bobpell Posted March 24, 2014 #1 Share Posted March 24, 2014 We are taking a Transatlantic on the NA in Oct. 2014 Price Drop here on Cruise Critic last Friday advised of a 17% drop in fare for our 13 day cruise. Our TA called HAL for us. Yes our fare went down $200 a person for this relaxing sojourn...but...if we took the price reduction we would forfeit the $50 a day each drink package...sigh...decisions, decisions bobpell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Crazy For Cats Posted March 24, 2014 #2 Share Posted March 24, 2014 I had a similar decision on an upcoming cruise. It was a 7 day b2b and the price dropped 100 pp. We did not take the lower price since we typically drink about 100 per 7 days. The explore 4 also has the PG dinner and you can get bottled water or coffees. That said when the 14 day version opened up I took the 800 savings and left explore 4 behind. Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mame42 Posted March 24, 2014 #3 Share Posted March 24, 2014 I had a similar decision on an upcoming cruise. It was a 7 day b2b and the price dropped 100 pp. We did not take the lower price since we typically drink about 100 per 7 days. The explore 4 also has the PG dinner and you can get bottled water or coffees. That said when the 14 day version opened up I took the 800 savings and left explore 4 behind. Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app I did the same on a 24 day Med cruise. I travel solo, and the EX4 simply was not worth it to me, given the dreaded SS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pris993 Posted March 24, 2014 #4 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Interesting how cruise lines are trying to hook passengers with these packages. We never buy them, don't feel they are worth it any way. Realizing they tie up price drops, we not regret not doing so. We are leaving on a TA in two weeks, have a VB cabin for 14 day cruise on NA for about $1700. We saved about $800 each off the original price, we always book early so we get the cabin we want and then look for a price drop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sherilyn70 Posted March 25, 2014 #5 Share Posted March 25, 2014 (edited) When I took a price drop of $500/person it became an easy decision on a 7 day cruise. My suggestion is to calculate what you think you would spend on drinks and if you want the free dinner, if the price you come up with is less than the price drop them go for it. I counted in 1 latte, 4 sodas and two drinks per day and decided that 200 was about the break even point for me. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk Edited March 25, 2014 by sherilyn70 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare POA1 Posted March 25, 2014 #6 Share Posted March 25, 2014 When I took a price drop of $500/person it became an easy decision on a 7 day cruise. My suggestion is to calculate what you think you would spend on drinks and if you want the free dinner, if the price you come up with is less than the price drop them go for it. I counted in 1 latte, 4 sodas and two drinks per day and decided that 200 was about the break even point for me. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk That's the smart way to make the calculation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobpell Posted March 25, 2014 Author #7 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Thanks everyone for breaking down our drink expectations and the free dinner The cruise can't come fast enough bobpell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joysav Posted March 26, 2014 #8 Share Posted March 26, 2014 We are leaving on a TA in two weeks, have a VB cabin for 14 day cruise on NA for about $1700. We saved about $800 each off the original price, we always book early so we get the cabin we want and then look for a price drop. So how do you keep the cabin you want and still get a get a price drop ??? Thanks in advance Joy . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floridastorm Posted March 26, 2014 #9 Share Posted March 26, 2014 Is it up to your Travel Agent to monitor these things and provide you with the opportunity for reduced pricing on booked tickets? I wouldn't think that HAL would make reduced pricing offers directly to passengers who are already booked at a higher price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatsyAnne Posted March 26, 2014 #10 Share Posted March 26, 2014 Is it up to your Travel Agent to monitor these things and provide you with the opportunity for reduced pricing on booked tickets? I wouldn't think that HAL would make reduced pricing offers directly to passengers who are already booked at a higher price. Our TA looks for price drops and so do we. The TA watches notifications and trends, and we watch CC and check prices on the HAL site. It works. Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatsyAnne Posted March 26, 2014 #11 Share Posted March 26, 2014 (edited) So how do you keep the cabin you want and still get a get a price drop ??? Thanks in advance Joy . In our case, our TA does it for us. I don't know how to do it if you book directly. Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Edited March 26, 2014 by PatsyAnne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sherilyn70 Posted March 26, 2014 #12 Share Posted March 26, 2014 (edited) I use a website that tracks all current cruise prices. They'll even send me an email alert if it drops below my current price. That's how I got $1000 and a $150 OBC at the beginning of the year. I immediately called HAL and they gave me the new pricing and package. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk Edited March 26, 2014 by sherilyn70 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missie6 Posted March 26, 2014 #13 Share Posted March 26, 2014 I use a website that tracks all current cruise prices. They'll even send me an email alert if it drops below my current price. That's how I got $1000 and a $150 OBC at the beginning of the year. I immediately called HAL and they gave me the new pricing and package. Are you at liberty to disclose that site? thanks, M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilvertoGold Posted March 26, 2014 #14 Share Posted March 26, 2014 Is it up to your Travel Agent to monitor these things and provide you with the opportunity for reduced pricing on booked tickets? I wouldn't think that HAL would make reduced pricing offers directly to passengers who are already booked at a higher price. You can take the chance and leave it up to your TA. If she/he has lots of spare time and few clients, this might work, but you will never know if you don't do it yourself. The HAL website has all the current pricing, specials, Flash Sales. Pretty easy to look it up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Host Walt Posted March 