What would you do ?

[NewYearNewMe]

OH and I have a cruise booked on the Navigator our of Southampton in sept 2016. We have booked this as soon as the itineraries for 2016 became available as we need a wheelchair accessible cabin and we know they go fast.

 

At the time of booking(UK booking terms and cond) , our reservation cost a grand total of £2,615 out of which we have already paid the deposit of £300. This is a 13night cruise and the absolute maximum we can afford to spend on a two weeks holiday. There is no OBC attached to this or any special promotions , apart from free parking which we would not use anyway. We have been told that it can get price matched if the price drops significantly before final payment. Our balance is not due until July, so plenty of time.

 

Now, with the new promotion in the UK, the so called buy one get one half price , our cruise price has gone to a price of £2,325 and includes a Select drink package for each passanger ( worth what, £25 a day?)

 

While I do understand promotions are excluded from the price match thingy, I`m still in a difficult situation here , as this is just about on par with my balance now AND it includes the packages.

 

I have rang CS to see if anything can be done towards getting better value for ourselves out of this but they have been unhelpful.

 

The price they quoted with the new promotion for the same grade cabin is not the price advertised on the website ( £300 more) and then went on to say wheelchair accessible cabins , although in the same grade, cost most anyway, as more space is available. So if our cabin got cancelled and went back in the pot, it would come up at more than what the grade costs now,nulling the benefit of rebooking. Surely this is wrong and discriminatory? :confused:

 

I feel really dissapointed here as we have been RCI loyal up to now and have not had a need to try other cruise lines. There has been hiccups along the way but nothing that ruined the experience.

 

This booking has been made for the Navigator as we were priced out of our favourite, the IOS , for similar date on similar itinerary. So the points are dropping slowly for RCI.

 

Now, this is what I think the choices are

 

1) Cancel and lose £300 , if price still same rebook and gain the packages - oustanding balance would be same

 

2) Cancel lose £300 and book with either P&O or Princess both who have similar cruises on similar dates for a total cost lower than our balance

 

3) Wait until the promotion ends ( end of feb) and hope the price drops for the base rate and would get matched to similar amount , leaving us with money to buy a package anyway

 

4) Wait until 2017 itineraries are out and transfer cruise to one of them, so only losing £150 of the deposit ( nothing else available this year for us to transfer to)

 

I have problems with all the choices, mainly because of the money lost :mad:

but the fourth is my least favourite as I think , even though it inccurs less loss, it will get me into the same situation a year later. Confidence dead.

 

 

We are stuck to the second half of September due to work . Also need to cruise out of Southampton. We have not been on other cruise lines yet but we would not dismiss it if it was good value for money. As OH is a full time wheelchair user we are restricted to certain itineraries and ships that have available cabins, do not tender and are big enough to handle plenty of mobility guests ( lifts etc)

 

What am I missing? I have tried to provide all the facts. If this was your booking, what would you do?

 

L x

[swoopy2110]

Cancel and rebook online and you'll only pay a £100 deposit (£50 pp).

 

That's what we did and we have saved money overall (about £88 per person). The difference between prices means you effectively lose the deposit, but earn it back with 'free' select drinks packages.

 

No gaurentee that the price will drop in Feb.

 

Also, just make sure the price you're seeing online is not for one of the 'gaurentee' rooms, as they won't include the package (unless its a gaurentee in a specific category of cabin)

Edited January 28, 2016 by swoopy2110

[Cruisingthesuitelife]

In my completely honest opinion if it was me... leave the booking alone. You were happy with the price and inclusions when you booked or you wouldn't have booked. Sadly, these new promotions come along all the time - some you win, some you lose... and I am speaking from personal experience here.

 

Would you get your monies worth if you cancelled and rebooked just for the drinks package? That, I guess for you, is the biggest question.

 

Whatever you decide to do, I hope you have a brilliant time off work. If you cruise, regardless of the package, which cruise line or itinerary, I hope you enjoy it.

[clarkg]

Since you need a special room, and there is no guarantee that you will get that type of room if you rebook, you might want to not do anything.

Having said that, I am the kind to change rooms and bookings several times before I sail. I book the new room before I cancel the old. It is a roll of the dice and since my TA died of a heart attack last year, I'm on my own in doing so. It has caused me to rethink my strategy.

Good luck with your decision, please let us know.

[petedacrazycruiser]

I have to say that RCI has been diminishing in their value. Service isn't the greatest compared to other lines, nor is the food as good as it use to be. I am a Diamond Plus member and I have practically abandoned ship with them. But keeping to the concern, as someone else have posted, RCI has been all over the place with their prices. One day reduced deposit, next the price drops just to have the price go up again a few days later. If you were happy with what you reserved the first time, stop looking online on what price it currently has! You bought it, it's over. Unless there is a significant drop price or you got it on a price guarantee you're done. Also, explore other lines, Celebrity is great, so is Princess.

