Depressing price drop

Was just showing a friend the cruise on which my d.h. and I are booked (final payment made) on the Riviera this summer....on an online travel agent website (not the one we purchased from) which provides good info. Anyway....shocked to see the penthouse is now going for almost $2000pp less than we paid for a verendah. Is adding to the list of disappointments about this cruise....based on recent reviews...not just of the noro virus but the overall experience. First time we've felt 'ripped off' even before getting on the cruise....hope its our last experience like this! We have not cruised with Oceania previously and already feel like this will be a one and only. Forgot...there had already been a previous price reduction on the cabin category we have booked and when I called about it...was told...nothing to be done about changes after final payment.

Was just showing a friend the cruise on which my d.h. and I are booked (final payment made) on the Riviera this summer....on an online travel agent website (not the one we purchased from) which provides good info. Anyway....shocked to see the penthouse is now going for almost $2000pp less than we paid for a verendah. Is adding to the list of disappointments about this cruise....based on recent reviews...not just of the noro virus but the overall experience. First time we've felt 'ripped off' even before getting on the cruise....hope its our last experience like this! We have not cruised with Oceania previously and already feel like this will be a one and only. Forgot...there had already been a previous price reduction on the cabin category we have booked and when I called about it...was told...nothing to be done about changes after final payment.

You should be able to get moved to a higher category cabin at the very least. Be persistent with your TA. If you booked direct, then ask for a supervisor.

Perhaps another good reason to have an experienced TA who deals with O a lot rather than an anonymous online agent who won't "bat' for you.

Mine does in similar situations :)

Make sure that the two rates include the same things. For example, is air included. If yes, be persistent and ask for some compensation or an upgrade.

Does the price include the airfare?

Sometimes what looks like a better deal is not really

I agree ask for an upgrade or OBC ...you never know unless you ask

Same exact thing happened to us for our past December b2b, thousands difference from what we paid, to what we saw advertised (not to mention the braggarts onboard..sigh...)...What my TA did as a consolation was add more OBC (she asked if we wanted bev pkg or money, we took the refundable OBC) in addition to our rebate from her. O gave us $200 non refundable OBC we asked even if beverage pkg could be included, instead of upgrade, etc..nope, zippo, nada. Nothing to do with TA (My TA is an O volume specialist, she never saw it coming)...if cruise is not selling well, O sends it out heavily discounted, and sends more flyers in Newpapers up and down the East coast. Folks on our cruise actually had the flyer with them, and it was very very discounted. My sympathies...we learned the hard way also. Be comforted knowing however you received the cabin you chose and not what was leftover as unsold.

Same exact thing happened to us for our past December b2b, thousands difference from what we paid, to what we saw advertised (not to mention the braggarts onboard..sigh...)...What my TA did as a consolation was add more OBC (she asked if we wanted bev pkg or money, we took the refundable OBC) in addition to our rebate from her. O gave us $200 non refundable OBC we asked even if beverage pkg could be included, instead of upgrade, etc..nope, zippo, nada. Nothing to do with TA (My TA is an O volume specialist, she never saw it coming)...if cruise is not selling well, O sends it out heavily discounted, and sends more flyers in Newpapers up and down the East coast. Folks on our cruise actually had the flyer with them, and it was very very discounted. My sympathies...we learned the hard way also. Be comforted knowing however you received the cabin you chose and not what was leftover as unsold.

But it sounds like your TA DID give you something after final payment - so it does help to have a good TA. They will never match the price after final payment but one can get OBC, upgrade, beverage package, etc instead.

Alternatively, one can gamble and wait to see if the cruise is selling well and if not, wait to book after final payment for discounted fare (if offered) - not my way to go.

But it sounds like your TA DID give you something after final payment - so it does help to have a good TA. They will never match the price after final payment but one can get OBC, upgrade, beverage package, etc instead.

Alternatively, one can gamble and wait to see if the cruise is selling well and if not, wait to book after final payment for discounted fare (if offered) - not my way to go.

