Price drops

[fletch1027]

What sucks is when the prices drop after you've made final payment.

 

 

 

Yes, however you can still sometimes get upgrades for next to nothing. This morning I upgraded from a Promenade Interior on deck 8 to a D2 balcony on deck 9 for around $200 total for the both of us on our next FOS cruise... :-)

 

 

 

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[moonltnite]

I've also noticed that the "fish site" rarely sends me emails. I check myself every day or two. We booked our March 12th Allure cruise in August - for a D7 superior ocean view balcony. The price dropped shortly after that and we then had an $1193 rate each. Since then, it's fluctuated anywhere from about $1249 to as high as $1336 per person (based on double) when I've been checking. Lately, the "fish site" has only shown D8 available (or the larger balcony D2).

Edited October 7, 2016 by moonltnite

[Biker19]

I wonder if the complicated pricing seems, bogohoax, etc. make it harder for the pricing site to function efficiently.

Probably, the site pricing and e-mail notifications seem to be further removed from live than before.

[michyC]

Are there any goodies if it is after final payment?

[Ourusualbeach]

Are there any goodies if it is after final payment?

 

After final payment you will get nothing except maybe the chance to upgrade if the next higher cabin category to yours comes down in price.

Edited October 8, 2016 by Ourusualbeach

[michyC]

After final payment you will get nothing except maybe the chance to upgrade if the next higher cabin category to yours comes down in price.

 

So, is that the same regardless of whether you book direct or through a TA.

 

I'm beginning to think that having a TA involved is more trouble than it's worth. They charge for changes you could free if you went direct. I'm with the biggest cruise agency in Perth and the agent I was assigned to knows nothing.

[Blue Flamingo]

What sucks is when the prices drop after you've made final payment.

 

I was able to upgrade to a balcony from an inside cabin after a price drop for the same price.

[michyC]

I was able to upgrade to a balcony from an inside cabin after a price drop for the same price.

 

My worthless agency wasn't even willing to try and balcony was cheaper than I paid for my inside.

[swirlofhues]

Did everyone that was able to negotiate a price drop go through a travel agent? I just booked directly with one of the RC Ambassadors and we have made final payment, but I'm wondering if we might be able to get a better room.

 

Balcony rooms are now $200 less than what we paid for interior, so I'm a little peeved, but maybe this is normal. This is my first cruise so I'm not sure how it works.

[kc320]

Did everyone that was able to negotiate a price drop go through a travel agent? I just booked directly with one of the RC Ambassadors and we have made final payment, but I'm wondering if we might be able to get a better room.

 

Balcony rooms are now $200 less than what we paid for interior, so I'm a little peeved, but maybe this is normal. This is my first cruise so I'm not sure how it works.

 

I did not use a TA...booked direct with Royal...as long as the prices you are seeing are not for New Bookings only you should be able to get an upgrade...if you have any OBC from a previous promotion you "may" lose that...but you might not...so worth a call either way

[Biker19]

So, is that the same regardless of whether you book direct or through a TA.

 

I'm beginning to think that having a TA involved is more trouble than it's worth. They charge for changes you could free if you went direct. I'm with the biggest cruise agency in Perth and the agent I was assigned to knows nothing.

 

Yes, though the talk here is for US booking rules. You should stay away from an agency that charges for changes unless you know you will never change and they provide enough perks to be worth it.

[Clarea]

So, is that the same regardless of whether you book direct or through a TA.... .

Same.

[swirlofhues]

Is it too terribly risky to just cancel and rebook? Right now if we cancel we'll lose our deposit, but if we rebook we'll still end up having spent less. I'm sure we'll lose our onboard credit but that was just an unneeded bonus to me, I can live without it.

[Biker19]

Is it too terribly risky to just cancel and rebook? Right now if we cancel we'll lose our deposit, but if we rebook we'll still end up having spent less.

