Sign of the times: Royal Caribbean, Celebrity slash prices on Alaska shore excursions

[mercedes]

It's no secret that cruise lines have been struggling to fill ships in Alaska this year. Indeed, everyone from industry executives to Wall Street analysts have been calling the situation abysmal, noting that some lines have been forced to slash prices as much as 40%, on average, to keep ships full.

But it's not just cabins in Alaska that cruise lines have been having trouble selling. Also hurting are bookings for Alaska shore excursions -- traditionally a big money-maker in the industry.

In a sign of just how bad the situation has become, Royal Caribbean and sister line Celebrity Cruises today unveiled an unusual last-minute discount for customers who book Alaska shore excursions online in advance of upcoming voyages.

The offer, for a 5% discount, is available for shore excursions on dozens of Alaska cruises on the two lines scheduled for June 5 and beyond. Bookings must be made on or before June 7. There's no limit on the number of shore excursions passengers can book at the discounted rate.

Alaskan port towns such as Juneau and Skagway are reknown for their wide array of adventurous and often pricey shore excursion options such as $400-per-person helicopter rides to glaciers, and it's not uncommon for cruisers in Alaska to spend more on shore excursions than on their cabins. But the slumping economy has prompted many cruisers to cut back.