Lower My Cruise Price Question

[jenjes3]

Hi.. for several of our cruises I check to see if the price has gone down and many times it has... I check on the RCCL web site and sometimes check out other online travel agents. How is the best way to be sure you are getting the best price..???? We do use our Crown & Anchor coupon and our Platinum status discounts but how do you check and see if your cruise price has gone down?? Thanks for the help

Karen

NCL Leeward
RCI Sovereign of the Seas
Granduer of the Seas
Enchantment of the Seas
Voyager of the Seas
Explorer of the Seas
Serenade of theSeas

[sandhillwings]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> how do you check and see if your cruise price has gone down?? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Karen - I'd say you answered your own question...
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> check on the RCCL web site and sometimes check out other online travel agents. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[pd9845]

Why do you want to know if the price goes down (especially after you have already put a deposit down for the tickets)??? Can you do something about it?? If so, please provide some of your wisdom... I could really use it.

My husband and I booked a trip on the Mariner for August 28th. We realize that this is hurricane season, but we were planning to go to Florida at that time, because my brother and his wife were having a baby (they live in Orlando and the baby was due to be born on 8/12). So, we booked it for that date to coincide with the baby. Unfortunately, they had a miscarriage and we no longer have time restrictions.

I shopped around at travel agents, on RCI's web page and at MANY of the online travel sites and found the best price. That was a few months ago. Now, the price has dropped about $250 per person for the same level cabin. Now, what can I do??? There's no way they will give us the trip for less money - will they?? I was also thinking about changing it to early August. That trip usually has a higher price tag, but due to the change in pricing (it would probably be the same) and I would get the benefit of not going in the middle of hurricane season...

This might just be wishful thinking, but I HATE having to pay more than everyone else just because we booked in advance...

So, have you had experience with finding a lower price later on and doing something about it??? If so, PLEASE let me know.

[Seagarr]

In my opinion, once you book the cruise you would never expect the Cruise Line to come back to you and expect you to pay more if the price went up... why would you expect a reduction if the price goes down? Figuring ourt what you paid compared to other travlers will drive you nuts....its the same with the airlines. The price you pay on any given day depends on several factors. Constatntly ringing your hands over what others pay can be counterprodutive to the enjoyment of your cruise.

Seagarr

[GreggNKara]

C'mon now ...you all know that if the price goes down the cruise line will refund you the new price. The best way is to just call and ask your travelagent to check with them. For instance:

This year the wife and I are doing the AOS we booked a DB for $2436 total, we applied our coupon and the price dropped $125 then I called and asked for an upgrade (willing to pay for it mind you) but the cost of the cruise had dropped $181. This drop just about covered a upgrade to a D! then one day I felt froggy and called and asked if one of the aft cabis was availiable, and 1388 was, so we grabbed that, and the cruise had fallen again in price ANOTHER $111. In total we had saved $417 and upgraded to a prized corner aft cabin for NOTHING!!!

I dont know how you people live but if I saw $417 blowing down the street id chase it. Its all in what you ask for.

G-

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[PhoenixCruiser]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by pd9845:
Why do you want to know if the price goes down (especially after you have already put a deposit down for the tickets)??? Can you do something about it?? If so, please provide some of your wisdom... I could really use it.

QUOTE]

Welcome to CruiseCritic [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Yes, even if you did make your deposit, they can lower the price, get the proof (RCCL.com) and talk to your Travel Agent (TA), usually they will work with you, if not, it's not too late to change TAs. Sorry to hear about the miscarriage, and hope that you will be able to still take your vacation and enjoy [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

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[happysinglemom]

Well, if you booked your cruise through someone other than RCCL, how would you be able to tell if RCCL's price went down??? I have no idea what the RCCL price was when I booked my cruise - I just know it was far higher than my booking. Am I missing something? [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif[/img]

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[cruzn buckeye]

What is the crown and anchor coupon?

