Waitlisted: Pay top price? Or book next one early?

[CoolChile]

We're waitlisted for a full-transit Panama cruise on Coral for a mini-suite, through a land-based TA. The Fall/07 and Spring/08 sailings are sold out. I'm thinking there's no incentive for Princess to "play nice" with fares if a waitlist clears. Do you agree?

 

Would we be better to book this cruise as soon as the Fall/'08 itineraries come out in order to get a better price?

 

We want AB or AC's and we're flexible about when we do this repositioning cruise. Flexible, but not patient :eek: . . . ;)

 

The usual caveat ... we know it's OUR decision to make, but it's YOUR wisdom we'd like to hear. :D Gracias.

 

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CoolChile

[Toto2Kansas]

You are correct that Princess will be asking top dollar for those cruises that are waitlist only, no price cuts there. If you decide to go later, and book very early, you could possibly save enough to take a short cruise inbetween to get you through. That way you could be patient for the PC cruise, but still get your cruise fix in somewhere else where the prices are less expensive.

[Pam in CA]

If a waitlist appears, chances are that the price will be top dollar. It's not a matter of Princess "playing nice" so much as it is supply and demand. This is standard business practice. Airlines are notorious for upping prices on seats the closer you get to your flight date.

 

Book the cruise that you can get the cabin you want at a fare you're willing to pay. The full-transit is a very popular itinerary and will pretty much always sell out way in advance. You're not going to find any bargains by waiting.

[CoolChile]

Quote from Pam in MA: "If a waitlist appears, chances are that the price will be top dollar. It's not a matter of Princess "playing nice" so much as it is supply and demand. This is standard business practice."

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Pam, of course you're right. I had the Dixie Chicks' "Not ready to play nice" on and part of the phrase jumped onto my keyboard, don't know how .... :rolleyes: .

 

And Toto, great suggestion to look for another cruise until we can get on the Panama transit in Fall/08. And hopefully, we WILL get on. Speaking of which .... both of you, if you don't mind, please see my qx'n today in the thread about when Princess will have their Fall/08 info out. You always have such salient replies (clap,clap, clap). :)

 

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CoolChile