Price drops

[cwistyred]

Hello Everyone,

For those of you who have taken an MSC Cruise, a question for you, if there are ever any price drops on your cruise - how does MSC handle this?

I have been on a few cruises where the price dropped after booking and until final payment most lines will reduce the price or offer some sort of compensation. Although I don't think the price will drop significantly on the cruise I want, I just wanted to know before booking. I didn't see any threads that seemed to deal directly with this question.. My apologies if this has been answered before.

Thanks for any information!

[riclop]

Hello Everyone,

For those of you who have taken an MSC Cruise, a question for you, if there are ever any price drops on your cruise - how does MSC handle this?

I have been on a few cruises where the price dropped after booking and until final payment most lines will reduce the price or offer some sort of compensation. Although I don't think the price will drop significantly on the cruise I want, I just wanted to know before booking. I didn't see any threads that seemed to deal directly with this question.. My apologies if this has been answered before.

Thanks for any information!

Its just like any other cruise line, call them and they will reduce your final payment.

[Skipper Tim]

Obviously, this thread is US-specific. In most of the World, one expects cruises, holidays, flights, etc. to either sell-out or reduce in price as time passes. One books early to secure exactly what one wants in the knowledge that the price will probably be lower later. When the price falls, the stark option is either to cancel with a total loss of a significant deposit or grin and bear it. Occasionally, in usually 'price-mistake' cases, the lowest fare is the initial fare but this is very rare indeed.

 

In short, for most of the World outside the U.S., there is no negotiating after the fact.

[mikesteg]

Obviously, this thread is US-specific. In most of the World, one expects cruises, holidays, flights, etc. to either sell-out or reduce in price as time passes. One books early to secure exactly what one wants in the knowledge that the price will probably be lower later. When the price falls, the stark option is either to cancel with a total loss of a significant deposit or grin and bear it. Occasionally, in usually 'price-mistake' cases, the lowest fare is the initial fare but this is very rare indeed.

 

In short, for most of the World outside the U.S., there is no negotiating after the fact.

 

It is totally linked to the terms of the deposit: because we in the US are able to recover 100% of our deposit, we would simply have to cancel and reboot. The cruise lines stand nothing to gain by refusing to price match, and they have something to lose if they force people to cancel and rebook.

 

 

This is just a matter of market forces, so I am curious how it works with non-cruise market in Europe. If you book a hotel or resort, or rental car, etc, do you lose that money if you cancel?

 

Not to defend or promote the US model, but it seems that the cruise lines have to make the deposit refundable to compete in some portion of the market. Just about every other form of travel here can be cancelled without loss, in many cases right up to the day before arrival (most hotel rooms, car rental.) There is a market of discounted non-refundable hotel rooms, but anybody who is uncertain of their plans can make plans that are fully refundable with little effort.

[MSC Cruises USA]

Hello Everyone,

For those of you who have taken an MSC Cruise, a question for you, if there are ever any price drops on your cruise - how does MSC handle this?

I have been on a few cruises where the price dropped after booking and until final payment most lines will reduce the price or offer some sort of compensation. Although I don't think the price will drop significantly on the cruise I want, I just wanted to know before booking. I didn't see any threads that seemed to deal directly with this question.. My apologies if this has been answered before.

Thanks for any information!

 

As per our terms and conditions, any promotional rates are only valid for new retail bookings. We hope this information helps.

[tigger89]

It is totally linked to the terms of the deposit: because we in the US are able to recover 100% of our deposit, we would simply have to cancel and reboot. The cruise lines stand nothing to gain by refusing to price match, and they have something to lose if they force people to cancel and rebook.

 

 

This is just a matter of market forces, so I am curious how it works with non-cruise market in Europe. If you book a hotel or resort, or rental car, etc, do you lose that money if you cancel?

 

Not to defend or promote the US model, but it seems that the cruise lines have to make the deposit refundable to compete in some portion of the market. Just about every other form of travel here can be cancelled without loss, in many cases right up to the day before arrival (most hotel rooms, car rental.) There is a market of discounted non-refundable hotel rooms, but anybody who is uncertain of their plans can make plans that are fully refundable with little effort.

 

Hi we booked through the uk office and we will lose our deposit if we were to cancel so unless the price dropped by more than 100 pounds we would just have to stick with the price we got when we booked.

 

Judith

[cwistyred]

Thank you to everyone for the information. It will be a big determining factor in booking a cruise for the future.

[AmoMondo]

It is totally linked to the terms of the deposit: because we in the US are able to recover 100% of our deposit, we would simply have to cancel and reboot. The cruise lines stand nothing to gain by refusing to price match, and they have something to lose if they force people to cancel and rebook.

 

 

This is just a matter of market forces, so I am curious how it works with non-cruise market in Europe. If you book a hotel or resort, or rental car, etc, do you lose that money if you cancel?

 

Not to defend or promote the US model, but it seems that the cruise lines have to make the deposit refundable to compete in some portion of the market. Just about every other form of travel here can be cancelled without loss, in many cases right up to the day before arrival (most hotel rooms, car rental.) There is a market of discounted non-refundable hotel rooms, but anybody who is uncertain of their plans can make plans that are fully refundable with little effort.

 

Deposits for anything on the whole are non refundable over here. It's a completely different concept from gheUS. It's to stop

Elle booking things then pulling out leaving companies high and dry with only a little time to try to get someone else.

