Never book early!

[bluesea777]

1 hour ago, MagnoliaBlossom said:

I just bailed on a Viking cruise booking when they told me final payment was 22 month in advance 😳. I asked for reconsideration and they said as I had no other Viking bookings it was non negotiable.

 

We went on two Viking (Orion) Bermuda Escape cruises in Summer 2021 - during the pandemic, and they were great, under the circumstances (we didn't have to fly as we are local, lol), but we will never be able to book Viking again due to their prices and their immediate payment method as well as lack of activities (only one Trivia during the week). Sorry Viking. Also, Viking doesn't have casinos.

 

 

[MagnoliaBlossom]

52 minutes ago, RD64 said:

It may not work for you, but this has been Viking’s business model since day one, and it works for them.

when we booked our first Viking cruise in 2021, sail date July 2023, final payment was 12 months out, not 22 as it is now. 

[julig22]

6 hours ago, Agent999 said:

 

I feel like I've missed something as I don't recall seeing where the OP stated that this was the case. If you don't mind, which post # in the thread contained this information?

Good question - either it's been deleted or I totally spaced out... and was thinking of a different post.

There was a post about how there weren't any comparable cabins initially but better cabins were selling for less.  Then when some cabins did open up they still weren't considered equivalent because they were on different decks so not eligible for any adjustment.

[destar]

2 hours ago, MagnoliaBlossom said:

just bailed on a Viking cruise booking when they told me final payment was 22 month in advance 😳.

22 months, did they offer you any interest on your money?

[EngrJones]

23 minutes ago, destar said:

22 months, did they offer you any interest on your money?

I'm guessing that they were VERY interested in her money! 😄

[amygutman]

4 hours ago, bluesea777 said:

 

We went on two Viking (Orion) Bermuda Escape cruises in Summer 2021 - during the pandemic, and they were great, under the circumstances (we didn't have to fly as we are local, lol), but we will never be able to book Viking again due to their prices and their immediate payment method as well as lack of activities (only one Trivia during the week). Sorry Viking. Also, Viking doesn't have casinos.

 

 

@bluesea777 So jealous!!! I moved back to the US from Bermuda last year and was excited to see the Orion homeporting in Hamilton (we lived on Parliament Street). Looked into a cruise "stay-cation", but seemed incredibly silly to spend that much money as we 1) could not enjoy with our kiddo and 2) could spend less money being spoiled at the Princess. There were rumors that ships would home-port in Bermuda and go back and forth to NY / Boston, and a "partial" TA stopping at the Azores before heading to Southampton. That would have been wonderful. 

 

I literally put the webcam live on my computer when having trouble sleeping just to hear the frogs. Bermuda, despite it's challenges, remains heaven on earth to me and I miss my island home every day. https://www.portbermudawebcam.com/

 

Enjoy every moment and have a piece of cassava pie for me! Warmest, Amy

 

[Turtles06]

11 hours ago, MagnoliaBlossom said:

I just bailed on a Viking cruise booking when they told me final payment was 22 month in advance 😳. I asked for reconsideration and they said as I had no other Viking bookings it was non negotiable.

 

10 hours ago, RD64 said:

It may not work for you, but this has been Viking’s business model since day one, and it works for them.

 

9 hours ago, MagnoliaBlossom said:

when we booked our first Viking cruise in 2021, sail date July 2023, final payment was 12 months out, not 22 as it is now. 

From what I’ve read here in the Viking forums and my own experience with Viking, the requirement of full payment 22 months in advance is relatively new, it used to be something like a year in advance, which was bad enough.  But, as @RD64says, if enough people are okay with giving Viking huge interest-free loans, Viking will keep requiring them. I do think, however, there are plenty of folks who will not sail with them because of this policy. 

[JustAPilot]

NCL is out to lunch with their early booking prices. Just looking now at the Greek islands for May 2024 and they want over $2500 for a balcony per person to sail on the Pearl or Dawn? Viva ok but your oldest ships in the fleet.. yeah no. 

Edited July 26, 2023 by JustAPilot

[DCGuy64]

39 minutes ago, JustAPilot said:

NCL is out to lunch with their early booking prices. Just looking now at the Greek islands for May 2024 and they want over $2500 for a balcony per person to sail on the Pearl or Dawn? Viva ok but your oldest ships in the fleet.. yeah no. 

The Dawn (at least on NCL's website) isn't going to Greece in May 2024. It's going to Barcelona and other Mediterranean ports and to the Baltic. The Pearl IS going to Greece at that time of year. And yeah, prices are quite high then, but the cruises are 9 days...

[bluesea777]

15 hours ago, amygutman said:

@bluesea777 So jealous!!! I moved back to the US from Bermuda last year and was excited to see the Orion homeporting in Hamilton (we lived on Parliament Street). Looked into a cruise "stay-cation", but seemed incredibly silly to spend that much money as we 1) could not enjoy with our kiddo and 2) could spend less money being spoiled at the Princess. There were rumors that ships would home-port in Bermuda and go back and forth to NY / Boston, and a "partial" TA stopping at the Azores before heading to Southampton. That would have been wonderful. 

