Royal's policy on lower rates?

[4774Papa]

I know that Royal and Celebrity once had a policy that before final payment if the fares dropped that they would give you the new lower rate.   Is that still the case?

 

 

[shof515]

yes. you can adjust your pricing anytime

[Biker19]

1 hour ago, 4774Papa said:

 Is that still the case?

Yes, though you may get push back on some special rates, like the ones on the GGG flier which are supposed to be on new bookings only.

[MightyMike]

Is the policy exactly the same for refundable and non-refundable fares?

[Biker19]

1 minute ago, MightyMike said:

Is the policy exactly the same for refundable and non-refundable fares?

Yes.

[Ashland]

1 hour ago, shof515 said:

yes. you can adjust your pricing anytime

Anytime before final payment is due. However if you have booked a GTY and have been assigned a cabin no price reduction I believe.

[4774Papa]

I finally was able to check my current prices against the new prices and I am better off with the old prices.

[CruiserLucas]

29 minutes ago, 4774Papa said:

I finally was able to check my current prices against the new prices and I am better off with the old prices.

Be sure to check frequently, though. I bookmarked the pricing page for my sailing on my phone browser so I see it at least once a day. They change the prices pretty often.

[HappyTexan44]

They wouldn't let me for the 'special pricing'

[Jbluebird]

I've tried getting a new rate several times since booking at the end of November and have been told each time that the "new" rates are for non-refundable deposits and we have a refundable deposit. I'll keep trying though because our final payment isn't due until the spring. 🙂

[CruisingHogFan]

On 12/4/2022 at 3:20 PM, Ashland said:

Anytime before final payment is due. However if you have booked a GTY and have been assigned a cabin no price reduction I believe.

I’ve never had an issue with repricing and GTY. Just did it a few weeks ago

[FamilyCruiserUK]

On 12/4/2022 at 7:07 PM, 4774Papa said:

I know that Royal and Celebrity once had a policy that before final payment if the fares dropped that they would give you the new lower rate.   Is that still the case?

 

 

Depends on where you live and book. USA yes, rest of world mostly no. In the UK for example we cant price match unless it was in our T&Cs which are different to our US cousins.

[Merion_Mom]

46 minutes ago, Jbluebird said:

I've tried getting a new rate several times since booking at the end of November and have been told each time that the "new" rates are for non-refundable deposits and we have a refundable deposit. I'll keep trying though because our final payment isn't due until the spring. 🙂

 

I *think* what they were telling you is that the lower rate is with a nonrefundable deposit.  You could switch to that, if you wanted, to save the money. (i.e., the price difference you are seeing is for nonrefundable.  You paid more to get the refundable.  If you want to give that up, you can)

[Starry Eyes]

14 minutes ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

I *think* what they were telling you is that the lower rate is with a nonrefundable deposit.  You could switch to that, if you wanted, to save the money. (i.e., the price difference you are seeing is for nonrefundable.  You paid more to get the refundable.  If you want to give that up, you can)

And by my way of thinking, as final payment approaches, it may make more and more sense to switch to a lower nonrefundable rate because you are into the penalty phase, the benefits of refundable deposit are eliminated or diminished.

I chuckle when I make a last minute booking (way into penalty phase) and the phone rep talks to me sincerely about whether I want to book with refundable deposit.  If I have to cancel, how ever I book that cruise, I’ll lose way more than the deposit.  They should be selling me insurance.

[Ashland]

1 hour ago, CruisingHogFan said:

I’ve never had an issue with repricing and GTY. Just did it a few weeks ago

Were you assigned a cabin yet? This seems to be a factor I thought.

[Ret MP]

We've been through this on at least a couple other threads.  I agree that repricing can be done, prior to the final payment date.  And, I'm just asking a question here, not saying anybody is right or wrong.  But, what does this mean?  I'm really curious, not argumentative:

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/best-price-guarantee-policy

 

Spot a better price on your booked cruise?

Our Best Price Guarantee lets you take advantage of a better price within 48 hours from the time you booked— just give us a call or use our online form. You’ll receive the difference as a non-refundable onboard credit inside final payment or rate adjustment outside final payment.

[cruiseguy1016]

21 minutes ago, Ret MP said:

We've been through this on at least a couple other threads.  I agree that repricing can be done, prior to the final payment date.  And, I'm just asking a question here, not saying anybody is right or wrong.  But, what does this mean?  I'm really curious, not argumentative:

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/best-price-guarantee-policy

 

Spot a better price on your booked cruise?

Our Best Price Guarantee lets you take advantage of a better price within 48 hours from the time you booked— just give us a call or use our online form. You’ll receive the difference as a non-refundable onboard credit inside final payment or rate adjustment outside final payment.

 

I think this is for bookings made after final payment date.

[Biker19]

2 hours ago, Ashland said:

Were you assigned a cabin yet? This seems to be a factor I thought.

Cabin assignment status should make no diff.

[LittleJoefromKokomo]

4 hours ago, FamilyCruiserUK said:

Depends on where you live and book. USA yes, rest of world mostly no. In the UK for example we cant price match unless it was in our T&Cs which are different to our US cousins.

This is a concern for me aswell as a European/Swedish cruiser. I have gotten price reductions but those cruises were back in 2017 and earlier and 2 this year but booked under Cruise with confidence campaign. Now I have two cruises booked, one was a real bargain, price is now double so I doubt it will go lower than what I booked for and the other is a casino comped cruise but if this is the new policy for Europe I will consider using a US travelagency next time.

