Advice required to obtain sb credit or upgrade after final payment

[Mimg Pao]

Last December/January, while on board the Volendam, we booked another cruise on the Volendam starting Dec. 22/14 in Singapore. The promotion entitled us to a $325 pp shipboard credit, a bottle of wine and lunch at the PG.

 

We made final payment in September and since then, the price has dropped substantially. We booked an FF category guarantee and as of yesterday, the price for both of us has dropped almost $2,000.

 

I contacted my ta and she contacted their dsm who offered ZERO period. She also spoke with HAL and the only offer we received was a so called upgrade to a D category BUT HAL WOULD REMOVE OUR SB CREDIT OF $650 and instead give us an sbc of $100 pp. Needless to say, I found this offer insulting and refused. Why would we want to change an ocean view for another ocean view, although the new category might be in a better location

 

Since then, I have called HAL several times myself, finally speaking to a pricing specialist and of course the answer was always the same. When we booked last December, the future cruise consultant said that if there is a price drop, then a pricing specialist would analyze each individual booking if a passenger requests a reduction based on the new price - WHAT A JOKE

 

We are not looking for a refund but some compensation in the form of a shipboard credit WITHOUT REMOVING THE SBC WE ALREADY HAVE.

 

Does anyone have advice for us - I AM SO UPSET

 

Lynne

[CruiserBruce]

As discussed frequently here, HAL is not required to offer you any compensation for a price reduction after final payment. In fact, you receiving any price reduction would be very rare.

 

In the past, HAL has offered upgrades- their definition doesn't have to meet your definition, and OBC. That is what they have done in your case. The compensation doesn't need to match the actual price reduction, and in your case, I am not seeing that the compensation they offered is too far from historical averages.

 

Sorry this has you upset, but it seems within norms, overall.

[serendipity1499]

Last December/January, while on board the Volendam, we booked another cruise on the Volendam starting Dec. 22/14 in Singapore. The promotion entitled us to a $325 pp shipboard credit, a bottle of wine and lunch at the PG.

 

We made final payment in September and since then, the price has dropped substantially. We booked an FF category guarantee and as of yesterday, the price for both of us has dropped almost $2,000.

 

I contacted my ta and she contacted their dsm who offered ZERO period. She also spoke with HAL and the only offer we received was a so called upgrade to a D category BUT HAL WOULD REMOVE OUR SB CREDIT OF $650 and instead give us an sbc of $100 pp. Needless to say, I found this offer insulting and refused. Why would we want to change an ocean view for another ocean view, although the new category might be in a better location

 

Since then, I have called HAL several times myself, finally speaking to a pricing specialist and of course the answer was always the same. When we booked last December, the future cruise consultant said that if there is a price drop, then a pricing specialist would analyze each individual booking if a passenger requests a reduction based on the new price - WHAT A JOKE

 

We are not looking for a refund but some compensation in the form of a shipboard credit WITHOUT REMOVING THE SBC WE ALREADY HAVE.

 

Does anyone have advice for us - I AM SO UPSET

 

Lynne

As mentioned by another poster, I think you were fortunate to get a better deal from HAL. after final payment.. The $2000 less is probably for NEW bookings only & is a different promotion only to fill empty cabins..

 

Why should they give you the $650 OBC in addition to the $2,000 price reduction? IMO HAL's offer is fair...In effect you would get a better cabin & pay $1550 less for the better cabin..

 

I would take it & run!

 

P.S. I believe most cruise lines would handle it the same way or not reduce the fare at all.. Take a look at the Celebrity board Post No. 2 & others explain to the OP , that he will probably loose his perks for a reduction after final payment..

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2103876&highlight=price+reduction+after+final+payment

Edited November 2, 2014 by serendipity1499

[serendipity1499]

Here is another poster on Princess complaining about the same thing:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2097124&highlight=price+reduced+after+final+payment