Significant price drop AFTER we made full payment. Any recourse?

[Lastdance]

Our TA's prices last April went down before final payment, but only for a couple of hours, then jumped back up. I posted on our roll call and many got great deal. However, I was in a suite and it did not budge...It did feel good to help others and they were very thankful! The day before the final payment I was able to save $100, but that was all.

 

My DH always tells me not to look after final payment. I like to get a great cabin so I realize the opportunity cost and go with it! We all win some and lose some, but it evens out pretty much IMHO. There are those who paid more and those who paid less. Besides, you can't take it with you so enjoy your cruise.

[Lunenburg]

My cruise on Celebrity this coming February for carnival in Rio dropped a lot just before Christmas - after pretty well everyone had made their final payments. I called my TA and they were able to get an offer of an upgrade but they wanted a further $350 US each for Balcony to Concierge Class. I declined and waited a little longer and prices were still a lot less than we paid back in April so called again and this time the offer was Concierge for $150 US for both of us. As I think the location is better, I went for it even though I had already paid as much as Suites were going for now! I did still get the classic beverage package, paid tips and OBC so feel better about the price. Now the price has gone up again but it is still less than I paid.

I needed to book early to arrange house sitters so I have to accept prices can go down.

[mafig]

It only has happened to us once, it was on Costa and the price went down $400 per person the very next day after final payment!

 

I don't care what anyone says, when it happens to you, it hurts.:eek:

 

 

We ended up getting an additional $400 (total, not person OBC) from our TA going to bat for us.

 

 

I know the cruiselines can drop the prices, but the day after final, geesh, at least wait a while.

[Merriem]

Before or after the final payment date?

 

 

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After the final payment

[Merly]

Our Australia cruise price dropped $1000 and change. The TA contacted Celebrity and they refunded us.

 

Lucky you

[Merly]

It only has happened to us once, it was on Costa and the price went down $400 per person the very next day after final payment!

 

I don't care what anyone says, when it happens to you, it hurts.:eek:

 

 

We ended up getting an additional $400 (total, not person OBC) from our TA going to bat for us.

 

 

I know the cruiselines can drop the prices, but the day after final, geesh, at least wait a while.

 

 

You buy a product when the price is right for you. When you buy a cruise, air fare, insurance etc etc. You do so knowing that the price WILL change, either up or down. When it goes down we rub our hands in glee, when it goes up we complain! You can’t have it both ways. Pay the price you are happy with, and leave it there.

[Vacationdreamer<><]

If the price had gone up several hundred dollars would you be calling them to offer to pay more? I just truly don't understand why people think of this with a one-way view. Your only 'recourse' would be to see if you can pay for an upgrade to a higher level cabin. You may be able to bump up to an oceanview for the difference in price, although you can only do that if the difference is at least a dollar higher than what you paid. It's worth looking into.

 

 

 

This thought process likely is encouraged by shopping in brick and mortar stores. There are many stores, in the US anyway, where if the prices goes down within a few weeks of purchase you provide your receipt and get reimbursed or store credit for the difference.

 

OP - I’d call and ask. I’ve reshopped two cruises prior to PIF. Can’t hurt to at least ask.

 

 

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[Zoedokey]

I would call to see if they would upgrade your cabin. If they say no, you have lost nothing but a few minutes of time. Good luck.

 

 

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[Mynki]

It only has happened to us once, it was on Costa and the price went down $400 per person the very next day after final payment!

 

I don't care what anyone says, when it happens to you, it hurts.:eek:

 

 

 

In my mind booking a cruise is a game in its own right. No one, absolutely no one scores the very best deal for their choice of cabin on a cruise, every single time.

 

If it's an itinerary you really want to do, I'd say book early and have the pick of the cabins. If it goes down you can always rebook.

 

If people are not overly bothered about dates, itineraries and even cabin choice, then just watch for price drops after final payment date. Air fare if required isn't always that more expensive than if you booked months in advance in my experience.

