PRICE went down - what to do

[stromer]

I booked the Sun Princess for Alaska in Dec 2004 for about $850 for a good inside room. Recently the price dropped to about $850 for a outside and $700 for a similar inside room. The sale was a flash sale that was only good for 4 days. My travel agent tried to get the new price but they said the new prices were only for new bookings. Out of luck. The agent said she would try to get an upgrade, but I won't know until later - probably more near the crusie date.

 

I guess cruise lines penalize early bookers by lowering prices to fill up the ship later toward the cruise date. It's sad that early bookers don't get the later lower prices. I thought some cruise lines guaranteed the lowest prices for the earliest bookers.

 

Any thoughts about this cruise line practice.

 

I guess this topic also falls under upgrades.

 

Thanks, Rick

[inaspin]

You will find that i have been posting elswhere on this board about Princess "flash sales " and their refusal to allow existing passengers to upgrade to the cabins on offer in these sales

 

Actually I think you will find that the Flash Sale is still ongoing

 

Sadly the attitude of many posters on this board is "live with it "

 

Instead it should be Princess who have a more considerate attitude to existing passengers who "technically " should be allowed an upgrade if the price paid on your existing cabin matches others in a higher category

 

But of course Princess use the " flash promotion" get out clause

 

Instead of creating good passenger relations its actually creating resentment and disaffection amongst previous loyal cruisers

[spongerob]

You book early for cabin choice and selection. And, you will get any price reductions up to the time of final payment. You can choose to wait until after final payment to see if you can get a cabin. Maybe you'll get lucky and find a lower price. Or, as is often the case, there is nothing available and prices are much higher. The policy is consistent.

 

No other business will allow you to come back months later when they have remnants on sale and give you a lower price. Why should a cruise line operate any differently? This is just a fact of (business) life. We booked early for our August cruise and the price of similar cabins is up $1500pp from the time we booked. You win some, you lose some, and you learn to live with it.

[winstar]

Spongerob,

I agree with you 100%.

[arlenemilt]

Am I missing something here? This is April, your cruise is not until December. Your TA should have cancelled your original booking and rebooked you at the new rate. Maybe you wouldn't have gotten the same cabin, but you sure would have saved the $$$. This is something that's done every day of the week. Why didn't your TA do it? Or better yet, why didn't your TA tell you that you had the option of doing it?

 

Arlene

[Toto2Kansas]

arlene, I think you miss understood. This is a cruise that was, to quote "I booked the Sun Princess for Alaska in Dec 2004" Not going to Alaska in December. Might be a bit cold up there at that time of year.

Time for another cup of coffee! ;)

 

I totally understand why Princess does have these flash sales to fill the ship, but it is still hard to swallow when you book long ahead of time and find out you paid more than those at the last minute. There just doesn't seem to be much anyone can do about it. IF you have a great TA, they often can get you an upgrade to make up the difference, it is what our TA usual does. It is better than nothing, I guess.

[cruisingbug]

Same thing happened to us, only we booked on Monday April 11 and the flash special started Thursday April 14!!!! But no dice on an upgrade - unless we paid, that is. I felt a little taken advantage of - difference was $100 total, could have used that money to pay for an excursion...

[jbern66]

I have had many experiences where, after I have booked the price has dropped. My cruise specialist (he only books cruises so maybe he has more clout) has always been able to get me the lower price. A couple of times he has come back to me to verify where I found the lower price because Princess claimed there was no lower price or would not honor the lower price. But he is very tenacious, and where I have shown evidence he has obtained the lower price for me. The closest to the sailing date this occurred was 1 month.

[Stevesan]

No other business will allow you to come back months later when they have remnants on sale and give you a lower price. Why should a cruise line operate any differently? This is just a fact of (business) life.

 

This is not intended to be argumentative because I agree with your basic tenet; however, airlines, Continental at least , will allow discounted air fares to apply to early bookings as long as the difference is <$100. There are other businesses, department stores, etc, that allow sale prices to appply even after delivery of the goods. My wife is expert at this!

