Carnival Cruise Lines, one of the world’s largest cruise companies, is introducing dynamic pricing which could make travelling on the high seas more expensive for some.
Dynamic pricing for some onboard packages will begin Dec. 1, the company said in a news release.
Carnival Cruise Lines president Christine Duffy said the new packages it is also rolling out will save guests 35 to 55 per cent compared with buying on-board experiences individually, but said that prices still remain up in the air.
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Dynamic pricing for packages will vary depending on season, sailing length and itinerary, the company said.
A dynamic pricing model has long been used for airline tickets, concert tickets and hotel room rates. It involves companies pushing up prices during periods of high demand, and using algorithms to determine how to price items.
Dynamic pricing has increasingly come under intense scrutiny by opposition parties especially for companies using algorithmic models to determine pricing.
Some companies use demographic, income level and other social attributes to determine pricing for various customers.
In April, New Democratic Party Leader Avi Lewis called the practice “downright creepy” and asked the federal government to ban algorithmic price surging.
I agree with the socialists on this one. Dynamic pricing is about as ugly as capitalism can get. And doing it on a cruise ship where you don’t have options? “Supper is in high demand right now, so…$$$”
Dynamic pricing is perfect price discrimination on steriods and is another sign of end stage capitalism. Should be illegal.
Dynamic pricing is a curse. Eat the rich. The revolution is coming
Carnival Cruises is trash. That’s where you go when you’re tired of drinking a the trailer park.