Huge price drop after final payment

Yikes! My cruise now has dropped $1500 and of course it is past the final payment date. Called Celebrity and was told to call my TA but unfortunately was told that I am no longer protected by their price guarantee. I certainly don't expect any money back since it is past the final payment date but they will not budge even with OBC. I am in the family oceanview with balcony (total 4 pax) so there is really no room for upgrades.

Contacted Captain's Club and got the same response that they cannot offer any additional discounts or OBC even with my Elite status.

Anyone have any success in getting anything after final payment in the event of a price drop?

Thanks!

Unfortunately you were informed of the correct policy. If prices of suites have dropped you can look into upgrading to that (you would pay the difference between the current price of the suite and the price you actually paid for your currently held stateroom). Otherwise you are not entitled to any recourse and exceptions are extremely rare.

In the past we got upgrades from balcony to AQ, paying price difference, which usually small amount.

Look back through Cruise Critic and you will see that this is the policy.

After all, if the price had gone up, you wouldn't have been expected to pay it, would you?:)

Find a better cabin for at least $1 more than you’ve paid and request an upgrade.

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Also for the upgrades after the final payment there are restrictions, I book CAT 2C in the Eclipse past March 18, this CAT was sold totally, concierge has several price drops to reach a level below 2C, the upgrade was denied because the 2C had higher price than the Concierge. It is as if you bought a coat and after two weeks you see it cheaper, you will not get your money back.

Our experience with RCCL brands is that they will not budge. Princess, on the other hand, has always been accomodating when the price drops.

On our 2013 cruise on the Navigator, after our final payment was made, RCCL offered a free liquor package for balcony or better booked by a date certain, and then handed it out to everyone who booked, including folks who didn't think they were getting it. (One guy paid about $470 for a 15 days cruise NO to Rome, interior cabin, with free liquor.) This was quite a topic of conversation on the cruise, especially among those of us who booked "early to get the best rate." Yep, there was a sign that said that. In the end, RCCL gave us an FCC, and then refused to honor it when it should have been honored (as RCCL admitted) on two separate occasions. In the end, RCCL refunded the full amount of the FCC to our credit card.

Your biggest problem is you have 4 people in a FV cabin so you really have no place to go with an upgrade other than a suite. We have be granted upgrades to Aqua and CC in recent years when there were big price drops after final payment because we asked but there has never been an offer of OBC or cash back. Those FV cabins are usually sold out early so just go and enjoy it.

To continue. On our cruise to Alask a few years ago on Princess, we paid a little extra when prices dropped and the liquor package was offered, and moved up to a bigger cabin, liquor package and a soecialty meal.

On Celebrity this year, when prices dropped, we moved up to Aqua Class.

Years ago on Princess, when prices dropped after our final payment in the Caribbean, Princess gave us on-board credit.

I will never understand the logic as to why people think they should get any money back (or OBC, almost the same difference) when the price drops after final payment. Be thankful you are able to get an upgrade in most cases (albeit the OP cannot use that option). If you are not expected to pay MORE when the prices rise on your bookings, why would you expect that you should be able to pay less? Why is it fair one way, but you would never consider it fair another?

Yikes! I know I would be very disappointed, which is why my DH tells me not to even look after final payment. It is their policy and it is the chance we take but still upsetting. Because you are in need of the family suite, you are rather stuck.

I know my neighbors were in a cabin that went down after final payment. Their TA called them stating that Celebrity was offering them an upgrade. They didn't even request it. So, I feel like their is some wiggle room on that policy but that was just for a party of two and they had elite status on Celebrity ... not sure if that had any bearing on their offer.

If your TA is willing to go to bat for you, maybe there is something they can do. I wouldn't expect too much but it's amazing how different people down at Celebrity give different answers. Fingers are crossed that you can get something out of it ... please come back and let us know.

We had a huge price drop after final payment (but before the 56 day window of losing 25% of cruise cost). We opted to “cancel the cruise”, lost the $900 deposit, and then rebook it immediately at the lower pricing - all of this done, while we were actually sailing - LOL! Future Cruise Vacations were awesome about handling it. Our Suite dropped $3000, so it was well worth it to chuck the deposit (lose it) and STILL save over $2K :)

Heather

We had a similar experience to hvbaskey. Six months prior to our last cruise, we decided we needed to go on a cruise! :) We only travel AQ, and it was sold out. I kept watching until an opening came and I jumped on it, realizing that I was paying a premium price. I'm not sure of the timing, but when we were inside the non-refundable period of time, the price of our AQ cabin dropped several thousand dollars! After discussing with Celebrity we decided to cancel, lose the deposit (almost $1000) and rebook immediately, in the same cabin, but saved well over $1000 after the loss of the deposit.

The lesson I learned? Book the next cruise while on board! The rates only go up from then, and you won't end up paying premium!

We had a similar situation earlier this year and had the same experience. No OBC was offered. We were offered a free upgrade to concierge (it was less than what we had paid) or to pay the difference upgrade to aqua. We stayed where we were because we liked the cabin location and didn’t want to pay any additional. Doesn’t hurt to ask but the seem to be pretty consistent on this policy. We weren’t upset however. The cruise had nearly sold out prior to final payment (they must have had many cancellations which lead to the price drops) so the peace of mind in being able to plan our trip and book airfare and a great airbnb to extend our trip was worth missing the price drop.