 

We once had an outside guarantee booking on a Holland America cruise which was subsequently discounted. Our TA was refused the promotional discount, but instead HA offered us a 'C' (top outside) category for less than our guarantee price. I didn't pretend to understand the logic, but was happy to accept.:)

 

There's nothing to lose by asking, but I don't cry when it doesn't work out.

[arlenemilt]

arlene, I think you miss understood. This is a cruise that was, to quote "I booked the Sun Princess for Alaska in Dec 2004" Not going to Alaska in December. Might be a bit cold up there at that time of year.

Time for another cup of coffee! ;)

 

 

Oops! Could be I've had TOO MUCH coffee! :)

Arlene

[WASUP]

We booked Alaska in Janaury of this year, 750 a piece, inside. I found 658 for an outside,non obstucted...AFTER final payment was made in March, I called TA and she got us the upgrade to an outside cabin! We didnot get the difference in the cabin rate, that of the outside still being lower then our original cost of the inside, so we paid 1500 for an outside, while others, just booking, got the outside for $184 less then us, but it was the compromise, at least we now have a window.

 

I found the balconies were 2077 for two on a web site, now this week they are 2600 and the same rooms are available, I dont understand the bump, as there is no movement in the balconies and they raise the price?? We sail 5-30

 

Go figure

[peagreenid]

Often At times that these flash fares are announced, commission from the Cruiseline to the Agency may have already occurred. The Agent may have already been paid. Now the agency has to collect back from the agent, and the cruiseline has to collect back from the agency. That is why an agent can often grovel for an upgrade, but not get cash back. They don't like to give cash back. And then I think it is the luck of the draw who you talk to.

Princess is not the only cruiseline that does this. They pretty much all do.

[spongerob]

This is not intended to be argumentative because I agree with your basic tenet; however, airlines, Continental at least , will allow discounted air fares to apply to early bookings as long as the difference is <$100. There are other businesses, department stores, etc, that allow sale prices to appply even after delivery of the goods. My wife is expert at this!

 

There's nothing to lose by asking, but I don't cry when it doesn't work out.

 

When a business is on shaky ground, they might do this, and sometimes you get hold of someone who just feels like doing a customer a favor. As a general rule, though, price reductions after the sale has been concluded should not be expected.

 

You're right, sometimes just asking nicely will get you much more than you bargained for.

[West Coast]

Am I missing something here? This is April, your cruise is not until December.

 

Gotta love those cruises to Alaska in December ;)

 

 

(ok, I just couldn't resist - no ill will intended Arlene :) )

[Budget Queen]

People who early book, have a vast choice of sailings and cabins. Late price drops are nothing new, just more known now. I have been picking up late bookings since the early 80's. It is a BIG gamble and you have to be completely flexable if you go this option. When you booked you agreed to the prices and conditions.

[margeg]

Ditto!!!!!!!!

[MichTraveler]

I booked my May/2005 cruise last year also. Right after final payment was paid, "flash" sales on all the web sites. Princess even sent me a direct email on one of the sailings for $399pp for 7 nights. But when I book in advance, I get the opportunity to do all of my plans in advance. To wait until "possbile" flash sales leaves a great opportunity of being left behind if the ship sells out or air arrangements are too much. I still did call Princess and even asked my TA to call Princess. Maybe the flash sales will not sell and I will have a chance to upgrade. Regardless, only 4 weeks until this wonderful cruise!!!

[susancruzs]

Sailing single, having booked my Sept. 3rd Sea Princess over a year in advance, I read all these posts and just smile! :-) The prices on my B2B are quite a bit higher than they were, I'm glad I booked early.

 

I didn't take the lowest, N, took a K with a cabin no. so I didn't get one for 7 days and another for 14. I doubt that I'll get assigned a different cabin and I don't care! All the hoops people put themselves through just amaze me!