 

 

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[NewYearNewMe]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

 

Just to clarify you can`t book an acessible room online so I`d be dependant on the price they quote over the phone.

 

The only reason I`ve been looking is because friends of ours have booked recently. I know theoretically I was happy with the price at the time of booking , although it was at the top end of our budget and means less spending money. The way I see it, if I can reduce that, it`ll give us more moey to spend on board and in the casino etc and therefore adding to the experience.

 

Also, I would say once I booked it - it wasn`t over ! The implication was you are guaranteed best possible price when booking as they would price match if the price went a lot lower than what you paid. That, coupled with limited accessible cabin numbers swung it for us.

[Cruisingthesuitelife]

I can well understand the fact you want the best price but given your quite specific cabin requirements, regardless of what has happened since, you were happy with the price you agreed at the time of booking and you got the cabin you need.

 

I'm curious though as to the information you have stated regarding price drops 'if the price drops significantly'. As I understood it, RCI UK will not honour price drops, regardless of whether they are small or significant. That's one reason I started booking using a US TA rather than in the UK... also for their cancellation policy.

[swoopy2110]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

 

Just to clarify you can`t book an acessible room online so I`d be dependant on the price they quote over the phone.

 

 

Apologies, my mistake I was unaware you couldn't book them online.

 

I suppose you have to balance it up with thinking if you'd buy the Select Package (or A.N.Other packagae) anyway. If you would, then it still sounds like it would make sesne to cancel and re-book to me, with the money you'd be saving overall

[papaflamingo]

Seems the root of your situation is the need for an accessible cabin. That certainly puts you in a different category than most of us. I don't know if the accessible cabin is usually priced higher or the same as others in the category. It seems every time I see one, it's the same price as any other in the category. Have you tried a different representative?

But as for all the "disappointment" that everyone seems to be experiencing when they can't get a cheaper rate, I'm not sure I really "get" that. No one makes someone book at a cruise. So when you book one, you normally book at a price you consider a "value" to you. If the price drops before final payment, you usually can get the lower rate with no change in cabin. Royal, unlike some other cruise lines, doesn't charge more for mid-ships or stern balconies, etc. They could, but a D-1 is a D-1 no matter it's location.

Anyway, when you book a year out, like I did, and the price rises significantly, like on my upcoming cruise, I have a JS and it is now nearly $2000 per person higher than what I paid, I never get a call from Royal Caribbean saying I need to pay more, and I certainly am not disappointed that I got a much better deal than others. So I can't say I have any right to be disappointed if someone gets a better deal than me. That's just the way the cruise line pricing works. Sometimes you do great, sometimes not. To be honest, you will find the exact same thing at any other cruise line.

[NewYearNewMe]

I have taken the 'price drop' information off the forums and confirmed it with RCI over the phone when I booked last year. They keep recordings of these, right? However, we have never had to use this as our previous cruises have been well priced and offered enough perks. I guess I was never 100% happy with the asking price but I now feel completly riped off by the difference ( £300 less to book today, plus the value of two packages)

 

 

I guess my choices are being narrowed down to ...

 

1) Cancel and rebook for the 'free' package and be happy I`ve 'saved' something

- pro for this is the tried and tested RCI experience , familiar format and ports

- con for this is losing the £300 even if do save anything it does leave a bad taste

 

2) Cancel and go somewhere else ( theres a couple of P&O/Princess cruises we could switch to , both of them have availability and both of them are under £2K)

-lots pros - new ports, exciting descovering a new type of ship, massive saving

- cons could be too different from what we`re used to? but we are pretty easy going.

 

I`m annoyed with RCI but scared to move away from it somehow, too. I guess it`s all in the research. If I save enough by going somewhere else I could always save the difference towards repairing the damage?? LOL

 

Thanks for helping me decide!

 

L x

[brillohead]

I recommend finding and using a USA-based travel agent in the future. The rules for UK bookings are different than the rules for USA bookings, because the laws are very different from one country to the next.

 

If you had booked through the USA's rules, you could cancel prior to final payment and get your full deposit back, then rebook the same room again under the current promotion. Unfortunately, the UK rules aren't the same.