[phoenix_dream]

This thought process likely is encouraged by shopping in brick and mortar stores. There are many stores' date=' in the US anyway, where if the prices goes down within a few weeks of purchase you provide your receipt and get reimbursed or store credit for the difference.

 

OP - I’d call and ask. I’ve reshopped two cruises prior to PIF. Can’t hurt to at least ask.

 

 

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Don't disagree - some stores work that way. Celebrity does not. I also agree it certainly does not hurt to call and ask. I have never heard of Celebrity refunding money after final payment if the prices drop like someone reports, but worst case the OP may be able to upgrade their cabin. We always keep monitoring prices before final payment, but once we pay in full we generally don't want to aggravate ourselves with woulda/coulda/shoulda.

[elganpat]

We are planning to board Eclipse early in 2018. We made full payment by the required time earlier this month. Now Celebrity is advertising this cruise ON THEIR WEBSITE for a combined $900.00 less than my wife and I paid. We are really looking forward to our trip, but this has given us a bad taste. We don't want financial compensation necessarily but maybe some Celebrity perk(s) would be nice. Any suggestions?:')

 

 

 

I called Holland America after I paid to see if I could change rooms and they sent me to a pricing specialist because they said there was a price drop. I got a better room for less money and he refunded the difference. Then he told me to keep calling back to check on more discounts

 

 

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[jelayne]

I always check after final payment and in 38 cruises, twice the price has dropped significantly. A couple of years ago the price of a cruise dropped by $3500 for the cabin. The cancellation penalty was $900; we cancelled & rebooked and we were refunded $2600. We kept the same cabin & perks, the TA really went to bat for us. Had I not checked I wouldn’t have saved $2600.

 

Yesterday again there was a price drop of over $2000 for our suite- upgrade not an option so again we cancelled & rebooked forfeiting the deposit but refunded $1100+. We are in the same cabin and there were no perks to begin with so nothing lost.

 

I understand and accept the rules, in most cases the prices of our cruises have been higher at sailing than what we paid when we booked. So you win some, lose on a few and hope you can cut your losses.

[cangelmd]

We also upgraded to Aqua Class after the Black Friday sale. We originally booked at Halloween which was about 2 days before final payment, so we just paid all up front. When I saw the prices had dropped significantly, we called and got the upgrade.

We did have to give up the larger balcony, but we looking forward to eating in Blu, doesn’t hurt to try. If this is a Caribbean cruise, the hurricanes have opened up some good cabins lage

[beentothere]

Leverage. Always having future cruises on the books offers leverage when one can always profess to swap those to another cruise line. That has always gotten their attention. With six cruises in the bucket a senior supervisor was assigned to discuss choices.

[BridgeMates]

After booking and well before final payment, I continue to check the cruiseline website for better prices. Most of the time it seems they stay pretty much the same. My husband thinks once they have me booked, I'm not going to see those lower prices on my computer. Has anyone else felt this way? I know it sounds a little "conspiracy-like" but I'd like to hear what you think.

[chisoxfan]

We have only had this situation (fortunately) happen to us once. It was our first HAL cruise and they were very gracious in offering a category upgrade and some OBC. It did not fully make up for the price change but was a nice gesture and instilled a positive feeling for this line.

 

That said, from my perspective, if the price reduction happens shortly after final payment and is not a one day flash sale I think it is fair game to ask for some consideration. The cruise line obviously has control of when they release a lower fare and there has to be some calculation on their part in waiting for the final payment date to pass before change. If it is a 2 week prior to cruise offer I appreciate that someone is being rewarded for making last minute plans and perhaps having fewer cabin options so I am not upset that a better deal is offered and frankly would not be looking at fares this close to sailing. JMHO.

[CEOofVacation]

It is quite normal for all cruise lines to drop prices after final payment if and when they find themselves with too many unbooked cabins. The lower prices are meant to attract new bookings. After all, the cruise lines need to sail fairly full in order not to lose money.