 

That said, many of the hotel online booking services now offer free cancellation terms but the price will be higher than paying full price up front and it being non refundable. All the budget airlines tend not to refund anything if you cancel or jchRge. Really hefty cancellation fee.

[MotownVoice]

Thank you to everyone for the information. It will be a big determining factor in booking a cruise for the future.

 

If that kind of price difference is that important to you, why not find a cruise that meets your price frame needs and not worry about what may or may not come as a result of advertising promotions?

 

I mean, you do make it sound as though it could be a deal breaker for you. So Why not just go for the price you think is right in the first place, and let the reduction that does or doesn't come be left to chance, regardless of what cruise line you ultimately choose?

 

It's a bit like saying, "I refuse to visit any casino in Vegas unless there's some sort of guarantee that if 10 slot machines hit, I'm sitting at one of them."

[footzz]

If that kind of price difference is that important to you, why not find a cruise that meets your price frame needs and not worry about what may or may not come as a result of advertising promotions?

 

I mean, you do make it sound as though it could be a deal breaker for you. So Why not just go for the price you think is right in the first place, and let the reduction that does or doesn't come be left to chance, regardless of what cruise line you ultimately choose?

 

It's a bit like saying, "I refuse to visit any casino in Vegas unless there's some sort of guarantee that if 10 slot machines hit, I'm sitting at one of them."

 

My personal philosophy regarding slot machines: I'm not going to mess with anything that has only one arm, stands with it's back against the wall and will take on all challengers!

[MotownVoice]

Yeah but he vomits money! (what's not to love?)

[marcoigna]

If that kind of price difference is that important to you, why not find a cruise that meets your price frame needs and not worry about what may or may not come as a result of advertising promotions?

 

I mean, you do make it sound as though it could be a deal breaker for you. So Why not just go for the price you think is right in the first place, and let the reduction that does or doesn't come be left to chance, regardless of what cruise line you ultimately choose?

 

It's a bit like saying, "I refuse to visit any casino in Vegas unless there's some sort of guarantee that if 10 slot machines hit, I'm sitting at one of them."

 

when i read her response - i was confused that u would base booking a cruise on how they handle price reductions - there is not clear answer amongst cruise lines and every promo can be different...

 

your right - book a cruise in your budget, or book last minute --- but to base on booking your cruise on future price reductions is totally ridiculous -just my opinion - i would never book a cruise inadvance if i could not afford it..... .... just dont get it!!!!

[mikesteg]

Deposits for anything on the whole are non refundable over here. It's a completely different concept from gheUS. It's to stop

Elle booking things then pulling out leaving companies high and dry with only a little time to try to get someone else.

 

Understood, though with a cruise we would lose our down payment after final payment, typically around 70-75 days. The % penalty escalates over time, and I think it usually goes to 100% if canceled within 30 days of embarkation. That is hardly leaving the cruise provider 'high and dry'.

 

MSC has the low down payment in the US also, but with Carnival (for instance) my down payment for a family of 4 would be US$1000 on a 7-day cruise. From a business perspective I prefer the higher down payment since it creates a higher level of commitment, even when fully refundable. MSC should probably adopt this model in the US markets to match the competition. :D

 

BTW... Who's Elle?

 

 

That said, many of the hotel online booking services now offer free cancellation terms but the price will be higher than paying full price up front and it being non refundable. All the budget airlines tend not to refund anything if you cancel or jchRge. Really hefty cancellation fee.

 

Interesting, our major 'budget airline' is Southwest and has a no-penalty business model (as long as you cancel before flying). Plus free bags! :p We also have Jet Blue, but I am not sure about their policies since they don't fly out of my city.

 

The other carriers do charge a hefty fee, perhaps $100, but since most airfares are well above that these days there is a credit left over. Generally, they do give a credit (with an expiry) rather than a refund. I am sure there are circumstances where they are required to give a refund, but generally speaking once the airlines have your money they keep it. :(

[cwistyred]

Again, thanks everyone for the information.

 

I'm not sure how some of you have deduced from what I said that my cruise choice would be based entirely on price reductions. I said it would be a big determining factor, but so is the ship itself, dining, destinations and everything else. I like to shop around and simply wanted to know the policy of this line before I decide. Simple as that. To imply that I am looking at things I can't afford is pretty presumptive on your part and pretty unkind. I just don't pay more for things than I have to, for anything. You can if you wish.

Sorry I bothered some of you.

[reic0002]

I can definitely understand where you're coming from. I am in the middle/end of booking a 4 month trip from UK to New Zealand; cruising in a roundabout way to NZ, touring NZ for 5 weeks and then cruising back. I have had to book a lot of different cruise ships with interconnecting flights/hotels etc and obviously need to book the cheapest according to what I want to do. One of my bookings was P&O Arcadia LA to Auckland which, balcony single supplement, was costing over £4000. By chance I saw an advert from an Australian company (I was looking for something on a NZ website) promoting the exact same trip for a single balcony for just over AUD3000. Even losing my deposit of £600 I was still £1500 up - no brainer! Which is why I am checking final prices on all websites now before I pay the balance on 2 of the remaining ships; if you don't bother to check then you don't benefit and I refuse to see why I should pay more than somebody else just because I an presumed to be able to afford it and am too lazy to do any work and check! Hopefully, I can save more money inthe next couple of days.

 

Enjoy your cruise whatever happens - we're not all meanies!