27, 2014 #15 Share Posted March 27, 2014 (edited) I use a website that tracks all current cruise prices. They'll even send me an email alert if it drops below my current price. That's how I got $1000 and a $150 OBC at the beginning of the year. I immediately called HAL and they gave me the new pricing and package. Are you at liberty to disclose that site? thanks, M No, she cannot. Please see our posting guidelines for details. Edited March 27, 2014 by Host Walt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joysav Posted March 27, 2014 #16 Share Posted March 27, 2014 No, she cannot. Please see our posting guidelines for details. Crazy Stuff Walt Wont help your readers find better prices Then of course there seems to be censorship on this site also. Joy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floridastorm Posted March 27, 2014 #17 Share Posted March 27, 2014 You can take the chance and leave it up to your TA. If she/he has lots of spare time and few clients, this might work, but you will never know if you don't do it yourself. The HAL website has all the current pricing, specials, Flash Sales. Pretty easy to look it up! Basically what I was trying to determine is if HAL routinely offered booked passengers the opportunity to receive a lower price for their cabin selection if the price was to drop? Or, does a booked passenger have to monitor the pricing on a daily basis and then request that lower pricing directly from HAL?My TA, which happens to be a huge on-line outfit, stated that he would monitor things and advise me if they change in my favor. He's also monitoring upsells for me. Since I am booked through a TA will HAL make me go through that TA instead of going directly to HAL? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilvertoGold Posted March 27, 2014 #18 Share Posted March 27, 2014 Basically what I was trying to determine is if HAL routinely offered booked passengers the opportunity to receive a lower price for their cabin selection if the price was to drop? Or, does a booked passenger have to monitor the pricing on a daily basis and then request that lower pricing directly from HAL?My TA, which happens to be a huge on-line outfit, stated that he would monitor things and advise me if they change in my favor. He's also monitoring upsells for me. Since I am booked through a TA will HAL make me go through that TA instead of going directly to HAL? A booked passenger has to monitor the pricing and when he sees the exact category (M, G, VE, SY, etc) lower that what he paid, he has to have his TA call HAL and and "refare" the cruise. This is before Final payment. After Final Payment HAL has to do nothing for you, but often they will give you an upgraded category (eg you book an H, they might upgrade you to an E if that is at a pricing similar to what you paid for the H). It is so easy to look at the HAL site and see for yourself what the pricing is. I never, ever leave it to my TA to do this. HAL will make you go through the TA for virtually anything to do with your cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Host Walt Posted March 27, 2014 #19 Share Posted March 27, 2014 Crazy Stuff Walt Wont help your readers find better prices ... Joy Au contrere mon ami. Check this Cruise Critic link: http://www.cruisecritic.com/bargains/?src=nav Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sherilyn70 Posted March 27, 2014 #20 Share Posted March 27, 2014 Au contrere mon ami. Check this Cruise Critic link: http://www.cruisecritic.com/bargains/?src=nav That isn't even close to what the other site does though. That's a page to find and purchase cruises and not to monitor the current price for all categories on a specific cruise all on one page. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Host Walt Posted March 27, 2014 #21 Share Posted March 27, 2014 (edited) That isn't even close to what the other site does though. That's a page to find and purchase cruises and not to monitor the current price for all categories on a specific cruise all on one page. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk Suggest you go back and check the link again. You can find your cruise by cruise line, destination and date of travel and you'll get a complete list of all available fares by category. It has been used by members to discuss fare adjustments with their travel agents and/or cruise lines. It does not provide the actual prices of sold out categories but I'm not sure how that is very useful. Edited March 27, 2014 by Host Walt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sherilyn70 Posted March 27, 2014 #22 Share Posted March 27, 2014 Suggest you go back and check the link again. You can find your cruise by cruise line, destination and date of travel and you'll get a complete list of all available fares by category. It has been used by members to discuss fare adjustments with their travel agents and/or cruise lines. It does not provide the actual prices of sold out categories but I'm not sure what that is very useful. When I'm able to get to a PC I'll take another look. It wasn't obvious from my phone but maybe I missed something. I used the search on the page from the link you posted and it took me to travel sites. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sherilyn70 Posted March 27, 2014 #23 Share Posted March 27, 2014 (edited) i did some digging and I found a different link than what was posted, http://www.cruisecritic.com/price-drop/ is this what you were referring to Walt? The only problem is it won't tell me when the price drops below what I paid for the cruise (which is less than the current prices) and it looks like it will only notify you on Fridays. If a price only drops for 1or 2 days you can miss it. It won't show me any pricing currently for my cruise since it hasn't detected a price drop in a long while. But it is better than nothing. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk Edited March 27, 2014 by sherilyn70 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Host Walt Posted March 27, 2014 #24 Share Posted March 27, 2014 i did some digging and I found a different link than what was posted, http://www.cruisecritic.com/price-drop/ is this what you were referring to Walt? ... Yes. Both links are useful but the one you posted is best for the objective. Thanks for posting the link. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
innlady1 Posted March 27, 2014 #25 Share Posted March 27, 2014 Regarding your TA checking prices on an on-going basis: I asked ours at one point, and she said she was too busy to do that...and I believe she is. So for the last couple years (once I became aware that there were often price drops!), I monitor it and have realized some significant savings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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