rci price change policy

[faders]

has anyone heard of a price change policy that rci told me took place oct 2013. We prebooked on the oasis for this coming november while we were on the aos nov 2012. We have always booked a cabin in one name to lock in the price and then when the time gets closer we add the second person and pay the taxes and fees for them. This is usually about 125.00. This time when we did the price shot up almost 1000.00. When we called customer service we were told that due to this policy change whenever you modify a reservation ( add a person, take away a person or anything at all) their system redoes the reservation and you pay whatever the price is that day.

[tserface]

I know if you modify your reservation in other ways like changing people in the rooms or changing ships, etc. they will reprice it at the current levels. Maybe it's the same sort of thing. I think the first person may still be at the cheaper rate, but the second (being added on) would pay the current rate. That would make sense anyway.

 

We have been able to do simple things like change rooms without it affecting anything. We have also been successful at taking advantage of price reductions while waiting for a cruise, but we have to notice them and call.

 

Tom

 

has anyone heard of a price change policy that rci told me took place oct 2013. We prebooked on the oasis for this coming november while we were on the aos nov 2012. We have always booked a cabin in one name to lock in the price and then when the time gets closer we add the second person and pay the taxes and fees for them. This is usually about 125.00. This time when we did the price shot up almost 1000.00. When we called customer service we were told that due to this policy change whenever you modify a reservation ( add a person, take away a person or anything at all) their system redoes the reservation and you pay whatever the price is that day.

[marci22]

has anyone heard of a price change policy that rci told me took place oct 2013. We prebooked on the oasis for this coming november while we were on the aos nov 2012. We have always booked a cabin in one name to lock in the price and then when the time gets closer we add the second person and pay the taxes and fees for them. This is usually about 125.00. This time when we did the price shot up almost 1000.00. When we called customer service we were told that due to this policy change whenever you modify a reservation ( add a person, take away a person or anything at all) their system redoes the reservation and you pay whatever the price is that day.

 

hm. I didn't think it would reprice the cabin for that type of change. Was it originally booked as a solo? I am thinking that you might have to talk to a supervisor or resolutions about this. Not just the person who answers the phone.

 

I don't like this as I always book my 3 sons in our rooms and sometimes 1 cannot go. Sounds like they would reprice the entire cabin if I dropped one person off?

 

I wouldn't go for that.

 

In any case if you booked before the rule was in effect I would expect your reservation to follow the old pricing system.

Edited June 17, 2014 by marci22

[faders]

thanks, we have always booked our cruises the same way with no issues. Our TA was at a loss to explain it so I called customer service at rci and after 4 phone calls and a resolution manager thats what they have told us. Unfortunetly this is a family cruise that we booked a long time ago. Us and another couple have since cancelled and rebooked with ncl. It has really left us with a bad taste and will probably not cruise with rccl again. As far as I know the remaining 7 couples will complete their cruise and not return to rci again.:(

[marci22]

thanks, we have always booked our cruises the same way with no issues. Our TA was at a loss to explain it so I called customer service at rci and after 4 phone calls and a resolution manager thats what they have told us. Unfortunetly this is a family cruise that we booked a long time ago. Us and another couple have since cancelled and rebooked with ncl. It has really left us with a bad taste and will probably not cruise with rccl again. As far as I know the remaining 7 couples will complete their cruise and not return to rci again.:(

 

So they repriced your entire cabin for adding a 2nd person?

 

Like I said, I usually book us all and adjust as we go. If they repriced my entire cabin for deleting or adding a person I would just cancel.

 

I added a 3rd last May 2013 (after final payment) and there was no repricing penalty but I guess that was before this new rule took effect. I'm concerned.

Edited June 17, 2014 by marci22

[faders]

yes I would be concerned also if I was you. All I know is that was the response from the resolution manager . It was a shock to us as we were prepared to pay the extra taxes and fees like we always did. What really sucks is that this was a family cruise that we booked nov 2012. We ended up cancelling which was a last resort. Nothing wrong with ncl though, we were on the ncl jewel last feb and really enjoyed it so we are now booked on the Epic out of Miami instead of the oasis. We were loyal to royal but no more:(

[Retired LEO]

That is their policy now. Whenever a change is made to a reservation it is repriced on the date the change was made. This also holds true for any C&A balcony discounts. If a change is made less than 6 months of sailing they reduce the discount by $25.00

[marci22]

That is their policy now. Whenever a change is made to a reservation it is repriced on the date the change was made. This also holds true for any C&A balcony discounts. If a change is made less than 6 months of sailing they reduce the discount by $25.00

 

So if you add or drop a 3rd or 4th person, your entire cabin is repriced for that date?

[shazzie44]

I just added a forth person on Sunday and it was only $54.00 for a September cruise.

[39august]

This is a relatively new policy, certainlhy not since Oct. 2013. I used to always just book in one name while on board, then add my husband later for my locked in price. However, my TA warned me in May that RCI is beginning to add on names at the prevailing rate now. Just like a lot of RCI's policies, this is still hit or miss at this point. You might get lucky as shazzie44 did. You might not. My TA was able to get the old rules for adding my husband in May. But I will not take the chance of booking in one name in the future.

