Price Dropped on Cruise and NCL not offering to match or OBC or...

[nolaAlive]

I checked the price today of an upcoming NCL Christmas cruise. It looks like the price for the 3 cabins I have booked is $2000 or so less.

The cruise is paid for and now in the penalty phase. All NCL will offer is a cabin upgrade to a deck I wasn't interested in when I booked the cruise, much less now.

 

They won't refund some of the difference or offer an OBC or anything else.

 

I'm pretty sure it would be cheaper to pay the penalty, cancel the cruise and rebook at the lower fare.

 

Has anyone ever gotten any different results with NCL? Their response is not much of an incentive for me to book next year's Christmas cruise with them.

[Sairey]

I checked the price today of an upcoming NCL Christmas cruise. It looks like the price for the 3 cabins I have booked is $2000 or so less.

The cruise is paid for and now in the penalty phase. All NCL will offer is a cabin upgrade to a deck I wasn't interested in when I booked the cruise, much less now.

 

They won't refund some of the difference or offer an OBC or anything else.

 

I'm pretty sure it would be cheaper to pay the penalty, cancel the cruise and rebook at the lower fare.

 

Has anyone ever gotten any different results with NCL? Their response is not much of an incentive for me to book next year's Christmas cruise with them.

 

I had the same issue a few days ago with my cruise in January. I booked through the frequent flier site on my airline. I called NCL and they said I needed to talk to the site I booked it through. So I called NWA and the agent immediately told me they could refund the difference in fare ($350) but the OBC was only for new bookings. She called NCL and had to speak to several supervisors but she was able to get me the room I booked for $350 less (credited to my card). She was also able to get me a $75 OBC (we are an inside cabin). She had to speak with several supervisors to get it done though. It took 40 minutes, but was well worth it. I would do the same if I were you. If yo ubooked through NCL directly call and ask to speak to a supervisor. I also knew another couple who got a rate match so I told them that as well. Explain you will cancel and go with another line if needed and not book again next year. I've found that if they know they will lose your business theyll be more than happy to make exceptions. Worth a phone call at least.

[mbisson]

Often the last minute fares carry the stipulation "new bookings only"

[ohioNCLcruiser]

I checked the price today of an upcoming NCL Christmas cruise. It looks like the price for the 3 cabins I have booked is $2000 or so less.

The cruise is paid for and now in the penalty phase. All NCL will offer is a cabin upgrade to a deck I wasn't interested in when I booked the cruise, much less now.

 

They won't refund some of the difference or offer an OBC or anything else.

 

I'm pretty sure it would be cheaper to pay the penalty, cancel the cruise and rebook at the lower fare.

 

Has anyone ever gotten any different results with NCL? Their response is not much of an incentive for me to book next year's Christmas cruise with them.

 

Was final payment date already passed? You can ask for a different cabin in a higher category thats now for the price you booked your current rooms but I'm guessing that was to the room on the deck you were not interested is? If thats the case then they might not do anything. When you book the cruise expect the price you see it as is what you are going to pay. If they offer a better cabin then take that. You wouldn't call up NCL and ask to pay the difference if the price went up would you? :D

[G'ma]

You need to check the small print.

 

These types of reductions in fares are usually applicable to new bookings only.

[blindrid]

You also had the opportunity to select cabins by booking early. When one books, you take the risk of prices going down and certainly locked in your prices if in fact they went up.

 

It's a function of supply and demand. I would say the dealbreaker with your plan is the "new booking" stipulation. No one guarantees a price will not go lower and will make up the difference.

[nolaAlive]

It is in the penalty phase.

 

If I cancel the cruise and rebook, why would it not be a new booking?

 

Looks like the new fare would be about $1850 less than what was paid and would cost $1250 to cancel, so I would still have a $600 savings. I don't see why they can't give me part of that as an OBC instead of risking, and probably losing, future business. They obviously are not thinking long term.

 

I could have booked any of the balcony categories but intentionally did not book a BA because the whole deck above is public areas (noise) and booked BC (1 deck down) instead.

 

I think I will try asking for supervisors until I find one that has some business sense or frustrates me enough to where I do cancel the cruise.

 

I do know you can get OBCs after a price drop, even after final payment/penalty phase, on at least one cruise line.

[ohioNCLcruiser]

It is in the penalty phase.

 

If I cancel the cruise and rebook, why would it not be a new booking?

 

The only worry about that is they will be able to still tell you booked it, canceled it and rebooked it and I think from another poster they have something in the fine print about this.

[MrLee]

The only worry about that is they will be able to still tell you booked it, canceled it and rebooked it and I think from another poster they have something in the fine print about this.

 

 

I cancellrd a cruise for LAST January on the Pearl and it STILL shows up! :rolleyes:

[nolaAlive]

The only worry about that is they will be able to still tell you booked it, canceled it and rebooked it and I think from another poster they have something in the fine print about this.

