Maybe I Should Not Book Early Any Longer

[flannbarr]

My wife, 16 year old son and I are sailing the Harmony OTS on 3/31/18 (Easter Week). I booked the cruise in late November 2017 with subsequent changes.

 

Here is the history of my cabin/suite selection:

 

11/28/17: Booked a non-refundable Grand Suite online with RCCL with $150 OBC.

 

12/2/17: I transferred the reservation to Costco Travel so I could get a $855 Costco cash card. That's like free money so why not.

 

12/24/17: I upgraded (aka paid more $) to an Owner's Suite (OS). I lost my OBC but got a larger Costco cash card so it was a wash except I paid more for the larger OS which was understandable. All is good so far.

 

12/31/17: Final payment was due and paid.

 

1/4/18: I noticed that a Royal Family Suite w/Balcony (RFS) opened up. I called the travel agent who contacted RCCL. Even though it sleeps up to 8 people, I was able to switch from the Owner's Suite to the RFS with only 3 people in the suite. The current RFS price was about $1,000 less than the OS and had an $250 OBC. Since it was non-refundable and past the final payment date, RCCL did not give me the lower price nor the OBC. They weren't going to budge with the travel agent. I get it--that's their policy. I was OK with it thinking that a 2 bedroom RFS was as good as or better than an OS depending on family needs. I looked at is almost like a free upgrade although some may not see it as an upgrade.

 

1/5/18: RCCL website shows the RFS for the lower price, $250 OBC and now free gratuities which is worth about $350 in a suite with 3 people.

 

So if I would have waited to book this Easter week cruise until today instead of several weeks ago, I would have saved $1,500 with excellent suite choices.

 

I have cruised many times (although not as many as many of you). This cruise was only booked about 4 months in advance which is late for me.

 

This experience really makes me wonder how early I should book my future cruises.

[njkruzer]

If you had waited the cabin you wanted may not have been available. We book what we want and if something comes along ok, but if not we are satisfied with what we chose.

[Clarea]

If you had waited the cabin you wanted may not have been available. ...

Or the price could have gone way up.

[deliver42]

It's always a crap shoot. Either the cabins could be gone, or the price may actually go up. If you were satisfied with what you got, then put this behind you and enjoy the cruise.

[gerif]

It's always a crap shoot. Either the cabins could be gone, or the price may actually go up. If you were satisfied with what you got, then put this behind you and enjoy the cruise.

Exactly. As they say - once the ring is on your finger, quit looking.

[land lover]

Certainly disappointing...but I have learned not to look once I am satisfied with what I have.....

 

Several years ago I booked a Russian River cruise a year out and was told they always sell out so I needed to book early....well 2 months before sailing I receive a post card offering a 1500. discount pp and upgraded cabin for new bookings...they would not even give me an upgrade. Once on the cruise.......... who do we hang out with but 2 couples who got the promo.....I ask the one who was from CA...so did you get crappy airfare...NO...did u have to expedite your visa....NO, so I was not happy on the onset.....but by the end of the cruise my experience was priceless.....Hope yours will be too.

 

BTW...this was my first booking with this company and I have since booked with them 4 more times all last minute....I will never book early with them again......

[cindivan]

Exactly. As they say - once the ring is on your finger, quit looking.

 

 

 

For sure!! Although it’s tempting i know. We got a bunch of casino credit on our last cruise that wouldn’t transfer to a much better room. I wasted 2ish hours on the phone. Still had a great time on the cruise but looked at the AQ Balcony and wondered who got it for such a deal so late.

 

Ring on finger. Stop looking. I’m able to tell myself this for me and DH of 23 years. Harder to do on cruise rooms. [emoji57]

 

 

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[Desert Cruizers]

I have always decided on our initial Cabin we want and go with it. More cases then not, by waiting for a cabin, the prices have gone up. From there on I look forward to our cruise and not worry about the what ifs.

[BethV114]

Once we (really I as the family travel planner) book, I check back periodically for price drops up until final payment. After that, I keep checking, but really just to see whether I can upgrade for low/no cost or change to a “better” cabin in the same category.

 

Yes, there is a chance that the price will drop after final payment and there will be those who get the same cabin for a better price. But there is also a good chance that if we wait too long, we’ll miss out on a good price or better cabin selection. I guess it all comes down to what is most important to you, pric, choice, or a combination of both, to determine when you book.

[FOXTROT]

We book the cabin we want. If the price goes down, wonderful, if not, who cares that's the price we chose. We don't keep looking, why drive yourself crazy.

[bouhunter]

Sounds like being happy with simple balcony cabins at a fair price has saved us a lot of stress over the years:p

[flannbarr]

Thanks for the replies. I understand the pros and cons and just to be happy, don't look back, etc. I get it. It is just making me pause for future cruises as I consider when to book them.

 

I am very happy that we snagged the RFS so my son can have his own bedroom.

[mac_tlc]

The few times that I have noticed a decrease in pricing after final payment for our cruises, it is overwhelmed by the increase in airfare. If you have to fly, in our experience, any savings goes to the airlines.

 

mac_tlc

[irishgal432]

The only way to snag a good deal is flexibility.

 

I don't need to go on a cruise, I only go when I see a good deal unless it is something I really want to do and book way out.

 

For example, I have been on 2 of the President's Cruise's both times in a GS. Those cabins would have been gone if I waited. Did I pay more than I normally like to. Yes, but I knew that going in.