[Sianli]

Why would you lose $300. If you cancel? Unless that is a UK policy, you are well in advance and should get 100% refund. Also, I was able to book an accessible room on line for my mother a few weeks ago. If one is available you can book it on line. They will require verification of need for that type room later. Are you speaking directly with C & A? I always book directly and also have made changes including re pricing and never an issue. Accessible cabins are the exact same price as others in the same category i.e. cat L. So unless the promotion is for a different letter category you should be able to re price to your benefit. Always speak with C & A, not with generic vacation planner at RCCL.

[Cruisingthesuitelife]

Why would you lose $300. If you cancel? Unless that is a UK policy, you are well in advance and should get 100% refund.

 

OP is in the UK and as such cannot cancel without penalty, hence why this issue has arisen.

[Mama24]

I may be wrong, but if you cancel a booking, doesn't the cabin you canceled go back into inventory? That means someone else could get your accessible cabin. I need an accessible cabin too and I would have to think twice and three times before I canceled.

[icsys]

In my honest opinion as a disabled traveller requiring a wheelchair accessible cabin you should never be required to pay more than an able bodied passenger. if you have been told otherwise I would as to speak to a Team Manager and dispute this. As you say all calls are recorded, you cannot discriminate against a disabled person, that is fact. I am very surprised and disappointed that RCCL have told you to pay more just because you need more room to manuvere around the cabin.

[novicetraveller]

In my completely honest opinion if it was me... leave the booking alone. You were happy with the price and inclusions when you booked or you wouldn't have booked. Sadly, these new promotions come along all the time - some you win, some you lose... and I am speaking from personal experience here.

 

Would you get your monies worth if you cancelled and rebooked just for the drinks package? That, I guess for you, is the biggest question.

 

Whatever you decide to do, I hope you have a brilliant time off work. If you cruise, regardless of the package, which cruise line or itinerary, I hope you enjoy it.

 

+1,000,000.

 

You originally booked the cruise based on the price you were happy at. The only thing that has made you unhappy is the promotion. My question to the OP is.... what if RCI didn't have that promotion for the cruise you were on. Would you still be happy? If so, just pretend you didn't see the promotion and look forward to your cruise.

[novicetraveller]

Why would you lose $300. If you cancel? Unless that is a UK policy, you are well in advance and should get 100% refund. Also, I was able to book an accessible room on line for my mother a few weeks ago. If one is available you can book it on line. They will require verification of need for that type room later. Are you speaking directly with C & A? I always book directly and also have made changes including re pricing and never an issue. Accessible cabins are the exact same price as others in the same category i.e. cat L. So unless the promotion is for a different letter category you should be able to re price to your benefit. Always speak with C & A, not with generic vacation planner at RCCL.

 

In the UK, flights and holiday packages (whether it's just the cruise or a package of things) are protected by ABTA and ATOL. It's a legal requirement in the UK in case the tour operator or the booking company goes bankrupt. It does stink when we loose our deposit, but it is what it is.

[novicetraveller]

In my honest opinion as a disabled traveller requiring a wheelchair accessible cabin you should never be required to pay more than an able bodied passenger. if you have been told otherwise I would as to speak to a Team Manager and dispute this. As you say all calls are recorded, you cannot discriminate against a disabled person, that is fact. I am very surprised and disappointed that RCCL have told you to pay more just because you need more room to manuvere around the cabin.

 

I agree that a disable person cannot be discriminated against. If the OP doesn't get any headway with RCI with the level of discrimination, it may be worth seeking legal advice?

[little britain]

I assume you spoke with Guatemala......giving out wrong info.....it's totally incorrect that an accessible cabin costs more...... They would be sued!!!

 

 

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[Alter Ego]

Without knowing the UK rules, I agree that the accessible cabin should be the same price as a regular cabin. I would call and ask to speak to a manager.

 

You say it's the same class, so that's not the issue. But, I do wonder if there are no more accessible cabins left and therefore, they haven't been repriced because their computers simply need to categorize them differently. If they can't reprice, maybe ask for onboard credit to offset the difference?

[cb at sea]

There are several different categories of HC cabins... An E cat. accessible should be the same price as a regular E cat. There are JS HC cabins...those should be priced higher, as a JS is.....depends on the category you book.

 

I don't know if the UK has the same disability fairness rules as we have.

[harz99]

OH and I have a cruise booked on the Navigator our of Southampton in sept 2016. We have booked this as soon as the itineraries for 2016 became available as we need a wheelchair accessible cabin and we know they go fast.

 

At the time of booking(UK booking terms and cond) , our reservation cost a grand total of £2,615 out of which we have already paid the deposit of £300. This is a 13night cruise and the absolute maximum we can afford to spend on a two weeks holiday. There is no OBC attached to this or any special promotions , apart from free parking which we would not use anyway. We have been told that it can get price matched if the price drops significantly before final payment. Our balance is not due until July, so plenty of time.

