Frugal and frustrated

[DkswartzFamily]

Think of it this way, you paid a higher price to ensure you would have a spot on the ship. There's always a chance a sailing will sell out, it just happens yours didn't and it sounds like the room category just happens to be one where there are more available rooms than other categories; supply and demand.

 

If you waited til the last minute to book, you'd also have to buy airfare last minute, and that price increase could negate any savings you'd have gotten from the cheaper cruise.

 

It makes total sense for them to decrease the price after final payment because after final payment is the only time they can be sure people aren't going to cancel and leave them without revenue for an empty room that they thought was going to be filled. Final payment date comes and people cancel and all the sudden there's a bunch of available rooms that weren't there before and they have a short amount of time to fill them back up. If they charged $1,000 less as the regular price that wouldn't make financial sense; they are simply trying to make sure they are making something vs nothing.

 

It's kind of like when you go to a shoe store and suddenly see that some shoes you bought went on sale for 75% off and you're mad that you bought them at full price, until you realize they are only trying to get rid of the leftovers nobody wanted; like the size 5's and 10's. At that point you're glad you got your shoes when you did because otherwise your size would have been gone. You don't get mad that you didn't get the sale, because your particular size (or room) was already sold out and therefore doesn't count for being on sale.

 

 

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This was a great explanation!

 

 

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[LaShelle2]

I had a similar experience today. I saw our cruise price had dropped and asked for a price adjustment, obc, or upgrade. The phone rep told me nothing could be done to adjust $$$ or OBC, since it was after final payment, and an upgrade from inside to oceanview would be $64pp. I hung up, immediately called back, and was upgraded to OV for $6.

 

Keep calling, and check the prices daily. You may just get lucky. I think they have to dig through a bunch of rate codes to find just the right fit. It took the lady about 30 minutes of searching rates and sales, but she worked it out for me. This was a booking direct with RCI btw.

 

 

 

 

 

FirstSailor, I feel your pain. Our cabins have dropped over $560 this last week for a Thanksgiving Cruise. We booked in September ourselves after final payment. I looked into a OBC as I've heard others have had luck with. No such deal, but we could upgrade for and additional $500 for two cabins. Not interested. The next day I call again as the prices dropped an additional $150 per cabin and was told that I couldn't even upgrade except at the full internet price of an additional $1500 per cabin (virtual balcony to a neighborhood balcony) with a straight face. WHAT! Maybe I should mention that I'm a retired airline employee using Interline pricing; however, I found out that they have a take it or leave policy. No changes what so ever after Final Payment so you're stuck. Now I'm sure I won't get much empathy as the price is discounted because it's the principle that some groups get OBC & Upgrades after Final Payment when others don't. I agree, it just leaves a nasty taste in your mouth.

 

I keep hearing from everyone about their additional OBCs or upgrades and I'm told that I have an 'L' on my forehead. Really, the love for spending money onboard or additional cruises is not flowing in my direction (it's something else). If others cope with this situation by sticking their head in the sand, then more power to you.

 

If this is their policy, then I recommend holding off until the last minute to book a holiday cruise as this year they've panic about 35-28 days out. I guess the pricing model for this cruise was a little off. A lot of us are paying the inequitable price for this mistake.

 

This may be the cruise where we try and spend less than $100 for a family of 4 (gratuities excluded). I guess this is my way of making Lemonade out of Lemons. Let the adventure and flamers begin #thanksshanghai.

[scorpluvsdolphins]

I tried to add a 2nd person because I would still be under by $300 and was told no. I cruise solo.

They wanted to charge me double of what I paid originally.

Talked with resolutions as my TA did.

Losing out $800 on a 5 night cruise because they wouldn't let me add another person sucks.

I'm not getting what I paid for.

I don't mind it going down some, but this has changed my future booking.

I will do what MOST, not all, D+ers and Pinnacles do, book insides

I'll upgrade if I can, if not, my cabin steward won't be too happy with all my wet dive gear in the room.

 

Not many D+ers (350 pts or more) and Pinnacles cruise when I can cruise.

Maybe one or two are in balconies or JS's. The rest book insides. I don't see many if any in the casino and they spend very little.

I'm happy for them.

As a business, you would want customers that spend little to nothing on the ship, to book balconies and up.

I will NOT ever lose $800 on a five night cruise again.

 

Well maybe on one cruise, where I have cabin 1100 on a back to back on the Brilliance. :-)

 

Problem solved. Insides for me!

And happy

 

 

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Edited October 26, 2016 by scorpluvsdolphins

[glittergal1]

You guys get free drink packages all the time that the US never gets.

