
SID25997726

It would cost $477.57 MORE with SFX. This was using 10,000 points which gave a discount the system said of $600. If I chose to use only 2500 points the savings was only $300 so the price would have been $4,450.37.

This now leads to another question. If 2500 points was worth $300 then 10,000 should have been worth $1200 but it only gave me a discount of $600 per cabin meaning they do NOT use a consistent value for the points when discounting.

Sunday, August 03, 2014
Alaska-Inside Passage
, 7 Days
Norwegian Pearl
/ Norwegian Cruise Line
Balcony Stateroom (BD)
2 Adults
/ Guaranteed Cabin*
(2) Cruise Fare
$3,758.00
(2) Government Fees
$365.28
(2) ON BOARD CREDIT ($25.00)
Free
*EST. TOTAL $4,123.28

This time a result in savings of $220.05 with the $400 credit per cabin using 10,000 points. You only get a $200 credit per cabin using 2500 points. Again, something wrong with the math, but if I use more 4 times more points, I should get 4 times the credit which should be $800 per cabin.

So, what this has done is just proved my point. In every one of these cases, if you DO NOT include the points and any discounted price attributed to them, SFX was higher. I am sure there is somebody who can come along and proove me wrong, and show me three times where there is a savings but I do not have the time to required to do that much searching. Nobody has done tests with the suite cabins, and maybe that's where the savings are. However, at this stage in my life those rooms are beyond the realms of possibility $1500 seems to be an awful lot to pay for $100 savings here and there. As Presley has said, there are 1000's of different possibilities so to use only three is not entirely fair, I just am not going to spend that kind of time hunting to try and save $100.

In my eyes that makes the points the equivalent of air, so don't bother giving me any points and just let me pay the lower price. This is no different than a car salesmen giving me $5000 off a new car. All that tells me is that the price was inflated $5000 to give you some room to still make a profit.

Don't get me wrong, I still saw the value of the ICE platinum rewards as I did purchase only not through SFX. All I am saying is that the discounts they sell are not nearly as valuable as they make them out to sound. You will get your ROI eventually, just not very quickly and you have to be picky and choosy and use your OWN value not their touted retail value.

[Presley Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Presley]

Here is another comparison, same room on same cruise - Princess Alaska

Princess website:
Stateroom Number: L222
Type: Balcony

Category: BF
Location: Forward
Deck: 14 (Lido)
Bath Type: Shower
Connecting Room: N/A
Total Size: 232 sq. ft.
Includes Balcony of 45 sq. ft.
Pricing Summary
Passenger 1 $1,449.00
Passenger 2 $1,449.00
Cruise Total† $2,898.00
Transfers Recommended
Vacation Protection Recommended
Gov’t Fees and Taxes§
included in Cruise Fare $300.00
Total Price (USD) $2,898.00

SFX Travel Store:
Cruise Details
7 Day - Alaska

Purchase Type:
2500 Points

Cruise Line:
Princess Cruises

Ship:
Golden Princess

Total passenger:
2 - change

Departure Port:
Seattle

Sailing Date:
25-Aug-2013

Cabin Category:
BF - Oceanview Double with Balcony

Cabin number:
L222

Departure City:
Cost of Cruise: $2,498.00
CSA Insurance:$259.00
Govt Fees: $300.00
Processing Fee: $19.95
Approx. Total Price:$3,076.95
Cruise Special ID:

[gandalf252002 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gandalf252002]

Here is another comparison, same room on same cruise - Princess Alaska

Princess website:
Stateroom Number: L222
Cruise Total† $2,898.00

SFX Travel Store:
Govt Fees: $300.00
Processing Fee: $19.95
Approx. Total Price:$2776.95
Cruise Special ID:

Just to compare apples to apples, I took out the CSA insurance fees to get an updated price.

[Mark @SFX Industry Representative Find all posts View Profile Close Mark @SFX]

Thank you for participating!

Just to compare apples to apples, I took out the CSA insurance fees to get an updated price.

Thanks for the participation. I will forward this to the cruise department. They are extremely busy, so I might not respond until Monday or Tuesday of next week with the results.

Thanks,
Mark @SFX
Member Communications

[hurnik Member Find all posts View Profile Close hurnik]

Just to compare apples to apples, I took out the CSA insurance fees to get an updated price.

Yes, the cruise insurance that the travel store charges is more expensive, IMO.
Meaning:
SFX quote for my Alaska Cruise is $499 for the CSA travel insurance.
I can get it direct from CSA for $399

[Keep Traveling Member Find all posts View Profile Close Keep Traveling]

Mark,

What the official word from sfx on this and the potential savings

[Mark @SFX Industry Representative Find all posts View Profile Close Mark @SFX]

Mark,

What the official word from sfx on this and the potential savings

Thank you for your patience. I will post the results tomorrow.

Thanks,
Mark @SFX
Member Communications

[Mark @SFX Industry Representative Find all posts View Profile Close Mark @SFX]

Thank you for your patience, here is some pricing.

Cruise #1

7 Night Caribbean, Southern

Sailing dates March 1, 15 & 29, 2014

Line: Royal Caribbean
Date: 3/1/14
Name: Jewel of the Seas
ID: SID29020267
Embark: San Juan
Destination: Caribbean, Southern
Govt Fees: $49.91
NCCF: $175 included in price

Purchase rate directly through NCL --

Only a 2500 point redemption ---

Saves $80 on the booking

Lower cost cruises have a much smaller margin, therefore savings are much less.

