Royal caribbean fares

Those booking conditions are very poor then. I mainly book with Princess, but I haven't encountered any restrictions as strict as those ones. You can cancel a booking, lose your deposit but not restricted about re booking. I use FCC and they generally just go back in to the FCC cruise bank waiting for another cruise to be booked with that line.

 

RCL fares are not that kind to solos. It seems to be always 200% minus port charges.

Princess are actually due to take on similar rules as of new fin year for new bookings as well as P&O and Carnival.

Princess are actually due to take on similar rules as of new fin year for new bookings as well as P&O and Carnival.

Well that's very disappointing that Australians/NZ will be subjected to such strict booking conditions when other regions enjoy much more flexibility.

Maybe it is time for cruisers to consider not putting down such large non-refundable deposits for cruises so far in advance. Seems to me to be a one sided deal, with cruiselines able to change/cancel cruises for a wide variety of reasons, without penalty.

I just plan like I've already booked, even making discount flight bookings, if necessary. Then book and pay in full later usually at a much reduced price, or, at worst, no more.

For peace of mind I would leave it as is. Same thing happened to me, price dropped this weekend $700 per person. If we did risk cancelling and rebooking and they picked up on it, we would have to go back to our original price plus a possibility of an extra charge if our original category was no longer available plus lose our free beverage package. It wasn't worth the risk.

 

Also the price drop for us was based on a balcony guarantee status, and I had already spent time picking the perfect cabin location and deck wise for us, so didn't want to risk getting an inferior cabin with obstructions or at a location i didn't want.

 

It doesn't matter if you book through another agent or cruise line direct, passenger names will be the same as the original and membership numbers if you have them.

 

I know it sounds unfair but we book at a price we're happy with, and that's the price. We don't buy fuel or groceries at a price one week and then try to get a cheaper price the following week when a sale starts.

 

I know it can feel annoying, I have felt that the last few days. However like with any product for sale, discounts can come out at any time to drive sales. I think just book when you're happy with the price, get the cabin you want, and try not to re look at prices!

Thank you for your responses.

I agree, book with a price you're happy with. I was happy with the price before my own inexperience cost me an extra $700 and made me less happy. But, the $1000 reduction within a week of booking bothers me a lot.

Any point in writing to RCI?

Has anyone manged to rebook RCI at a lower price?

Maybe it is time for cruisers to consider not putting down such large non-refundable deposits for cruises so far in advance. Seems to me to be a one sided deal, with cruiselines able to change/cancel cruises for a wide variety of reasons, without penalty.

 

I just plan like I've already booked, even making discount flight bookings, if necessary. Then book and pay in full later usually at a much reduced price, or, at worst, no more.

Yeap, if the cruiselines are going to have such restrictive booking policies then I will change the way I book. I'm not cabin fussy.

Well that's very disappointing that Australians/NZ will be subjected to such strict booking conditions when other regions enjoy much more flexibility.

Well yes, the US forums are continually talking about rebooking to take advantage of price drops. Once again Australia seems to pay through the nose.

This is the cruise lines terms and conditions, not the TA.

 

As mentioned previously, the new sale fares terms and conditions advise that it is for new bookings only. And original bookings for the same departure cannot be cancelled to be rebooked on the same cruise for the cheaper sale fare.

 

However if you wish to cancel your original booking and not travel on that specific cruise full stop, cancellation is possible as per your original booking terms and conditions.

 

Bottom line - you can't cancel a booking to rebook on the same voyage with the new sale fares. It's all in the new sale fares terms and conditions.

My understanding is that where it says 'sales apply to new bookings only' means that these new fares can not be applied to older existing bookings for the purposes of gaining price drops or other benefits in the sale.

If you cancel then rebook, this then will be a NEW booking.

Oh and, IF you happened to have booked an RC cruise through a (Australian) TA, AND booked further holiday expenses (that are not linked or provided through RC) like airfares, hotels, transfers etc, then you technically don't even have a 'passage contract' with RC Australia! RC Australia T and C excerpt:

Please Note: If you book a Royal Caribbean International cruise-only holiday in conjunction with other services such as flights, on-shore accommodation and/or ground transfers which are arranged or provided by a travel agent or tour operator (‘travel organiser’) with whom you book (and not us), your contract for your entire holiday including the cruise and all other such services and arrangements will be with your travel organiser and not with us. The travel organiser’s own booking conditions will apply to your contract with your travel organiser.

In this instance, your travel contract is with the TA !! Does the TA's terms and conditions state that specifically you can't cancel then rebook the same cruise with RC?

I think you will find that is incorrect. Can you link that fine print you refer to saying you can't cancel and then rebook.