 

?? there's no risk if you know for sure you'll be ahead financially. Before final payment you can modify an existing booking (and get the price drop) without cancelling (assuming there's no "new bookings only" restriction in place).

[swirlofhues]

?? there's no risk if you know for sure you'll be ahead financially. Before final payment you can modify an existing booking (and get the price drop) without cancelling (assuming there's no "new bookings only" restriction in place).

 

I guess I just want to make sure I'm thinking about everything - we'll also probably lose the room, which was rated very highly, but I'm sure we can scrounge up another good one. We have made final payment so I think we'll go with this option. Thanks.

[Ourusualbeach]

Is it too terribly risky to just cancel and rebook? Right now if we cancel we'll lose our deposit, but if we rebook we'll still end up having spent less. I'm sure we'll lose our onboard credit but that was just an unneeded bonus to me, I can live without it.

 

Even though you may not need it you should still factor in the OBC as part of the financial decision as to whether or not it is better to cancel and re book or not.

 

You can use the OBC to pay gratuities (if they were prepaid, just cancel and pay them on board). Worst case scenario is you take out the extra OBC at the casino and lay the 5% fee that the casino charges.

[marci22]

I guess I just want to make sure I'm thinking about everything - we'll also probably lose the room, which was rated very highly, but I'm sure we can scrounge up another good one. We have made final payment so I think we'll go with this option. Thanks.

 

If the balcony is $200 cheaper than you paid I don't see how you can save money by upgrading, paying penalties for being after final, and losing your obc in addition?

 

I also would count the obc because that is like cash; can be used in a variety of ways or redeemed in casino for a small fee.

 

If you are doing this via phone call with an agent, it should be ok but it all depends on availability and whether or not they say, 'new bookings only'.

 

I've edited this post mulitple times because I am not sure what you want to do exactly.

Edited October 9, 2016 by marci22
clarity

[Biker19]

We have made final payment so I think we'll go with this option.

I assume you know that it is not your final payment that counts - it's RCI's final payment date. Also, if you booked on board another sailing and had the minimal deposit, you don't lose just that but the full deposit amount.

Edited October 9, 2016 by Biker19

[michyC]

I assume you know that it is not your final payment that counts - it's RCI's final payment date. Also, if you booked on board another sailing and had the minimal deposit, you don't lose just that but the full deposit amount.

 

That's interesting. RCI will go into other completely different bookings and mess with them? What sorts of instances do they do that? Thanks.

[Biker19]

That's interesting. RCI will go into other completely different bookings and mess with them? What sorts of instances do they do that?

 

They don't mess with any bookings, not sure what you mean.

[michyC]

They don't mess with any bookings, not sure what you mean.

 

 

This -

 

" Also, if you booked on board another sailing and had the minimal deposit, you don't lose just that but the full deposit amount."

 

I guess I don't understand it. It makes it sound like there is a completely separate booking floating around and RCI might just delete it or nab your deposit. For a whole different cruise and/or ship.

[Ourusualbeach]

This -

 

" Also, if you booked on board another sailing and had the minimal deposit, you don't lose just that but the full deposit amount."

 

I guess I don't understand it. It makes it sound like there is a completely separate booking floating around and RCI might just delete it or nab your deposit. For a whole different cruise and/or ship.

 

What Biker is saying is that if you booked your cruise on board one of the perks for booking it onboard is a reduced deposit. If you later cancel that cruise in the first penalty phase you will lose the full deposit amount and not the reduced deposit that you had originally paid.

[Biker19]

What Biker is saying is that if you booked your cruise on board one of the perks for booking it onboard is a reduced deposit. If you later cancel that cruise in the first penalty phase you will lose the full deposit amount and not the reduced deposit that you had originally paid.

 

To clarify, if you book on board you may pay only a $100 deposit, but then if you cancel just after final payment, you don't lose $100, you may lose $500 or more depending on what the "normal" deposit it for that cruise.