=============================

Cruise #2

7 Day Hawaii

Line: Norwegian Cruise Lines
Name: Pride of America
Date: Aug 3, 2013
ID: SID25998021
Embarks: Honolulu
Destination: Hawaii
Cabin: BF Balcony Stateroom

Purchase Rate with NCL Passenger fare total: $4,730.42

10,000 point redemption Passenger fare total: $4,130.42

Or… Week Exchange Passenger fare total: $$3,830.42


Compared to NCL’s Published rates

Using 10K points you save $600

Using a week towards an exchange you save $900

**This cruise has changed in price since last week according to the cruise line so our price is showing higher but the price that the client had would also have increased.

===============================

7 Day Alaska

Sail date: Aug 3, 2014
Alaska inside passage
Line: NCL
Name: Norwegian Pearl
2 adults Balcony State Room

Cruise Fare $3,758.00
Government Fees $365.28
ON BOARD CREDIT ($25.00)
*EST. TOTAL $4, 123.28

Poster found the sailing for $4,123.28

Purchase rate direct with NCL $4,283.28

10,000 point redemption $3,883.28

Or...Week Exchange $3,783.28

Compared to the rate you found at $4,123 – using our 10K points we save you $240.

If using the week exchange you save $340 over the price you were quoted.

If you want to compare the savings to the published NCL rates, we are the same price if you do a purchase,
we save $400 if you use 10K points, and $500 if you use a week exchange.

Either way we are saving you money.

Hope this helps,

Thanks,
Mark @SFX
Member Communications

[Mark @SFX Industry Representative Find all posts View Profile Close Mark @SFX]

Yes, the cruise insurance that the travel store charges is more expensive, IMO.
Meaning:
SFX quote for my Alaska Cruise is $499 for the CSA travel insurance.
I can get it direct from CSA for $399

Hurnik - Thank you for your post. Please allow me to clarify. It is my understanding the Policy and pricing you buy directly from CSA as a consumer is not the same Policy Benefits and Coverage as negotiated by our company. You may have purchased "a policy" for less money, but the coverage may be a lot less. There is no way an insurance company will give the same coverage and price directly to the public as they would to a company spending millions of dollars with them every year.

Apple to Oranges...

Thanks,
Mark @SFX
Member Communications

[MaryH Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close MaryH]

Mark,

what is the term of the insurance going through SFX?

[hurnik Member Find all posts View Profile Close hurnik]

Thank you for your patience, here is some pricing.

Cruise #1

7 Night Caribbean, Southern

Sailing dates March 1, 15 & 29, 2014

Line: Royal Caribbean
Date: 3/1/14
Name: Jewel of the Seas
ID: SID29020267
Embark: San Juan
Destination: Caribbean, Southern
Govt Fees: $49.91
NCCF: $175 included in price

Purchase rate directly through NCL --

Only a 2500 point redemption ---

Saves $80 on the booking

Lower cost cruises have a much smaller margin, therefore savings are much less.

=============================

Cruise #2

7 Day Hawaii

Line: Norwegian Cruise Lines
Name: Pride of America
Date: Aug 3, 2013
ID: SID25998021
Embarks: Honolulu
Destination: Hawaii
Cabin: BF Balcony Stateroom

Purchase Rate with NCL Passenger fare total: $4,730.42

10,000 point redemption Passenger fare total: $4,130.42

Or… Week Exchange Passenger fare total: $$3,830.42


Compared to NCL’s Published rates

Using 10K points you save $600

Using a week towards an exchange you save $900

**This cruise has changed in price since last week according to the cruise line so our price is showing higher but the price that the client had would also have increased.

===============================

7 Day Alaska

Sail date: Aug 3, 2014
Alaska inside passage
Line: NCL
Name: Norwegian Pearl
2 adults Balcony State Room

Cruise Fare $3,758.00
Government Fees $365.28
ON BOARD CREDIT ($25.00)
*EST. TOTAL $4, 123.28

Poster found the sailing for $4,123.28

Purchase rate direct with NCL $4,283.28

10,000 point redemption $3,883.28

Or...Week Exchange $3,783.28

Compared to the rate you found at $4,123 – using our 10K points we save you $240.

If using the week exchange you save $340 over the price you were quoted.

If you want to compare the savings to the published NCL rates, we are the same price if you do a purchase,
we save $400 if you use 10K points, and $500 if you use a week exchange.

Either way we are saving you money.

Hope this helps,

Thanks,
Mark @SFX
Member Communications

What about Gandalf's post where the one cruise with SFX points was still like over $400 more than direct? Also I think Gandalf's first price was only $60 lower and that was WITH a supposed $100 savings (again, I'd expect the base price to be at least the same so that the "savings" isn't discounted).

Same thing with the Celebrity cruise I'd emailed you the screenshots from where the prices were the SAME (but ONLY after "savings" with SFX points).

Granted, prices have changed since then but I think both me and Gandalf's points (not SFX points) are that it seems touch and go as to whether you're really saving and in some cases, the supposed savings aren't as much as they're made out to be.

If two identical cruises cost the same, but only the 2nd one is the same after a supposed $200 "discount" then that makes the discount/savings meaningless.

It's like when Macy's has a "sale" on rugs, but they jack up the price 25% before having a 25% sale (or whatever the math is so that you pay the same regardless).