Our Mexican Riviera cruise on Mariner 01/30/11 dropped $180 pp for a balcony cabin!! I originally booked in December 2009 ($879) but just saw the "Upgrade Your View" promo ($699) and called RCCL. We lost the ability to choose our specific cabin but are guaranteed a balcony. Hey, I just saved $360 - that's a BIG chunk toward airfare from TX.
Be aware that for all the Royal Caribbean brands, effective for new bookings made today they have revised the best price guarantee. Within the penalty phase, if the price drops you won't get it. They might upgrade you but that is it. If you book within the penalty phase you'll have 48 hours to claim you found a lower price and get 110% of the difference as an OBC. I guess if you find it prior to final payment you can cancel and rebook, although that could hose you if you had a specific cabin selected on the first booking.
Seems rather like the new NCL policy. I think RCI, Celebrity, and Azamara Club might see their booking windows get shorter.
My understanding is bookings made prior to today still have the old rules which allowed new pricing or OBC as close as 72 hours of the sailing. As usual, Royal Caribbean has thrown something out there with poor wording which only creates confusion.
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Dave
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Last edited by Dave Beers; May 17th, 2010 at 06:32 PM.
Dave, I read the same thread; I booked my cruise three weeks ago. According to RCI I would qualify for lower prices should there be a price drop.
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Freedom of the Seas Dec 11
Allure of the Seas: Jan 11
Voyager of the Seas: May 09
Splendour of the Seas: May 07
Explorer of the Seas: Jan 04
Majesty of the Seas Jan 99
Phil - obviously they didnt want to sell a bunch of cruises where they would be liable for price changes, so, yes, that is why it started today rather than last week.
I have to say - it amazes me what the mainstream cruise media is NOT covering these days - why are they virtually ignoring the art auctions controversy and this topic hasn't even made a blip. This is huge news for RCL regular cruisers and will really change the entire way their cruises are bought and sold.
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I am the editor, but I also speculate, ask questions and play devil's advocate. I reserve the right to change my mind.
I think RCI is playing games. We are booked on Explorer in Jan. Last week, the price of our cabin went up $100. Today it dropped $260, which means it is $160 P.P. cheaper than what we originally paid. Our TA promised we would get the lower price if it dropped BUT we booked on May 19th. after the new price guarantee policy so it will be interesting to see what happens. A $320 OBC would be nice
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It would be nice but I see no way around the policy. But if you get a pleasant surprise be sure and let us know!
Actually, as I recall they ran a BIG sale just after the policy change, so I think a lot of people booked during your week. It was a "Wow" sale. Now, to think prices have dropped even lower than your wow sale is to say prices have REALLY dropped.
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I am the editor, but I also speculate, ask questions and play devil's advocate. I reserve the right to change my mind.
It would be nice but I see no way around the policy. But if you get a pleasant surprise be sure and let us know!
Actually, as I recall they ran a BIG sale just after the policy change, so I think a lot of people booked during your week. It was a "Wow" sale. Now, to think prices have dropped even lower than your wow sale is to say prices have REALLY dropped.
Well, we got the pleasant surprise:o I contacted my TA about a week ago and today she e-mailed a new invoice for $320 less than my original invoice.
It's like getting free parking or pre-paid gratuities-or a ton of martinis
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Oceanus 1987
Splendor of the Seas 1997
Regal Empress 1998
Horizon 2000
Summit 2001
Sovereign of the Seas 2003
Noordam 2003
Zenith 2004
Mercury 2005
Princess Sun 2006
Princess Sea 2007
Constellation 2008
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No explanation at all. The new invoice was over a week arriving and I was beginning to think we weren't going to get the new price. In fact, this past weekend I was looking at upgrading instead, seeing what was available. We could have moved up 3 cats. and it would have still been less than what we originally paid. But we got it and we're very thankful-and we still got our $150 OBC and our aft balcony. Life is good!
__________________
Oceanus 1987
Splendor of the Seas 1997
Regal Empress 1998
Horizon 2000
Summit 2001
Sovereign of the Seas 2003
Noordam 2003
Zenith 2004
Mercury 2005
Princess Sun 2006
Princess Sea 2007
Constellation 2008
Mercury 2009
Constellation 2010
I'm sure there are others who booked on RCI after May 17 and are not aware of the new pricing policy ( I only knew about it from reading Cruisemates). You're bound to be hearing from some of them if they can't get the new prices!
__________________
Oceanus 1987
Splendor of the Seas 1997
Regal Empress 1998
Horizon 2000
Summit 2001
Sovereign of the Seas 2003
Noordam 2003
Zenith 2004
Mercury 2005
Princess Sun 2006
Princess Sea 2007
Constellation 2008
Mercury 2009
Constellation 2010
We purchased an 11 day cruise for January just a couple of weeks ago, the priced dropped and we were re-invoice for the lesser ammount. Did now know they have a new pricing policy, but I guess they are not following it.
I emailed RCI regarding this policy recently and the response that I got via email was that if the price went down after the 48 period after booking I could receive an onboard credit equal to the difference in price. They ALSO stated that it was possible to have our stateroom upgraded. Unfortunately the price of my cruise, which isn't until march 31 2011, went up in price about $100. I keep checking all the time though.
Oh the email that I received from RCI also stated that after the final payment was made on the cruise I would not be eligible for anything if the price of the cruise went down.
the price of my cruise, which I booked several months ago dropped $318 and RC adjusted the price. We sail on 3-31-11. I just received the new invoice today from the TA. Yipee!
You seem like you would know a lot about this stuff. So, Aare you saying that even though I paid for my Voyager of the seas cruise for Nov 21st from Galveston, I can get monet back if they lowered the price?
Also, i was wondering if you knew a good way to meet singles, or talk to them before the cruise to maybe meet on board. I'm going with 2 of my daughters, and it would be nice to meet a single lady on board. I looked at the "Meet On Board" section here, but there wasn't much there.
My cruise price once again has dropped and RCI adjusted my balance due to reflect the lower price. So I guess its safe to say that they did not change their policy on price reductions before final payment day! My cruise now costs $773 less than when I booked it in July.
:-D
I booked my Dec 30 2010 cruise in Oct 2009. This week the price dropped and I called but it was a special for New bookings only and they did not honor it. Its a difference of $700. I am aggravated! any suggestions?
did you ask for onboard credit at least? I received an email from RCCI and they told me that after final payment is made they offer onboard credit in the amount of the difference in price..
Royal Caribbean has a new "Best Price Guarantee" policy - it is only applicable for the first 48 hours after you make your reservation.
As a result - Royal Caribbean has been dropping prices like crazy lately.
BUT - IF YOU BOOKED A CRUISE BEFORE THEY CHANGED THEIR POLICY ON MAY 17, 2010, YOU ARE STILL ELIGIBLE FOR A BEST PRICE GUARANTEE.
Royal Caribbean prices have dropped like crazy - do not forget that you are still eligible.
I haven't seen a decrease and I have been watching because I put my downpayment in March of 2010 and we don't leave until June 2011. My cruise has only increased in price.
You asked if I know how this really worked. Apparently not
Seriously, they said they were ending their old policy of reducing prices after the fact - but it seems they still are doing it.
That is UNLESS the people posting here that they got discounts booked the cruise before the policy was put into effect. if so, they are grandfathered in.
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I am the editor, but I also speculate, ask questions and play devil's advocate. I reserve the right to change my mind.
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