 

This could be true, but then they would risk me canceling and then booking on a different cruise line. Would they really refuse my money? In this economy, I tend to think not.

[MrLee]

This could be true, but then they would risk me canceling and then booking on a different cruise line. Would they really refuse my money? In this economy, I tend to think not.

 

We'll certainly be curious to see the answer to that.;)

[jollycruise]

Just my 2 cents here. I booked a cruise through NCL price of course went down after final payment because they are trying to fill up the ship. I did call just to see if they would do anything. They didn't, always worth trying though. I will continue to sail on NCL. When I booked the cruise I was happy with the price and got to pick our stateroom. It says in the fine print on just about all these issue's that it's either for new bookings only or so forth. Like OhioNCLcruiser stated, if the price went up and NCL charged you more would you not have a complete crap attack?

[nolaAlive]

I guess I have been spoiled by Carnival, because they do match price decreases until final payment and then offer an OBC or upgrade after the final payment.

 

Next year NCL will have some competition in the 7 day cruise market out of New Orleans and I'm pretty sure I know which cruise line will be getting my business next Christmas.

 

I'll try the supervisor route on Monday, and if that fails I'll let my sister take over. She can talk and talk and talk. Maybe they'll cave just so she'll go away. :)

[ohioNCLcruiser]

This could be true, but then they would risk me canceling and then booking on a different cruise line. Would they really refuse my money? In this economy, I tend to think not.

 

They might risk it and stick to their rules they have set and not start a calling frenzy of guests saying "well you let it to this passenger.."

 

The bad thing is I bet you were really looking forward to this cruise till you noticed the price drop. Now because you (or anyone else in this situation) didn't want the different stateroom category are upset over the cruise. Maybe it would be best to cancel and go with another option.. at least the vacation would have a good taste in your mouth.

 

I think one of the reasons why MACOP aka AFT_LOVER was banned from Royal Caribbean and Celebrity is because they made a deal of compensation and this poster published it.

[ohioNCLcruiser]

offer an OBC or upgrade after the final payment.

 

Isn't that what NCL offered though, a higher cabin cat but you didn't take it? Don't mean to sound like an attack I'm just curious.

[MrLee]

I guess I have been spoiled by Carnival, because they do match price decreases until final payment and then offer an OBC or upgrade after the final payment.

 

 

Didn't you say they offered an upgrade and you declined? :confused:

[Don Haynes]

They did offer a higher price cabin, but you refused it. Cash refunds in these days of the credit crunch is not the same as years ago. The credit crunch has affected businesses worldwide in more ways than one.

[terrymtex01]

This could be true, but then they would risk me canceling and then booking on a different cruise line. Would they really refuse my money? In this economy, I tend to think not.

 

There is a problem with your theory. If they let you do this, then they would need to let every one do this and then there is no incentive for people to book early. When you book early, as someone already pointed out, you get more of a cabin selection to your liking. You pay for that ability by paying a higher fare than you would a month or two before sailing. NCL would probably rather risk losing your business than making their entire pricing formula meaningless. I know if I were in that business it is what I would do.

[sottovoce]

Seems to me you can choose to wait until the last minute in the hope that you'll get a great price on a last minute deal in a stateroom that you'll find acceptable. But to get that great price you take a risk that you might find the ship booked or the category of stateroom you want sold out or the price perhaps higher because of high demand. Or you can book early, choose the stateroom you want, lock it in and have peace of mind.

 

Sounds to me like you want to have your cake and eat it, too. That's not the way the risk/reward trade-off works. You chose the book it early for peace of mind path, and were unwilling to take a chance at getting a lower price weeks before the cruise. The cruise price did go down at the last minute--after final payment. NCL offered an upgrade and you turned it down. I don't see what the complaint is all about. You made the choice, and now should live with it.

[nolaAlive]

Isn't that what NCL offered though, a higher cabin cat but you didn't take it? Don't mean to sound like an attack I'm just curious.

 

I could have booked the "upgrade" cat to begin with, but I wasn't interested. In my opinion, what they offered wasn't an upgrade, but a downgrade. I had already rejected those cabins as being undesirable when I booked in the first place.

 

I understand cash is at a premium which is why I was willing to settle for an OBC which doesn't remove cash from their pockets and could encourage me to spend more. Who spends an OBC without going over the amount?

 

But for the sake of what some seem to want to argue, suppose I had booked those cabins to begin with. The prices on those have also dropped. Since they are no higher category balconies, there is no possible upgrade they could offer. What then?

 

While I will probably sail on NCL again, I have learned the lesson. Only book last minute specials they may offer. It's the only way to be treated fairly.

[CaliforniaDreamer]

I could have booked the "upgrade" cat to begin with, but I wasn't interested. In my opinion, what they offered wasn't an upgrade, but a downgrade. I had already rejected those cabins as being undesirable when I booked in the first place.

 

I understand cash is at a premium which is why I was willing to settle for an OBC which doesn't remove cash from their pockets and could encourage me to spend more. Who spends an OBC without going over the amount?

