NCL Price Adjustments After Booking

[jdarch]

FYI: NCL policy on adjusting prices after booking. Interesting.

When we reserved on the Dawn, they suggested if we saw the price change on their site before final payment, to call them and they would adjust the rate. Thanks NCL! :DToday on their site, the price for a BB (same deck same area) dropped $100. Yippee!? :)Wait. I called and, after speaking with her supervisor, the very pleasant rep informed me it was their special promo rate for new bookings only. :confused: Hm, well, okay... So just for chuckles, I checked an Internet agency that books the Dawn, and sure enough, there was a BB (same deck, same area) for the lower price. On calling back, I explained the situation and eventually they said one time they would adjust the rate to match, but any later promos wouldn't count. :( When I suggested it seemed silly that I could cancel and rebook at the lower rate, it was explained that even if I did, my info stays in the system and the new booking would come up at the previous, higher rate. :eek: I understand NCL must do what they have to do to make a buck, and I know, I know, if I don't like it, book through the other site. But come on guys, don't hype the benefits if you can't really back it up...

[lvtotrvl1]

Did you talk to the internet agency and let them know you were booked? Agencies have the same restrictions that NCL has for their promotions. They may have the rate advertised, but in the "fine print" you will usually find the same restrictions as the cruiseline.

[logcabin]

The problem that NCL is going to find is that other cruise lines will honor lower pricing up to at least final payment. If they are going to remain competative (and frankly, it is becoming VERY competitive in the cruising industry) they are going to have to change their policy eventually. Right now all they are doing is "turning people off" with this policy. Come on NCL, there are plenty of other cruise lines out there that we can go to and will honor lower rates.

 

I have already booked and AD suite on the Dawn for next June at a rediculously high price. We have stayed in those AD suites twice before and never paid this high a price. We booked it anyway (along with friends booked in another AD right down the hall). The way we see it, if the price doesn't come down by final payment, we will more then likely cancel and book another line/cruise..

[Stout Drinker]

I know I'd be pissed if they wouldn't honor a lower rate.

 

They will always just say "it's a special" to CYA.

 

Kind of stinks.

[garycarla]

Here we go again.

 

A new, long and well hashed out message thread gets started on this topic every 4.2 days. Not going to defend NCL or the Passenger, but why does this have to keep getting hashed over and over?

[jdarch]

Here we go again.

A new, long and well hashed out message thread gets started on this topic every 4.2 days. Not going to defend NCL or the Passenger, but why does this have to keep getting hashed over and over?

 

Nice. Actually I did look for a thread on this topic and didn't find a recent one. Perhaps the topic gets "hashed over and over," because it continues to be a problem?

An update for the unirritated: since the first post, the promised email on the new rate is among the missing, the discount has not been applied, and now the lower price is off NCL's website. Our enthusiasm about our NCL cruise has a good size ding in it .

[dadof2]

Nice. Actually I did look for a thread on this topic and didn't find a recent one. Perhaps the topic gets "hashed over and over," because it continues to be a problem?

An update for the unirritated: since the first post, the promised email on the new rate is among the missing, the discount has not been applied, and now the lower price is off NCL's website. Our enthusiasm about our NCL cruise has a good size ding in it .

 

OK, on a "promo" normally, previously booked passengers are not "entitled" much as we do not like it, it is a "promo" for new bookings only. Hence, a promo.

 

Just as when the price goes "up" previously booked passengers do not want the new price.

 

Having said that, I hope you got the name of the person who said they would honor the new price.

They do, usually, email as they speak to you.

If you have the name, call him/her back.

 

Don't let it ruin your cruise, you were, obviously, pleased with your original price or you wouldn't have booked.

 

Good Luck:)

[Wilcoam]

Allow me to offer you some advice. Stop booking direct with NCL. Book with a TA, and get more than the $100.00 off from the original booking.

 

This way, you don't have to look for price drops, cos the intial price you will get will be so low from the get-go.

 

In 2008 alone, with bookings with Princess and NCL, I saved over $3500 USD booking through a TA, making looking for price drops unecessary.

 

PS: In 2007, I booked through a TA with princess, got an incredible low price and still, TA E-mailed me months later with an adjustment due to a price drop. A Good TA will get it for you, before you even notice.