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As one poster already said, except for those looking for SR upgrades, why look at pricing after final payment? You got a SR for 4 of you and that would Not be available after Final Payment so if you’d waited until this price drop, you wouldn’t be making this, or probably any, cruise when booking 4 in one SR.

I suggest you consider yourself lucky you booked early enough to get the one SR for 4 instead of paying for two SRs, and don’t look at pricing after Final unless you want and can use an upgrade. The other issue you are working with is, you booked through a TA, or at least the TA has your reservation now, so Celebrity won’t deal with you, but, hopefully kindly, tell you to talk to your TA, as I think they did.

Den

Thank you all for the responses!

I am not upset at all because I understand Celebrity's policy and it is a fair one. I only look after final payment because I want to see if suites price will drop so that I can choose to upgrade. However, although they do have suites available (sleeps up to 4) revenue management capped the capacity of the remaining 12 suites to 2 passengers per cabin so I am out of luck.

I wish I can say that at least I booked early and got the cabin I want because now all of the FV cabins are all open for grabs and there are plenty to choose from.

Regardless, I am happy to be sailing soon but a bit sad knowing that I could've had $1500 extra in my pocket.

Thank you all for the responses!

I am not upset at all because I understand Celebrity's policy and it is a fair one. I only look after final payment because I want to see if suites price will drop so that I can choose to upgrade. However, although they do have suites available (sleeps up to 4) revenue management capped the capacity of the remaining 12 suites to 2 passengers per cabin so I am out of luck.

I wish I can say that at least I booked early and got the cabin I want because now all of the FV cabins are all open for grabs and there are plenty to choose from.

Regardless, I am happy to be sailing soon but a bit sad knowing that I could've had $1500 extra in my pocket.

Just make it back in the casino!!

When this happened to us last year, we kept our same cabin, but changed our perk package to Go Best for only a couple of $$ extra per person. Celebrity allowed this upgrade based on current cabin price with Go Best package.

When this happened to us last year, we kept our same cabin, but changed our perk package to Go Best for only a couple of $$ extra per person. Celebrity allowed this upgrade based on current cabin price with Go Best package.

There's an idea!! Maybe this is possible.

Thank you all for the responses!

 

I am not upset at all because I understand Celebrity's policy and it is a fair one. I only look after final payment because I want to see if suites price will drop so that I can choose to upgrade. However, although they do have suites available (sleeps up to 4) revenue management capped the capacity of the remaining 12 suites to 2 passengers per cabin so I am out of luck.

 

I wish I can say that at least I booked early and got the cabin I want because now all of the FV cabins are all open for grabs and there are plenty to choose from.

 

Regardless, I am happy to be sailing soon but a bit sad knowing that I could've had $1500 extra in my pocket.

Well, if there are plenty of FV cabins available, you could make a change to one you prefer. Changing cabins in your category is perfectly possible. Doesn’t matter in that case what the price is/was.

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I just called Celebrity a few days ago when my October cruise dropped in price by $370. They initially refused to do anything, but after I asked nicely I was offered an upgrade to concierge class (I declined) or 300 obc or an upgrade to get free WiFi and onboard gratuities free. I chose 300 obc. Never hurts to ask!

We're on a 10 night Ultimate Caribbean in November on the Reflection. I discovered today that the C1 Balcony Cabin we booked had dropped in price by £500. I called Celebrity and they initially said there was nothing they could do as full payment had been taken. However, she then spoke to her supervisor and I was soon offered either $300 on board credit or a free upgrade to Concierge Class. We took the upgrade.

I suspect they're change of heart was due to us having another future cruise booking. Either way my advice is, if you don't ask, you don't get.

Good luck

We're on a 10 night Ultimate Caribbean in November on the Reflection. I discovered today that the C1 Balcony Cabin we booked had dropped in price by £500. I called Celebrity and they initially said there was nothing they could do as full payment had been taken. However, she then spoke to her supervisor and I was soon offered either $300 on board credit or a free upgrade to Concierge Class. We took the upgrade.

 

I suspect they're change of heart was due to us having another future cruise booking. Either way my advice is, if you don't ask, you don't get.

 

Good luck

You was very lucky as Celebrity in UK does not do that.

We're on a 10 night Ultimate Caribbean in November on the Reflection. I discovered today that the C1 Balcony Cabin we booked had dropped in price by £500. I called Celebrity and they initially said there was nothing they could do as full payment had been taken. However, she then spoke to her supervisor and I was soon offered either $300 on board credit or a free upgrade to Concierge Class. We took the upgrade.

 

I suspect they're change of heart was due to us having another future cruise booking. Either way my advice is, if you don't ask, you don't get.

 

Good luck

Your C1 is already the highest Concierge Class you can get. Any other Concierge Class would be a downgrade. Maybe you meant upgrade to Aqua Class?;)

We're on a 10 night Ultimate Caribbean in November on the Reflection. I discovered today that the C1 Balcony Cabin we booked had dropped in price by £500. I called Celebrity and they initially said there was nothing they could do as full payment had been taken. However, she then spoke to her supervisor and I was soon offered either $300 on board credit or a free upgrade to Concierge Class. We took the upgrade.

 

I suspect they're change of heart was due to us having another future cruise booking. Either way my advice is, if you don't ask, you don't get.

 

Good luck

Darn. I should have called. I was on the Ultimate Caribbean Cruise during Thanksgiving. The price of the cruise nosedived after the tragic hurricane season last year. Our itinerary was revised 4 times before we sailed. I suspect they were more flexible because of the hurricanes and last minute cancellations.