New Tax free promo

It is always good to keep a watch on sales. I usually see them or read about them here before my TA even sees them. I guess she has other clients and ships to worry about, go figure.

Last March we sailed Oasis in an OS and my brother was in a CLS. From the time we first booked until final payment the prices of our cabins went from $9000 to $6000. He got his a little cheaper because he saw the price drop on Saturday and re-booked on-line with RCCL.

Unfortunately, my TA didn't get my message until Monday and my cabin went back up $500. However, I did get a nice TA OBC to make up for a little of it.

When I checked the price for this sale I was pretty sure there was no benefit for the two balcony cabins I had for the kids as I could see the prices had gone up more than the sale.

It looked like our OS was staying the same, but less the tax & fees. However, when I had my TA price it with RCCL we would have lost our $350 OBC.

I added a cabin to my August sailing during the tax free special (daughter decided to go). Our final pay date is not up yet but close, so we made final payment any way.

The very next day they came out with the new "Wow sale". I check the price and it is now $175 cheaper along with $100 OBC.

When I called to re-book I was told that although the final pay date has not passed yet the only way they could re-book is if the existing booking is canceled with a full refund and re-booked as a new reservation.

We have all of our excursions purchased and our dining times set. They told me that the process will take some time and there will be no guarantees that we will even get the same cabin or dining times or excursions even though my daughter is 20 and must be in a cabin next to ours, and her reservation is attached to ours. Our reservation would not be canceled just hers, we booked ours a year ago, much better rate.

We would have to wait 5 business day for the refunds to go through and re-book with new payments, with no guarantees. I escalated it to a supervisor, his hands were tied. So I escalated it again to his supervisor, now waiting for a call back. I was told it will take up to 48 hours for the call to come in. The supervisor stated the tax free sale was unique and that is the only way the system will allow it to be done. :mad: never again.

Not worth the hassle.

It saved me 250 bucks per stateroom.

IT was well worth the hassle for me

It saved me 250 bucks per stateroom.

 

IT was well worth the hassle for me

I guess on more than one cabin it might be. However, after reading the threads on canceled excursions, drink packages, reservations etc I wouldn't do it.

There have been three "promotions" since I booked three cabins on Oasis for October and none of them resulted in any savings, in fact they would have cost me about $700-$1000 in increase cabin fare and loss of OBC.

Now that I just bought the 20% off drink packages there is something else I have to consider by re-booking.

That's why you need a good TA who can work all the angles.

Completely agree!

There are so many factors.. just saying on this particular case it saved me a good amount.

I added a cabin to my August sailing during the tax free special (daughter decided to go). Our final pay date is not up yet but close, so we made final payment any way.

The very next day they came out with the new "Wow sale". I check the price and it is now $175 cheaper along with $100 OBC.

When I called to re-book I was told that although the final pay date has not passed yet the only way they could re-book is if the existing booking is canceled with a full refund and re-booked as a new reservation.

We have all of our excursions purchased and our dining times set. They told me that the process will take some time and there will be no guarantees that we will even get the same cabin or dining times or excursions even though my daughter is 20 and must be in a cabin next to ours, and her reservation is attached to ours. Our reservation would not be canceled just hers, we booked ours a year ago, much better rate.

We would have to wait 5 business day for the refunds to go through and re-book with new payments, with no guarantees. I escalated it to a supervisor, his hands were tied. So I escalated it again to his supervisor, now waiting for a call back. I was told it will take up to 48 hours for the call to come in. The supervisor stated the tax free sale was unique and that is the only way the system will allow it to be done. :mad: never again.

A Resolution Sailing Specialist from Consumer Outreach has emailed me back. He was able to override the system and do the re-booking without any issue. All reservations and excursions remain untouched. We now have the lower rate (credit of $175 back to our cc used for final payment) and the $100 OBC added to my daughters account. I honestly thought it would not happen.

What I did not know about this sale is that if there is a price drop on a cruise booked under this sale and you call to have it repriced you maintain the "no tax/no port fees" deal. I called to get 2 cruises repriced because even with adding the taxes and fees back in which I assumed would happen the total price was less. What a pleasant surprise when the agent repriced the cruise portion only and no taxes or port fees added. I saved a bundle!

A Resolution Sailing Specialist from Consumer Outreach has emailed me back. He was able to override the system and do the re-booking without any issue. All reservations and excursions remain untouched. We now have the lower rate (credit of $175 back to our cc used for final payment) and the $100 OBC added to my daughters account. I honestly thought it would not happen.

Good for you! :) :) :)

What I did not know about this sale is that if there is a price drop on a cruise booked under this sale and you call to have it repriced you maintain the "no tax/no port fees" deal. I called to get 2 cruises repriced because even with adding the taxes and fees back in which I assumed would happen the total price was less. What a pleasant surprise when the agent repriced the cruise portion only and no taxes or port fees added. I saved a bundle!

Wow! That didn't happen with us. They had to remove the tax free deal in order to reprice with the new Wow sale. Sounds like that might have been part of the issue with the system when the "vacation specialist" was unable to do it and it had to be escalated. You must have started the whole thing :) . They might just come back and ask you for the tax and port charges now that we straightened things out :rolleyes: sorry.

Wow! That didn't happen with us. They had to remove the tax free deal in order to reprice with the new Wow sale. Sounds like that might have been part of the issue with the system when the "vacation specialist" was unable to do it and it had to be escalated. You must have started the whole thing :) . They might just come back and ask you for the tax and port charges now that we straightened things out :rolleyes: sorry.

Oh not, I hope not!! I think I will make the final payment in hopes that they will not make me pay more.

A Resolution Sailing Specialist from Consumer Outreach has emailed me back. He was able to override the system and do the re-booking without any issue. All reservations and excursions remain untouched. We now have the lower rate (credit of $175 back to our cc used for final payment) and the $100 OBC added to my daughters account. I honestly thought it would not happen.

I'm glad you were able to get it satisfactorily resolved!

Annette~

Oh not, I hope not!! I think I will make the final payment in hopes that they will not make me pay more.

I know the cruise lines can do anything, but if you already have an invoice with your new price and benefits I don't see how they can change it. I thought that the only thing they would be able to change is the fuel charges and maybe the port charges. I forget if it is the fuel and port charges or just the fuel charges.

If they try to change it I would definitely fight them on it.