[marci22]

This is a relatively new policy, certainlhy not since Oct. 2013. I used to always just book in one name while on board, then add my husband later for my locked in price. However, my TA warned me in May that RCI is beginning to add on names at the prevailing rate now. Just like a lot of RCI's policies, this is still hit or miss at this point. You might get lucky as shazzie44 did. You might not. My TA was able to get the old rules for adding my husband in May. But I will not take the chance of booking in one name in the future.

 

So the newly added person would be at the prevailing rate, but would the first person's rate change?

 

And I'm still wondering about 3rd and 4ths...those prices usually don't move too much but it would be bad if they repriced 1 & 2 as well.

[Life is Good Cruising]

The repricing also happened to me this past January. I added my husband to an existing Quantum sailing that I booked in May 2013 for myself. When I called to add him, Royal repriced only him at the current rate in January 2014, which is when I called, I said no thanks. I was then able to get the original rate that I paid for myself, for him through Club Royale.

 

Royal has made a lot of little changes, benefiting them with no heads up to their members about these changes.

Edited June 18, 2014 by Life is Good Cruising

[marci22]

The repricing also happened to me this past January. I added my husband to an existing Quantum sailing that I booked in May 2013 for myself. When I called to add him, Royal repriced only him at the current rate in January 2014, which is when I called, I said no thanks. I was then able to get the original rate that I paid for myself, for him through Club Royale.

 

Royal has made a lot of little changes, benefiting them with no heads up to their members about these changes.

 

Thanks for explaining that.

 

I think that policy stinks. BAD!

[Clarea]

So the newly added person would be at the prevailing rate, but would the first person's rate change?

 

And I'm still wondering about 3rd and 4ths...those prices usually don't move too much but it would be bad if they repriced 1 & 2 as well.

No, I believe the first person's rate would stay the same. The newly added person would be at the current rate.

[marci22]

No, I believe the first person's rate would stay the same. The newly added person would be at the current rate.

 

I'm sure they are going to do the same thing with 3 & 4. Previously, if I added a 3rd later, they charged me the price that was in effect for the original booking.

[Clarea]

I'm sure they are going to do the same thing with 3 & 4. Previously, if I added a 3rd later, they charged me the price that was in effect for the original booking.

Yes, I did the same thing many times. I would assign a specific cruise to my Next Cruise certificate and leave one name on the booking. Months later, I'd add my wife, and her price would be the same as mine, no matter what the prevailing rate. I tried that a few months ago and they balked at giving me the same rate. They took it to resolutions, gave me the same rate for my wife, but made it clear that it was an exception that wouldn't happen again.

[marci22]

Yes, I did the same thing many times. I would assign a specific cruise to my Next Cruise certificate and leave one name on the booking. Months later, I'd add my wife, and her price would be the same as mine, no matter what the prevailing rate. I tried that a few months ago and they balked at giving me the same rate. They took it to resolutions, gave me the same rate for my wife, but made it clear that it was an exception that wouldn't happen again.

 

That is annoying.

 

It's like the Grinch took over Royal Caribbean.

[CVU]

I guess some would book a cabin with one person and wait for the prices to go down and then add the 2nd person?

So, RCL is catching up on that issue I suppose.

[akcruz]

Sounds like they have read CC and found out all the ways we have found to hold our $ andnow they want it! Not a great way to business however.

Edited June 18, 2014 by akcruz

[marci22]

I guess some would book a cabin with one person and wait for the prices to go down and then add the 2nd person?

So, RCL is catching up on that issue I suppose.

 

I think it's just that they preferred to have one deposit on hold and add the second one as late as possible.

[living at the beach]

Well, here I am after 32 cruises, 7 of them with RCI, and in the past 5 years liking RCI the best of all cruise lines experienced , finally going to quit! No, it wasn't the elimination of mailed cruise documents or the elimination of better service in the Windjammer although that had an initial impact. No, it wasn't the hiking up of prices for alcoholic beverages from an average well below prices in most areas of America to almost on par with the highest cost cities.elimination of real libraries and the lowering of quality in the main dining rooms in favor of getting passengers tp pay more for alternative dining venues. No, it wasn't even when they carved up the magnificent Viking lounge,

nor was it because the amount of free space for all passengers to enjoy as more and more areas were cordoned off for exclusive pay extra areas and amenities. And, as others have said, I bring my own shampoo and conditioner, so why should I care?

perhaps it's because when I stand back and look at the totality, it all starts to seem very cheesy.

What was the final straw that broke the camel's back? I do not know. But in the last two years cruises have gone from the top of my wish list to a very distant second. Service, quality, and amenities have all been steadily eroding away until now my overall vision of cruising has truly been diminished.

I have started going on escorted tours, and a number of them provide hub tours where you stay in one location and yet get to see multiple fantastic locations. The price compares better than cruises after you add on all the things that you have to pay extras on after a decade of mickle and diming, not just by RCI, but the whole cruise industry in general.

But on the most recent escorted tours that I have gone on, I was treated better, had more luxurious accommodations, and better overall experiences.

I absolutely used to love cruising in the past but now not so much.

Sorry to see all the changes.