 

My understanding is that where it says 'sales apply to new bookings only' means that these new fares can not be applied to older existing bookings for the purposes of gaining price drops or other benefits in the sale.

 

If you cancel then rebook, this then will be a NEW booking.

 

 

Oh and, IF you happened to have booked an RC cruise through a (Australian) TA, AND booked further holiday expenses (that are not linked or provided through RC) like airfares, hotels, transfers etc, then you technically don't even have a 'passage contract' with RC Australia! RC Australia T and C excerpt:

 

Please Note: If you book a Royal Caribbean International cruise-only holiday in conjunction with other services such as flights, on-shore accommodation and/or ground transfers which are arranged or provided by a travel agent or tour operator (‘travel organiser’) with whom you book (and not us), your contract for your entire holiday including the cruise and all other such services and arrangements will be with your travel organiser and not with us. The travel organiser’s own booking conditions will apply to your contract with your travel organiser.

 

In this instance, your travel contract is with the TA !! Does the TA's terms and conditions state that specifically you can't cancel then rebook the same cruise with RC?

Cancelling and rebooking for the same voyage is the not a new booking.

As requested please find below terms and conditions link. As a TA for four years and specialising in cruising, I do know my facts before posting.

Link, please read down the bottom:

http://www.celebritycruises.com.au/specials/vip-offer/#terms

Terms & Conditions

Prices are per person in Australian Dollars based on twin occupancy and exclusive of all taxes & fees (which are subject to change) and onboard gratuities (tips) which will be added later in the booking process. Prices shown are for the lowest interior, Oceanview, Balcony, Concierge/Aqua Class stateroom or Suite available. ~Celebrity VIP Offer is applicable to new bookings made between 3 May 2015 – 10 May 2015 on Celebrity Solstice voyages departing Australia or New Zealand from 21 October 2015 to 1 April 2016. Offer is available for ‘guarantee’ bookings made into Category X only. The exact grade, number and location of the stateroom will be allocated at Celebrity Cruises’ discretion. No stateroom requests permitted. Offer is combinable with Pick Your Perk offer only. Offer is not combinable with any other offer, promotion or restricted prices. Offer is not available for group bookings. Offer applies to Standard pricing only. Any existing booking which is cancelled on or after 29 April 2015 and then rebooked for same ship and sail date within the offer period, will not be eligible for the promotion. Offer is subject to availability and change without notice, and is capacity controlled. A limited number of cabins have been set aside at this pricing, once this capacity is reached pricing may increase. ^Pick Your Perk promotion is applicable to new bookings in Oceanview staterooms or above (Interior staterooms are excluded) made between 8 April – 10 May 2015 on all Celebrity Cruises worldwide cruises of 4 nights or longer departing between 1 June 2015 and 31 December 2015 (excluding Celebrity Xpedition, Transatlantic, Transpacific, and repositioning cruises). For full Pick Your Perk terms and conditions click here. Celebrity Cruises reserves the right to correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions and to change or update fares, fees and surcharges at any time without prior notice. Passengers are bound by our full terms and conditions found here.

Is that just the conditions for that current promotion or is it the conditions for any booking with Celebrity at any given time?

Is that just the conditions for that current promotion or is it the conditions for any booking with Celebrity at any given time?

These terms and conditions come out pretty much the same with any Celebrity / RCI sale for bookings in Australia.

Oh and, IF you happened to have booked an RC cruise through a (Australian) TA, AND booked further holiday expenses (that are not linked or provided through RC) like airfares, hotels, transfers etc, then you technically don't even have a 'passage contract' with RC Australia! RC Australia T and C excerpt:

 

Please Note: If you book a Royal Caribbean International cruise-only holiday in conjunction with other services such as flights, on-shore accommodation and/or ground transfers which are arranged or provided by a travel agent or tour operator (‘travel organiser’) with whom you book (and not us), your contract for your entire holiday including the cruise and all other such services and arrangements will be with your travel organiser and not with us. The travel organiser’s own booking conditions will apply to your contract with your travel organiser.

 

In this instance, your travel contract is with the TA !! Does the TA's terms and conditions state that specifically you can't cancel then rebook the same cruise with RC?

Also when you book through a TA you take on the TA's terms and conditions.

However the TA is bound by the cruiselines T&C's so this will be passed on to you, as well as any additional fees / conditions imposed by the TA.

As a TA, we will never offer less restrictive T&C's than the cruise line or supplier as it is not possible.

Cancelling and rebooking for the same voyage is the not a new booking.

 

As requested please find below terms and conditions link. As a TA for four years and specialising in cruising, I do know my facts before posting.