O's pricing has been "all over the place" since sale to Norwegisn. They used to advertise that early booking was a guaranteed lowest price AND IT WAS!!! Not any longer!! Our b2b last summer started as $1,000 less than 2 individual cruises and ended up $1,000 MORE!! TA fighting with O for refund and they offered $100 OBC!! Luckily, got an upsell and cancelled cruise. Looks like best prices are after final payment.

However, we were just on Nautica they gave a guarantee of best price match up to sail date only if you booked on board. New marketing.

However, we were just on Nautica they gave a guarantee of best price match up to sail date only if you booked on board. New marketing.

That sounds like a good deal - hard to go wrong with that.

That sounds like a good deal - hard to go wrong with that.

Yes, but we had already booked summer cruise and they did give us Club Certificate discount but no price match.

Considering how their prices keep changing, on board booking with price match would be "priceless"!! Said it's new marketing on started on Nautica.

We only want OS, but we see everyone getting good deals. Personally, The Riviera is off limits to me now. I just feel so bad for everyone else.

Its great to have a good agent who can get your On board credits of r change, or a upgrade.

However, looking in the rearview mirror will always bring you to a not good end.

Consider, that when you booked, you thought the fare charged was reasonable for what you got. Considering that you got the cabin and the benifits you wanted. Did not that seem, at the time, to be a good value to you?

That is the crux of the whole problem. Your decision is your decision ; live with it.

There will always be some one who gets it cheaper. Likewise another gets it more expensive. This is the way of life and if it was at one time good for you then don't look back. Such will only cause you turmoil.

Bottom line you got something for a price you deemed good. You got the extras you expected. You got the cabin you desired.

You can become obsessed and possessed to get the absolute rock bottom price, but at what price to you emotionally?

This applies to cars, cruises, air fare, furnishings and cruises etc.

Along with what Dan says, when prices drop O will drop your price IF there is still availability in your cabin category. If not, they won't.

We just learned that this happened on our October cruise on Sirena ... but we're in a category that is full. So no benefit for us. We booked when we did to get the room we did. No recriminations from us. (Sure, we'd like to get a price drop but we can live with not having one.)

Were you happy with the price when you booked?

Caroldoll, when you will only take an OS (whatever the ship), you have to assume you don't get the benefit of a price drop! There are so few available that it's not likely one will be available if a price reduction occurs.

(OTOH, the one time we were in an OS was because there was a last minute cancellation -- within 2-3 weeks of sailing -- and we were able to get it as an upsell. I'd never thought we'd be able to have an OS so I was happy to nab the room at a great price.)

Mura

jmo

I think Oceania is doing a disservice to passengers ..

like Jayne I remember the days when you booked at 18 mths out & THAT WAS THE BEST DEAL

Now they discount not even after final payment but months out then they add extras now the O Life games

No wonder the sailings are not selling .

people are waiting for the deals

Remember the days when the ships were fully booked a yr + out

Yes I know they have more cabins to fill now

One reason I do not book mass market lines ..cannot stand the games

Oh well just my opinion

Lyn

Perhaps another good reason to have an experienced TA who deals with O a lot rather than an anonymous online agent who won't "bat' for you.

 

Mine does in similar situations :)

Mine too

Was just showing a friend the cruise on which my d.h. and I are booked (final payment made) on the Riviera this summer....on an online travel agent website (not the one we purchased from) which provides good info. Anyway....shocked to see the penthouse is now going for almost $2000pp less than we paid for a verendah. Is adding to the list of disappointments about this cruise....based on recent reviews...not just of the noro virus but the overall experience. First time we've felt 'ripped off' even before getting on the cruise....hope its our last experience like this! We have not cruised with Oceania previously and already feel like this will be a one and only. Forgot...there had already been a previous price reduction on the cabin category we have booked and when I called about it...was told...nothing to be done about changes after final payment.

