The pain of waiting for a price drop that never happens

[PortFees45]

Dawn out of NYC this Saturday seemed undersold as recently as Monday. Most other Dawn Bahamas sailings sold out entirely a week or two before sailing. This one still had a bunch of rooms in nearly all categories, including a ton of suites that would likely get filled with upgrades (I don't think too many people book suites last minute). 

 

I go into manic website refresh mode hoping to catch a drop the week before sailing...and in the blink of an eye the damn cruise sells out. 

[beerman2]

It's a game sometimes you win sometimes you don't. Be happy you're going on a cruise and you booked a cabin you were happy with in the first place. 

 

The "pain of waiting" is self inflicted. Give you credit though the exaggeration of  thread headline gets people's attention.

[CroozFanatic]

Done this. Happiest when I have plan B, C, and D,  and they are all suitable, but Plan A is the best value. YMMV.

[Georgia_Peaches]

What were you hoping for with regard to a price drop?  Upgraded room category or maybe OBC?  Because after final payment, that's about all you'd be offered.  I usually follow what happens to the pricing after I book as well but not necessarily because I'm hoping for a price drop.  I just like to see what happens.  I have been lucky with the category upgrade due to price drops.

[GA Dave]

18 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

What were you hoping for with regard to a price drop?  Upgraded room category or maybe OBC?  Because after final payment, that's about all you'd be offered.  I usually follow what happens to the pricing after I book as well but not necessarily because I'm hoping for a price drop.  I just like to see what happens.  I have been lucky with the category upgrade due to price drops.

Sounds to me that he did not have a room booked and was hoping to get one of those last-minute deals.  I wonder if NCL may have sold them to partner personnel for a huge discount (i.e., airline employees) when they saw that the cruise was not selling out.

[Georgia_Peaches]

27 minutes ago, GA Dave said:

Sounds to me that he did not have a room booked and was hoping to get one of those last-minute deals.  I wonder if NCL may have sold them to partner personnel for a huge discount (i.e., airline employees) when they saw that the cruise was not selling out.

Ah, OK well that makes sense.  I would be totally bummed if a cruise I was holding out for suddenly showed as sold out.

OP, I hope you find an alternative!

[All-ready2cruise]

Would you really expect to see price drop at this time of year though? I understand there were still cabins available but they really can sell pretty quickly. 

 

If it were me, I'd be looking from mid Oct. to mid Dec. for price drops. 

On well, to each their own.  

[jbethel11]

4 minutes ago, All-ready2cruise said:

If it were me, I'd be looking from mid Oct. to mid Dec. for price drops. 

On well, to each their own.  

What about a September 3rd cruise to Bermuda?

[All-ready2cruise]

Well, 1 thing I look at are school holidays, why, b/c families vacation then so the ships will tend to be at or near capacity meaning little or no reduced fares.  

I haven't been to Bermuda, it's on my bucket list but I'd likely choose something in mid Sept. > October.  2020 even has one in November. 

 

It's really whatever suits you though. With kids, you can't beat some the shorter cruises for finances and fun. 

Enjoy your cruises

[PortFees45]

1 hour ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

What were you hoping for with regard to a price drop?  Upgraded room category or maybe OBC?  Because after final payment, that's about all you'd be offered.  I usually follow what happens to the pricing after I book as well but not necessarily because I'm hoping for a price drop.  I just like to see what happens.  I have been lucky with the category upgrade due to price drops.

I waited because I like paying less for cruises. I hadn't bought a ticket yet. 

[PortFees45]

48 minutes ago, All-ready2cruise said:

Would you really expect to see price drop at this time of year though? I understand there were still cabins available but they really can sell pretty quickly. 

 

If it were me, I'd be looking from mid Oct. to mid Dec. for price drops. 

On well, to each their own.  

I got a room on the Escape over 4th of July week for $649 with no solo supplement. So yes. 

[All-ready2cruise]

21 minutes ago, All-ready2cruise said:

It's really whatever suits you though. 

Enjoy your cruises

 Said previously ⬆️

[CookieShip]

Same happen to me, but I was hoping to get a CruiseNext cert to make it just a bit cheaper, but then it was sold out 😞

[sprint180]

Ah that's the pits.  Better luck next time.

 

[PTC DAWG]

2 hours ago, PortFees45 said:

I waited because I like paying less for cruises. I hadn't bought a ticket yet. 

You lost nothing, don’t sweat it. 

[jbethel11]

20 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

You lost nothing, don’t sweat it. 

I mean, I guess you do lose an amazing Norwegian cruise!