 

Link, please read down the bottom:

 

http://www.celebritycruises.com.au/specials/vip-offer/#terms

 

Terms & Conditions

 

Prices are per person in Australian Dollars based on twin occupancy and exclusive of all taxes & fees (which are subject to change) and onboard gratuities (tips) which will be added later in the booking process. Prices shown are for the lowest interior, Oceanview, Balcony, Concierge/Aqua Class stateroom or Suite available. ~Celebrity VIP Offer is applicable to new bookings made between 3 May 2015 – 10 May 2015 on Celebrity Solstice voyages departing Australia or New Zealand from 21 October 2015 to 1 April 2016. Offer is available for ‘guarantee’ bookings made into Category X only. The exact grade, number and location of the stateroom will be allocated at Celebrity Cruises’ discretion. No stateroom requests permitted. Offer is combinable with Pick Your Perk offer only. Offer is not combinable with any other offer, promotion or restricted prices. Offer is not available for group bookings. Offer applies to Standard pricing only. Any existing booking which is cancelled on or after 29 April 2015 and then rebooked for same ship and sail date within the offer period, will not be eligible for the promotion. Offer is subject to availability and change without notice, and is capacity controlled. A limited number of cabins have been set aside at this pricing, once this capacity is reached pricing may increase. ^Pick Your Perk promotion is applicable to new bookings in Oceanview staterooms or above (Interior staterooms are excluded) made between 8 April – 10 May 2015 on all Celebrity Cruises worldwide cruises of 4 nights or longer departing between 1 June 2015 and 31 December 2015 (excluding Celebrity Xpedition, Transatlantic, Transpacific, and repositioning cruises). For full Pick Your Perk terms and conditions click here. Celebrity Cruises reserves the right to correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions and to change or update fares, fees and surcharges at any time without prior notice. Passengers are bound by our full terms and conditions found here.

Notice how the OP was asking about his RC cruise? Notice how my reply was specifically directed to his situation with RC. And you bring up Celebrity Cruises! So show me the Royal Caribbean International fine print.

Oh, and just to put it out there regards your Celebrity T and C, Cancelling and rebooking is still a new booking! Just that that particular promotion explicitly bars that NEW booking from being eligible for those benefits provided in the promotion. It still doesn't bar the new booking from any lower price differential between original cabin grade booking and the current normal pricing for the same cabin grade outside the linked promotion, at time of rebook!!

These terms and conditions come out pretty much the same with any Celebrity / RCI sale for bookings in Australia.

Would these conditions apply to any future promotions in say 6 months if I cancelled now but ignored the current offer?

Yeah, good one. We are talking oranges and you drop in with apples.

 

Notice how the OP was asking about his RC cruise? Notice how my reply was specifically directed to his situation with RC. And you bring up Celebrity Cruises! So show me the Royal Caribbean International fine print.

 

Oh, and just to put it out there regards your Celebrity T and C, Cancelling and rebooking is still a new booking! Just that that particular promotion explicitly bars that NEW booking from being eligible for those benefits provided in the promotion. It still doesn't bar the new booking from any lower price differential between original cabin grade booking and the current normal pricing for the same cabin grade outside the linked promotion, at time of rebook!!

RCI and Celebrity are linked for Australian cruises, linked brands with all T&C's the same. Up to you what you wish to take from that. If you find the current T&C's for RCI you will find the same clause. I'll leave it up to you to take what you wish. Just wanted to offer my expertise and professional knowledge.

Would these conditions apply to any future promotions in say 6 months if I cancelled now but ignored the current offer?

Well you could in theory cancel now, and wait for a new promo, and then book.

Based on the T&C's I posted, it says you cannot cancel and rebook if cancelling on or after 29 April - the date the new promo because public / released.

If someone had cancelled on or before 28 April they would have eligible to rebook at the new sale.

In theory the T&C's stop you from cancelling once you are aware of a new cheaper sale.

However there doesn't seem to be any issue with cancelling, and then rebooking at a new promo. However this is again a risk you, same as when you originally booked, as there is no knowing if new prices will be higher or lower.

I post here not to advertise my services as a TA. I post here as a hobby and to try and share some of the extra knowledge and bits & pieces we learn in the trade.

By all means we are all free to do as we wish, and cancel and try to rebook. But just wanted to point out it is worth reading all the fine print to avoid any hiccups.

Good luck either way you decide to go!

Yeah, good one. We are talking oranges and you drop in with apples.

 

Notice how the OP was asking about his RC cruise? Notice how my reply was specifically directed to his situation with RC. And you bring up Celebrity Cruises! So show me the Royal Caribbean International fine print.