[madforcruising]

happysinglemom:

When booking a cruise I shop around for the cheapest cruise fare. I also have a look at the RCCL website first. So I know what their price is at time of booking. If I check back later I can see if the price goes up or down. If you don´t know the price at time of booking you can just compare it to the price you payed.

cruzn buckeye:
After your first sailing on RCCL you can get a member of their repeater club - Crown and Anchor society. With the membership you´ll receive a quarterly issued magazine. With this magazine there will be discount coupons for some ships and sailing dates. The amount of discount depends on your level of memebership. You can use thiese coupons to discount your cruise.
Membership levels:
1-5 cruises gold
6-10 cruises platinum
10+ cruises diamond

First pics of the undocking of the Jewel of the Seas:
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See Photos of River Ems passage
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Jewel of the Seas - 09/28/04 Canada / New England
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06/2003 - Norwegian Dawn Florida and Bahamas
2002 - MS Columbus - Cruise to nowhere
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2000 - Viking Star on the Danube River
1999 - Vision of the Seas Panamacanal cruise
1998 - Vision of the Seas Transatlantic
1997 - Crystal Symphonie to Mexican Riviera
1996 - Delta Queen on the Mississippi
1995 - Legend of the Seas to Alaska

[cruisinfanatic]

If your cruise price goes down, especially before final payment, you are entitled to a price reduction. If your agent refuses, you can just cancel and rebook and they know this. That's why most rarely refuse to adjust your price. Even after final payment if the price goes down, your agent only needs to call RCCI and ask for an adjustment. RCCI and Carnival are very good at agreeing to adjustments right up until sailing. It could be an upgrade or money back to your credit card.
If you've booked through an online agency, you usually can simply watch their prices online to see if the rate has gone down. If you booked through the corner travel agent in town, you can just watch the price on RCCI's website because more than likely, you paid (overpaid) exactly the price on this site.
The easiest site online that I know of to check pricing fast is iCruise. In only 3 clicks you can see the price of each category on the exact cruise you are checking. If the price has gone down with this site, more than likely the price has gone down with everyone.

[I][B]
Tropical 9/91
Ecstasy 9/93
Monarch 9/95
Sensation 9/96
Grandeur 9/97
Inspiration 9/98
Enchantment 9/99
Grandeur 9/00
Explorer 3/01
Grand 9/01.........[url="http://cruisereview.homestead.com/GrandPrincessReview.html"]Review!![/url]
Victory 9/02........[url="http://cruisereview.homestead.com/VictoryReview.html"]Review!![/url]
Navigator 3/03....[url="http://cruisereview.homestead.com/CruiseReviews.html"]Review!![/url]
Adventure 9/03....[url="http://cruisereview.homestead.com/AdventureReview.html"]Review!![/url]
Voyager 9/04
Email....Cruisinfanatic@AOL.COM
[/I][/B]

[GreggNKara]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by happysinglemom:
Well, if you booked your cruise through someone other than RCCL, how would you be able to tell if RCCL's price went down??? I have no idea what the RCCL price was when I booked my cruise - I just know it was far higher than my booking. Am I missing something? [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif[/img]
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Just call and ask them they will tell you. im sure you know how much you have paid right? Ask them if the fare has gone down.

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[GreggNKara]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by cruzn buckeye:
What is the crown and anchor coupon?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

If you are a member of the Crown and Anchor socioty they send you coupons in their magazine. If one of the cruises that they send you a coupon for is the one you want to go on, then violla theres your discount


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[pd9845]

Cruisinfanatic - Thank you, thank you, thank you. This is great advice. Thanks for your help. Now, I know how to angle my argument.

Much appreciated! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[Chuck & Phyllis]

You can't use the cruise line's website to determine if the price went down. Why? Because very often the cruise lines price is higher than the price they quote to agents, who in turn discounts that price for you. Then when and if they lower their price to direct bookings, the travel agent's price may be exactly the same as before although their new lower price rarely will go below the agents original quoted price without lowering the agent's price as well. That's one reason why they come out with these new last minute categories like Cat Z. The cruise line's website price isn't a reference price to guage by. I use to think so, but as I learn more and more about pricing, not anymore.

