Early booking . Is it worth it?

[Molliemandy]

we booked a Queen Elizabeth cruise for december at the beginning of the year. We got a good cabin at an early booking discount but now see balcony cabins advertised at greatly reduced prices. This makes a mockery of booking early as late bookers get the same food and entertainment as us. Has anyone ever got back to Cunard and got a refund or Increased OBC?

[Ray66]

we booked a Queen Elizabeth cruise for december at the beginning of the year. We got a good cabin at an early booking discount but now see balcony cabins advertised at greatly reduced prices. This makes a mockery of booking early as late bookers get the same food and entertainment as us. Has anyone ever got back to Cunard and got a refund or Increased OBC?

 

This is what happened to us last year. We rebooked at the new lower price but lost our deposit and free parking.

 

Cunard does now have the Vantage fares where if the price goes down you will get either OBC or an upgrade but this is at Cunard's discretion so I think they will most likely give an "upgrade".

[billyvegas]

 

Cunard does now have the Vantage fares where if the price goes down you will get either OBC or an upgrade but this is at Cunard's discretion so I think they will most likely give an "upgrade".

 

That is only if the VANTAGE FARE drops it doesn't stop them releasing GETAWAY FARES at greatly reduced prices.

The answer to the original post is 99% no, unless you want a specific cruise and Stateroom and you are happy with the price.

[Norfolk Brit]

Cunard does now have the Vantage fares where if the price goes down you will get either OBC or an upgrade but this is at Cunard's discretion so I think they will most likely give an "upgrade".

 

Just to add a little to Ray's post, usually the best late deals are 'Getaways' and these may well now have been applied to the OP's cruise. These are excluded from the Vantage fare price promise, so even in the future not a bean will be forthcoming from Cunard should they offer late Getaway prices on the cruise you've booked.

 

Mary

 

NB Just to add that Billy and I posted just about the same thing simultaneously.

[billyvegas]

 

Mary

 

NB Just to add that Billy and I posted just about the same thing simultaneously.

 

Here we go again Mary, lets see how long it takes before we are removed:)

[balf]

When the Vantage deal was announced earlier in the year it was welcomed on these boards. It was obvious that the time that it was not going to be quite as good as it seemed. For a cruise in December Cunard are not going to lower Vantage prices, they are going to offer Getaway fares to try to sell off remaindered cabins without having to give any extras to existing bookers.

 

Some people regard the anticipation factor as almost the best part of the cruise experience. As has been said, if you want a guarantee of a booking on a particular cruise then sign up early. But accept that others may get the cabin next to yours for a bargain price.

 

The British cruise line Saga give a straight promise that if the price is reduced they will refund the difference. Any chance of Cunard doing the same? Oh look at that pig up there.

 

David.

[Norfolk Brit]

When the Vantage deal was announced earlier in the year it was welcomed on these boards. It was obvious that the time that it was not going to be quite as good as it seemed.

David.

 

I seem to recall that reaction at the time was mixed - those who could actually read rapidly spotted the fatal flaw.:D

 

Mary

[billyvegas]

i seem to recall that reaction at the time was mixed - those who could actually read rapidly spotted the fatal flaw.:d

 

mary

 

yep!

[Alibobs]

There are occasions when the prices go up rather than down.....I can't imagine anyone would be keen to pay more.......! I feel I got a good price when I booked for my imminent cruise and am happy with what I paid.

I don't usually check once I have paid but did this time, the prices went £150 lower a day later....

I say good luck to those that got a better rate, I chose to pay what I did when I did , caveat emptor!

[dancer11]

It's like airfares, everyone on a flight probably paid a different price. During the World Cruise, someone brought up what they had paid and another couple commented they paid a different price. I said nothing, compared rate when I got back to our cabin. We had paid quite a bit less, and our bookings were both done almost a year in advance. They booked when the World Cruise was announced, we booked 10 months in advance based on a special promotion.

We just booked a future cruise this week. We decided based on a brochure promotion, but it was even cheaper when our agent called to reserve our trip, so we were elated.

As the poster said, be happy with your decision and don't drive yourself crazy checking every deal offered.

Hope you enjoy yourself immensely

[laktex]

Last night got a QM2 Transatlantic for £38 pppn - it really doesn't come much cheaper than that - but not everyone wants or indeed can wait till the last minute.