 

 

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Nope I missed out on that too :( at the moment there is a buy one get one half price on cruise with free deluxe drinks package plus free vroom internet and $100 OBC !!!!!!!!! great for new bookings !!!!!!!!!!!!! but i had already booked early a fly cruise package so ive missed out :(:(

 

im just loosing faith with RCI and its pricing and offers no more booking early for me

[ColoradoGurl]

Nope I missed out on that too :( at the moment there is a buy one get one half price on cruise with free deluxe drinks package plus free vroom internet and $100 OBC !!!!!!!!! great for new bookings !!!!!!!!!!!!! but i had already booked early a fly cruise package so ive missed out :(:(

 

 

 

im just loosing faith with RCI and its pricing and offers no more booking early for me

 

 

Well that sucks. But don't blame the cruise line, they are offering the deals, you just aren't checking the website often enough to catch them. In the future just check all the time and when the next deal comes up, book it. I know that's easier said than done if you don't have plans in place for when you want to take your next vacation, but maybe next time they have a deal you'll be able to jump on it and plan something and take advantage of the sales and offers.

 

It's too bad that you can't cancel without losing your deposit so you can take advantage of the deal now, but if something comes up that has such a big savings that it would be worth losing your deposit for, consider doing that. Or do you lose the cost of the airfare too?

 

Either way, just make it a habit in the future to check the deals every day. Or minimally every week. And if you know you're going to book another cruise, find out when the new sailings are going to be released and then plan to book something then, or to wait until you see one of the free beverage deals pop up.

 

 

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[bouhunter]

I'm not getting what I paid for.

I don't mind it going down some, but this has changed my future booking.

I will do what MOST, not all, D+ers and Pinnacles do, book insides

I'll upgrade if I can, if not, my cabin steward won't be too happy with all my wet dive gear in the room.

 

Not many D+ers (350 pts or more) and Pinnacles cruise when I can cruise.

Maybe one or two are in balconies or JS's. The rest book insides. I don't see many if any in the casino and they spend very little.

I'm happy for them.

As a business, you would want customers that spend little to nothing on the ship, to book balconies and up.

I will NOT ever lose $800 on a five night cruise again.

 

Well maybe on one cruise, where I have cabin 1100 on a back to back on the Brilliance. :-)

 

Problem solved. Insides for me!

And happy

 

 

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If anyone can translate this, feel free.......:D

Edited October 26, 2016 by bouhunter

[Thetrail]

If anyone can translate this, feel free.......:D

but his post sounded a bit, just a bit moronic....K.O.:confused:

[glittergal1]

Well that sucks. But don't blame the cruise line, they are offering the deals, you just aren't checking the website often enough to catch them. In the future just check all the time and when the next deal comes up, book it. I know that's easier said than done if you don't have plans in place for when you want to take your next vacation, but maybe next time they have a deal you'll be able to jump on it and plan something and take advantage of the sales and offers.

 

It's too bad that you can't cancel without losing your deposit so you can take advantage of the deal now, but if something comes up that has such a big savings that it would be worth losing your deposit for, consider doing that. Or do you lose the cost of the airfare too?

 

Either way, just make it a habit in the future to check the deals every day. Or minimally every week. And if you know you're going to book another cruise, find out when the new sailings are going to be released and then plan to book something then, or to wait until you see one of the free beverage deals pop up.

 

 

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I had been watching cruises on many cruise lines for months i checked almost every day we had just 1 week we were looking at because its for a 50th birthday celebration RCI was offering the fly cruise package from our local airport which isnt usually included as one of the airports and we liked the security of the package , I have now looked at cancelling and re booking and yes we would loose all the deposit and the flights , to take advantage of the new deal we wouldnt be saving anything as booking the flights and transfers ourselves now costs more as the flight prices have gone up and we loose the deposit . oh well I will just have to drink my own body weight in cocktails using the drinks package we have bought to stop feeling annoyed :D I just dont want to read anymore threads about people getting obc after price drops !!! otherwise I will have to drink more cocktails

[MrsKC08]

I did. The next highest that we could use is a Jr suite for $509 more. We could do the bigger balcony one but then my kids have to sleep together and my daughter has autism so that won't work. I can't give them another $500 when I watch my current room go down over $1000 :(

My frustration level is such that I'm afraid it will ruin the trip. I know I need to let it go but as a travel agent I won't be encouraging anyone to book early...

 

Seriously??? As a travel agent you should know that you shouldn't even bother to look at prices after final payment. You were happy to pay the price you paid when you booked, and if you don't want to accept an upgrade or pay for an upgrade, then why look?

 

Again, as a travel agent, I'm sure you are aware that prices can fluctuate depending on demand. There really is no reason to tell clients not to book early because there is always the possibility that the price would go UP and NEVER come back down! :)

Prime example, we booked our upcoming Harmony cruise over a year ago (last August to be exact). Even though prices have recently dropped a little for our cruise, they are still not less than what we paid for them when we initially booked. Besides, booking so far in advance gives you plenty of time to pay it off! :)

[readytogo2]

so it seems that you should never pay your last payment till the last possible moment according to this. seems after they have all your money your basically screwed.