 

Oh, and just to put it out there regards your Celebrity T and C, Cancelling and rebooking is still a new booking! Just that that particular promotion explicitly bars that NEW booking from being eligible for those benefits provided in the promotion. It still doesn't bar the new booking from any lower price differential between original cabin grade booking and the current normal pricing for the same cabin grade outside the linked promotion, at time of rebook!!

As requested, please find below link to RCI current sales T&C's again reiterating same as per Celebrity promo. These are partner companies with same T&C's.

Where it says "not eligible for promotion", promotion refers to the promotion sale price.

If you have any further queries, feel free to let me know or feel free to contact cruise lines for clarification.

http://www.royalcaribbean.com.au/dealsandmore/featuredCruises/selectLandingPromo.do?promoCode=131916

^Buy One Get One Up To 50% Off promotion is valid for new bookings made between 1 - 31 May 2015. Offer is applicable to all Royal Caribbean International voyages 5 nights or longer departing 1 June 2015 onwards. Offer excludes Quantum of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Transatlantic voyages and all sailings departing from China. Eligible bookings will receive a discount of up to 50% off the total fare for the second passenger booked in the same stateroom as a first passenger who books at full fare. Eligible bookings made on voyages departing in 2016 & 2017 will also receive a discount of up to 50% off the total cruise fare for the third and fourth passengers in the same booking (triple or quad occupancy bookings only). Offer is applicable to new individual bookings and non-contracted group bookings named and fully deposited within the offer period. Offer is combinable with Standard pricing, Crown & Anchor discounts and Next Cruise offers only. Offer is not combinable with any other offer, promotion or restricted pricing unless otherwise stated. Please ensure that ‘BOGO' is listed in the reservation at time of booking. A limited number of staterooms are available at the prices shown. Once these staterooms are sold out, prices may be increased, or withdrawn or further reduced without notice. Any eligible booking that is cancelled and then reinstated after 29 April 2105 will no longer be eligible for the promotion. Any booking that is modified after the promotion has ended will result in the loss of the promotion. Examples of changes that will result in the promotion being forfeit include, but are not limited to; change of ship, sail date, category booked, amending the travel agency ID or selecting an alternate price/promotion. All promotions are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. For full terms and conditions, please visit our website at http://www.royalcaribbean.com.au. The above mentioned terms and conditions are to be read in conjunction with the terms and conditions outlined in the Royal Caribbean International Worldwide Cruise Holidays 2015-2016 brochure. Royal Caribbean International reserves its right to correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions and to change or update fares, fees and surcharges at any time without prior notice.

On a lighter note, very exciting that the 16/17 season including Ovation is being released this month! Will be fantastic to see the new voyages and fingers crossed for some great early bird rates!

Sometimes you have to take a stand. This happened to me on our recent Solstice cruise, one week after booking the price for our category went down by $1000 per person, that's a total of $2,000. I rang my TA and asked for a price drop, told exactly the same as the OP.

At that point, because I simply stated to my TA, tell them I will cancel completely, no re booking and you can cancel the second trip we had booked as well.

Its amazing how suddenly I was able to get my price drop, Celebrity were not polite about it but I got it. The downside though is they may not have agreed but I was really prepared to cancel, already had an alternative cruise lined up with HAL in case.

Sometimes you have to take a stand. This happened to me on our recent Solstice cruise, one week after booking the price for our category went down by $1000 per person, that's a total of $2,000. I rang my TA and asked for a price drop, told exactly the same as the OP.

 

At that point, because I simply stated to my TA, tell them I will cancel completely, no re booking and you can cancel the second trip we had booked as well.

 

Its amazing how suddenly I was able to get my price drop, Celebrity were not polite about it but I got it. The downside though is they may not have agreed but I was really prepared to cancel, already had an alternative cruise lined up with HAL in case.

Well Done!

I agree there are times you have to take a stand. If more people did that, Australians might get the same booking conditions as Americans.

I won't book a long time in advance for these very reasons, even though I know my intended travel plans (with a Plan B back up).

I agree there are times you have to take a stand. If more people did that, Australians might get the same booking conditions as Americans.

Those booking conditions have caused all sorts of problems for RCI with some people booking multiple trips and seeing which drop in price and then cancelling most of them. Which is why changed the future cruise credit program for open bookings and started enforcing the discount for new bookings only rule.

Sometimes you have to take a stand. This happened to me on our recent Solstice cruise, one week after booking the price for our category went down by $1000 per person, that's a total of $2,000. I rang my TA and asked for a price drop, told exactly the same as the OP.

 

At that point, because I simply stated to my TA, tell them I will cancel completely, no re booking and you can cancel the second trip we had booked as well.

