Keep checking your fare - even if a Private Sale

[DaveOKC]

I booked a cruise (10 day Europe) for next August using a Private Sale rate that my DW got (but not me), three weeks ago.  Just back from a different cruise so I thought I would recheck fares on two cruises I have booked.  Turns out that the Europe one had a price drop, even though it was still listed as a Private Sale fare (strange, as I thought that those fares were fixed until after the promotion was over (in 2 more weeks).  So I had my HAL PCC refare it and saved around $400 pp (13%).  The refaring was done by email and took about 15 minutes, so I am quite happy with the result.

 

I thought that this was a bit unusual for HAL (due to the Private Sale), so I wanted to pass it on.

[iancal]

We have found the  phrases sale, private sale, member exclusive, etc to be completely meaningless when they relate to cruise lines of all brands.   It is akin to believing in the tooth ferry.

 

More often to us it appears to be an indication that fares were raised two weeks prior in order for them to be dropped in order to accommodate a 'sale' two weeks hence.   I think that we a have had one, perhaps two real sales over the past 20 odd years.

 

If we book outside the final payment window ( which is very infrequent these days) we always watch for price decreases-sale or no sale.

Edited December 17, 2019 by iancal

[DaveOKC]

3 hours ago, iancal said:

We have found the  phrases sale, private sale, member exclusive, etc to be completely meaningless when they relate to cruise lines of all brands.   It is akin to believing in the tooth ferry.

 

More often to us it appears to be an indication that fares were raised two weeks prior in order for them to be dropped in order to accommodate a 'sale' two weeks hence.   I think that we a have had one, perhaps two real sales over the past 20 odd years.

In my experience, the Private Sale prices seem to remain the same until the promotion period is over, as they publish these special fares in the mailer they send out.  However, I guess things could change.......

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Thanks for the info.

[DaveOKC]

Update - yesterday we received a "casino mailer" from HAL (first time ever) and it offered discounts of up to 30%.  Now I wonder if the price drop I reported was due to a casino discount rating change due to our play on the recent cruise (last week).  My DW (who does the gambling) lost about the same as in previous cruises, but she played for longer than normal (due to alot of small wins).  

[DeeniEncinitas]

Thanks Dave if the information!

Was able to do the same thing with my PCC!

Denise😊

[Mary229]

@DaveOKC I am going to have to get John to do a bit more gambling 😉

[leanstostarboard]

I appreciate the heads up to check the fares.    I checked my fare from the pre-Thanksgiving private sale and discovered my Baltic cruise was now $1100 (for two) cheaper.   East to get the fare adjusted.  Thanks! 

[drowelf]

Anytime there is even a hint of any kind of sale going on, I have my TA check all our bookings. Sometimes there is a net price drop, other times there is not. And I say net price drop, because you have to figure in all the various perks to get the bottom line. One time I traded in 800pp Airfare Credit for the change in price. Still came out ahead in the total cost of the vacation.