Which voyage is this? Sounds like a deal for those who have not booked.

I think all of this is a sign of the times. First, the Carribe has far more capacity, cruise ship wise, than probable passengers. While Carnival and O are not competing for the same passengers over all, there are still just two many ships in that market. At the end of the day, if the lines want to maximize paying customers, they have to discount the hell out of their prices to get their.

The OP didn't say which cruise she was on, but as has been earlier written, my TA said O had a massive number of cancellations for fall cruises that were originally going in or out of Instanbul. For the Fall cruises that announcement was made prior to final payment, wereas the Spring cruisers were stuck. O is trying to backfill those cancellations, on a ship that web surfers are discovering to be a "sick ship". I would personally not spend thousands of dollar on a cruise on the Riveria going anywhere, until after its next dry dock and it has the opportunity to adequately take care of its problem. For those adventurous cruisers that will take that plunge, O is offering healthy discounts to attract you.

Finally, I believe a large part of the problem is O's new approach to filling the ships. Perhaps that change is due to necessity. O has always discounted cruises, near the cruise date, to fill its ships. However, in the past, that was done through their larger volume TAs, on a personal level, with little or no advertising. O has appeared to have partially abandoned that custom and now engages large scale on line TAs that web blast the new fares to everyone on a computer. The O/TA deals are on ad popups on multiple websites and are in one's face daily. IMO, when one advertises their products, in this case O cruises, like ****** advertises it products, those products take on a lessening value, especially when the cost of that product (an O cruise) seems to drop weekly/monthly.

NCL paid a lot of money for PCH and then put FDR in charge of running the larger ship. I'm sure FDR is under a lot of pressure to ensure that investment pays off in an era of expansion in the industry. For those passengers happy with a veranda room, as opposed to an upper suite, I believe one of Lyn's earlier comments, on another thread is accurate. People, able to schedule cruises within a three to four month window or less of a cruise, may be far better off financially doing so, and not giving O money eighteen months in advance for a cruise.

Agree with pinotlover's final sentence above.

If you're flexible as to your cabin/suite category and location, then you may be much better off financially to wait at least until after final payment date to see if vacancies have opened up and if O is eager to fill them via aggressive discounting. A TA well-connected with O is invaluable in applying this strategy.

However, if you're really picky (as we are) about your cabin/suite category and location (near what? below what? above what?), then it's worth booking and spending the deposit money well in advance to secure exactly what and where you want.

Maybe the fare will drop later. If your TA can get your price dropped to the new, lower fare, then that's great. But if not…well...you still have exactly the cabin or suite that you wanted long ago, and that's a good thing.

Which voyage is this? Sounds like a deal for those who have not booked.

I'm guessing but I've seen some good prices on the June 19th ~ June 26th, Rome to Monaco.

I for the heck of it looked at some of the on line "special" discounts being offered by many "agencies"....... Boy they looked great.... and on cruises I was booked on 4 months ago.... Did I get hosed?

I read the fine print.... Hmmm..... no air credit, no Taxes and fees extra, no OBC No shore tours, no internet, no drinks pkg, on gratuities.....NO nutthin!

Most is not all super discounts were bare bones showing a stripped down cruise... because most of these agencies also are mass market guys too..... and they are marketing O cruises to appeal to that mentality... cheapest is best people., details be dammed.

Like buying a super discount car.... and do you want a radio, tires, rims, upholstry, windshield.....all extra

When I took my cruise and say I got 5 shore ex, prepaid gratuities, Internet, air credit, Taxes and fees......it actualy became cheaper that the dirt-ball price. Check the fine print and you may see what you are really saving or maybe not !!!!

I for the heck of it looked at some of the on line "special" discounts being offered by many "agencies"....... Boy they looked great.... and on cruises I was booked on 4 months ago.... Did I get hosed?

 

I read the fine print.... Hmmm..... no air credit, no Taxes and fees extra, no OBC No shore tours, no internet, no drinks pkg, on gratuities.....NO nutthin!