 

jc

Toronto

[yoj13]

Hi,

'Promo' or Promotion - definition (oxford English Dectionary) to publicise; to try to boost the sales of (a product) by advertising.

 

NCL's definition = poor passenger numbers, couldn't care a less attitude toward clients already booked, definitely no reduction, upgrade or OBC and I love NCL! Regards - yoj

[nicknack]

I'm booked on the Pearl in December; no final payment yet. Just saw that my internet TA is advertising the same price for about 5 different categories of inside rooms above my cat, all at the same price which is $10 per person less than I'm paying. I said I'm not interested in a price reduction, only the upgrade. Thay refused--new bookings only. Goodbye, NCL after this cruise. They really make you feel like a sucker.

[lvtotrvl1]

I'm booked on the Pearl in December; no final payment yet. Just saw that my internet TA is advertising the same price for about 5 different categories of inside rooms above my cat, all at the same price which is $10 per person less than I'm paying. I said I'm not interested in a price reduction, only the upgrade. Thay refused--new bookings only. Goodbye, NCL after this cruise. They really make you feel like a sucker.

 

NCL is not the only cruiseline who does this. Many have specials for new bookings only. If you didn't like the price why did you book it? Would you be happy when the rate goes up if the cruiselines raised your fare?

[Hobbsey]

There are those CC board dwellers that seem to have very little else to do than read every thread and every post in here. Then, when others of us who use our time differently post on a previously addressed issue we get chastised because we didn't search the site to be sure we are being original....

 

Back when I was a Cruise Specialist with C1 I found that NCL had some of the worst and most confusing customer service, and it seems to be the case still. They have a pretty good on-board product though. It's too bad that they can't adequately address some of these other issues. Maybe then some of you would be less hasseled by these all to common postings.

[nicknack]

NCL is not the only cruiseline who does this. Many have specials for new bookings only. If you didn't like the price why did you book it? Would you be happy when the rate goes up if the cruiselines raised your fare?

 

This is news to me. In reading all the other posts, and based upon my own experience in 25 years of cruising, it is ONLY NCL that does this. And the "why did I book it" argument is the same dumb argument I read from a small minority of other posters. Obviously I liked it then, but the price reduction now for numerous cats above me makes you feel you've been taken advantage of for booking early. That's not a good way of doing business. And clearly, 90% of the posters agree with me.

[Hobbsey]

I certainly do. Right now they are running something called the "pity the procrstinator" promo. In other words "give us the money now for the best deal" - NO. It's "give us the money now so we can use it in our accounts and then drop prices later so those procrastinators can get a better deal when the ship isn't full a month before the cruise".

 

The best bet is to get a great price from a good TA and then let them work for you, if need be, when this stuff comes up.

 

The rules don't allow us to talk about where and how we each book ourselves but my e-mail is open to any of you.

[CorvetteLady]

Allow me to offer you some advice. Stop booking direct with NCL. Book with a TA, and get more than the $100.00 off from the original booking.

 

This way, you don't have to look for price drops, cos the intial price you will get will be so low from the get-go.

 

In 2008 alone, with bookings with Princess and NCL, I saved over $3500 USD booking through a TA, making looking for price drops unecessary.

 

PS: In 2007, I booked through a TA with princess, got an incredible low price and still, TA E-mailed me months later with an adjustment due to a price drop. A Good TA will get it for you, before you even notice.

 

jc

Toronto

 

I should have read this before I booked! I have always booked thru Carnival and always gotten the best price, and they will lower the price if you call and ask.

 

Our cruise went down $100, we have not made the final payment. I called and was told they do not make price adjustments. I came here and read a few threads about adjustments and just figured it wasn't worth the money to make several phone calls trying to find an agent who would change the price. Had the price drop been greater I might have made more of an effort to get it changed.

 

I just wish they were giving us more info on the port changes. I know the ship does not start its New Orleans route until Nov., but I have to believe they know what if any port we will go to instead of Costa Maya. But that is another thread. :D

[Tobintemp]

Here we go again.

 

A new, long and well hashed out message thread gets started on this topic every 4.2 days. Not going to defend NCL or the Passenger, but why does this have to keep getting hashed over and over?

