Price Drop

[rhinomike]

We are booked on the Star to depart on June 26th..... We have made our final payment. We took a look today and the price dropped $600.00. We called NCL and they explained to us that we are out of luck since we have already made final payment.... that sucks. I thought I read that they had a low price guarantee or something like that...

 

Anybody have any ideas or am I out of luck like NCL told me? Thank guys and gals...

[Leafpeeper]

It is a gamble. You can cancel and rebook up until final payment but not after. This time you are out of luck. Some people wait until after final payment to book cruises in hopes that prices will drop. Sometimes it works out but sometimes prices increase. If you waited, there may not have been any good cabins left. Often the only cabins left after final payment are inside cabins.

 

Sorry. Some cruiselines have a different policy. We like waiting until the last minute to book if we are sailing from our home port because we don't need to arrange airfare. We've found that RCCL has great prices when their cruises first come out but then increase fares along the way. Either we book RCCL early or we wait until after final payment. Every cruiseline is different.

[terrymtex01]

Their low price promise is only valid within 72 hours of booking. It is true that if you are past final payment due date that you are out of luck if the price drops. On almost any cruise with NCL the price drops after final payment. They do that to sell empty staterooms. Booking before final payment usually cost you more but you get the staterooms you want. Waiting until after final payment you get to choose staterooms that are left over.

 

Sometimes, if the price for the next catagory of stateroom is what you paid for your stateroom before final payment you can get them to upgrade you to that higher catagory, but not always.

 

If you cancel and rebook, you will have to pay the cancellation fees plus lose any promotions you had when you first signed up.. ie. onboard credit, free soda passes, etc. You also would not get to rebook the same stateroom. If it is worth it to you and it still saves you money to cancel and rebook do it.

 

link for best price info: http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/cruiser/cmsPages.html?pageId=BestPriceGuaranteeFAQ

 

 

You can find their cancellation policy if you log into your NCL.com account and look to the right side of the screen for terms and conditions and it addresses cancellation. I believe for you at this point it would cost you the deposit on your stateroom plus 10% of the total cost of your cruise.

[C Cruise Dude]

We are booked on the Star to depart on June 26th..... We have made our final payment. We took a look today and the price dropped $600.00. We called NCL and they explained to us that we are out of luck since we have already made final payment.... that sucks. I thought I read that they had a low price guarantee or something like that...

 

Anybody have any ideas or am I out of luck like NCL told me? Thank guys and gals...

 

That does suck. I won't complain about Carnival dropping mine over $200 4 weeks before sailing. They at least gave me a upgrade and a little OBC. I am considering Norwegian in the future. I'm learning, wait to pay it off. I hope they give you something, that is a big drop. :(

[KimberleyFL]

I have not been on my first NCL cruise yet, but it is booked. I know that other cruise lines usually upgrade you after final payment and I've heard on this NCL board that sometimes NCL will upgrade you if there is a considerable price drop. $600 is a big drop, I'd call NCL a few more times (getting different people) and ask if you can get an upgrade since there was such a big drop. There is nothing to lose by trying.

[iansr]

I had a similar thing happen to me on my cruise in june, was not able to get an upgrade because of their being no higher cabins, but they did give me half of the difference in OBC.

[garycarla]

If you can get something, great. But, keep in mind that the contract your entered into with NCL for $xxx is still being honored. If the price had gone up, they would charge you more.

 

They do try to do a "sale" to move the last few cabins. Just like a car dealer or clothing store.

[iharris]

We are booked on the Star to depart on June 26th..... We have made our final payment. We took a look today and the price dropped $600.00. We called NCL and they explained to us that we are out of luck since we have already made final payment.... that sucks. I thought I read that they had a low price guarantee or something like that...

 

Anybody have any ideas or am I out of luck like NCL told me? Thank guys and gals...

this happened to me and I'll tell you what I did. I had bought trip insurance and booked thru my travel agent. she called and got nowhere not even an upgrade, and thats all I wanted, not the 600.00 back or in credit. Well, I called asked for the name of the person I talked to first and last and make sure you write all this down. Then I told them I'm on cruise critic daily talking with many people and all I want is an upgrade to a balcony since I've paid more than that for my oceanview. Well, they transfered me to their supervisor and again I asked for their name and told them that I would cancel since I have trip insurance and plenty of medical excuses since I just finished chemo and would rebook at the lower price. She put me on hold and came back and asked me if I want the credit or the upgrade. I took the upgrade. Good Luck

[stargazertechie]

this happened to me and I'll tell you what I did. I had bought trip insurance and booked thru my travel agent. she called and got nowhere not even an upgrade, and thats all I wanted, not the 600.00 back or in credit. Well, I called asked for the name of the person I talked to first and last and make sure you write all this down. Then I told them I'm on cruise critic daily talking with many people and all I want is an upgrade to a balcony since I've paid more than that for my oceanview. Well, they transfered me to their supervisor and again I asked for their name and told them that I would cancel since I have trip insurance and plenty of medical excuses since I just finished chemo and would rebook at the lower price. She put me on hold and came back and asked me if I want the credit or the upgrade. I took the upgrade. Good Luck

 

I feel that doing that would have been dishonest at the least, and insurance fraud at the worst. I work with two cancer nonprofits, and while I sympathize with what you've been through, I find it rather upsetting that you'd "play the cancer card" to save a few bucks on your cruise and get your way.