Chuck

Chuck & Phyllis

Doing Voyager on 5/21/04

Doing Empress on 9/18/04

[Coralc]

Wrong thinking, Chuck. If the cruise price goes down on the RCI website, then your agents discounted price/cost of the cruise has also been reduced, and you are almost always entitled to a proportional price drop or an upgrade, depending on the reduction. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

[Travel Angel]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by pbhunt:
Wrong thinking, Chuck. If the cruise price goes down on the RCI website, then your agents discounted price/cost of the cruise has also been reduced, and you are almost always entitled to a proportional price drop or an upgrade, depending on the reduction. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

PB... you are not totally correct either, because if the TA had already discounted the cruise BELOW the cruiselines rates (which in all probability they did), and then the cruislines rates are lowered, (unless they are LOWER than what the client was paying), the TA may or may not lower the rates additionally based on the new RCI rates.

Example:
Cruiseline rate:
$600.00 p/p
Agency rebates some commission and sells to client at: $575.00 p/p

New Cruiseline Rate of $575.00 p/p
Agency may or may not LOWER the rate in proportion.

Curtis...
Waiting patiently for MY ship to come in !!!

[pd9845]

Chuck & Phyllis - I totally disagree. I booked my trip in February through Liberty Travel for a good price (it was lower than the RCI website and many other online agencies). But, since then the price has lowered significantly. As of today, the RCI website has the same cabin level (E2 on deck seven) for $150 PP less than my original price with the TA.

Thanks to cruisinfanatic - I called my travel agent and they adjusted the price after calling RCI. My travel agent reduced my trip by $350 total! I'm EXTREMELY happy.

Thanks to everyone above (especially cruisinfanatic). I'm glad I asked...

[jenjes3]

Wow.. glad to see so much response to my question.... I guess I am doing it right.. I do check RCCL's web site along with online cruise brokers... My cruises have gone down previously too from watching the prices.. I do think, though- even with Crown & Anchor coupon and Platinum status discount, I am paying more than I usually do for our upcoming cruise on the Mariner of the Seas in January 2005. Granted we are going at a different time of the year then we usually travel..(January instead of November) I think the cruise prices are inching up but still think is it the best and most reasonable way to travel!!

Karen

NCL Leeward
RCI Sovereign of the Seas
Granduer of the Seas
Enchantment of the Seas
Voyager of the Seas
Explorer of the Seas
Serenade of theSeas

[Chuck & Phyllis]

Well, I guess maybe I might have to study this a little more. I based my theory on comparing Cruise lines websites with a couple of online discount brokers. But maybe Travel Angel is correct. Maybe those online sites don't always lower their prices. I do watch the cruise line's web site but depend more on online discounters websites for reference. I guess I'll try to pick my agent friend's brain a little more too.

Chuck

Chuck & Phyllis

Doing Voyager on 5/21/04

Doing Empress on 9/18/04

[jwmimi]

You all are fortunate because we can't ever seem to get a great deal when we cruise---in the summer. However, we have a great TA, and she does seem to get us a lower rate than we see elsewhere. Maybe that's why I can't find a lower one. Oh, well, we only live once, right? [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

RCCL Monarch 7-96
RCCL Monarch 7-97
Carnival Sensation 6-99
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[Tazz27]

jwmimi-
For future reference, I found a great website called cruisecompete.com were different travel agents "compete" for business. We ended saving almost half from our previous cruise in the same room at the same time of year. You just have to be patient and go back and forth between agents to get the best price, but it worked great for us!

Mariner of the Seas 9/04
Explorer of the Seas 11/03
Voyager of the Seas 9/02

[TheWog]

pd9845

Hurricane season is June - November. But don't let that deter you from going.

Disney Magic 01/10/04
Enchantment of the Seas 01/22/05
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