[expectthebest]

5 hours ago, PortFees45 said:

Dawn out of NYC this Saturday seemed undersold as recently as Monday. Most other Dawn Bahamas sailings sold out entirely a week or two before sailing. This one still had a bunch of rooms in nearly all categories, including a ton of suites that would likely get filled with upgrades (I don't think too many people book suites last minute). 

 

I go into manic website refresh mode hoping to catch a drop the week before sailing...and in the blink of an eye the damn cruise sells out. 

Here is what I did 2 months ago when I was hoping for price drop/ free room upgrade. We orig booked a suite on dawn. About a week before sailing I called cust service and was assigned a cruise consultant. I asked if there was any consideration I could be offered in the form of a free room upgrade if any were avail. He said he would look into it.. stayed in contact 2 more times before sail date ( I called him to check) and 2 days before sailing when we spoke he apologized for the ship being sold out like most dawn sailings out of NYC... so he said I can’t offer you a free room upgrade because there is none avail ... but i was able to apply to your shipboard account a $225 credit for anything you wanted to charge to your room... except the casino... I was thrilled... and my wife spent the $225 at the spa... 

 

it doesn’t hurt to ask.

 

best,

mark 

[jbethel11]

1 minute ago, expectthebest said:

Here is what I did 2 months ago when I was hoping for price drop/ free room upgrade. We orig booked a suite on dawn. About a week before sailing I called cust service and was assigned a cruise consultant. I asked if there was any consideration I could be offered in the form of a free room upgrade if any were avail. He said he would look into it.. stayed in contact 2 more times before sail date ( I called him to check) and 2 days before sailing when we spoke he apologized for the ship being sold out like most dawn sailings out of NYC... so he said I can’t offer you a free room upgrade because there is none avail ... but i was able to apply to your shipboard account a $225 credit for anything you wanted to charge to your room... except the casino... I was thrilled... and my wife spent the $225 at the spa... 

 

it doesn’t hurt to ask.

 

best,

mark 

So, hypothetically, if I were to book two balcony cabins, could similar results happen to me?

[PortFees45]

1 hour ago, expectthebest said:

Here is what I did 2 months ago when I was hoping for price drop/ free room upgrade. We orig booked a suite on dawn. About a week before sailing I called cust service and was assigned a cruise consultant. I asked if there was any consideration I could be offered in the form of a free room upgrade if any were avail. He said he would look into it.. stayed in contact 2 more times before sail date ( I called him to check) and 2 days before sailing when we spoke he apologized for the ship being sold out like most dawn sailings out of NYC... so he said I can’t offer you a free room upgrade because there is none avail ... but i was able to apply to your shipboard account a $225 credit for anything you wanted to charge to your room... except the casino... I was thrilled... and my wife spent the $225 at the spa... 

 

it doesn’t hurt to ask.

 

best,

mark 

I wait for the price drop before I book. I'm FDR's worst nightmare. 

[zqvol]

8 hours ago, PortFees45 said:

Dawn out of NYC this Saturday seemed undersold as recently as Monday. Most other Dawn Bahamas sailings sold out entirely a week or two before sailing. This one still had a bunch of rooms in nearly all categories, including a ton of suites that would likely get filled with upgrades (I don't think too many people book suites last minute). 

 

I go into manic website refresh mode hoping to catch a drop the week before sailing...and in the blink of an eye the damn cruise sells out. 

That's what happens.

[All-ready2cruise]

28 minutes ago, PortFees45 said:

I wait for the price drop before I book. I'm FDR's worst nightmare. 

Only if you're auditioning as a comedian on an NCL ship. 

[PortFees45]

Well I struck out on the 7/27 Bahamas sailing, but there WAS a drop on the 7/28 Bermuda sailing. Just snagged a Sailaway Balcony for $949 with no solo supplement. Not bad for peak season. 

[IrieBajan54]

4 minutes ago, PortFees45 said:

Well I struck out on the 7/27 Bahamas sailing, but there WAS a drop on the 7/28 Bermuda sailing. Just snagged a Sailaway Balcony for $949 with no solo supplement. Not bad for peak season. 

.

.

Good for you! That's an advantage of being within driving distance of the port. 

[PortFees45]

Just now, IrieBajan54 said:

.

.

Good for you! That's an advantage of being within driving distance of the port. 

It's really the only reason I sail NCL. 

[navy60wife]

11 hours ago, PortFees45 said:

Dawn out of NYC this Saturday seemed undersold as recently as Monday. Most other Dawn Bahamas sailings sold out entirely a week or two before sailing. This one still had a bunch of rooms in nearly all categories, including a ton of suites that would likely get filled with upgrades (I don't think too many people book suites last minute). 

 

I go into manic website refresh mode hoping to catch a drop the week before sailing...and in the blink of an eye the damn cruise sells out. 

In the Summer?  that's tough.   You have a better chance in the off season.