 

Susie

[stromer]

After I posted the original question, I found out that I got upgraded to Cat D from Cat I inside. I guess Princess came through - Thanks.

Next Question is about the cabin size and arrangement.

I have never been on an outside for this class ship. Cat D is not a deluxe, but the size as shown on the ships diagram is the same as the deluxe Cat DD.

Does the cat D room have the bed end next to the window or the side wall perpendicular to the window wall? Does the room have a small sofa or is the sofa only in the deluxe rooms?

Are these rooms bigger than the inside which are rather small?

Thank you Princess for the upgrade and thanks for any advice on this room.

Rick

[inaspin]

Stromer ......count yourself very lucky cos some of us are still waiting to even get a cabin assignment never mind an upgrade on a 4 sector sailing which leaves 5/2

 

I am definitely never booking again until the flash sales appear or Princess change the crazy way they allow TAs to hold cabins and then throw them back 3 to 4 weeks before sailing which is what generates flash sales

[WASUP]

Stormer,

 

What sailing and ship are u on? You went from inside to an outside window or balcony? We got upgraded from a inside to outside window, free upgrade...alaska 5-30 sun

[inaspin]

Wasup

Sun Princess LA on up to Whittier and return starting 2nd May

 

Inside guarantees because that was all that was available mid feb ......promised upgrades to outside .......Princess wont talk to me

TA claims to have spoken to Princess but going nowhere fast right now

 

Have offered to pay the difference to balconys of which theres still loads available on all 4 sectors but "flash sale price" difference is extra $900 which they reserve for new bookings only !!!!!!!!!! ,,,,,,,,Princess are demanding extra $2000 which is extortion

 

All I have asked for is same cabin on Alaska legs

 

Princess claim they always try to put B2B s in same cabin

 

In future i will not book anything until the final 3 weeks ........when they offer good cabins in flash sales ........

[spongerob]

You booked two repositioning cruises (3 days each) to go with your Alaskan B2B and you're here complaining about upgrades for "loyal" passengers?!? Dude, these are low-cost cruises that in the opinion of many shouldn't even count towards Captain's Circle status. And you booked the absolute lowest-priced inside cabins. You've been having us on, Inaspin. This is not a 4-leg B2B, it's an Alaskan B2B with 2 cheap repos. Fool me once, shame on you.

 

I won't be fooled again!

[Coolmama_1]

You book early for cabin choice and selection. And, you will get any price reductions up to the time of final payment. You can choose to wait until after final payment to see if you can get a cabin. Maybe you'll get lucky and find a lower price. Or, as is often the case, there is nothing available and prices are much higher. The policy is consistent.

 

No other business will allow you to come back months later when they have remnants on sale and give you a lower price. Why should a cruise line operate any differently? This is just a fact of (business) life. We booked early for our August cruise and the price of similar cabins is up $1500pp from the time we booked. You win some, you lose some, and you learn to live with it.

 

Well stated!

[FreQuentKruser]

You booked two repositioning cruises (3 days each) to go with your Alaskan B2B and you're here complaining about upgrades for "loyal" passengers?!? Dude, these are low-cost cruises that in the opinion of many shouldn't even count towards Captain's Circle status. And you booked the absolute lowest-priced inside cabins. You've been having us on, Inaspin. This is not a 4-leg B2B, it's an Alaskan B2B with 2 cheap repos. Fool me once, shame on you. I won't be fooled again!

 

Do these count as 4 cruises in the Captains Circle? I am surprised if they do. We have over 20 cruises with Princess, none of which were short cruises, in fact there was only one short one and that was a 7 day. We are leaving next month on a 4 week Princess cruise, it will count as one cruise, right? So do I have this correct, people can book a 3 day repositioning cruise and it counts as one cruise in Captains Circle? Does it mean that the two 3-day cruises and the 2 B2B Alaska's end up counting as 4 cruises in Capt Circle?