RCCLCARIB Posted September 4, 2009 #1 Share Posted September 4, 2009 Our Price Guarantee is our committment to you. When you book with Royal Caribbean and subsequently find a lower fare advertised by us, we will honor that rate by applying an onboard credit to the reservation equal to the price difference. For reservations outside of final payment period, the onboard credit may be replaced, upon request, with a reduction to the outstanding balance or a refund as applicable. To be eligible, the fare must be a) available for the same ship, sailing, category and number of guests as the current booking; b) be available at the time the request for rate conversion is made; and c) a rate the current booking would be eligible to receive, if any special restrictions apply. Price protection will not be available within 72 hours of departure. Price protection will be available for most fare types with the exception of Royal Sales Event and Exciting Deals; Travel Agent, Interline or Industry Reduced Rates; Employee rate programs; and a select number of price programs and promotions for new bookings only, as specified in the price program detail. Price protection will be subject to the prevailing taxes and fees and/or fuel supplement, if applicable. Highlights: • No forms to fill out • Book anytime and know you are protected up until 72 hours prior to departure - Outside of final payment - Upgrade options, Onboard Credit, or price reduction (refund if applicable) - Inside final payment - Upgrade options or Onboard Credit Terms & Conditions: Program applies only to guests in the fifty states and Canada and applies only to bookings that were fully deposited prior to the expiration of this program, Guests who have a qualifying booking booked at a higher fare can receive the difference between that fare and a lower fare advertised or offered by the applicable Cruise Line in the form of an onboard cruise credit. (For reservations outside of final payment period, the guest may request the difference be granted in the form of a refund.) Requests for adjustments must be received by the cruise line at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled departure time for the cruise. The lower fare must be a) available for the same ship, sailing, category and number of guests as the current booking; b) available at the time the request for rate conversion is made; and c) a rate program that is not limited to new bookings only. If the lower rate is available under any of the following special price programs, it shall not be available under this Price Protection Program: Royal Sales Event and Exciting Deals; Travel Agent, Interline or Industry Reduced Rates; Employee rate programs. The Price Protection Program does not apply to any berths that are part of a group booking, any charter arrangements nor does it apply to any space that sold to a third party for resale. Price protection does not apply to government taxes and fees and/or fuel supplement charges. This Price Protection Program may be discontinued or modified at any time without prior notice and shall be void where prohibited or restricted by applicable law. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JanineM Posted September 4, 2009 #2 Share Posted September 4, 2009 I'm absolutely fine with this policy. It's clearly set-out and fair - in my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
critterchick Posted September 4, 2009 #3 Share Posted September 4, 2009 I'm fine with it as well. In the FAQs that accompany the above, it explicitly states that any unused OBC will be refunded. So yes, you may have to wait 70-90 days for your money, but you do get it back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmazzo Posted September 4, 2009 #4 Share Posted September 4, 2009 A I'm absolutely fine with this policy. It's clearly set-out and fair - in my opinion. Agreed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisin MarcnFran Posted September 4, 2009 #5 Share Posted September 4, 2009 I'm fine with it as well. In the FAQs that accompany the above, it explicitly states that any unused OBC will be refunded. So yes, you may have to wait 70-90 days for your money, but you do get it back. Sorry ...I couldn't find anything that stated that unused OBC would be refunded. Do they refund any OBC? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare silentbob007 Posted September 4, 2009 #6 Share Posted September 4, 2009 I suppose this policy is no surprise since Carnival's been doing it this way for a couple of years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richiebaseball Posted September 4, 2009 #7 Share Posted September 4, 2009 Sorry ...I couldn't find anything that stated that unused OBC would be refunded. Do they refund any OBC? Yes, they will refund unused OBC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue L Posted September 4, 2009 #8 Share Posted September 4, 2009 Here are the FAQ's FAQs What is the Price Guaranteeprice protection program? If your customers book a cruise through you with Royal Caribbean and subsequently find a lower fare advertised by Royal Caribbean, we will honor that rate by applying an onboard credit to the reservation equal to the price difference. For reservations outside of the final payment period, the onboard creditmay be replaced, upon request, as a reduction to the outstanding balance or a refund as applicable. What should I do ifmy customer finds a lower rate? Simply call a Royal Caribbean representative to have your guest’s onboard credit applied. There are no forms to fill out. The adjustment will be made to their reservation. Onboard credits will be applied to the first and second guest on the reservation for the full amount of the price difference unless otherwise requested at the time of application. If you