Eligibility for price drops with refundable deposit?

[Florida_cruisers]

if you book a cruise with a refundable deposit are you still eligible to receive credit on price drops up until final payment?

[Ourusualbeach]

Both refundable and non refundable rates are eligible for price drops prior to final payment. (North American bookings)

[Florida_cruisers]

Thank you.

Another question: unless you are booking a cruise shortly before departure when you know for sure you are going, what’s the advantage of booking a no refundable deposit? the financial risks outweigh the benefits.

[Ourusualbeach]

Thank you.

Another question: unless you are booking a cruise shortly before departure when you know for sure you are going, what’s the advantage of booking a no refundable deposit? the financial risks outweigh the benefits.

Reduced prices and OBC.

[Florida_cruisers]

Reduced prices and OBC.

 

The reductions in price is not much, maybe $150 total and the OBC another $100. That’s not much to gain st the risk of losing $250pp for the deposit.

[Ourusualbeach]

The reductions in price is not much, maybe $150 total and the OBC another $100. That’s not much to gain st the risk of losing $250pp for the deposit.

We've saved almost $150pp plus the OBC. Barring any emergencies we know when we are travelling even 3 years out. You only lose $100pp, the other $150 is refunded in the form of a FCC.

[rukkian]

The reductions in price is not much, maybe $150 total and the OBC another $100. That’s not much to gain st the risk of losing $250pp for the deposit.

You don't lose the whole deposit if you are going to cruise with Royal. If you change the ship or date, and take it within one year of cancelling, you lose 100, and get the rest as credit towards the rebooking.

 

If you are pretty sure you are going, and can save 250, by rushing 100, many people will take that, but it is nice to have options imo.

 

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[frank808]

The reductions in price is not much, maybe $150 total and the OBC another $100. That’s not much to gain st the risk of losing $250pp for the deposit.

For our ovation cruise in July 2019 it was $600 more for refundable. For the brilliance cruise it was about $1100 more for refundable. So depending on sailings the price savings could be pretty good.

 

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[Florida_cruisers]

I was under the false impression that you would lose the entire deposit if you changed the cruise date or cancelled. Now I know!

 

I think I am going to leave our booking as is, refundable, if by the time we purchase the airfare for Italy the price is lower, then I will cancel and rebook as non refundable. This way is a for sure thing that we know we won’t cancel.

 

Thanks for the insight.

[Flatbush Flyer]

Both refundable and non refundable rates are eligible for price drops prior to final payment. (North American bookings)

 

 

 

Consider Oceania. "Book onboard" has discounted deposit and cabin price plus price drop match up 'till day of embarkation. Also, added onboard credit for current cruise.

 

 

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[rukkian]

Consider Oceania. "Book onboard" has discounted deposit and cabin price plus price drop match up 'till day of embarkation. Also, added onboard credit for current cruise.

 

 

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So helpful. That is like telling somebody looking at a Honda Accord that they should look into a BMW m5. While there are some similarities, the markets are really not the same other than both being cruises, and it really has no bearing in the conversation at hand.

 

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[Flatbush Flyer]

So helpful. That is like telling somebody looking at a Honda Accord that they should look into a BMW m5. While there are some similarities, the markets are really not the same other than both being cruises, and it really has no bearing in the conversation at hand.

 

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You may want to do the math on "net daily rate" instead of cabin cost.

Just the included airfare or air credit on O (e.g., $1700 +\- to Asia) plus unlimited internet, all specialty restaurants, all beverages and a choice of booze or excursions or OBC brings the O cost (particularly on 7-10 day Caribbean cruises) very close (and occasionally less expensive) to Celebrity, HAL and Princess.

A few bucks more than RCI? Sure but, no thundering herds, art shows, incessant announcements, annoying photogs, prom nights, canned music, smoky casinos.

Add the widely recognized "best food at sea," first class cabin bedding/amenities and great crew ratio and service and the choice is easy for anyone wanting true value.

Oops- forgot. O's top producing TAs (members of the Connoisseurs Club) are paid commissions on a sliding scale and have occasional unpublished O Partner sales. Most of those TAs will add gratuities and/or non-refundable OBC.