[mom2tcdx2]

I booked an OV and IS for the Stary on May 22. A higher OV cabin became available at the price I booked about 2 weeks ago, called NCL was switched without any hassle. Then yesterday the balcony dropped to a price I had been watching for so I called to book it, first girl I got said you can't do any upgrades after final payment. Then she came back and said you could, but my sailing was sold out, after she put me on hold I hung up and called someone else a little bit later. Paid the price, switched to a balcony. Last night I noticed the OV was cheaper than the IS price we paid for another cabin. I called, was placed on hold. I told them I wasn't looking for a refund just a switch to another cabin since it was lower in cost. Again they switched that one too, I just didn't get any refund (which was a total of $40 price difference). Then the balcony dropped $100 cheaper than I paid that morning. Called back and they said since it was less than 24 hours, they refunded us back the $100.

[biker@sea]

I told them I'm on cruise critic daily talking with many people and all I want is an upgrade to a balcony I would cancel since I have trip insurance and plenty of medical excuses since I just finished chemo and would rebook at the lower price.

 

This sounds sleazy to me.

Please do not use Cruise Critics good name for your personal gain!!!!!

[rhinomike]

Wow thank you fll of the responses.... Lots of good information. I should of mentioned that we have 2 connecting rooms booked. One for me and the wife and one for our 4 boys (ages 9 - 15).... So it was critical to book early. Both rooms came to $6k so it wouldnt be smart to cancel and rebook..... After reading here on the boards I wish I would of just spent the extra money and booked a suite to get the perks... Oh well.....

 

With that being said.... I took all of the advice given here and called NCL.... They still said I was out of luck but we psuhed a little more and they spoke to their supervisor... They gave us an onboard credit of $100.00 per room for a total of $200.00.... Not the $600.00 I wanted but it is something. I think they were fair. What do you guys think? Should I be happy or should I pursue it a little more?

 

Thanks again to everyone... you guys are great.

[newmexicoNita]

That does suck. I won't complain about Carnival dropping mine over $200 4 weeks before sailing. They at least gave me a upgrade and a little OBC. I am considering Norwegian in the future. I'm learning, wait to pay it off. I hope they give you something, that is a big drop. :(

 

If there is availability the Op can get an upgrade as well, she/he forgot to mention that. With the exception of the 72 hour guarantee policy, after final payment prices are frozen.

 

Nita

[guyver]

Wow thank you fll of the responses.... Lots of good information. I should of mentioned that we have 2 connecting rooms booked. One for me and the wife and one for our 4 boys (ages 9 - 15).... So it was critical to book early. Both rooms came to $6k so it wouldnt be smart to cancel and rebook..... After reading here on the boards I wish I would of just spent the extra money and booked a suite to get the perks... Oh well.....

 

With that being said.... I took all of the advice given here and called NCL.... They still said I was out of luck but we psuhed a little more and they spoke to their supervisor... They gave us an onboard credit of $100.00 per room for a total of $200.00.... Not the $600.00 I wanted but it is something. I think they were fair. What do you guys think? Should I be happy or should I pursue it a little more?

 

Thanks again to everyone... you guys are great.

 

Congrats on the $200 as they are not obligated to give you anything.

Now as for booking early vs late, I have done better when booking way early (one or two years). For instance, we are booked in an AC suit on the Sun for January doing a 14 day B2B. I booked it 1.5 years ahead. I thought the price looked good and lo and behold, it was. I checked yesterday and if I booked the same thing now it would cost us $1150 more per person. Plus, when I booked I got a $300 OBC for booking a suite. Not sure if that is still running.

Anyway, I hope these new prices I am seeing are not a for sure sign of the future because it might knock me out of the suite game.:(:(

[Brighton Line]

I booked early right before the big advertised "prices going up" in april, got a CC to BC upgrade. Final payment is late June and currently the price has dropped for BC $20 per person. For $40 I'm not calling up and rebooking yet. Playing the wait and see game and I'm happy with what I paid anyway.

Haven't decided come June to cancel and rebook $40 is worth it or not (what is that 4.2 drinks?)

[C Cruise Dude]

I feel that doing that would have been dishonest at the least, and insurance fraud at the worst. I work with two cancer nonprofits, and while I sympathize with what you've been through, I find it rather upsetting that you'd "play the cancer card" to save a few bucks on your cruise and get your way.

 

$600 is more than a few buck. :mad:

[C Cruise Dude]

We are booked on the Star to depart on June 26th..... We have made our final payment. We took a look today and the price dropped $600.00. We called NCL and they explained to us that we are out of luck since we have already made final payment.... that sucks. I thought I read that they had a low price guarantee or something like that...

 

Anybody have any ideas or am I out of luck like NCL told me? Thank guys and gals...