prefer, your guest will also be given the option of upgrading their stateroom based on availability and price paid. Outside of final payment period, they also have the option to have their price reduced to the lower rate, however commission will not be protected in this case. When can Imake a reservation for my guest? Anytime! Royal Caribbean’s Price Guaranteeprice protection applies anytime between booking and 72 hours prior to sailing as long as they are eligible for the new lower rate. Use this programtomake their reservation early to give your customer the best choice of staterooms and departures. That way you and your guest can rest easy knowing that we will adjust their price should we lower our rates. When can I call for Price Guarantee price protection? Anytime between initial reservation and 72 hours prior to departure of the sailing. The new rate must be available at the time of request for conversion and no conversions will be made after departure. Are Groups bookings eligible to receive the Price Guarantee price protection? Bookings that are part of an affinity or promotional group (non-contracted only) and that are both fully named and depositedmay take advantage of the Price Guarantee price protection program. However, price protection will not be available within 70 days of the sailing date if payment in full has not been received for the applicable booking within the group. Are the Onboard Credits refundable if not used onboard? Yes, the onboard credits are refundable.. What are the Terms & Conditions for Individual and Qualifying Group Bookings? Programapplies only to individual bookings or to affinity and promotional group bookings (non-contracted)made in the fifty U.S. states and Canada. For individual berths within a qualifying group booking, the guest booked at a higher fare can receive the difference between that fare and a lower fare advertised or offered by the applicable Cruise Line in the form of an onboard cruise credit. For reservations outside of final payment period, upon request the difference will be refunded back to the original payment source. Requests for adjustments must be received by the cruise line at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled sailing date for the cruise. The lower fare must be a) available for the same ship, sailing, category and number of guests as the current booking; b) available at the time the request for rate conversion is made; and c) a rate program that is not limited to new bookings only. If the lower rate is available under any of the following special price programs, it shall not be available under the Price Guarantee program: Royal Sales Event; Travel Agent, Interline or Industry Reduced Rates; Employee rate programs. The Price Guarantee program does not apply to any charter arrangements nor does it apply to any space that sold to a third party for resale. Travel Agent commission will not be protected on reductions in cruise fare that result in an onboard credit or refund. Price Guarantee does not apply to government taxes and fees and/or fuel supplement charges. The Price Guarantee program may be discontinued or modified at any time without prior notice and shall be void where prohibited or restricted by applicable law. ©2009 Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Ships registry: The Bahamas. MK09015983b GUARANTEE PRICE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruiselvr04 Posted September 4, 2009 #9 Share Posted September 4, 2009 As long as they will refund OBC due to price reductions I am fine with this policy. I can wait for my money - most of the time unless it's a large amount we'll spend it on the ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue L Posted September 4, 2009 #10 Share Posted September 4, 2009 I suppose this policy is no surprise since Carnival's been doing it this way for a couple of years. Ah, Carnival does NOT give the drops AFTER final payment as of a few months ago, if it is available they will do some upgrades but no $$ of any kind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest maddycat Posted September 4, 2009 #11 Share Posted September 4, 2009 Any unused OBC will be refunded. So yes, you may have to wait 70-90 days for your money, but you do get it back. I'm OK with this also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msmayor Posted September 4, 2009 #12 Share Posted September 4, 2009 Ah, Carnival does NOT give the drops AFTER final payment as of a few months ago, if it is available they will do some upgrades but no $$ of any kind. Actually they WILL give price drops up to 48 hours before sailing...but ONLY if you booked under the Early Saver Rate. That rate requires a non-refundable deposit, and doesn't allow any name changes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue L Posted September 4, 2009 #13 Share Posted September 4, 2009 Actually they WILL give price drops up to 48 hours before sailing...but ONLY if you booked under the Early Saver Rate. That rate requires a non-refundable deposit, and doesn't allow any name changes. sorry should have added that, thanks for the clarification, they won't however for regular bookings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crusinmama06 Posted September 4, 2009 #14 Share Posted September 4, 2009 Actually they WILL give price drops up to 48 hours before sailing...but ONLY if you booked under the Early Saver Rate. That rate requires a non-refundable deposit, and doesn't allow any name changes. And you have to fill out a form and submit it, waiting 2 days to get a response back. I like RCCL's policy better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare hcat Posted September 4, 2009 #15 Share Posted September 4, 2009 Yesterday we got a $200 refund for our Jan cruise-- (also a drop in the ins charge) why are they making things so complicated?