 

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[rukkian]

You may want to do the math on "net daily rate" instead of cabin cost.

Just the included airfare or air credit on O (e.g., $1700 +\- to Asia) plus unlimited internet, all specialty restaurants, all beverages and a choice of booze or excursions or OBC brings the O cost (particularly on 7-10 day Caribbean cruises) very close (and occasionally less expensive) to Celebrity, HAL and Princess.

A few bucks more than RCI? Sure but, no thundering herds, art shows, incessant announcements, annoying photogs, prom nights, canned music, smoky casinos.

Add the widely recognized "best food at sea," first class cabin bedding/amenities and great crew ratio and service and the choice is easy for anyone wanting true value.

 

 

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I have priced it everytime some person hijacks a thread trying to advertise, and it is not even close. I suppose if you want to go to Asia and are going to spend the airfare and going to spend a bunch in the ship, then it might be a wash. The cheapest I find in our family of 4 for the week we are going was 11k for an inside compared to the 3.2k we spent on a balcony in a great ship with lots to do. Even adding in the 1400 in flights, we are still 6k under that o cruise, no way we are spending anywhere near that.

 

 

 

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[Ourusualbeach]

Consider Oceania. "Book onboard" has discounted deposit and cabin price plus price drop match up 'till day of embarkation. Also, added onboard credit for current cruise.

 

 

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Maybe once they add a Flowrider.:D Two teens travelling with us, don't think they would be to happy on Oceania.

[rukkian]

Maybe once they add a Flowrider.:D Two teens travelling with us, don't think they would be to happy on Oceania.

Same here.

 

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[SherriZ366]

Just got a price reduction for 9-1-2019 HM that was booked as refundable.

[rukkian]

Just got a price reduction for 9-1-2019 HM that was booked as refundable.

Always nice to save some money. We saved 600 and went from neighborhood to ocean balcony 2 days before final for our spring break cruise last week, feels great.

 

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[Clarea]

Maybe once they add a Flowrider.:D Two teens travelling with us, don't think they would be to happy on Oceania.

I think their ship would capsize if it had a Flowrider.!

[Flatbush Flyer]

I think their ship would capsize if it had a Flowrider.!

 

 

 

Or be sunk on purpose by the passengers (or the old naval architects turning over in their graves.[emoji41]

 

 

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[Beachammo]

For our ovation cruise in July 2019 it was $600 more for refundable. For the brilliance cruise it was about $1100 more for refundable. So depending on sailings the price savings could be pretty good.

 

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I think it's funny Royal has already got us (me included) programed to believe we are "saving" money booking the nonrefundable rate. All Royal did was raise the price of refundable and changed the price we use to get to nonrefundable.

 

Glad I own a bunch of RCL stock to help defuse these new prices....

 

 

 

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[Flatbush Flyer]

I have priced it everytime some person hijacks a thread trying to advertise, and it is not even close. I suppose if you want to go to Asia and are going to spend the airfare and going to spend a bunch in the ship, then it might be a wash. The cheapest I find in our family of 4 for the week we are going was 11k for an inside compared to the 3.2k we spent on a balcony in a great ship with lots to do. Even adding in the 1400 in flights, we are still 6k under that o cruise, no way we are spending anywhere near that.

 

 

 

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I just randomly selected a 10 night Miami-Miami Caribbean cruise in April 2018 on Oceania.

If I take the air credit, the cost per person for a double occupancy inside cabin is $1600 per person x 4= $6400 for TWO cabins. With the right TA, you could get at least a 5% "first time Oceania customer discount" at $320. Net is now $6080. This fare has "O Life" perks with one choice being $600 per cabin OBC. So, subtract another $1200 and net to you is now $4880. Subtract $25/day for each cabin for unlimited internet = $500. Net now $4380. Most top O TAs (or consortia to which they belong) will, at least, cover gratuities $16/person/day = $640. Net to you now $3740.

