Overpaid and RCCL says tough luck, you paid too soon.

[Tree_skier]

Just booked another cruise taking advantage of TA group space on WOS.  Royal website price for the same thing refundable was $1600 more than what I paid.  Plus I got $200 OBC.  I'm practically cruising for free 🙂 

Edited April 25, 2023 by Tree_skier

[Russ Lomas]

3 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

Just booked another cruise taking advantage of TA group space on WOS.  Royal website price for the same thing refundable was $1600 more than what I paid.  Plus I got $200 OBC.  I'm practically cruising for free 🙂 

People who insist on booking directly with the cruise line have no clue how much money they could potentially save by booking under a TA group rate and get it with a refundable deposit (or they just like to throw away money).  The golden rule is get a good trustworthy travel agent and do not book directly with cruise lines, they will not offer you any extra perks over booking with a TA and prices will never be less than a TA offers it for.  Enjoy your savings.

[CTCruiser76]

2 minutes ago, Russ Lomas said:

People who insist on booking directly with the cruise line have no clue how much money they could potentially save by booking under a TA group rate and get it with a refundable deposit (or they just like to throw away money).  The golden rule is get a good trustworthy travel agent and do not book directly with cruise lines, they will not offer you any extra perks over booking with a TA and prices will never be less than a TA offers it for.  Enjoy your savings.

I hear you - but my issue is finding a "good" TA. 

[Tree_skier]

9 minutes ago, Russ Lomas said:

People who insist on booking directly with the cruise line have no clue how much money they could potentially save by booking under a TA group rate and get it with a refundable deposit (or they just like to throw away money).  The golden rule is get a good trustworthy travel agent and do not book directly with cruise lines, they will not offer you any extra perks over booking with a TA and prices will never be less than a TA offers it for.  Enjoy your savings.

 

Thanks, I'm sure I will. I am the travel planner in our family. I have always been the "control freak" that people refer to themselves as for why they book direct. Discovering a great TA and tapping into group space savings has cured me of my "control freak" issues. More than a control freak, I'm cheap as he🏒🏒

 

There still lots of stuff to obsess over... flights, pre cruise hotel, drink packages, excursions, shuttles, etc...

 

Edited April 25, 2023 by Tree_skier

[RD64]

1 hour ago, ONECRUISER said:

Booked my first 4 Holland America Cruises last 4 months as they ran low SOLO and down payment specials. First 2 were $25ea down for a 18 nite Hawaii and a 16 nite Xmas/New years. Second 2 amount was $1 for each 15nite and a 14nite, both Panama Canals. Yes plan on going, but if don't $25 or $1 lost really isnt a big deal. 

Yet you are tieing up cabins which you may have no point in taking and then waiting until the last minute to cancel.

[Ourusualbeach]

1 minute ago, RD64 said:

Yet you are tieing up cabins which you may have no point in taking and then waiting until the last minute to cancel.

He did specify he plans on going.  No need to assume otherwise.

[RD64]

3 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

He did specify he plans on going.  No need to assume otherwise.

“But if I don’t”…… seriously though, how easy is it to tie up a dozen cruises at $1 each hoping that the price reaches a specific price point, and then cancel if it doesn’t. 

Edited April 25, 2023 by RD64
Additional

[Ourusualbeach]

3 minutes ago, RD64 said:

“But if I don’t”…… seriously though, how easy is it to tie up a dozen cruises at $1 each hoping that the price reaches a specific price point, and then cancel if it doesn’t. 

You left out the first part..

 

"Yes plan on going"

 

 

Something could happen to anyoine of us that prevents us from going when we fully intend to when we make the booking.

[RD64]

3 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

You left out the first part..

 

"Yes plan on going"

 

 

Something could happen to anyoine of us that prevents us from going when we fully intend to when we make the booking.

Much easier when the deposit is $1 as opposed to $100, $250,$500 etc.

[Another_Critic]

1 minute ago, RD64 said:

Much easier when the deposit is $1 as opposed to $100, $250,$500 etc.

I'm not sure what your point is?  If he goes, he'll have to make final payment 90? days prior.  Really no different than people booking refundable deposit and canceling at final payment (or switching to NRD).

 

Yes, less money tied up, but @ONECRUISER has a money tree (that's why he goes home once in a while ... gotten harvest the crop).

[RD64]

13 minutes ago, Another_Critic said:

I'm not sure what your point is?  If he goes, he'll have to make final payment 90? days prior.  Really no different than people booking refundable deposit and canceling at final payment (or switching to NRD).

 

Yes, less money tied up, but @ONECRUISER has a money tree (that's why he goes home once in a while ... gotten harvest the crop).

But 5000 individual cruisers - booking - say five cabins at $1 each - truly messes up inventory and pricing for everyone else until final payment. Sadly we see HAL in this unfortunate pricing debacle. When was the last time Carnival, RCL, or NCL offerred $1 deposits. Never happened - never will.

[ONECRUISER]

1 hour ago, RD64 said:

Yet you are tieing up cabins which you may have no point in taking and then waiting until the last minute to cancel.