 

I literally put the webcam live on my computer when having trouble sleeping just to hear the frogs. Bermuda, despite it's challenges, remains heaven on earth to me and I miss my island home every day. https://www.portbermudawebcam.com/

 

Enjoy every moment and have a piece of cassava pie for me! Warmest, Amy

 

 

Well, in Oct 2017 we went on Getaway transatlantic from CPH to Miami and we stopped in Bermuda for an overnight .... we loved the sail-in and sail-out of Bermuda even though it was Heritage Wharf. Then come mid 2021 amidst the covid pandemic we were suffering badly with Rock Fever ... so we decided to celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary on board the Orion ... it turned out to be a great cruise as we were wined, dined and pampered. Also it was a great cruise around Bermuda from a local's perspective - the sail-in/out of Hamilton and being docked in Hamilton - need I say anymore.

 

And over a month later we had 2nd case of Rock Fever so we remedied that by doing Round 2 on the Orion! Pity you didn't have the chance of doing Orion's Bermuda Escape (yeah, it was called that) cruise.

 

 

[destar]

18 hours ago, EngrJones said:

I'm guessing that they were VERY interested in her money! 😄

And because of this, I'll say, Never book early with Viking!

Holding your money for such a long time should be illegal. Im sure that if they have a credit card, and you pay using their credit card 22 months ahead, they won't give you a break on the interest.

[MagnoliaBlossom]

18 hours ago, EngrJones said:

I'm guessing that they were VERY interested in her money! 😄

They obviously were interested in the loss of a boatload of cash because the next day they sent me a very detailed survey about why I cancelled.  Several of the items you could choose from involved “final payment date was too far out”, so they’ve heard this complaint before.

 

Then the query was “if we offered you a date closer to sailaway would you reconsider”.  🤣. Of course I had to say yes just to see what happens.  I’ll keep you posted when the big offer rolls in 😉

 

 

[DCGuy64]

8 minutes ago, destar said:

Holding your money for such a long time should be illegal.

Nothing illegal about a contract. If you don't want to hand over your money to Viking 22 months in advance, go to a different line. Viking is free to set the conditions and you are free either to meet those conditions or spend your money elsewhere.

[MagnoliaBlossom]

10 hours ago, Turtles06 said:

 

 

From what I’ve read here in the Viking forums and my own experience with Viking, the requirement of full payment 22 months in advance is relatively new, it used to be something like a year in advance, which was bad enough.  But, as @RD64says, if enough people are okay with giving Viking huge interest-free loans, Viking will keep requiring them. I do think, however, there are plenty of folks who will not sail with them because of this policy. 

Onthe River Cruise forum several European posters noted that anything over a year is prohibited by law in Europe.  So, we Yanks have been deemed chumps, I suppose.  But, if others want to abide by that then who am I to judge, but it’s not happening in our household.

[destar]

4 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

Nothing illegal about a contract. If you don't want to hand over your money to Viking 22 months in advance, go to a different line. Viking is free to set the conditions and you are free either to meet those conditions or spend your money elsewhere.

Absolutely, 1000% correct. I don't mind a deposit, but full amount, not for me. I guess if I ever decide to cruise with Viking, I'll be booking at the 6 months mark.

[RD64]

The reality is there has to be a fine balance.

 

Many people book multiple cruises and have no intention of taking any of them - they wait until the final payment date and choose the one that is priced the best.

 

Certain cruise lines offer $1 deposits - on these boards you will find people bragging about the number of cruises they booked using this promotion - and that even if the deposits are not refundable it is no big deal. There is a poster on the Princess boards who currently has three cabins booked (different cabin categories) while they decide what works best for them.

 

Viking has drawn a line in the sand to separate the serious cruisers from the looking-loos that will cancel just before final payment is due. The game players with multiple reservations definitely cause problems regarding inventory management. And before someone pipes in to say that it is fair because the cruise lines allow it - true that may be - but as they start to close the loopholes with more and more non-refundable deposits - very common in the UK- nobody has the right to complain after the fact.

[amygutman]

4 hours ago, bluesea777 said:

 

Well, in Oct 2017 we went on Getaway transatlantic from CPH to Miami and we stopped in Bermuda for an overnight .... we loved the sail-in and sail-out of Bermuda even though it was Heritage Wharf. Then come mid 2021 amidst the covid pandemic we were suffering badly with Rock Fever ... so we decided to celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary on board the Orion ... it turned out to be a great cruise as we were wined, dined and pampered. Also it was a great cruise around Bermuda from a local's perspective - the sail-in/out of Hamilton and being docked in Hamilton - need I say anymore.

 

And over a month later we had 2nd case of Rock Fever so we remedied that by doing Round 2 on the Orion! Pity you didn't have the chance of doing Orion's Bermuda Escape (yeah, it was called that) cruise.