 

Now, with the new promotion in the UK, the so called buy one get one half price , our cruise price has gone to a price of £2,325 and includes a Select drink package for each passanger ( worth what, £25 a day?)

 

While I do understand promotions are excluded from the price match thingy, I`m still in a difficult situation here , as this is just about on par with my balance now AND it includes the packages.

 

I have rang CS to see if anything can be done towards getting better value for ourselves out of this but they have been unhelpful.

 

The price they quoted with the new promotion for the same grade cabin is not the price advertised on the website ( £300 more) and then went on to say wheelchair accessible cabins , although in the same grade, cost most anyway, as more space is available. So if our cabin got cancelled and went back in the pot, it would come up at more than what the grade costs now,nulling the benefit of rebooking. Surely this is wrong and discriminatory? :confused:

 

I feel really dissapointed here as we have been RCI loyal up to now and have not had a need to try other cruise lines. There has been hiccups along the way but nothing that ruined the experience.

 

This booking has been made for the Navigator as we were priced out of our favourite, the IOS , for similar date on similar itinerary. So the points are dropping slowly for RCI.

 

Now, this is what I think the choices are

 

1) Cancel and lose £300 , if price still same rebook and gain the packages - oustanding balance would be same

 

2) Cancel lose £300 and book with either P&O or Princess both who have similar cruises on similar dates for a total cost lower than our balance

 

3) Wait until the promotion ends ( end of feb) and hope the price drops for the base rate and would get matched to similar amount , leaving us with money to buy a package anyway

 

4) Wait until 2017 itineraries are out and transfer cruise to one of them, so only losing £150 of the deposit ( nothing else available this year for us to transfer to)

 

I have problems with all the choices, mainly because of the money lost :mad:

but the fourth is my least favourite as I think , even though it inccurs less loss, it will get me into the same situation a year later. Confidence dead.

 

 

We are stuck to the second half of September due to work . Also need to cruise out of Southampton. We have not been on other cruise lines yet but we would not dismiss it if it was good value for money. As OH is a full time wheelchair user we are restricted to certain itineraries and ships that have available cabins, do not tender and are big enough to handle plenty of mobility guests ( lifts etc)

 

What am I missing? I have tried to provide all the facts. If this was your booking, what would you do?

 

L x

 

Might I suggest you buy tomorrows Daily Telegraph and check the travel supplement. There are several good online/phone travel agencies advertising each week (they all have the word cruise in the company name). Take some numbers and ring around to see what you can get, if you find a cabin that you want on a better deal overall, book it and then cancel your existing booking. We did just that on the recent Allure TA as we got a far better package at lower overall total cost including the lost deposit than our original booking.

[BekkaW]

I'm surprised that you were told you could get price drops - I didn't think this was possible in the UK (same as Australia)?

 

Either way, it's common for these kinds of promotions to be restricted to new bookings only, so you would have to cancel/rebook and lose your deposit, but as others have said it seems the risk of losing your accessible cabin would be more of an issue. If it was me I don't think I would risk that.

[LisaAtlCruiser]

I see you as having two valid choices.

 

1. Remember that you were happy with the price when you booked the cruise. Don't look at new prices and if someone wants to tell you a new price - stop them. Knowing a new price you are not able to take advantage of accomplishes nothing but cause discontentment.

 

2. Call and book a brand new reservation (knowing you will not get your same room). Once you have the new reservation at the new price, than cancel your old reservation.

[NewYearNewMe]

Hi everyone and thanks for taking the time to contribute to this thread !

 

 

I have been in touch with Crown and Anchor who have now done some complicated sounding manouvers and transfered my reservation to the new promotion ! This means I will not lose the deposit and gain the two Select Packages , worth around USD1000 .

 

The representative would not go into details , but it looks like the root of the willingless to price match might of been the fact Ive been told complete c**p on the phone ( price match !! accessible cabins costing more than the website quotes! making it sounds like it would be more exppensive to cancel and rebook, probably all lies !?) which obviously helped with the booking decision and therefore put it on shaky grounds when it comes to a debate.

 

I am surprised at how many people would let this go and accept paying a much higher price for what is basically the same product. Sure, I was sulking because we are paying more than others , but I was also fighting a corner for what I`ve been promised, which was best price for the product.

 

In short, all resolved in a satisfactory manner and really very impressed with C&A , with whom I`ve not had dealings with before. I resolve to make use of an American based TA to avoid this happening again in the future, and look forward to 2017 itineraries being released :D

 

I hope that explains it all. If I missed any questions I`ll try to revisit this if anyone needs more detail.

 

L x