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What Does Seabourn Do With Price Drops to Already Booked Passengers


rallydave
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We are looking to book a late 2017 cruise once they are offered, hopefully next month and as we are new to Seabourn, understand we need to post to get a referral coupon and understand we can do this after booking??

 

Real question is what does Seabourn do for already booked if any price drops occur either before or after final payment.

 

Thanks in advance and really looking forward to our Seabourn adventure,

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Dave,

Best to contact your TA, he/she knows what to do.

That happened to our upcoming cruise with SB, it was before final payment and SB adjusted the price.

Don't know what SB will do with a price drop after the final payment.

John

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Dave,

Best to contact your TA, he/she knows what to do.

That happened to our upcoming cruise with SB, it was before final payment and SB adjusted the price.

Don't know what SB will do with a price drop after the final payment.

John

 

We just experienced this. The price dropped $1000 a piece a few days after we entered the cancellation phase (120 days out) and a few days before final payment was due. My travel agent called and argued with them a few times; each time they sweetened the deal a little. We wound up getting $1000 on-board credit, combinable with our other on-board credits. So now, we have a lot of on board credit and have decided we will spend it on Seabourn excursions in most ports and unlimited Internet.

 

You have to have a booking number for someone to send in a referral coupon for you. You will get $400 on board credit, as will your referral source.

 

If you happen to have 100 shares of Carnival Cruise Line stock, you get additional on-board credit on Seabourn and all of the other affiliated lines just for sending in proof that you own the stock.

 

Linda

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Seabourn twice adjusted the price for us prior to final payment……probably a month prior. I saw the lower price and notified my TA who was able to get the lower price. It is my understanding that there is no adjustment to the price after you make final payment. There is a recent thread on this topic. Scroll down to "the fare went down. What did Seabourn do for you?"

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi, that's really interesting. I always dread it when the conversation at the Sky Bar turns to, "so what did you pay". If I wasn't happy with the price I wouldn't have paid. A lower price can cause a great deal of angst for some.

 

Recently we went to a Ponant information session. Their pricing policy is quite different. The price when the itinerary is first published is 30% off for a period, then it reduces incrementally by 5%. So by booking early you have the greatest discount. In fact most of their itineraries sell out 12 months in advance. We were also advised that they do not sail with full capacity as many of their rooms open to the next to form larger suites. Will have to try them one day as we loved the smaller Seabourn ships.

 

I was aghast to receive a Seabourn survey recently asking thoughts on some type of exclusive pool and spa area for 30 couples at a higher price with access to special canapes (yup, that's all you need, more food!), concierge service and higher end drinks. Seabourn seem to be losing the plot as to why people travel with them - there is no elitism, there is no need on a small ship, everyone is the same and you meet some truly interesting travellers. It seems the larger new ship might be prompting some of the same selling tactics as other cheaper lines. Is this yet another shade of Holland America's infriltration?

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What interests me is the different pricing policies depending on where you live. I think many lines are trying to tempt customers from other countries - I know our Regent cruise last year was almost half what was being paid by customers in the States at the time we booked (I know the flights to Europe are more expensive so that accounts for some of the difference). I was also watching one of those morning TV shows whilst on half term holiday and one lady who had friends in Australia paid £1000 more for her identical cabin (was either Princess or P&O) than her Australian friends - not including flights and booked one day apart.

I understand supply and demand - if something isn't selling then by reducing the price you may sell more but when you book at the same time, it does seem a tad unfair (leaving flights out of the equation of course)

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What interests me is the different pricing policies depending on where you live. I think many lines are trying to tempt customers from other countries - I know our Regent cruise last year was almost half what was being paid by customers in the States at the time we booked (I know the flights to Europe are more expensive so that accounts for some of the difference). I was also watching one of those morning TV shows whilst on half term holiday and one lady who had friends in Australia paid £1000 more for her identical cabin (was either Princess or P&O) than her Australian friends - not including flights and booked one day apart.

I understand supply and demand - if something isn't selling then by reducing the price you may sell more but when you book at the same time, it does seem a tad unfair (leaving flights out of the equation of course)

 

Part of the issue comes from changing exchange rates. I imagine the cruise is originally priced in US dollars. If the US dollar rises substantially, as it has against for example the Aussie dollar in the last year or two, the price in Australian dollars goes up. In my case cruises are at least 30% more expensive than they were last year. Sometimes cruise lines soften the blow by lowering the price in some markets in order to keep us sailing.

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True, it was just a survey but it made me see red at the time. Marketing material with a fundamental lack of understanding of the Seabourn brand and "inclusiveness". Hopefully I wasn't the only one to provide negative feedback. Much rather comment now than complain after a re-fit and product launch.

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US advertise the price less tax, in Aus they must include tax which can be misleading. On comparison for our Canada New England cruise last year, it was about the same price in USD to AUD with tax taken into account and the Aussie at the time was 80c so we effectively got it 20% cheaper. (except the airfares cost as much nearly as the cruise :( )

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I have never met anyone on Seabourn that has asked how much I have paid for my cruise.