As said plan on doing all of them, 100%. Would Cancel day I knew something changed like Family Emergency/Death. Wouldn't sit on them. Also inc Free Gratuities and OBC. Normally hard for any line to get me low as Royal with Discounts inc SOLO 340+ but these were close

Edited April 26, 2023 by ONECRUISER

[ONECRUISER]

Few yrs ago Celeb ran a special $20 Deposit and NCL ran one for $50 had Booked on 16n Panama Canal. Had to cancel Celeb's 2019 cruise due to Mom's med issues and I became her caregiver for next 2yrs. Then NCL Cruise was canceled CV Shutdown

Edited April 26, 2023 by ONECRUISER

[A&L_Ont]

1 hour ago, RD64 said:

But 5000 individual cruisers - booking - say five cabins at $1 each - truly messes up inventory and pricing for everyone else until final payment. Sadly we see HAL in this unfortunate pricing debacle. When was the last time Carnival, RCL, or NCL offerred $1 deposits. Never happened - never will.

 

This is a problem HAL created, and no fault of @ONECRUISER

Edited April 26, 2023 by A&L_Ont

[Tree_skier]

1 hour ago, RD64 said:

But 5000 individual cruisers - booking - say five cabins at $1 each - truly messes up inventory and pricing for everyone else until final payment. Sadly we see HAL in this unfortunate pricing debacle. When was the last time Carnival, RCL, or NCL offerred $1 deposits. Never happened - never will.

Princess did last year.  I booked a mini suite for April 2024 for $2.

 

Edited April 26, 2023 by Tree_skier

[bentl1]

On 4/15/2023 at 6:50 PM, superduper123 said:

Will they give you OBC for the difference in price?

Finally, quite a bit of calls to corporate resolved this problem. I keep a list of EVERYONE I meet on every ship who works for RCCL, every person (phone & extension) I speak to on the phone & and keep a list of every sales rep in the US. Upgraded cabin, internet & drink package. It shouldn't have been this hard. 

[ONECRUISER]

11 minutes ago, bentl1 said:

Finally, quite a bit of calls to corporate resolved this problem. I keep a list of EVERYONE I meet on every ship who works for RCCL, every person (phone & extension) I speak to on the phone & and keep a list of every sales rep in the US. Upgraded cabin, internet & drink package. It shouldn't have been this hard. 

And that's why. Happy for you, though you did get very lucky and received results that isn't policy nobody else would. Enjoy you Cruise!

[superduper123]

9 hours ago, bentl1 said:

Finally, quite a bit of calls to corporate resolved this problem. I keep a list of EVERYONE I meet on every ship who works for RCCL, every person (phone & extension) I speak to on the phone & and keep a list of every sales rep in the US. Upgraded cabin, internet & drink package. It shouldn't have been this hard. 

Great news!

 

[1ANGELCAT]

11 hours ago, A&L_Ont said:

 

This is a problem HAL created, and no fault of @ONECRUISER

The $1 deposit was a 1 day only promotion on April 18th to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Holland America Line.

[KmomChicago]

9 hours ago, bentl1 said:

Finally, quite a bit of calls to corporate resolved this problem. I keep a list of EVERYONE I meet on every ship who works for RCCL, every person (phone & extension) I speak to on the phone & and keep a list of every sales rep in the US. Upgraded cabin, internet & drink package. It shouldn't have been this hard. 

 

Glad you ended up with much more value for your original fare to make up the difference. This is how I booked two interior rooms on a Carnival shorty last year and ended up in Cloud 9 (spa) balconies. . . they wouldn't give back $$ but let me upgrade.  Given the option I would have preferred the original rooms for the much dropped price (they were about half what I paid by that point!), but got to go more fancypants at a price I had been willing to pay in the first place, and got to try a cabin category I had always been slightly curious about but would never have chosen to pay the premium under normal circumstances. 

 

We both ended up with lemonade instead of lemons. Enjoy your cruise!

[steveru621]

On 4/22/2023 at 1:15 PM, Ourusualbeach said:

No it is not.  The cabin type has nothing to do with the amount of deposit required.  It is solely based on the length of the sailing. 5 days or less it is $100.., 6-9 days it is $250pp and 10 days plus it is $450pp

 

Then RCI changed the rules again.

 

Passengers were booking suites and canceling.  

 

 

[Ourusualbeach]

11 minutes ago, steveru621 said:

 

Then RCI changed the rules again.

 

Passengers were booking suites and canceling.  

 

 

Been like that as long as I have been a TA

[steveru621]

2 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Been like that as long as I have been a TA

 

It certainly hasn't, or you have not been a TA for very long.

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/deposit-requirements

[PhillyFan33579]

16 hours ago, Russ Lomas said:

People who insist on booking directly with the cruise line have no clue how much money they could potentially save by booking under a TA group rate and get it with a refundable deposit (or they just like to throw away money).  The golden rule is get a good trustworthy travel agent and do not book directly with cruise lines, they will not offer you any extra perks over booking with a TA and prices will never be less than a TA offers it for.  Enjoy your savings.

I have been on 61 cruises and I have booked everyone directly with the cruise line(s). I like having total control of my bookings and not having to worry about contacting a third party if an issue arises. The perks I get as a Diamond Plus, from booking cruises on the ship and casino offers are more than enough to keep me happy. 

[steveru621]

16 hours ago, Russ Lomas said:

People who insist on booking directly with the cruise line have no clue how much money they could potentially save by booking under a TA group rate and get it with a refundable deposit (or they just like to throw away money).  The golden rule is get a good trustworthy travel agent and do not book directly with cruise lines, they will not offer you any extra perks over booking with a TA and prices will never be less than a TA offers it for.  Enjoy your savings.

 

Group rates at a travel agent are pretty rare.  They would need to book a LOT of groups for 26 ships.