 

After my similar incident I have come to the conclusion that you might; pick a week that you want to take a cruise, book your airfare for that week, most of the cruise lines take the same routes, pick the cruise line that offers the best deal a couple weeks before the cruise. Unless you prefer a specific category, it might be the best method to the madness! :)

[terrymtex01]

Wow thank you fll of the responses.... Lots of good information. I should of mentioned that we have 2 connecting rooms booked. One for me and the wife and one for our 4 boys (ages 9 - 15).... So it was critical to book early. Both rooms came to $6k so it wouldnt be smart to cancel and rebook..... After reading here on the boards I wish I would of just spent the extra money and booked a suite to get the perks... Oh well.....

 

With that being said.... I took all of the advice given here and called NCL.... They still said I was out of luck but we psuhed a little more and they spoke to their supervisor... They gave us an onboard credit of $100.00 per room for a total of $200.00.... Not the $600.00 I wanted but it is something. I think they were fair. What do you guys think? Should I be happy or should I pursue it a little more?

 

Thanks again to everyone... you guys are great.

 

Take the money and RUN. You might have a few here saying they got OBC after final payment.. but I can promise you they are few and far between.. Much more often you hear where NCL would not do a thing. You lucked out.

[terrymtex01]

$600 is more than a few buck. :mad:

 

no. it's not a few bucks.. that is at least an hour or two in the casino for the two of us, but still not worth doing something like that, IMHO. For one it lowers the credibility of CC and those that post here and I feel sorry for those who have been too ill to travel to have to read on here that people would fake something like that. and everyone who purchases insurance has to pay for that kind of fraud.

[guyver]

no. it's not a few bucks.. that is at least an hour or two in the casino for the two of us, but still not worth doing something like that, IMHO. For one it lowers the credibility of CC and those that post here and I feel sorry for those who have been too ill to travel to have to read on here that people would fake something like that. and everyone who purchases insurance has to pay for that kind of fraud.[/quote]

 

 

Well stated Terry!!

[Why Knot Me]

Wow thank you fll of the responses.... Lots of good information. I should of mentioned that we have 2 connecting rooms booked. One for me and the wife and one for our 4 boys (ages 9 - 15).... So it was critical to book early. Both rooms came to $6k so it wouldnt be smart to cancel and rebook..... After reading here on the boards I wish I would of just spent the extra money and booked a suite to get the perks... Oh well.....

 

With that being said.... I took all of the advice given here and called NCL.... They still said I was out of luck but we psuhed a little more and they spoke to their supervisor... They gave us an onboard credit of $100.00 per room for a total of $200.00.... Not the $600.00 I wanted but it is something. I think they were fair. What do you guys think? Should I be happy or should I pursue it a little more?

 

Thanks again to everyone... you guys are great.

 

Mike, with all due respect... you asked and received several responses and it was noted that NCL isn't obligated to do anything. You said above that you think it was fair of them to give you $200. My advice, be happy that you got the $200, take it and be happy. Go enjoy your cruise and don't peek at any other pricing. Do you think you'd ever get money back from the airlines if their price had dropped. It is the nature of travel, prices go up and prices go down. You are going to have a fantastic time with your wife and kids... ENJOY!!! Yes, and next time book a suite. They are incredible and will completely change the cruising experience.

[BeckyMax]

After my similar incident I have come to the conclusion that you might; pick a week that you want to take a cruise, book your airfare for that week, most of the cruise lines take the same routes, pick the cruise line that offers the best deal a couple weeks before the cruise. Unless you prefer a specific category, it might be the best method to the madness! :)

 

this is exactly what we did. Waited for airfare to go onsale to Miami, then we booked airfare and started looking for a cruise. We are doing a shorter cruise this time, only 4 nights so that left alot of flexibility for the dates. If we didn't find what we wanted we wouldv'e went to the Keys or just hopped on the Celebration or Discovery cruise line and then did a land vacation in the bahammas. This appears to have worked well for us this time, may try again later as well.

 

Becky

[garycarla]

You said you would like a suite. Have you checked to see what it would cost to "upgrade" to the suite now? Might be a good choice.

[rhinomike]

Mike, with all due respect... you asked and received several responses and it was noted that NCL isn't obligated to do anything. You said above that you think it was fair of them to give you $200. My advice, be happy that you got the $200, take it and be happy. Go enjoy your cruise and don't peek at any other pricing. Do you think you'd ever get money back from the airlines if their price had dropped. It is the nature of travel, prices go up and prices go down. You are going to have a fantastic time with your wife and kids... ENJOY!!! Yes, and next time book a suite. They are incredible and will completely change the cruising experience.

 

Good advice.... I am not going to look at the price anymore... I am happy with the credit. I feel NCL did the right thing... They made me hapy.

[rhinomike]

You said you would like a suite. Have you checked to see what it would cost to "upgrade" to the suite now? Might be a good choice.

 

No more suites left for the June 26th sailing..... I would be willing to pay quite a bit more.... After reading here about all of the perks.... I wish I would of read more before I booked it... Oh well.