 

 

I am so glad you enjoyed yourselves and it sounds like an amazing way to spend your anniversary. Viking is on our "when kiddo is older" list as it sounds like true pampering and very cool itineraries. Yes...we certainly got Rock Fever, but to put it into perspective - I moved to Bermuda literally 2 weeks before Covid for work. Husband and kiddo could not join me for 6 months due to the travel restrictions so that by the time they came, every day on Bermuda was special. 

 

We rented Boston whalers and catamarans as much as our budget would allow and loved seeing the island by water and fell more in love with our beloved humpbacks. Bermuda is magical and having two fabulous cruises from home is so special. Trust me.. we took great advantage of the "resident" specials every time we could. Our next trip to Bermuda will be plane as there are no long overnight stay cruises from Florida (which, is so crazy, right? NY, Boston and Florida would be perfect!). 

 

Thanks for making me smile!

Amy

[HowardK]

OP- thanks for your awesome advice! I made the mistake of booking a cruise 500 days in advance that I am REALLY looking forward to and got a room in a location I like!!

Do you have any other good tips to share? 

[9tee2Sea]

IMO, the only draw back to early booking ( 1+ years out) is that time moves so slowly.  It seems like the final payment date will never come, then all of a sudden, Boom!   I usually make some payments during the long wait time, so I don't have sticker shock the the final must be made.  

[Panhandle Couple]

Without reading through 4 pages of responses....

 

There is a general purpose form to fill out and email on the NCL website to request just about anything.

 

We filled it out last year for a substantial decrease, and got the difference in future OBC.  You do have only 1 year to use that for a booking, however.  

 

Be polite in your wording, and to the point.  You should get an auto response right away with the claim number.  It took them about 5 days to fully respond.  

 

As I have said in previous threads about this, if I buy steak at the store for $12.99 on Sunday, and it goes on sale for $9.99 a pound on Tuesday, will I get any refund?  This goes for anything you purchase, you made a commitment when you made the purchase.  The cruise industry is one of the few places you will get any compensation for a price change. 

[ChiefMateJRK]

4 hours ago, RD64 said:

The reality is there has to be a fine balance.

 

Many people book multiple cruises and have no intention of taking any of them - they wait until the final payment date and choose the one that is priced the best.

 

Why is that a "fine balance?"  It just sounds like smart booking to me.

[Agent999]

1 hour ago, Panhandle Couple said:

Without reading through 4 pages of responses....

 

There is a general purpose form to fill out and email on the NCL website to request just about anything.

 

We filled it out last year for a substantial decrease, and got the difference in future OBC.  You do have only 1 year to use that for a booking, however.  

 

Be polite in your wording, and to the point.  You should get an auto response right away with the claim number.  It took them about 5 days to fully respond.  

 

As I have said in previous threads about this, if I buy steak at the store for $12.99 on Sunday, and it goes on sale for $9.99 a pound on Tuesday, will I get any refund?  This goes for anything you purchase, you made a commitment when you made the purchase.  The cruise industry is one of the few places you will get any compensation for a price change. 

 

While that is well intentioned advice, it will not help in this case. The OP jumped the gun and assumed there was a price drop. In reality, the pre-cruise point came where the BOGO airfare was no longer offered. As a result, the price changed, but so did the offer. The OP can't take this as a price adjustment because the offer itself changed. The only way the OP could take the price would be to also give up the airfare (which they can't do as final payment has passed).

 

That is the benefit of reading the responses prior to responding I guess.

[ontheweb]

7 hours ago, 9tee2Sea said:

IMO, the only draw back to early booking ( 1+ years out) is that time moves so slowly.  It seems like the final payment date will never come, then all of a sudden, Boom!   I usually make some payments during the long wait time, so I don't have sticker shock the the final must be made.  

I understand exactly what you are stating. Our cruise is coming up next month and was originally booked in 2021. Our TA did say the time would come, but it did not seem to be coming fast enough. And then all of a sudden, it is basically here.

[amygutman]

5 hours ago, ontheweb said:

I understand exactly what you are stating. Our cruise is coming up next month and was originally booked in 2021. Our TA did say the time would come, but it did not seem to be coming fast enough. And then all of a sudden, it is basically here.

@9tee2Sea and @ontheweb

57 days 22 hours 30 minutes until we board the Encore in Alaska. 

Started at over 500 days. 

At this point I'm both giddy AND exhausted from the excitement!!!!!

Warmest, Amy

[Panhandle Couple]

12 hours ago, Agent999 said:

 

While that is well intentioned advice, it will not help in this case. The OP jumped the gun and assumed there was a price drop. In reality, the pre-cruise point came where the BOGO airfare was no longer offered. As a result, the price changed, but so did the offer. The OP can't take this as a price adjustment because the offer itself changed. The only way the OP could take the price would be to also give up the airfare (which they can't do as final payment has passed).

 

That is the benefit of reading the responses prior to responding I guess.

Yes, it is quite beneficial to read page 4 here, which seems to be all about Viking cruises...on an NCL thread.