Disgraceful behaviour of anyone has had this happen to them.

 

I would never come up and ask strangers what they paid for their cruises, or their watches, as many people freak out talking about money issues and it is of course none of my business and would be crude to do so. But if they were otherwise friendly, direct people and we were talking generally about things including eventually about markets and deals and pricing in the travel world, I would have no problem answering their questions if they asked me. You can learn a lot of useful information from fellow travelers, and I am fascinated by pricing, price discrimination decisions, etc. (and of course I like to get good value :))

After all, on CC how to get deals and best value is also a common topic of discussion -- though for the most part, the difference here is it is done anonymously!

 

On my Odyssey trip last September it was pretty funny that at least 3 groups of couples I landed up being within easy earshot of at dinners seemed to spend most of their dinner conversations talking about their frequent flyer programs and how to game them. Two adamant New Yorker couples were even very proud to announce that they "would never pay business class, it is a waste of money", and said it in such a loud tone of voice that they made sure everyone in their immediate environment knew this. Based on other clues in their attire and conversations, these were also likely very affluent people -- they just like deals, and like talking about them, without shame, and for some people getting a deal is often more about the chase and the principle of value, than the actual absolute savings.

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I would never come up and ask strangers what they paid for their cruises, or their watches, as many people freak out talking about money issues and it is of course none of my business and would be crude to do so. But if they were otherwise friendly, direct people and we were talking generally about things including eventually about markets and deals and pricing in the travel world, I would have no problem answering their questions if they asked me. You can learn a lot of useful information from fellow travelers, and I am fascinated by pricing, price discrimination decisions, etc. (and of course I like to get good value :))

After all, on CC how to get deals and best value is also a common topic of discussion -- though for the most part, the difference here is it is done anonymously!

 

On my Odyssey trip last September it was pretty funny that at least 3 groups of couples I landed up being within easy earshot of at dinners seemed to spend most of their dinner conversations talking about their frequent flyer programs and how to game them. Two adamant New Yorker couples were even very proud to announce that they "would never pay business class, it is a waste of money", and said it in such a loud tone of voice that they made sure everyone in their immediate environment knew this. Based on other clues in their attire and conversations, these were also likely very affluent people -- they just like deals, and like talking about them, without shame, and for some people getting a deal is often more about the chase and the principle of value, than the actual absolute savings.

 

I was n a Regent Cruise (my one and only) and there was one individual who worked for one of the large wealth management outfits who was clearly touting for business.

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Similarly on Seabourn. I particularly found it interesting on the South America trip that a "guest" on board was touting for a jewellery company in Rio. He was lining up passengers for a particular shop and providing free transport to tourist attractions and a guide. This was in direct competition with the onboard shop and featured regional specialist jewellery company. It took a few days before the reason for the charm and attention was realised. I thought it was a one-off, but have read again recently that he is still a regular on board.

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  • 11 months later...

I had booked directly with Seabourn and just called them after checking the price on an unsold cabin identical to mine and seeing that it was now $1100 per person cheaper. They were willing to adjust my prices because it was still a few days prior to the date when they start charging cancellation fees. They said that after that date (4 mos prior to sailing) they would not adjust the price.

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===========

Good Afternoon,

 

I have just spoken to Seabourn and they are unable to change the price because the promotions for new bookings only.

 

I do apologise Seabourn normally allow us to change the costing but on this occasion they are not.

=========

 

Sometimes they will not adjust even before final payment :(

 

 

從我的iPhone使用Tapatalk 發送

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===========

Good Afternoon,

 

I have just spoken to Seabourn and they are unable to change the price because the promotions for new bookings only.

 

I do apologise Seabourn normally allow us to change the costing but on this occasion they are not.

=========

 

Sometimes they will not adjust even before final payment :(

 

 

從我的iPhone使用Tapatalk 發送

 

If that is the case, then simply cancel and rebook. If you are before final payment and booking from the USA, then it is no problem.

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If that is the case, then simply cancel and rebook. If you are before final payment and booking from the USA, then it is no problem.

 

 

But my TA is in UK…

Maybe better luck next time

 

 

從我的iPhone使用Tapatalk 發送

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On the other hand, it can be a real pain when all of the suites are booked up by people who have done so on the off chance they may want to sail and then cancel just before the 90 days. When the suites become free again the cost of flights has usually rocketed!

 

I did like the Ponant idea which was quoted previously with the cheapest prices offered to those who book early with the price then going up rather than down.

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Techomo123,

You are so right. I use a U.K. TA and have no problem with the fact that once I book I cannot cancel without penalty. I don't book a cruise until I am sure I want to take the cruise. It does seem that some in the US do use the lack of a penalty to book and unbook cruises which does play havoc with the inventory. Interesting what you say Ponant does. I wonder if they are the only ones?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

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