 

Most is not all super discounts were bare bones showing a stripped down cruise... because most of these agencies also are mass market guys too..... and they are marketing O cruises to appeal to that mentality... cheapest is best people., details be dammed.

 

Like buying a super discount car.... and do you want a radio, tires, rims, upholstry, windshield.....all extra

 

When I took my cruise and say I got 5 shore ex, prepaid gratuities, Internet, air credit, Taxes and fees......it actualy became cheaper that the dirt-ball price. Check the fine print and you may see what you are really saving or maybe not !!!!

99% of the time the above is correct. However, in this case the discounts are for real and they include Air, O'life and free internet.

Waiting until the last minute may well be a strategy that pays off in a reduced fare. As many have mentioned, you are then stuck with the "left-over" inventory. Some may be on a deck not of your choosing, or the verandah may have an obstructed view.

All of that could be dealt with. What would concern me, and the reason why I don't wait to book, is the air portion. What's the benefit of scoring a great deal if you have to make numerous stops to reach the ship?

I'll book early and ask for any perks when the price drop hits.

Luvtravel,

I know you mentioned on the rollcall that your TA could not put through the January $600 price drop "because the category was closed". It seemed strange at the time, because Verandah cabins were wide open (I believe the lowest category was guarantee at the time and the others were open).

If you are also comparing to a non airfare price, as some have suggested, the price drop and airfare would reconcile much of the difference you are citing 9but not all). Perhaps you can ask your TA to price going up to a higher category that is now selling for close to what you paid?

I for the heck of it looked at some of the on line "special" discounts being offered by many "agencies"....... Boy they looked great.... and on cruises I was booked on 4 months ago.... Did I get hosed?

 

I read the fine print.... Hmmm..... no air credit, no Taxes and fees extra, no OBC No shore tours, no internet, no drinks pkg, on gratuities.....NO nutthin!

 

Most is not all super discounts were bare bones showing a stripped down cruise... because most of these agencies also are mass market guys too..... and they are marketing O cruises to appeal to that mentality... cheapest is best people., details be dammed.

 

Like buying a super discount car.... and do you want a radio, tires, rims, upholstry, windshield.....all extra

 

When I took my cruise and say I got 5 shore ex, prepaid gratuities, Internet, air credit, Taxes and fees......it actualy became cheaper that the dirt-ball price. Check the fine print and you may see what you are really saving or maybe not !!!!

You could be very right. It would take me hours to find all these discount agencies and to compare all these prices. Looks to me you did a great job in giving us a possible explanation for the previous posts about the fare drops.

I have not sailed on Oceania for several years but do recall when we were booked previously, I selected a guaranteed cabin category but did not select a specific cabin. We ended up with a very nice space. But I do recall that certain categories were overbooked and at the last minute, a furious process involving free or low cost upgrades & extra cash commenced. Those who booked lower category cabins were offered the best deals to upgrade; that allowed the cruise line to free up those lower level cabins to last minute bookings, and to fill the ship. I regularly receive mailings from Oceania and other Premium and luxury lines: it seems the longer you wait to book, the better the deal. If you find a cabin category that meets your needs at the last minute (defined as several months to weeks before the cruise,) good deals can be had. I am seeing all lines do this, so the "early bird" gets their pick of a specific cabin but not the best price, it seems. It's a trade off, but the money involved can be significant.

We never take any included air, just get the credit and book our own. That allows us to find our preferred carriers (the ones that have not mucked up royally in the past,) the route with the least time in the air, fewest stops, which is our first criteria. Time on the plane, no matter what class, is mind and body dead space IMO. So we pay extra to lessen that pain. Cruise line arranged air usually involves a very extended flight with some unnecessary stops/connections. Those are the cheapest and least desirable flights and are priced accordingly. If you've booked air for yourself, you notice that flights of the shortest duration, fewest stops and most desirable departure/arrival schedules are always the most expensive.