Price Drop 40 days out

[beachfanatic]

I'm so bummed....There is a $600 price drop on my cruise after final payment. Wondering if anyone knows of possible credits upgrades I could get. Celebrity is smart..the next category up is too high to upgrade.

[wallie5446]

Make a call, all they can say is yes or no.

[hancock]

Celebrity's policy is no price adjustment after the final payment date. If the price of another cabin is at least $1 more than what you have paid it is likely you can upgrade your reservation. This policy has been in affect for at least 3 years.

[DannyS]

Refunds after final payment don't happen any more. (Those were the glory days for cheapskates like myself!)

 

What they will do is "upgrade" you to whatever cabins are at the price you paid - but take promotions into account. Often last minute discounts don't include OBC or other perks. You may have to be willing to lose your "perks" to get the upgrade.

[beachfanatic]

Unfortunately there was no compassion taken here. Celebrity gave no option but upgrade for additional cost. I get the rules but $600 price drop and not even any consideration. Seems silly to book early.

[awhfy]

That's why I don't look after final payment

[neverbeenhere]

Until the day the cruise you want sells out.

[denatravels]

That's why I don't look after final payment

 

 

Agreed!! Ignorance is bliss!

[Earthworm Jim]

That's why I don't look after final payment

Agreed!! Ignorance is bliss!

 

I (and apparently neverbeenhere as well) took awhfy to mean they don't even begin shopping for their cruises until after final payment, but maybe you're right.

 

I think you can do pretty well booking really early. Or sometimes really late, which I've only done once. It's the middle ground, 3-9 months out, when you seem to pay the most.

[ShakeDaddy]

Unfortunately there was no compassion taken here. Celebrity gave no option but upgrade for additional cost. I get the rules but $600 price drop and not even any consideration. Seems silly to book early.

 

That's gambling for you. Choosing the right time to book cruise and playing Blackjack in a Casino is pretty close to the same thing. Sometimes you win, sometimes you loose. :cool:

[Hlitner]

We have often gambled on waiting for last minute price drops. Sometimes we have won big (like on a Regal Princess cruise we are taking tomorrow) and other times we have been totally out of luck. And one should consider that with last minute bookings you get what is left (regarding cabin selection) which can be good, but is often less then good :(.

 

Hank

[mkazmer]

Living in FL fairly close to the ports, we usually book within 30 days of a sailing - we pick those we would be interested in and just watch the pricing. That is harder for those who have to fly to get to the port. However, this year we booked the Infinity Oct 29 sailing early. The initial price went down before final payment and I called and got the price difference and a better cabin. This particular cruise sold out quickly and whatever was left after final payment date went up a lot. So it all turned out well.

 

You do have to be careful when you try to get a better rate and/or upgrade though - credits and promos change so be aware of that.

[ShawninFL]

Unfortunately there was no compassion taken here. Celebrity gave no option but upgrade for additional cost. I get the rules but $600 price drop and not even any consideration. Seems silly to book early.

 

I understand what you're saying regarding not booking early, but substantial price reductions after final payment are becoming less common. They'll never completely disappear as a ship with low occupancy within 90 days needs to at least get people on board in hopes of making up revenue on board. Parent company Royal Caribbean stated last quarter that they have started maintaining price point in lieu of filling berths as the improving economy has increased profits. Our last 2 cruises as well as our upcoming cruise have never dropped below the price we booked at. I've been finding in my searches for a caribbean cruise that between 4 and 6 months out is yielding the best pricing options.

[denatravels]

I like to book early and obsessively check for price drops, which I seem to get often. I don't need an upgraded cabin, so I don't generally check after final payment.

However, my upcoming Anthem cruise is in a solo cabin-- I MAY check to see if I can swap cabins so that I can earn double points. But unlikely to do it for much more $$. (Especially since this will be my first balcony-- too bad it's from New York in February!!)

[Host Jazzbeau]

If this had been a price Increase, would you have called Celebrity and offered to send them an extra $600?

[florisdekort]

If this had been a price Increase, would you have called Celebrity and offered to send them an extra $600?

 

 

If Cruise Critic had "Like" buttons, I would have hit it :)

[perditax]

The problem with shaming people for wanting price adjustments is that you can get them in other sectors, such as retail.