Leaving today, Sailing May 10--price dropped. Advice needed!!

[PinkRose388]

Hi All,

This is the first time I have ever booked trough a TA. My husband and I upgraded to a balcony cabin on Sunday bc the price was only $200 what we paid for an oceanview. I am looking at NCL now and I see the price dropped again, so it is $100 less. Any chance I can get $ back or an onboard credit?

 

Any advice is apprecaited. I am an inexperienced cruiser and I want to know the right things to say to my TA and/or NCL!

[Griller]

Hi All,

 

Any advice is apprecaited. I am an inexperienced cruiser and I want to know the right things to say to my TA and/or NCL!

 

How about "I made a mistake booking so early, I'll wait until just before sailing to book the cruise next time" ?

 

Other than that the whole process of booking is just a lottery. You never know if its going to be sold out early or have lower prices just before sailing.

 

Isn't that half the fun? The thrill of the chase?

[PinkRose388]

Thank you for your quick reply!

 

So, are you saying that there is no chance of getting some of the money back? I know for the Spain portion of our trip, our hotel has dropped 3 times so each time I have canceled and rebooked the reservation. Is this not the case with cruises?

 

Thanks again! This board has been very helpful with planning for a cruise!

[Don Haynes]

This is the problem of constantly looking at the fare prices. Those who book early get the choicest cabins, whereas those who book late don't. Its not written in stone the fare prices will drop, sometimes they go up.

 

While you can go through the hassle of calling your TA again, why not be happy with the deal you have already renegotiated? Its long past final payment time. In my opinion they shouldn't do any bargaining after final payment.

 

While its similar to hotels, cruise ships aren't exactly like hotels. Hotels can book everyday business, cruise ships are stuck with multiple days to fill and can't book a cabin for one night. Cruise ships want to book a cabin for the length of the cruise, not one night.

[PinkRose388]

While you can go through the hassle of calling your TA again, why not be happy with the deal you have already renegotiated? Its long past final payment time. In my opinion they shouldn't do any bargaining after final payment.

 

Thanks! This is my first cruise that I have booked as an "adult" (I did cruise twice in my teens with my parents), so I am just trying to become as knowledgeable as I can. I know that with (land) vacations I have taken in the past I have been able to get $ back if the price drops, as is the case with our hotels for this trip in Spain.

 

I was just looking for advice from experienced people!

[PinkRose388]

So, in your experience on this board, generally you are unable to be compensated if the price drops a couple days after you book something? Just wondering!

[Don Haynes]

NCL's policy is to match their lower fares up to final payment, which is 75 days before the cruise. After final payment they are not obligated to match lower fares. Although they have been known to raise OBCs, but not necessarily a dollar for dollar. You have already done this and probably more....

 

Many complain about NCL nickel and dime-ing, but some passengers are far worst doing the same.

[Maxima81]

In a nutshell, don't expect anything or be disappointed if NCL doesn't offer onboard credit, an upgrade, or something in return. You should be happy with the price you paid (otherwise you shouldn't have made the payment). If you get something back from NCL due to a price drop, consider it a bonus. Otherwise, go ahead and enjoy your cruise instead of being upset that you paid a little more than someone else.

 

As you've probably read from this board, NCL does not "price match" or offer you a refund if your fare drops after your final payment date. Contractually, they aren't obligated to, but they may give you some onboard credit or upgrade you if the price drop is that significant. You can certainly have your TA ask - but again, don't get upset if NCL declines and gives you nothing.

[noreddye]

I would call your TA and see what they can do for you. It never hurts to ask and the worst thing that they can say is no. Let us know how it works out for you.

 

I hope you enjoy your cruise.

[PinkRose388]

Thanks again for all the advice and replies!

 

I just spoke with our TA and they gave us a $50 on board credit. I guess it never hurts to ask! :)

[garycarla]

Thanks again for all the advice and replies!

 

I just spoke with our TA and they gave us a $50 on board credit. I guess it never hurts to ask! :)

 

Consider yourself lucky.

 

Those last minute price breaks are offered to fill the last remaining cabins. They are not made so they can lower the price on the 1,200 cabins that are already sold. That would be bad business. They make plenty of money by having people onboard booking tours, casino, drinks, photos, etc. If the cabin leaves empty, that revenue is LOST.

 

Often hotels will let you cancel and rebook. Be careful as many hotels also offer good prices that are TOTALLY non-refundable. Like airlines.

[garycarla]

How about "I made a mistake booking so early, I'll wait until just before sailing to book the cruise next time" ?

...

 

I see this posted from time to time and do not agree with this thought process. If you wait, you may well experience some or all of the following:

 

1 - No cabins left, at any price.

