bichonandon Posted August 18, 2018 #1 Share Posted August 18, 2018 This is an FYI for other novice cruise pax like me. YMMV so please feel free to add your experience. My husband booked directly with Princess. He purchased an unobstructed ocean view for an early Oct departure. Then today we found out the prices had dropped on other sites. It wasn't a huge drop, but with the cancellation fee included, we would be looking at paying an $80 difference total for both of us if we cancelled and booked a balcony through a TA site. My husband called Princess, and they were able to offer us a balcony for $70 total extra. So they price matched an upgraded room. Having already looked this up on here and elsewhere, we didn't expect anything, maybe a little onboard credit, but we were happy to get a balcony for a great price. This will be our first balcony!:):):) Sorry for all the smilies, I couldn't figure out how to delete them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wishing on a star Posted August 18, 2018 #2 Share Posted August 18, 2018 Hey, keep on with the smilies! Enjoy your balcony! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiseGal999 Posted August 18, 2018 #3 Share Posted August 18, 2018 I have been watching the prices of my cruise and they have been going up up up. From $622, a couple of days ago $830 ... and NOW $1,049 for the balcony! I am glad I purchased when I did. I am sailing solo in a balcony. I caught the price when it was $599/pp. 5 Days 1 Port Cabo San Lucas GetawayRoundtrip from Los Angeles, California Ships: Ruby Princess Ports: Los Angeles, California | Cabo San Lucas, Mexico |Los Angeles, California Mon, Oct 22, 2018 DatesInteriorOceanviewBalconyMini-SuiteSuiteMon, Oct 22, 2018 Ruby Princess $499.00* $939.00* $1,049.00* Sold Out Sold Out Guests 3 & 4 - same stateroom$199.00* $199.00* $299.00* Sold Out Sold Out Taxes, Fees & Port Expenses additional: $95.00* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bichonandon Posted August 18, 2018 Author #4 Share Posted August 18, 2018 I have been watching the prices of my cruise and they have been going up up up. From $622, a couple of days ago $830 ... and NOW $1,049 for the balcony! I am glad I purchased when I did. I am sailing solo in a balcony. I caught the price when it was $599/pp. 5 Days 1 Port Cabo San Lucas GetawayRoundtrip from Los Angeles, California Ships: Ruby Princess Ports: Los Angeles, California | Cabo San Lucas, Mexico |Los Angeles, California Mon, Oct 22, 2018 DatesInteriorOceanviewBalconyMini-SuiteSuiteMon, Oct 22, 2018 Ruby Princess $499.00* $939.00* $1,049.00* Sold Out Sold Out Guests 3 & 4 - same stateroom$199.00* $199.00* $299.00* Sold Out Sold Out Taxes, Fees & Port Expenses additional: $95.00* Wow, I guess timing is important. Our Oct 1st cruise is the same itinerary except on the Star Princess! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoyCoy Posted August 18, 2018 #5 Share Posted August 18, 2018 I have been watching the prices of my cruise and they have been going up up up. From $622, a couple of days ago $830 ... and NOW $1,049 for the balcony! I am glad I purchased when I did. I am sailing solo in a balcony. I caught the price when it was $599/pp. 5 Days 1 Port Cabo San Lucas GetawayRoundtrip from Los Angeles, California Ships: Ruby Princess Ports: Los Angeles, California | Cabo San Lucas, Mexico |Los Angeles, California Mon, Oct 22, 2018 DatesInteriorOceanviewBalconyMini-SuiteSuiteMon, Oct 22, 2018 Ruby Princess $499.00* $939.00* $1,049.00* Sold Out Sold Out Guests 3 & 4 - same stateroom$199.00* $199.00* $299.00* Sold Out Sold Out Taxes, Fees & Port Expenses additional: $95.00* How far in advance did you purchase ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiseGal999 Posted August 18, 2018 #6 Share Posted August 18, 2018 Wow, I guess timing is important. Our Oct 1st cruise is the same itinerary except on the Star Princess! Those prices have gone DOWN ... I've seen that also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiseGal999 Posted August 18, 2018 #7 Share Posted August 18, 2018 How far in advance did you purchase ? Last March I purchased at $606/pp. It went down to $599 and I got the price adjusted down to that. But I've been looking every day to see if 'might' go lower. Final payment is due 8/24/18. But these high & fast increases are crazy. It went up to $622 and stayed for a long time, then went to $633, down to $622 .... back and forth ... then $830, then $1049. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Cruise Raider Posted August 18, 2018 #8 Share Posted August 18, 2018 Excellent! Enjoy that balcony. I called once when I saw the pricing for a cruise on which I was booked drop by a lot. When I first called, they wouldn’t do anything for me. I called back that same week when I thought about what it would cost me to cancel and rebook a balcony instead of an obstructed OV cabin. I would have saved money by doing so in the cabin I had booked and only spent a little more if I were to upgrade to a balcony. This time, I got through to somebody that was willing to help. She ended up upgrading us to a balcony, without any cancelation fee, for no extra charge. Sometimes. it does take a little perseverance and willingness to have your offer rejected at leader once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
partybarbie Posted August 18, 2018 #9 Share Posted August 18, 2018 OP, thanks for sharing your story and congratulations to you. Enjoy the balcony. :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riclop Posted August 19, 2018 #10 Share Posted August 19, 2018 Good for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donaldsc Posted August 19, 2018 #11 Share Posted August 19, 2018 Last March I purchased at $606/pp. It went down to $599 and I got the price adjusted down to that. But I've been looking every day to see if 'might' go lower. Final payment is due 8/24/18. But these high & fast increases are crazy. It went up to $622 and stayed for a long time, then went to $633, down to $622 .... back and forth ... then $830, then $1049. You had your price adjusted for a reduced fare of $7????? Isn't that a bit absurd. I would suggest that people who do things like that will make it more difficult for the rest of us who may want to take advantage of significant reductions. DON Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiseGal999 Posted August 19, 2018 #12 Share Posted August 19, 2018 You had your price adjusted for a reduced fare of $7????? Isn't that a bit absurd. I would suggest that people who do things like that will make it more difficult for the rest of us who may want to take advantage of significant reductions. DON Why would my watching the prices every day and getting the available discount hinder anyone else's chances? Doesn't make any sense. Why not get it adjusted? Turns out ... to date ... it's the lowest fare of the cruise. I'm sailing solo ... I'll take all the savings I can get. I got $100 off with Amex promo. I bought Princess gift cards with bonus free $$ gift cards and paid off my balance with the purchased gift cards and the bonus $$ gift cards are my OBC. I wonder if the rapid increase in price this past week is due to a large group booking their cabins? So many cabins being booked at once maybe triggered the price increases? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geocruiser Posted August 19, 2018 #13 Share Posted August 19, 2018 (edited) Why would my watching the prices every day and getting the available discount hinder anyone else's chances? Doesn't make any sense. Why not get it adjusted? Turns out ... to date ... it's the lowest fare of the cruise. I'm sailing solo ... I'll take all the savings I can get. I got $100 off with Amex promo. I bought Princess gift cards with bonus free $$ gift cards and paid off my balance with the purchased gift cards and the bonus $$ gift cards are my OBC. I wonder if the rapid increase in price this past week is due to a large group booking their cabins? So many cabins being booked at once maybe triggered the price increases? Can you please tell me about the Princess gift cards, and where do you get them? OK I found where to get them. https://www.princess.com/learn/cruise-gifts-celebrations/overview/gift-cards/ But I did not see at this time any bonus to buy them> When do you get that? Thanks Edited August 19, 2018 by geocruiser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiseGal999 Posted August 19, 2018 #14 Share Posted August 19, 2018 Can you please tell me about the Princess gift cards, and where do you get them? OK I found where to get them. https://www.princess.com/learn/cruise-gifts-celebrations/overview/gift-cards/ But I did not see at this time any bonus to buy them> When do you get that? Thanks It was a special Princess was having over Mother's Day weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geocruiser Posted August 19, 2018 #15 Share Posted August 19, 2018 It was a special Princess was having over Mother's Day weekend. Thank you. I will now look into this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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