--their staff can barely handle all the bookeeping now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Hlitner Posted September 5, 2009 #16 Share Posted September 5, 2009 So, let me get this straight and read the fine print. If RCI lowers the price of a cruise, and if they say it is "for new bookings only," than you are out of luck? That being said, one would think they will just say "new bookings only" for all price decreases. Am I being a skeptic? Hank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue L Posted September 5, 2009 #17 Share Posted September 5, 2009 So, let me get this straight and read the fine print. If RCI lowers the price of a cruise, and if they say it is "for new bookings only," than you are out of luck? That being said, one would think they will just say "new bookings only" for all price decreases. Am I being a skeptic? Hank they have always had that for some promotions like the tuesday Sales Events and the WOW promotions for example. They honor all the others very nicely. Before final payment all the lines no you can basically cancel to get the lower price so they are all pretty lenient it is after final payment that separates them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rancher Dave Posted September 5, 2009 #18 Share Posted September 5, 2009 Times are a changing....on the cruises and everywhere else...:eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
will work to cruise Posted September 5, 2009 #19 Share Posted September 5, 2009 I'm good with this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Henry on CC Posted September 5, 2009 #20 Share Posted September 5, 2009 I just wanted to bring one thing to everyone's attention. It's neither a negative nor a positive, just "something". It doesn't happen all that often, but it DOES, in some cases. If the taxes/port fees on your cruise have increased since your initial booking, and you apply for a rate reduction, you will have to pay the increased fees. This year, some ports *did* raise their charges, and RC passed that right along, on bookings that were made after the increases. Remember Alaska, two years ago? Just be sure to compute those changes if you see a rate drop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HRHPrinceJim Posted September 5, 2009 #21 Share Posted September 5, 2009 I have no problem with this policy either! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladylouwho Posted September 5, 2009 #22 Share Posted September 5, 2009 I just wanted to bring one thing to everyone's attention. It's neither a negative nor a positive, just "something". It doesn't happen all that often, but it DOES, in some cases. If the taxes/port fees on your cruise have increased since your initial booking, and you apply for a rate reduction, you will have to pay the increased fees. This year, some ports *did* raise their charges, and RC passed that right along, on bookings that were made after the increases. Remember Alaska, two years ago? Just be sure to compute those changes if you see a rate drop. Well sure, plus this new program is more beneficial to TA's. They collect the commission on the higher fare because essentially the fare is not lowered, the customer just gets OBC. Good for the TA's. A low cost way to keep the TA's Happy and pushing the RCI product, after all the recent cutbacks. Plus don't forget the cost of cruise insurance. If your fare rate goes down a certain amount your insurance cost will as well. In this case your fare won't be going down, you will just be getting OBC, not a fare reduction. So you will be paying more in insurance than you would under the old system of actually getting the fare reduced. Now once this is all in place and accepted by most, watch for the next thing. They will start restricting who can get any OBC when there are price reductions. For example, if you are using certain discounts already like C & A balcony discounts, C & A coupons, State Residency discounts, Senior Discounts, etc. Just like they eliminated the combining of some of these discounts late last year. JMO, but a fairly educated guess at the future. Colleen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livylotte Posted September 5, 2009 #23 Share Posted September 5, 2009 Sorry, I must have missed something. Could anyone please answer a couple of questions I have? I asked about RCI price guarantees on here and was told that RCI doesn't have a guarantee policy. So is this a new programme? or has it been around for a while and the poster that replied to me was mistaken? And could someone please post the link to RCI's for this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue L Posted September 5, 2009 #24 Share Posted September 5, 2009 Sorry, I must have missed something. Could anyone please answer a couple of questions I have? I asked about RCI price guarantees on here and was told that RCI doesn't have a guarantee policy. So is this a new programme? or has it been around for a while and the poster that replied to me was mistaken? And could someone please post the link to RCI's for this? It is brand spankin new, they just started it yesterday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livylotte Posted September 5, 2009 #25 Share Posted September 5, 2009 It is brand spankin new, they just started it yesterday. Thankyou, is there an announcement on RCI's site somewhere? I'm only asking because I see it only applies to bookings made in the US and Canada and I would like to know what RCI UK have to say about it? It also doesn't say if that would apply people who live in the UK who have booked with a US TA so I would like clarification. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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