Cruise deals changing

In September 2015 we booked 2 balcony cabins on an RCL cruise to sail July 2016 and paid a deposit of £900 for the 6 passengers. We were recommended to book early as that was when you get the best deals. Now RCL are giving a free drinks package away, something we are thinking of booking. I have spoken to our tour operator who has contacted RCL and we can rebook the same cruise, but will have to forfeit our deposit! We will be booking the same room etc.

Has anyone managed to change a booking and not forfeit all their deposit with RCL I am more than happy to pay an admin fee. Apparently we could change our sailing and not lose our deposit, which seems odd.

Thought it was worth asking before we lose deposit

In September 2015 we booked 2 balcony cabins on an RCL cruise to sail July 2016 and paid a deposit of £900 for the 6 passengers. We were recommended to book early as that was when you get the best deals. Now RCL are giving a free drinks package away, something we are thinking of booking. I have spoken to our tour operator who has contacted RCL and we can rebook the same cruise, but will have to forfeit our deposit! We will be booking the same room etc.

 

Has anyone managed to change a booking and not forfeit all their deposit with RCL I am more than happy to pay an admin fee. Apparently we could change our sailing and not lose our deposit, which seems odd.

 

Thought it was worth asking before we lose deposit

RCI used to have a "price-promise". It was full of holes & not every T/A offered it, but some folk in your circumstances benefitted. I think it's been dis-continued, but you could try asking RCI direct about their price-promise.

RCI have just announced they're doing away with last-minute discounts (see the thread on this forum) because it upsets customers like yourselves, but I don't know if the same will apply to sweeteners like drinks packages.

Assuming that you get nowhere (sorry, but that's the most likely outcome) you need to do the maths to figure your best value. If you usually drink moderately, the true value of the package is lower than its face value,

Or you could phone a US cruise-specialist T/A & ask if they're prepared to accept bookings from the UK - despite cruise line policy, some do. Can't name names, Cruise Critic don't allow it, but ask Google.

Understand that US prices don't always include port fees etc (the US is the land of the add-on), that by final-payment time the cost in £ may go up or down according to exchange rate fluctuations because you'll be booking in $, and only pay by credit card because you don't have the safeguards of ABTA etc.

But prices are usually quite a lot lower and you can cancel penalty-free at any time before final-payment, 90(?) days before the cruise.

JB :)

Re US T/A's, make that "phone - or e-mail quoting your phone number".

They don't have expensive overseas call charges, but do bear in mind the time difference.

JB :)

Hi

Thanks John for the advise. I will definitely look into what you are saying. We are bit of cruising virgins this is only our second cruise and so value your input.

Regards

Di

Prices, deals, inclusive packages are always changing. Whilst they may be offering a drinks package it may not be free. The base prices are usually messed around with to cover the cost of the freebie.

I tracked a price last year and whenever there was a new deal the cost changed, the cheapest fare was when there were absolutely no freebies being offered.

Before Christmas Princess were offering 3rd person for £10 a night. A few weeks later a £140 3 rd person fare had risen to over £1,000, yet the total cost for three was barely any different as the other two full fares had fallen dramatically.

Hi

Thanks for your response. I have been tracking the prices and agree with what you say. However this package makes makes around £750 difference to the price we paid. That is why I thought it was worth pursuing.

Thanks again

Di

I know the big US discount agents will book foreigners if the have a US address.I was told some of agencies even use their office addresses for this.US cancellation dates for full refund usually 60/75 days prior to sail. Due to Isis Crisis and lousy economy prices will come down further too.

One strategy in the UK is to move the booking to another cruise so no loss of deposit and rebook the current one with the packages.

If not sure what you want, move it far into the future so you have time to change again or just cancel and lose the deposit your were going to lose anyway.

Hi

Thanks for the advice However, I spoke direct to RCI and the outcome has been we have got the new deal for a £50 admin fee per person I have to say we have received excellent service from them.

Happy cruising

good result.