RCL how often do they raise the price of rooms?

[Jenn1121]

:confused: I am thinking about booking a cruise to Italy for November 2008. Right now the price is $699 (p/p inside cabin) and I am not sure when the price will increase. Does anyone have a clue when RCL starts to raise the price of cruises?

 

Thanks :)

Jenn

[Cruising89143]

Supply and demand are the primary factors in the pricing of cabins. No one knows when the prices will go up or down. If you feel that this is a good price then I would lock it in with a deposit.

[Host Kewlguy]

You can book it and always have the price adjusted if it drops. Or you can cancel without penalty prior to 70 days before sailing date. If the price increases you'll be glad you locked into the current price.

[negc]

You can book it and always have the price adjusted if it drops. Or you can cancel without penalty prior to 70 days before sailing date. If the price increases you'll be glad you locked into the current price.

Very good advice. There is little or no downside to booking as early as possible. You will have the widest choice of available rooms and if the price should be reduced, you can get your price adjusted. If the price rises, your fare will remain at its current level. There is no set pattern as to when the price is going to be raised. Normally, if there is a lot of activity and rooms are beginning to sell vigorously, you can be certain that RCI will raise its prices. If there is sales resistance or not much activity, they may lower prices. It is really a classic case of supply and demand.:)

[willysgrandma]

You usually get your best price booking at least a year in advance or more.

 

Prices then tend to go up and if the ship isn't sold out, may drop towards final payment time and sometimes even after final payment.

 

RCCL is very good about refunding the difference if prices drop and you see that they have dropped (unless the difference in price is for new bookings only).

 

Book now and then watch the prices - if they go down, call RCCL and ask for a credit.

[ocngypz]

That is the lowest price the off season has sold for. I'd book my cabin now.. and smile:-)

[robtulipe]

Very good advice. There is little or no downside to booking as early as possible. You will have the widest choice of available rooms and if the price should be reduced, you can get your price adjusted. If the price rises, your fare will remain at its current level. There is no set pattern as to when the price is going to be raised. Normally, if there is a lot of activity and rooms are beginning to sell vigorously, you can be certain that RCI will raise its prices. If there is sales resistance or not much activity, they may lower prices. It is really a classic case of supply and demand.:)

It all depends on when and where you want to cruise and the category of cabin you want. If you want a highly in demand balcony or higher category of cabin for an Alaska cruise for a fixed period during peak season, you need to book early. If you are flexible as to your travel plans, IMHO you are better to wait for a close to sailing date special like on RC's Tuesday Sale Event (Happy Hour) which don't impact on existing bookings since they are for new bookings only and are offered after the final payment date when people with existing bookings are pretty well commited.

If everyone booked early there would be less incentive for the cruise lines to lower their prices since most cruises would be selling well and the ones which aren't you probably wouldn't want to go on them anyway. That is the strategy behind RC's price guarantee, they get people's commitment early so they don't have to lower prices to sell out a cruise thus don't have to adjust existing booking prices.

The wait for a sell off strategy has worked well for us, getting us some great deals in the past including in the last year a $50 per night per person Regal Princess Panama Canal full transit for a great inside cabin and our last three RC cruises at $72 to $77 per night per person for some very nice cabins which were a PR cabin on AOS, OV on Serenade and the best category inside on Radiance. Along with the great cruise deals we have also found great air flights deals to go with them. If I find a interesting cruise, I then check the air flights cost. If both are to our liking, I book the cruise followed immediately by the air booking. In fact I've had the air arrangement already in process online thus on hold while I finalized the cruise booking.

[cruzin lady]

Our experience would say, book it now to get the stateroom of your choice. Then, check the current price everyday on the RCCI site. If you are a senior, be sure to put that on the price request page. Often the sr. discounts are there one minute and gone the next. We have never had any problem with RC reducing the price when a lower one is published.

Happy sailing, :)

Cruzin Lady