Royal Caribbean has relented and will honor cut-price drink package rates sold in error.
The cruise line’s Deluxe Drink Package price was available for just $18 per person, per day, which is only a third of the usual price.
Unsurprisingly guests jumped at the chance to book the cut-price deal.
After a storm of protest, the line will now honor the rate and announced the decision with a little self-deprecating humor.
In a letter to guests it started with ‘This round’s on us.’
"We posted incorrect pricing of $18 USD per person, per day, for Deluxe Beverage Packages. Given that we typically price these packages at about $55 USD per person, per day, it was the (messed up) deal of the century!"
"This was a BIG mistake. It might have been bad code, a random computer glitch – or maybe we just need to reinstate our intern typing test," it wrote.
The rate error was live for about nine hours.
"It was our error, and we’ll own it. Enjoy your deep, deep discount – while we go drown our sorrows," the letter added.
Legally the line had a right not to honor the mistake but like many airlines and their ‘mistake fares’ sometimes taking a short-term financial hit pays off in customer service and brand loyalty.