 

I tried doing a search for the past thread on price drops and cound not find it. If people are not checking the boards on a frequent basis and if it dosen't come up in the search how would anyone know that this topic has come up quite a bit over the last couple of weeks?

[garycarla]

There are so many threads on this. This was from a search using the words " price drops ".

 

 

NCL Policy for Price Drops, last post Sept 3

 

Cruise Price Reduced

 

Luck Of Draw,Price

 

Booking Early and Reward or Penalty

 

NCL Does honor price drops

 

NCL Prevents Taking Advantage of Price Drops

 

Feeling Screwed by NCL

[Tobintemp]

Glad the seach worked for you, It didn't for me. It would have been a nice gesture to post the links to the previous threads in your earlier message rather than posting to complain about the reashing of an old subject.

[nicknack]

I certainly do. Right now they are running something called the "pity the procrstinator" promo. In other words "give us the money now for the best deal" - NO. It's "give us the money now so we can use it in our accounts and then drop prices later so those procrastinators can get a better deal when the ship isn't full a month before the cruise".

 

I find their "pity the procrastinator" promotion to be particularly insulting for those who used to book early to get the best discount. Remember those days? Instead of rewarding NCL loyalists (if there are any left) with discounts for booking early (with the assurance of getting any future price reduction), they now reward those who book last minute, call it "pity," and to hell with those who booked well in advance. Unless you're one of the handfull of people who must book early for a particular room for reasons I do not understand, you have to be an idiot to book NCL early if you have any concern about getting good value.

[Tobintemp]

Unless you're one of the handfull of people who must book early for a particular room for reasons I do not understand, you have to be an idiot to book NCL early if you have any concern about getting good value.

 

Actually I am one of the "idiots" that has to book early to secure holidays at work.

[Hobbsey]

I'm in the same situation as you. I must book in advance since I need to request my time off well in advance.

 

There is no black and white in this issue since we all have our own unique circumstances. The only "idiocy" in all of this is an odd restrictive cruise line policy that penalizes those who do exactly what benefits the cruise line most, book and and pay early.

[dancinsssy8556]

I am new at this...my first cruise is in December. We haven't made final payment yet..it's due this month.

Our TA called yesterday..he got us moved up a deck...and a 100 reduction in price, and a small online board credit is still in place. He said he was on the phone with NCL for a while...but made it happen. But again, he has been the best TA...has answered all our questions..no matter how trivial they have been. I talked to several TAs before I decided on him...from the first phone conversation, I felt like I was dealing with a real professional.

A $100 isn't a lot...but my friend and I are very happy with it..and what we are paying for the cruise.

[nicknack]

Actually I am one of the "idiots" that has to book early to secure holidays at work.

Sorry. Since you have a good reason requiring early booking, you're excluded from the "idiot" category.

[nicknack]

I am new at this...my first cruise is in December. We haven't made final payment yet..it's due this month.

Our TA called yesterday..he got us moved up a deck...and a 100 reduction in price, and a small online board credit is still in place. He said he was on the phone with NCL for a while...but made it happen. But again, he has been the best TA...has answered all our questions..no matter how trivial they have been. I talked to several TAs before I decided on him...from the first phone conversation, I felt like I was dealing with a real professional.

A $100 isn't a lot...but my friend and I are very happy with it..and what we are paying for the cruise.

 

Just goes to demonstrate the hit or miss nature of their stupid policy that NCL can turn on or off at a whim.

[DaisyL]

Yep, apparently all 'new' pricings are promos, with NCL recently. I was also involved with a previous lengthy discussion on this topic and will certainly be aware of the 'new NCL booking policies', for future bookings.

 

I really feel for all of you who now feel duped by NCL and their new pricing policy. We also have booked our cruises very early because of vacation plans and were honored with the price reductions, before the final payment date. Now the rules have changed, and there's many posting here who have been caught in the middle.

 

If you can find a cheaper cruise on another line or cheaper land vacation, I would cancel NCL. If not, chalk it up to experience, and be very leary when booking another NCL cruise and don't book unless the price seems good.

 

BTW, we're cruising on CCL next year because it was $400 p/p cheaper than the NCL cruise, the same week out of the same port.