Need veteran Holland cruisers booking advice

[boboraji]

We are just about to leave for the western caribbean on Princess, but are just starting to think about an eastern caribbean or mexico cruise next January. And we will be booking with Holland next next time.

I've found with Princess, booking a cruise to any of these 3 ports, about 3 months in advance gets you the lowest price. Also, Princess will give you a price drop after you've booked as long as you haven't made a final payment. Does Holland offer the same deal?

[Northshorecruisers]

I'm far from being a veteran, but I'll put in my two cents.
I think mostly it depends on how well the cruise has sold. Good old supply and demand. I know we have received a discount after final payment, but I don't know if that was HAL or my TA. I don't care where they came from, I just like them:p

[dpm321]

With respect to best pricing, it varies depending on how the trip is selling. The best prices generally seem to be booking very early or very late. On the price reductions, HAL will lower your fare to equal any better pricing after you book, but their policy is to only do that until final payment. As said above, a travel agent will likely be more flexible since there are many ways the line compensates them.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have not seen any of our cruises go down in price -- we book early.

But some people here have had their cruise price drop -- and they have gotten the lower price.

Others have reported that some of the lower prices were for new bookings only

You have to keep checking the prices -- HAL will not automatically give you the lower price if one should happen.

[boboraji]

Thanks to all for your information. I'm sure we will start asking many more questions about HAL after we get back in February (planning a cruise is half the fun anyway).

[sailorbill]

The best prices that I have managed to get on Holland America cruises were at three weeks before embarcation when there were only a few staterooms still available. It is a situation where the cruise line faces the fact that an empty bed produces no revenue. Another factor is that one third to one half of profits are made from the onboard revenue centers (bars, spa, salon, gift shops, shore excursions, casino, etc.). No body on board = No sales! As I recall the price reduction was not huge, nothing like 1/2 off. They were a few hundred dollars less than the price at final payment date. But it was enough to get below my own personal benchmark price per day for a particular stateroom category. It only happened a couple of times. There have been many cruises when I have tracked the prices and been disappointed that there was no price reduction close to sailing. So I passed on those cruises.

When I find a ship and itinerary that I really want, I book early in order to get a stateroom that I want. Then I follow the price up to final payment date to take advantage of any price reductions for my stateroom category. And I look for any view and veranda promotions. If there is a price reduction for a cruise that I have booked, I have to ask to have the price reduced. HAL will not automatically do it. If I used a travel agent, the agent must ask for the reduction. But once I have made my final payment I quit looking at prices for that cruise. I figure that I have been satisfied with what I booked. I don't care what others might have paid or if I might have done better by booking differently. I don't play the could'a, would'a, should'a game. That is a quick way to grow an ulcer.

So far I have been happy with every cruise that I have taken.

[tcook052]

Others have reported that some of the lower prices were for new bookings only.

Yes but if you are outside of final payment if you ask nicely HAL will waive this clause saving both you & them the time & effort of having to refund the find and rebook at the lower sale rate. I won't pretend it's done all the time but have had it happen on occasion. :)

[GmaPajama]

I just got a $100 pp reduction for a cruise 9 months out. All it took was one email to my TA. I never used to check pricing after I booked, but in this economy every dollar counts.

[Randyk47]

We have not seen any of our cruises go down in price -- we book early.

But some people here have had their cruise price drop -- and they have gotten the lower price.

Others have reported that some of the lower prices were for new bookings only

You have to keep checking the prices -- HAL will not automatically give you the lower price if one should happen.

This is our experience. We just Monday hit final payment day for our Maasdam cruise in March. On Tuesday HAL changed the availability information for that cruise and pulled down the list of available veranda cabins. You now get the "call for availability and price" for those categories. Since there were cabins, by specific cabin number, available right up until the final payment date I'm assuming there are, or at least were, some available. I also expect they've lowered the price, though maybe not, but I'm not going to call and check because it won't do me much good.