[Ret MP]

22 hours ago, cruiseguy1016 said:

 

I think this is for bookings made after final payment date.

I don't know.  I can't/won't debate that with you.  But, that's not what the public/FAQ states.  I'm just suspect as to the behind the scenes/none public policy and their motives.   

[Ourusualbeach]

On 12/12/2022 at 1:56 PM, Ret MP said:

We've been through this on at least a couple other threads.  I agree that repricing can be done, prior to the final payment date.  And, I'm just asking a question here, not saying anybody is right or wrong.  But, what does this mean?  I'm really curious, not argumentative:

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/best-price-guarantee-policy

 

Spot a better price on your booked cruise?

Our Best Price Guarantee lets you take advantage of a better price within 48 hours from the time you booked— just give us a call or use our online form. You’ll receive the difference as a non-refundable onboard credit inside final payment or rate adjustment outside final payment.

The Best price guarantee refers to bookings made after final payment or for outside final payment for countries that do not allow price drops prior to final payment.

[Ret MP]

1 hour ago, Ourusualbeach said:

The Best price guarantee refers to bookings made after final payment or for outside final payment for countries that do not allow price drops prior to final payment.

Once again, I'm not trying to be argumentative, not one bit.  But, coming from a career in the legal system (the enforcement side) words mean things.  This kinda reminds me of when I first started out in LE going through school and an instructor stated something about a law that was exactly opposite of what was written in the statute/law.  The answer:  Don't trust statutes/laws as written in the legal libraries and so on, research "Case Law".  "Case Law" is what matters.  If "Case Law" turned a law around 180 degrees, the law is the "Case Law", not what is written in the legal books that don't cite "Case Law" although the statute/law is the basis for the "Case Law".  I feel that there is something like that going on here.  Royal has a public policy/FAQ that states one thing, without qualifications/disclaimers but something else is being applied.  I'm just wondering why.  Nothing more, nothing less.  Enquiring minds, at least mine, want to know.

[cruiseguy1016]

24 minutes ago, Ret MP said:

Once again, I'm not trying to be argumentative, not one bit.  But, coming from a career in the legal system (the enforcement side) words mean things.  This kinda reminds me of when I first started out in LE going through school and an instructor stated something about a law that was exactly opposite of what was written in the statute/law.  The answer:  Don't trust statutes/laws as written in the legal libraries and so on, research "Case Law".  "Case Law" is what matters.  If "Case Law" turned a law around 180 degrees, the law is the "Case Law", not what is written in the legal books that don't cite "Case Law" although the statute/law is the basis for the "Case Law".  I feel that there is something like that going on here.  Royal has a public policy/FAQ that states one thing, without qualifications/disclaimers but something else is being applied.  I'm just wondering why.  Nothing more, nothing less.  Enquiring minds, at least mine, want to know.

 

You asked about a refund within 48 hours and you were told that the 48 hour rule applied to cruises booked after the final payment date. I'm confused as to what you don't understand.

[StephPS79]

18 minutes ago, cruiseguy1016 said:

 

You asked about a refund within 48 hours and you were told that the 48 hour rule applied to cruises booked after the final payment date. I'm confused as to what you don't understand.

 

I think the confusion is, no where in the wording does it state that it only applies to cruises booked after final payment, which means it could be left to interpretation.  Possibly it is in the cruise contract, I don't know.  But the FAQ does not list that stipulation.

[Ret MP]

27 minutes ago, cruiseguy1016 said:

 

You asked about a refund within 48 hours and you were told that the 48 hour rule applied to cruises booked after the final payment date. I'm confused as to what you don't understand.

I'm confused because that's not what the policy/FAQ says.  The policy/FAQ says that you must find a better price within 48 hours of making your booking to do the price guarantee.  That means to me the if I book and pay my deposit for a booking right now, 4:30 PM on Tuesday, after 4:30 PM on Thursday, the pricing guarantee is no longer valid.  However, some say that you can get the price guarantee any time and others say it has to be outside of the final payment date, and some say that you can only do it within the final payment date.  This is my problem struggling with the wording of the policy/FAQ and what some are saying.  That's all.  Again, not an argument, just seeking verifiable clarification.  

 

For example, I have a booking that I've paid the deposit on several months ago and it sails in January 2024, over a year away.  It is well past the 48 hours since I made the booking and paid the deposit.  So, no matter how hard we research for a better price, we can't do the price guarantee because it is beyond 48 hours since I booked and paid the deposit, according to the policy/FAQ.  Right or wrong?  If I'm wrong, I'd like to see it in writing or explain how I'm reading this wrong.  

 

This is Royal's words, not mine:

"Spot a better price on your booked cruise?

Our Best Price Guarantee lets you take advantage of a better price within 48 hours from the time you booked— just give us a call or use our online form. You’ll receive the difference as a non-refundable onboard credit inside final payment or rate adjustment outside final payment".

 

The "inside" and "outside" payment date mentioned is only explaining how you get the difference of the rates.  If you booked and paid the deposit inside the final payment date AND found a better price within the 48 hours after booking and paying the deposit, you get an OBC for the difference.  If you book and paid the deposit outside the deposit date, your final payment will be adjusted to the lower amount, if booked you found the better price with the 48 hours of booking paying the deposit.  That's how I read the policy/FAQ.