Assuming you need to pay extra on RCI for all but the most basic non-alcoholic beverages, I'm conservatively guessing another $10/person/day for that = $400, which is included on O. Net cost to you now $3340.

Back to the TA. A top seller of O cruises should be able to do a commission share of at least 5% of the commissionable fare. Conservatively, figure at least $250 in refundable OBC or a rebate.

 

You are now at $3090 total for a total of four people in two cabins and we haven't even considered the value of eating as often as you may choose (if time flexible) in specialty restaurants that would cost extra on RCI. Nor have we looked at the far better O quality of food, bedding, service, blah, blah, blah.

As for no slides for teens: that time could be spent prepping for those SATs by attending the onboard lecturers usually being done by retired college profs. (Don't think I've ever heard of college scholarships for "water sliding." [emoji41]

 

BTW, want that balcony? Add about $1700 per cabin or just get one balcony and one inside and save some money.

 

I did the math in my head so I apologize for any errors.

 

 

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[Lordnlkon]

I just randomly selected a 10 night Miami-Miami Caribbean cruise in April 2018 on Oceania.

If I take the air credit, the cost per person for a double occupancy inside cabin is $1600 per person x 4= $6400 for TWO cabins. With the right TA, you could get at least a 5% "first time Oceania customer discount" at $320. Net is now $6080. This fare has "O Life" perks with one choice being $600 per cabin OBC. So, subtract another $1200 and net to you is now $4880. Subtract $25/day for each cabin for unlimited internet = $500. Net now $4380. Most top O TAs (or consortia to which they belong) will, at least, cover gratuities $16/person/day = $640. Net to you now $3740.

Assuming you need to pay extra on RCI for all but the most basic non-alcoholic beverages, I'm conservatively guessing another $10/person/day for that = $400, which is included on O. Net cost to you now $3340.

Back to the TA. A top seller of O cruises should be able to do a commission share of at least 5% of the commissionable fare. Conservatively, figure at least $250 in refundable OBC or a rebate.

 

You are now at $3090 total for a total of four people in two cabins and we haven't even considered the value of eating as often as you may choose (if time flexible) in specialty restaurants that would cost extra on RCI. Nor have we looked at the far better O quality of food, bedding, service, blah, blah, blah.

As for no slides for teens: that time could be spent prepping for those SATs by attending the onboard lecturers usually being done by retired college profs. (Don't think I've ever heard of college scholarships for "water sliding." [emoji41]

 

BTW, want that balcony? Add about $1700 per cabin or just get one balcony and one inside and save some money.

 

I did the math in my head so I apologize for any errors.

 

 

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But then I would be stuck on a boring Oceania ship with not a whole hell of a lot to do except eat better food.

[Flatbush Flyer]

But then I would be stuck on a boring Oceania ship with not a whole hell of a lot to do except eat better food.

 

 

There's an element of truth to your maybe being bored. Depends on what you want to accomplish.

 

Want an amusement park? Not Oceania for sure. (of course, we've got Disneyland's California Adventure for that anyway).

Want first class lectures by retired profs on ports of call? Oceania "cherry picks" the best.

Want to get into small unusual ports that could never accommodate a "megabox?" You'll need an R ship or smaller (like Oceania's or Azamara's).

Want the dinner conversation to be more than "how 'bout them niners?" Oceania's a best bet.

Want "prom night," thundering herds, chair hogs, incessant announcements, art auctions, liberal smoking policies, folks manhandling the "buffet" foods, bad mattresses, inexperienced hotel personnel and nickel/diming (even for bottled water)? Definitely avoid Oceania if you like any of that stuff.

 

Want a Jacques Pepin curated cooking school (in a "state of the art' dedicated lab)? There's only Oceania. And, of course: The O food! - well respected as the "best at sea." (Makes a big difference on longer cruises versus the 4-7 day "boat rides" in the mass market.

 

Of course, no one cruise line fits all preferences. But, my point is that many folks erroneously shun premium and luxury lines because they make the rookie mistake of only comparing cabin prices rather than the "net daily rate" for all planned expenses (required or chosen as an option).

 

 

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