 

I always use an online TA and I always wait til the last minute to pay that final payment. I look at as a sport...I check the price everyday, sometimes twice a day and I always at least get one drop in price, with my next cruise, it dropped twice. After final payment, I never look again. I think of that final payment the same as any other financial plan, you are locked in at the best price. I can say I never got screwed ....as I never look after that final payment is made.

[firstsailor]

I can't not look. With the new discount my same room is $2900 less for my family of 4. Crazy....

But the junior suites are gone!

[scorpluvsdolphins]

I know how you feel. It went down

$800 on first leg of my Independence and $300 on my second leg.

And I'm solo.

 

 

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[reallyitsmema]

I can't not look. With the new discount my same room is $2900 less for my family of 4. Crazy....

But the junior suites are gone!

 

You must have had a ridiculously high rate it it is down that much. You must have been paying over $2,000 pp for a balcony.

[Biker19]

I can't not look. With the new discount my same room is $2900 less for my family of 4. Crazy....

But the junior suites are gone!

 

Is that more than the penalty?

[firstsailor]

You must have had a ridiculously high rate it it is down that much. You must have been paying over $2,000 pp for a balcony.

 

Yes it was $8250 for 4. Now just over $5000 :( It's over Christmas week so I assumed it would be high and busy. Live and learn 😊

[Ourusualbeach]

Is that more than the penalty?

 

If I remember correctly they are on Oasis dec23 sailing which is 54 days away. That puts them into the 50% penalty phase (started at 56 days, before that they would have lost deposit only)

 

OP. The third and 4th guests in a room can cancel without penalty unti 15 days prior to the cruise. Not sure what you paid pp for guests 3 and 4 but could you get a second cabin for less than what you are paying for them in your cabin? Or if they cancelled what would 50% penalty for guest 1and 2 be...could you then cancel and rebook cheaper?

[rockdoctor]

I feel your pain. I'll tell you what I told my son, who just started cruising. Don't book a cruises set at a price you can't live with. The price may have gone down but remember you are where you want to be on the ship, not in a left over cabin.

[firstsailor]

If I remember correctly they are on Oasis dec23 sailing which is 54 days away. That puts them into the 50% penalty phase (started at 56 days, before that they would have lost deposit only)

 

OP. The third and 4th guests in a room can cancel without penalty unti 15 days prior to the cruise. Not sure what you paid pp for guests 3 and 4 but could you get a second cabin for less than what you are paying for them in your cabin? Or if they cancelled what would 50% penalty for guest 1and 2 be...could you then cancel and rebook cheaper?

 

Thanks Ken. I moved us to a Jr Suite and took the last one that sleeps 4 so at this point it's just a good learning experience. I am excited about the suite and the lounge chairs on the verandah 😌 I think my daughter and I will spend good quality time out there!! I appreciate your suggestions though and yes just after I booked the suite I realized I could have gotten 2 D1 rooms but just decided to let it go and enjoy the lounge chairs. My kids would retreat to the 2nd room. This way it forces them to spend time with us LOL.

[firstsailor]

You must have had a ridiculously high rate it it is down that much. You must have been paying over $2,000 pp for a balcony.

 

This is great info. I really didn't know what a "good" rate was for a verandah room. I will definitely file this away for next time-we will want to go again right?

[Ourusualbeach]

Thanks Ken. I moved us to a Jr Suite and took the last one that sleeps 4 so at this point it's just a good learning experience. I am excited about the suite and the lounge chairs on the verandah 😌 I think my daughter and I will spend good quality time out there!! I appreciate your suggestions though and yes just after I booked the suite I realized I could have gotten 2 D1 rooms but just decided to let it go and enjoy the lounge chairs. My kids would retreat to the 2nd room. This way it forces them to spend time with us LOL.

 

Enjoy the Oasis.:). We were on her last year for Christmas and had a great time.

[Biker19]

Yes it was $8250 for 4.

 

You should also consider the big picture - where else could you go and what would you get for about $1000 per night? While on a per night basis cruising is usually a good deal, there are exceptions, this one being one of them.

[reallyitsmema]

This is great info. I really didn't know what a "good" rate was for a verandah room. I will definitely file this away for next time-we will want to go again right?

 

Your cruise is a holiday sailing, so it will be more expensive, plus it is 8 nights. If you had booked early, like when the fares first came out, fares would have been closer to those you are seeing now. I know you said you booked early, but you just booked sometime over the summer, I forget the actual month, that really isn't that early for a holiday sailing.

 

As far as what a "good" rate is, everyone here will have a different opinion on that and it varies greatly on the time of year and ship. I know, personally, I would never have paid the rate you did for that cruise, but I am sure there are others who wouldn't think twice about it.

[firstsailor]

Yes! Now I think the current rate is a "good rate" :)