 

But for the sake of what some seem to want to argue, suppose I had booked those cabins to begin with. The prices on those have also dropped. Since they are no higher category balconies, there is no possible upgrade they could offer. What then?

 

While I will probably sail on NCL again, I have learned the lesson. Only book last minute specials they may offer. It's the only way to be treated fairly.

 

sorry you had to find out the hard way.

 

i cruise both lines.

 

carnival gives obc for fare reductions. NCL doesn't. bottom line.

 

i wait and book my NCL cruises last minute for that reason.

 

try to enjoy the cruise. but good luck anyway, trying to get some reduction or obc.

[nolaAlive]

sorry you had to find out the hard way.

 

i cruise both lines.

 

carnival gives obc for fare reductions. NCL doesn't. bottom line.

 

i wait and book my NCL cruises last minute for that reason.

 

try to enjoy the cruise. but good luck anyway, trying to get some reduction or obc.

 

Win lose or draw I will enjoy the cruise. I've been on NCL before, but am curious to try Freestyle 2.0.

 

I suppose that is one of the reasons Carnival makes a profit and NCL doesn't?

[margretha]

Just to add my two cents: family and DH and I experienced the same

thing on recent NCL cruise. Yes, we got to book early and pick cabin, etc.

And if it was a couple of hundred dollars difference it wouldn't be a big deal. But when the difference is a couple thousand, when NCL just shrugs, when you have sailed with them faithfully for decade or more and you don't even get a small OBC then you have to wonder what they value. We too were offered an "upgrade" but to a setting we'd already decided against - one with stairs just outside the window and a walkway. So no one would want that, higher deck or not. In the end we too have decided to book at the last minute and be happy with what we get on whatever cruise line has something sailing somewhere!:cool:margretha

[CruisnGram]

I could have booked the "upgrade" cat to begin with, but I wasn't interested. In my opinion, what they offered wasn't an upgrade, but a downgrade. I had already rejected those cabins as being undesirable when I booked in the first place.

 

They may not be desireable to you, but to NCL they are a step up...more expensive cabins then you picked/purchased. So by them offering the upgraded cabins to you, they are compensating you in their opinion. Just because you don't want those cabins, doesn't negate the fact that they were offered, and they are considered an upgrade.

 

I understand cash is at a premium which is why I was willing to settle for an OBC which doesn't remove cash from their pockets and could encourage me to spend more. Who spends an OBC without going over the amount?

 

I don't get how OBC doesn't remove cash from their pocket. OBC gives you free products....dinners, liquor, items in the gift shop, etc. Those items have to be purchased by NCL and you get them for free. So how does OBC not cost them money?

 

But for the sake of what some seem to want to argue, suppose I had booked those cabins to begin with. The prices on those have also dropped. Since they are no higher category balconies, there is no possible upgrade they could offer. What then?

 

Yes there is...mini suites and suites.

 

While I will probably sail on NCL again, I have learned the lesson. Only book last minute specials they may offer. It's the only way to be treated fairly.

 

I'm sorry but I fail to understand what is unfair about this. They are heavily discounting cabins so that they don't sail empty since final payment is passed. Had the prices of the rooms you booked gone up, would you be upset if NCL asked you to pay the higher price? I'd bet that you would, yet you want the lower price now. You cannot have it both ways.

I hope that you are able to put this aside and enjoy your trip. You obviously were happy with the price you got when you booked the trip or you wouldn't have booked it. So try not to let this issue ruin your hard earned vacation.

CG

[garycarla]

Once you have made an AGREEMENT to pay a certain price and have reached the final payment time, then the deal is sealed. If the price goes up or down, your contract is sealed.

 

Yes, sometimes they go down. Sometimes they go up. Sometimes they sell out. But they never ask you to pay more.

 

Yes, it stinks that you could be a new customer and get the lower price. Life is always a gamble. But, NCL is obligated and will stick to the original deal you were happy with.

 

Can you cancel and rebook on another cruiseline? Yes you can, and as a business NCL knows they will see a few customers do exactly that. In the big picture this is better than reducing the price to folks.

 

As to OBC - this is real money. If you get a $300 and your normal onboard spending is $400, then that is $300 they will never ever see. Yes, you might spend a little bit more, and then maybe you will decide to stay exactly inside that OBC budget and spend even less. In any event, that is real money.

 

In the current economy, they will reduce the fares very low. Sailing with an empty cabin will cost them more than the cabin fare. It will also reduce the other money spent onboard for casino, drinks, tours, photo, shopping, etc. They will sell them at a loss to get people onboard.

 

A year or more ago, if you waited for a lower fare, you often found that a cruise was SOLD OUT. Just the way it is.

 

PS - If you are willing to pay the penalty (often full fare) to cancel and want to rebook - you can probably beat their NEW BOOKINGS system by picking a different cruise. Just do not book the same one you had.