 

But if you watch prices religiously, it pays off occasionally booking before final payment.

 

I was in the Royal Suite on the Adventure of the Seas for about 2500.00 pp. This was booked about a year out.

 

I did a GS on the Jewel of the Seas in Alaska for 1500.00pp. This was booked about 9 mos out.

 

I just booked Allure for November 11, 2018 for a GS for 1900.00pp with a 200 Royal OBC.

 

Because of flexibility, I booked the Allure last minute 30 days out and snagged a Crown Loft for about 1700 per person and that included a free Grats Promotion.

 

The moral of the story is either obsess over prices (Kindda OCD like) or be flexible and book after final payment especially on the Oasis Class ships.

 

I

[flannbarr]

The only way to snag a good deal is flexibility.

 

I don't need to go on a cruise, I only go when I see a good deal unless it is something I really want to do and book way out.

 

For example, I have been on 2 of the President's Cruise's both times in a GS. Those cabins would have been gone if I waited. Did I pay more than I normally like to. Yes, but I knew that going in.

 

But if you watch prices religiously, it pays off occasionally booking before final payment.

 

I was in the Royal Suite on the Adventure of the Seas for about 2500.00 pp. This was booked about a year out.

 

I did a GS on the Jewel of the Seas in Alaska for 1500.00pp. This was booked about 9 mos out.

 

I just booked Allure for November 11, 2018 for a GS for 1900.00pp with a 200 Royal OBC.

 

Because of flexibility, I booked the Allure last minute 30 days out and snagged a Crown Loft for about 1700 per person and that included a free Grats Promotion.

 

The moral of the story is either obsess over prices (Kindda OCD like) or be flexible and book after final payment especially on the Oasis Class ships.

 

I

 

Very well said. I guess I am kind of OCD a little about it. I continually looked on Air to Sea for decently priced domestic flights. It paid off last week with first class seats over $200 cheaper per person than booking direct with Delta.

[karena1]

I would say 90% of the time the price goes up for us, not down. Also, I don't want to be way in the front of the ship or way back. Hubby likes to be close to the elevators. We book WAY in advance- I have cruises booked as far as April 2020.

 

 

We do get lucky at times - we were just on Harmony, price went down about 3 weeks before we sailed and we were able to upgrade to a JS at no cost. Cabin was HUGE and we loved it. Would I pay for it? No, perfectly happy with a regular balcony, but when I can upgrade for free, I will take it!

[Biker19]

This cruise was only booked about 4 months in advance which is late for me.

 

This experience really makes me wonder how early I should book my future cruises.

This is the problem - many times 4 months out (a month before final payment) is the peak of pricing. IF you are going to wait that late you might as well wait till after final payment. If you want some savings, book way earlier than 4 months out,

[davekathy]

...or you don't get the dining time you prefer. At least that's one on the three biggies for us. Price, cabin location and dining time.

[J898989]

I have been on 22 cruises and have found that booking about 6 wks before sailing usually gets the best price USUALLY. It depends if something is really important to you.... you may want too book early.

For my group it is not.

 

I have stayed in suites down to inside cabins and always had a wonderful time.

 

Sometimes WE book airfare to Miami months in advance and just wait and see what is the best deal. we have been to most of the ports so the ports are not as important to us.

That is the great thing about cruising everyone can do what they want........

[fishtaco]

Personally I dont think I will ever book another royal cruise unless its after final payment date.well actually this is defiantly the case since I have no more of the old type NCC,s left.

 

We dont have to book our leave more than 2 weeks in advance which helps but I would just holiday elsewhere if the cruise price went up or couldnt get a reasonable cabin.

 

Price drops and huge obc incentives after final for new bookings only are now quite the norm in Australia which is wrong really as the best incentives should be for the early bookers.

 

Gone are the days of good upgrades for loyal or early bookers because they just sell the cabins off.

 

A for new bookings only suite price should never drop below a pre final balcony price thats just my opinion but it shows cruising its nothing about the cruisers.

 

Those who say they never look at their cruise prices after they have booked or paid, do you do this with everything you buy? and how do those who never look know the price sometimes goes up not down after final surly this would only be noticable if you had not infact paid yet . :)

[nealstuber]

The few times that I have noticed a decrease in pricing after final payment for our cruises, it is overwhelmed by the increase in airfare. If you have to fly, in our experience, any savings goes to the airlines.

 

 

 

mac_tlc

 

 

 

It’s a pretty good bet when you see a last minute great deal on a cruise it’s because they know air pricing will reduce their customer pool.

 

Just like cruising, sometimes there are great deals on last minute airfare... But finding them both at the same time is a diamond in the rough.

 

SOoo glad cruising options from Galveston continue to expand. Makes it much easier to take advantage of last minute deals since air is not part of the equation.

 

I think the ring analogy is rather poor. A cabin for a short time in no way equates to making a commitment to life partner. And unlike marriage, it’s ok to shop around look to improve your pending cruise (or the next one).

 

One of our cruising traditions is that DW will usually get a new dress. If she she finds one she likes early but does not like the price, she can leave it and come back or buy it. In theory, she does have the option to buy it, keep the tags on with the receipt and check back later to see if the same dress is on sale. She could then return the one she had and buy the other but I don’t see that happening - ever.

 

 

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