cabin prices after final payment

[jvz]

Do prices usually go down "immediately" following final payment date for cabins remaining or are there a lot of other factors involved? Since I am looking to travel during hurricane season, I'm wondering if I should wait to book. Thanks.

[grannynurse]

jvz,
If there are still cabins available after final payment is due, HAL often has flash sales and other promos. Agenicies that purchased blocks of cabins will be turning in unsold units and some cruisers may cancel at that time.
Our friends who are now on board Amsterdam got a fabulous price on the 24 day b2b transatalantic and Baltic trip with a flash price.
GN

[dakrewser]

THat is sometimes true for areas in which multiple cruise lines are operating multiple ships over similar itineraries (Caribbean for sure, some Alaska, some Mediterranean). Rarely is it the case for more exotic trips.

[bruce-r]

Book as soon as possible if you want a choice of cabin.
Wait to book if getting a cheaper price is more important than much of a choice of cabin.

[Stevesan]

jvz,
If there are still cabins available after final payment is due, HAL often has flash sales and other promos. Agenicies that purchased blocks of cabins will be turning in unsold units and some cruisers may cancel at that time.
Our friends who are now on board Amsterdam got a fabulous price on the 24 day b2b transatalantic and Baltic trip with a flash price.
GN

That really is a great bargain. I was interested in the Rotterdam 24 day B2B - it works out to $79 p/day p/p.
Can't hardly afford to stay home for those prices!:p

EUROPE BACK-TO-BACK
Cat. NN

Amsterdam 6/2/06 &
6/12/06 20-Day Gems
of the Baltic Roundtrip Copenhagen$1,799

Rotterdam6/10/06 &
6/22/06 24-Day Best
of the Baltic London (Harwich) to Rotterdam$1,899

[Randyk47]

We would love to be in the position to take advantage of the "flash" or "last minute" sales but it's just not possible for us right now. We both work and therefore our vacations have to be planned well out in advance. Since we do have to plan so far out we also make sure our vacations are exactly what we want and that includes, within reason, making sure we get the specific itinerary, cabin category and cabin we want. But, back to the original question, I can't say that prices always come down right after the final payment date has been reached. The more accurate answer is "maybe" because sometimes prices come down, sometimes they don't. I'd suspect that we'll see more special offers and/or sales this coming fall because of a lot of factors, such as the hurricane season in the Caribbean, and maybe beyond this fall because of the economy or whatever but I wouldn't necessarily count on it.

[kryos]

jvz,
If there are still cabins available after final payment is due, HAL often has flash sales and other promos. Agenicies that purchased blocks of cabins will be turning in unsold units and some cruisers may cancel at that time.
Our friends who are now on board Amsterdam got a fabulous price on the 24 day b2b transatalantic and Baltic trip with a flash price.
GN
It's all a matter of supply and demand ... very simple. If an itinerary is very popular ... such as the Hawaii/South Pacific cruise I took in January (HAL only does that particular itinerary once a year, and other lines don't do anything quite like it) ... if anything, the price will go up as time marches on. Your best deals will be far in advance of sail date. If you wait until final payment date, chances are the ship will be 100% sold out and you'll be out of luck.

But, if you don't mind taking leftover cabins, you can get some awesome deals by waiting until after final payment date ... as long as the cruise is not sold out ... or better still, not selling well at all. Then the cruise line is stuck with all of these empty cabins and they are really motivated to reduce prices to fill them. Nothing worse than a cruise sailing at less than full capacity ... all those empty cabins generating zero revenue. Far better to fill them ... even at bargain basement prices than nowhere near come close to covering costs ... and hope that the passengers in those cabins make up for that loss by spending lots of money onboard.

So, it's a gamble ... but you could win big if you don't mind taking "run of ship" ... or whatever is available ... in terms of accommodations.

Blue skies ...

--rita