Best pricing on RCCL

[Annie43]

We are looking to book a cruise on RCCL for June in 2011. What is the best way to get the lowest price? The only other time I have cruised I went through an internet website, but would it be cheaper to call the cruiseline and deal directly with them?

[seaofwonder]

With RCCL the price of the actual cruise will be the same no matter who you book with. Booking with a travel agent, however, may give you extra bonuses such as onboard credit or prepaid gratuities.

[rummenroman]

TA's are not allowed to discount their rates below RCCL's pricing. TA's are allowed to give you an incentive to book with them, free bottle of wine, OBC etc. Best way to do it is book now if your happy with the price, and watch for price drops.

[sandian]

We are looking to book a cruise on RCCL for June in 2011. What is the best way to get the lowest price? The only other time I have cruised I went through an internet website, but would it be cheaper to call the cruiseline and deal directly with them?

Where are you from? We have just booked a cruise direct with RCI received £400 cabin discount $300 dollars onboard credit and a bottle of Champagne. This was during Spring Sale which has been extended and over the phone with a cruise specialist we also got free parking at Southampton. Pretty good I thought.

[KeywestK]

As others have stated, TA are not allowed to price lower than RCI. But some TAs will offer incentives. If you book through a TA, you will not have the ability to call RCI to change anything in your reservation. It will all have to be done through your TA. For me personally, I hate to give up control of my booking, and would rather bypass the TA and do everything myself. I book early to take advantage of good pricing, and also to have the best choice of cabins. I watch the pricing every day, and if the price goes down (which is often does), then I call and get the new price applied to my account.

 

Karen

[Maybaybie10]

To the OP...I am a Newbie, but I am sailing May 2011. I am currently waiting (and hoping) that RCCI does their bi-annual WOW sale in May as they did last year. If you book at that time you will only have to pay half the deposit to hold your cabin and they offer OBCs that can be stacked on top of anything your TA gives you (if you use one). At least that's how it all worked last year I'm told. The sale last year I believe was May 5th and 6th if I remember reading correctly.

 

Incidentally for all you seasoned cruisers...is there a "warning" about the WOW Sale? Such as "ON May 5th an 6th only we will be offering our WOW sale", or do you just wake up and they are having it that day? I assume it's the latter because why give people that wouldn't know to wait a day of two any notice to save money, but you never know...

 

As always, thanks in advance,

Melissa

[cruiseguy1016]

The best time to book any cruise with RCI is as soon as you have decided when and where you want to go. By booking way in advance, you are guaranteed the lowest price. Book now at (just random numbers here) $1000/person. One month from now it goes to $950/person. Call RCI and asked for the reduced rate. Two months later it goes to $900/person. Call RCI and get another reduction. Six months later it goes to $1200/person. It doesn't affect you at all, you have been locked in at the $900 rate. One month before your cruise it drops to $800/person. Call RCI and get ANOTHER reduction in cost. Because this last reduction is after the final payment date, you will receive the difference in OBC.

 

Granted if you wait for a sale, you may get a better rate. However, there is no guarantee that the cruise you want will go on sale.

[rastewa]

The best time to book any cruise with RCI is as soon as you have decided when and where you want to go. By booking way in advance, you are guaranteed the lowest price. Book now at (just random numbers here) $1000/person. One month from now it goes to $950/person. Call RCI and asked for the reduced rate. Two months later it goes to $900/person. Call RCI and get another reduction. Six months later it goes to $1200/person. It doesn't affect you at all, you have been locked in at the $900 rate. One month before your cruise it drops to $800/person. Call RCI and get ANOTHER reduction in cost. Because this last reduction is after the final payment date, you will receive the difference in OBC.

 

Granted if you wait for a sale, you may get a better rate. However, there is no guarantee that the cruise you want will go on sale.

Great info Cruiseguy, thanks, and if I book now for Jan 2011 and I will pay 1/2 the deposit now? is that correct? and if, heaven forbid, I would need to cancel before final payment would the refund be in full?

[PantherFan]

You will need to pay the full deposit now, unless it is some kind of sale "WOW". If you cancel before final payment you will receive a full refund.

 

I recently started booking with a single name on the room to keep the deposit down and add the second name just before final payment. just a thought.