2 - A few cabins left, but at a higher price than were available earlier

3 - No cabins that you want

4 - Much higher airfare due to last minute booking

5 - Maybe no flights available

6 - Higher hotel costs if you are doing any pre or post cruise

 

With all that said, there are SOMETIMES better deals for late bookings. And, personally, we often book in the 3-6 month range and sometimes inside the final payment date. We accept whatever is available and move on.

[BIG_Steve]

Thanks again for all the advice and replies!

 

I just spoke with our TA and they gave us a $50 on board credit. I guess it never hurts to ask! :)

 

 

Good for you! Now, please take some unsolicited friendly "Dad" advice. Forget the other $150.00 and have a fun trip.

[PinkRose388]

Good for you! Now, please take some unsolicited friendly "Dad" advice. Forget the other $150.00 and have a fun trip.

 

Thank you! I am happy with my credit and will absolutely enjoy my vacation!!!

[BikerAl]

PinkRose. Enjoy your first cruise as an adult, and please come back and tell us how you liked it. Don't forget, wash your hands and get sprayed constantly.

 

Al

[Griller]

I see this posted from time to time and do not agree with this thought process. If you wait, you may well experience some or all of the following:

 

1 - No cabins left, at any price.

2 - A few cabins left, but at a higher price than were available earlier

3 - No cabins that you want

4 - Much higher airfare due to last minute booking

5 - Maybe no flights available

6 - Higher hotel costs if you are doing any pre or post cruise

 

With all that said, there are SOMETIMES better deals for late bookings. And, personally, we often book in the 3-6 month range and sometimes inside the final payment date. We accept whatever is available and move on.

 

I do not agree with the thought process of someone who quotes one line from my post and makes it sound like I mean something different to the meaning of the entire post.

 

I do however agree about your points 1 -6 and that is why I included more in my post than you quoted, like:

 

"You never know if its going to be sold out early or have lower prices just before sailing."

 

You just don't know, could be lower, might also be higher, often happens.

 

If from previous years experience you can identify a particular cruise or repositioning voyage as unpopular due to time of year, likely rough seas or cold weather, poor itinerary etc then you may believe that it will not sell out and that a week or two before sailing there will probably be bargains to be had in some category or other.

 

But that is still a gamble.

 

The recent Jewel Transatlantic is a case in question - poor itinerary, rough seas anticipated by possible passengers. We booked 2 months or so from sailing an inside GTY for $299 each and received a $12.50 on board spending voucher each. Two weeks before sailing the same cabins were $249 but no credit.

 

Cost us $75 more the way we did it BUT our inside GTY was a nice one, allocated shortly after booking, on 10 deck and not down in 4 deck where we think we may have ended up if we had booked cheaper 2 weeks before sailing. Its a bit dark and claustrophobic down there, even for an inside!

 

So we were very happy to have paid a little more. We got lucky is what it comes down to.

[maren_jacks_mommy]

My husband and I booked a cruise on April 15th sailing on May 17th, it was very last minute decision so I do not know how the prices were earlier. However we booked a GTY balcony for $1199 and the very next day it went down to $1049. I immediately called our travel consultant and she told me she could upgrade us to a BA so we are now on the 10th deck instead of 8th. As a first time cruiser i honestly have no idea what the means but she assured me it was good. Another interesting thing is I have been watching the prices of suites as we were considering upgrading and just this weekend they went UP $500 per person!

[deepnite10]

on the other hand..you can book early..get the cabin of your choice..and did nt pay attention to the price drop s..:o

 

then on the day you call to make final payment..the NCL agent tell s you that you ve got a final payment adjustment of $400..and a $150 OBC..

a *REPEAT*..but, it s a good reason to deal directly with the cruiseline..

 

now with on 1 day left befor sailing..you can call NCL and your agent..but, it s my guess is that your SOL..:cool:

[Addictedtwo]

You can try and if your really nice they might give it to you free. COME on now you've got to be kidding right!

[awesomecruise]

You can always ask your TA to see what they can do. I've experienced price drops for both of my Pearl cruise in 2007 and 2009. In 2007, the TA got us a real good deal to upgrade to a AE penthouse from a Balcony room. And just a few weeks ago, the TA were able to get us upgraded from an ocean view E to a AF mini suite without any additional fees for my upcoming Pearl cruise.(after the price drop, the mini suite price was the same as what we paid for the ocean view, but I'm happy that our TA was able to do something for us).

[cynbar]

Please everyone, don't let something like this start your vacation off on the wrong foot. This is a lot like shopping for clothes or cars. If you buy early, you get your choice of colors and styles and sizes. You may run into someone later who bought the same jacket on clearance and paid less -- but she absolutely had to settle for what was left over. Some cruisers believe in waiting for last minute deals, then are left with a poor choice of cabins and sometimes HIGHER prices, not to mention higher costs for air if they can't drive to the port. The moral here is, just be happy with the fare you paid and have a wonderful trip!