 

Its amazing how suddenly I was able to get my price drop, Celebrity were not polite about it but I got it. The downside though is they may not have agreed but I was really prepared to cancel, already had an alternative cruise lined up with HAL in case.

Well done. Its about time more Australian cruisers started to voice their disappointment at unfavourable booking conditions when we get milked for high cruising costs and other regions enjoy much more reasonable booking cancellations and changes.

I too will change my booking habits and have a back up plan if things don't work out. Its not like they the only cruising company. Plenty others to choose from.

Dare I say book with a US agent. Then you get all their perks. Even with the falling dollar prices awork out often as compatible and if you can afford to pay upfront you know the whole price and can still take advantage of price drops or upgreades even after final payment date. Works for me. Jennie

Dare I say book with a US agent. Then you get all their perks. Even with the falling dollar prices awork out often as compatible and if you can afford to pay upfront you know the whole price and can still take advantage of price drops or upgreades even after final payment date. Works for me. Jennie

Any hints to a good one, within the guidelines of this forum of course? ;)

Also I may be wrong but don't some of the cruiselines block you from booking with a US agent for local cruises. I thought I'd read something like that here a while back. :confused:

As requested, please find below link to RCI current sales T&C's again reiterating same as per Celebrity promo. These are partner companies with same T&C's.

 

Where it says "not eligible for promotion", promotion refers to the promotion sale price.

 

If you have any further queries, feel free to let me know or feel free to contact cruise lines for clarification.

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com.au/dealsandmore/featuredCruises/selectLandingPromo.do?promoCode=131916

 

^Buy One Get One Up To 50% Off promotion is valid for new bookings made between 1 - 31 May 2015. Offer is applicable to all Royal Caribbean International voyages 5 nights or longer departing 1 June 2015 onwards. Offer excludes Quantum of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Transatlantic voyages and all sailings departing from China. Eligible bookings will receive a discount of up to 50% off the total fare for the second passenger booked in the same stateroom as a first passenger who books at full fare. Eligible bookings made on voyages departing in 2016 & 2017 will also receive a discount of up to 50% off the total cruise fare for the third and fourth passengers in the same booking (triple or quad occupancy bookings only). Offer is applicable to new individual bookings and non-contracted group bookings named and fully deposited within the offer period. Offer is combinable with Standard pricing, Crown & Anchor discounts and Next Cruise offers only. Offer is not combinable with any other offer, promotion or restricted pricing unless otherwise stated. Please ensure that ‘BOGO' is listed in the reservation at time of booking. A limited number of staterooms are available at the prices shown. Once these staterooms are sold out, prices may be increased, or withdrawn or further reduced without notice. Any eligible booking that is cancelled and then reinstated after 29 April 2105 will no longer be eligible for the promotion. Any booking that is modified after the promotion has ended will result in the loss of the promotion. Examples of changes that will result in the promotion being forfeit include, but are not limited to; change of ship, sail date, category booked, amending the travel agency ID or selecting an alternate price/promotion. All promotions are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. For full terms and conditions, please visit our website at http://www.royalcaribbean.com.au. The above mentioned terms and conditions are to be read in conjunction with the terms and conditions outlined in the Royal Caribbean International Worldwide Cruise Holidays 2015-2016 brochure. Royal Caribbean International reserves its right to correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions and to change or update fares, fees and surcharges at any time without prior notice.

There is nothing in that RC's T and C for that promotion that suggests an existing booking can not be cancelled and rebooked so as to get the promotion advertised!

Unlike the wording in the Celebrity link which does cover previous existing bookings non eligibility:

"Any existing booking which is cancelled on or after 29 April 2015 and then rebooked for same ship and sail date within the offer period, will not be eligible for the promotion."

Spelled out very clearly by Celebrity - Intention to deny promotion to a cancel/rebook unmistakable. Absolutely nothing like that in the RC's T and C for their own promotional sale.

You know what? As some have suggested above, don't put up with these restrictive, biased contracts. Register your grievance - let them know why you are not happy. Then take your custom somewhere else.

In these particular circumstance where promotional sales are declined to existing bookings, not hard to find other Cruise companies that are happy to accommodate the wishes of cruisers that want to avail themselves of future promotional fares/sales, and acknowledge as such with following or similar terms in their contract:

Sometimes we will release promotional fares. These can be offered and withdrawn at any time. If after booking you decide to change to one of these promotional fares, you will need to cancel your existing booking and our ‘Cancellation & Refunds’ policy will apply.

So there are other Cruise Companies out there that are more than happy to allow you to change to promotional fares. Obviously cancellation fees need to be considered, but if benefit outweighs cost, then all good.