[BlueCat1105]

I recently started booking with a single name on the room to keep the deposit down and add the second name just before final payment. just a thought.

 

I mentioned doing that on another board (I believe it was the Celebrity one) and someone said that they could very well not honor the price for the second passenger in the room. At the time I thought, "how could that be??" but never asked. Now that it's been brought up here, I will ask - could they possibly do something weird with your pricing if you don't have a second passenger on the reservation at the time of booking? That doesn't seem possible.

[oswegony]

Let's not forget about those of us who have to fly to the destination. By waiting to book, you may very well wipe out any savings with sky high(pun intended) airfare. I have found that by booking early I get the cabins of my choice(then play the rate watch game for reductions) and the best flight and airfare choices.

[BlueCat1105]

Oswegony - I live in Oswego IL! Maybe I should have used that and named myself Oswegoil...wait...that looks funny. :p

[fjrtha]

don't forget to check your credit card. Our Discover gave 5% cashback on any RCCL cruise with 2 free spa treatment per cabin:-)

[PantherFan]

I mentioned doing that on another board (I believe it was the Celebrity one) and someone said that they could very well not honor the price for the second passenger in the room. At the time I thought, "how could that be??" but never asked. Now that it's been brought up here, I will ask - could they possibly do something weird with your pricing if you don't have a second passenger on the reservation at the time of booking? That doesn't seem possible.

 

Good question..I will check into that with my CVP

[dsheamac]

Can you book directly with RCL and than transfer your booking to a TA at later date to take advantage of any incentives??

[Cruzin-K]

Can you book directly with RCL and than transfer your booking to a TA at later date to take advantage of any incentives??

 

Yes, you can :)

[PantherFan]

I mentioned doing that on another board (I believe it was the Celebrity one) and someone said that they could very well not honor the price for the second passenger in the room. At the time I thought, "how could that be??" but never asked. Now that it's been brought up here, I will ask - could they possibly do something weird with your pricing if you don't have a second passenger on the reservation at the time of booking? That doesn't seem possible.

BlueCat,

 

Here is the answer I got from RCI

 

"In response to your question, the cabins that are as a single now can add a 2nd guest at any time up until 2 days prior to sailing. If they wait until after final payment they will have to pay the amount due as a single and then when they add the second guest, they will have to pay the small difference and then they can work out the difference on their own or we can reimburse the first guest part of their money.

 

As for the amount paid... the rate is locked into a price code, so the pricing for the first and second will be the same as discussed when I priced it as a double. The only thing that is not locked in, are the taxes. These can fluctuate, but the difference is always minimal. So it can change by a few dollars."

[Annie43]

Just a few more questions:

 

1. How does the Discover card option work?

 

2. How does the OBC with the RCCI Visa work--is it 1 per cabin , per person, etc...

 

3. Does RCCI allow "seperate check"---what I mean is that we will be taking adult children who will pay their own bar bill, etc... how does that work?

 

4. Is it possible to sleep 3 in a Promenade room?

 

5. If I book through a TA, do they have to pre-book excursions?

 

Thank you!

[cruiseguy1016]

Just a few more questions:

 

1. How does the Discover card option work?

 

2. How does the OBC with the RCCI Visa work--is it 1 per cabin , per person, etc... You can use the OBC for just you or you can add other people to it. Before you send it in you will have to indicate how you want it used. There is a spot on the certificate to add other cruisers.

 

3. Does RCCI allow "seperate check"---what I mean is that we will be taking adult children who will pay their own bar bill, etc... how does that work? You can set up the on board expense accounts any way you want. You can tie two or three people to one credit card or everyone can have separate accounts.

 

4. Is it possible to sleep 3 in a Promenade room? Yes, if you book a room that has either a Pullman or a sofa bed.

 

5. If I book through a TA, do they have to pre-book excursions? No, you can book the excursions ahead of time on RCI's web site or you can wait until you are on the ship and do it then.

 

Thank you!

 

Enjoy your cruise!

[cruizinmimi]

I must make a correction for "cruiseguy1016" to your question on sleeping 3 in a PR cabin.

 

You can only sleep 3 in a PR cabin on the genesis class ships; i.e., Oasis and Allure. RCL will not allow 3 in a PR cabin on the voyager class ships and freedom class ships.