[balf]

couple commented they paid a different price. I said nothing, compared rate when I got back to our cabin. We had paid quite a bit less, and our bookings were both done almost a year in advance. They booked when the World Cruise was announced, we booked 10 months in

 

Yes this does happen though only when there are no cabins unsold near to departure date. Just saw a Getaway offer on QE to the Med at the end of November 10 nights under £40 pn. Early bookers would have paid £600 more than this, though they would have had choice of cabin.

 

David.

[melb99]

Yes this does happen though only when there are no cabins unsold near to departure date. Just saw a Getaway offer on QE to the Med at the end of November 10 nights under £40 pn. Early bookers would have paid £600 more than this, though they would have had choice of cabin.

 

David.

 

Not quite true.

 

I booked on this Queen Elizabeth cruise about three weeks ago on a Guarantee basis. Now it's £200 pp cheaper and there is a choice of cabins. I've only seen the choice element on cunard.com - they present a list of about six cabins or you can check any cabin for availability.

 

Incidentally, this is a very good thread about how to deal with Cunard in the future - they're probably the biggest discounter on the high seas today!

 

Miffed Mel

[Norfolk Brit]

Not quite true.

 

Now it's £200 pp cheaper and there is a choice of cabins. I've only seen the choice element on cunard.com - they present a list of about six cabins or you can check any cabin for availability.

Miffed Mel

 

You're right... never seen that before.

 

Mary

[balf]

Not quite true.

 

Ithere is a choice of cabins[/b]. I've only seen the choice element on cunard.com - they present a list of about six cabins or you can check any cabin for availability.

 

 

 

Miffed Mel

 

You are correct, I meant that early bookers would have a choice of most of the cabins on the ship. Incidently even if you are offered a choice of six cabins, this does not mean that six are only available, they represent the opening bargaining. One on offer will probably be next to the laundry or the lifts (though many tell us there is no problem with these) Frankly we have found little difference within grades with any cabin on Cunard ships, and we settle in and feel at home pretty quickly wherever we land up.

[balf]

uarantee basis. Now it's £200 pp cheaper and there is a choice of cabins. I've only seen the choice element on cunard.com - they present a list of about six cabins or you can check any cabin for availability.

 

 

 

Miffed Mel

 

Cunard puts these remaindered cabins out to TA's (naturally they want as much coverage as the can get the ship sailing as full as possible) and they offer the same deal, though you may as well book direct. The offer I highlighted was from a UK specialist cruise TA and, yes six cabins were on offer.

 

David.

[melb99]

I booked on this Queen Elizabeth cruise about three weeks ago on a Guarantee basis. Now it's £200 pp cheaper and there is a choice of cabins. I've only seen the choice element on cunard.com - they present a list of about six cabins or you can check any cabin for availability.

 

Miffed Mel

 

You're right... never seen that before.

 

Mary

 

It means, of course, the word "Guarantee" don't mean what I always assumed it to be. But, thinking about it, I don't think Cunard actually used that word in its adverts. I suppose you can defined any product as you wish, so they use "Getaway", which can be whatever the marketing men want it to be. Anyway, is there really an industry convention for the "Guarantee" word? Just a thought.

 

Mel

[capnpugwash]

It means, of course, the word "Guarantee" don't mean what I always assumed it to be. But, thinking about it, I don't think Cunard actually used that word in its adverts. I suppose you can defined any product as you wish, so they use "Getaway", which can be whatever the marketing men what it to be. Anyway, is there really an industry convention for the "Guarantee" word? Just a thought.

 

Mel

 

Guaranteed in this context means that the passenger is at least guaranteed a cabin in the grade selected or perhaps in a higher grade.

[melb99]

You are correct, I meant that early bookers would have a choice of most of the cabins on the ship. Incidently even if you are offered a choice of six cabins, this does not mean that six are only available, they represent the opening bargaining. One on offer will probably be next to the laundry or the lifts (though many tell us there is no problem with these) Frankly we have found little difference within grades with any cabin on Cunard ships, and we settle in and feel at home pretty quickly wherever we land up.

 

I did highlight "you can check any cabin for availability". So, if you have the patience, or the Cunard computer will allow it, I suppose you could check every cabin on the entire ship, subject to you searching for your selected grade, or grades below!

 

I tried five different cabins, not in Cunard's own pre-populated list, and none of them were available!!

 

Anyway, it's all academic now, as it appears from cunard.com that the ship is full.

 

Mel