Can I just say I feel robbed by X pricing!

[lawgirl]

Of course I am assuming that all S1 suites are not corner AFT.

 

Just FYI, all S1s are corner aft.

[jagoffee]

Just FYI, all S1s are corner aft.

You do realize that a suite GTY which is what I believe they had is not the same as a S1 GTY if their is such a thing?

 

Would you have been willing to give up your S1 for the risk that you might end up in a S2?

 

I am sure that you will enjoy your cruise, anyway. Have a great cruise.

[BKFlowerMound]

So in late 2011 I booked our April 2013 Hawaiian cruise and paid $5500 for two for S1 deck 6. Today reading our roll call, a few days ago X has some sale on suites for seniors (thus exluding me) and someone upgraded to a Gty S1 for $4000 and was assigned the S1 aft on same exact floor as us! Same room, just different corner.

 

So, I book 1.5 years out and pay $1500 more for exact room!!! This just makes me feel mad and stupid! Why not upgrade people and reward those who book early then sell the non suite rooms on sale?? I know, it's all about the money for X, but $1500 is alot of money to us and this sure leaves a bad taste in my mouth!

 

I just saw this on FlyerTalk and thought that this might be the other side of the story ;):

 

"So just the other day, I booked flights for our April 2013 Hawaiian cruise and paid $2200 for two for coach tickets from Charlotte to San Diego. Today reading our roll call, a year ago US Airways had some sale on tickets and some young people paid $800 total for two tickets on the exact same flight. They even were able to get assigned seats and sit together while we have to sit in middle seats or pay $60 each for a seat reservation! Same plane, just different seats.

 

So, I book a little later and pay $1400 more for the exact planes!!! This just makes me feel mad and stupid! Why shouldn't I have the best choice of seats and upgrades if I paid more money?? I know, it's all about the money for US Airways, but $1400 is alot of money to us and this sure leaves a bad taste in my mouth!"

 

Of course, I didn't really see it on FlyerTalk, but I do think this adds some perspective. The bottom line is that X is going to fill its cabins and US Airways is going to fill its planes. Both are going to try to maximize the dollars that it can get for filling their respective ships or planes. In my view, it's not even unfair.

 

I did check to see what US Airways wants for a last minute ticket and also what they're currently selling the same seats for 300 days out.

 

There are advantages and disadvantages to booking early or late. I sleep better at night by not worrying whether someone else got a better deal than I did. Someone always does. I likely got a better deal than some others. If I think that the price is fair, I book it. I will check to see if I can improve the price, of course, but you can't let these types of things affect your enjoyment.

 

Have a great cruise!

[NLH Arizona]

I just saw this on FlyerTalk and thought that this might be the other side of the story ;):

 

"So just the other day, I booked flights for our April 2013 Hawaiian cruise and paid $2200 for two for coach tickets from Charlotte to San Diego. Today reading our roll call, a year ago US Airways had some sale on tickets and some young people paid $800 total for two tickets on the exact same flight. They even were able to get assigned seats and sit together while we have to sit in middle seats or pay $60 each for a seat reservation! Same plane, just different seats.

 

So, I book a little later and pay $1400 more for the exact planes!!! This just makes me feel mad and stupid! Why shouldn't I have the best choice of seats and upgrades if I paid more money?? I know, it's all about the money for US Airways, but $1400 is alot of money to us and this sure leaves a bad taste in my mouth!"

 

Of course, I didn't really see it on FlyerTalk, but I do think this adds some perspective. The bottom line is that X is going to fill its cabins and US Airways is going to fill its planes. Both are going to try to maximize the dollars that it can get for filling their respective ships or planes. In my view, it's not even unfair.

 

I did check to see what US Airways wants for a last minute ticket and also what they're currently selling the same seats for 300 days out.

 

There are advantages and disadvantages to booking early or late. I sleep better at night by not worrying whether someone else got a better deal than I did. Someone always does. I likely got a better deal than some others. If I think that the price is fair, I book it. I will check to see if I can improve the price, of course, but you can't let these types of things affect your enjoyment.

 

Have a great cruise!

I always book my airfare early, but I do watch for their sales. On my last trip to San Juan, the airfare went down $400 on one of the sales, I called Delta and it cost me $150 of the difference, but I got $250 back in airfare credits.

 

I think the cruise lines should do something to reward those loyal customers that book early. They could have a guarantee that, say if the cruise prices decreases by over $xxx, they will give the passenger $xxx in cruise credits to use on their next cruise. By doing this, they would keep their loyal customers who book early and probably gain those customer who wait for the sales, plus the customers will book another cruise to use those cruise credits. And if a customer doesn't use the cruise credits, well that is just a win for Celebrity.

[boogs]

If this bothers you, never ask the people sitting around you on an airplane how much they paid for their ticket! Unfortunately, it's a supply and demand type thing and in the case of cruises you are able to see the current prices. Some one wisely said on these forums that you should buy at a price you can live with.

 

Same goes for anything someone purchases. Almost everything goes on sale at one time or another, and some people will pay the sale price, while others pay the full. This is life. To the OP: if you have ever taken advantage of a sale on anything, then you really can't complain about your situation. In this case, someone else was able to take advantage of it, not you.

 

I subscribe to a website that for $1 per cruise I can monitor as many cabin categories as I want for price changes for that cruise. You can sign up for email notifications when prices drop for your category. No need to constantly do mock bookings to see if the price has dropped.

 

Over my last three cruises, costing me a total of $3, I have been notified of several price drops that have saved me over $4,000 total. I'm not sure I can mention the website here, but just google "cruise price drop monitor" and it should be the first displayed. I hope that helps the OP in the future.

[boogs]

I think the point is...not the discount.

 

The point is you reward the early bookers (and just maybe....a cruise line makes an intelligent decision and breaks the discounting cycle) by upgrading those early bookers to the unbooked 'better' cabins the selling the cabins previously occupied at the discount.

 

Tis has 2 effects for an obviously blind cruise line yield manager;

 

1. Encourages more early bookers in the belief that they may get a good upgrade and stand a better chance of getting one;

2. Breaks the nexus of last minute discounting for the expensive cabins and people that hold out....which these days is more and more (why pay full price when you know the price will drop).

3. Builds more loyalty and long term a more flatter discounting cycle rather than Peaks and troughs so that the line will end up with better cash flow earlier on rather than last minute (and holding those deposits).

 

And those cabins that used to be booked, but are now empty because those people moved up to a better cabin, will stay empty because they are still being priced the same as before, and last minute bookings are not as attractive as before, so people don't grab them - no incentive to. The cruise line loses cabin revenue for those empty cabins, and more importantly, loses on-board revenue for those non-existent passengers. The end result - the rates go higher for everyone to make up the lost revenue. So, everybody loses.

[fishin' musician]

someone upgraded to a Gty S1 for $4000 and was assigned the S1 aft on same exact floor as us! Same room, just different corner.

 

So, I book 1.5 years out and pay $1500 more for exact room!!!

 

 

hmm, here is something we may have missed:

 

The "upgrade" cost was $4000.

 

Did this account for the cost of the initial stateroom purchased? Suppose they upgraded from a Veranda stateroom that cost $2000; This means the cost of their S1 is $6000.

 

Does this place the shoe on the other foot for the OP?

[Kevnzworld]

Celebrity does offer slightly lower fared and a couple hundred extra discount to Elite member who book early. I just booked a 2014 Northern Europe cruise.

I didn't want to wait for a sale.

Some itineraries always seem to sell out or go up in price, others not.

I recently booked a Mediterranean cruise on the Equinox because it was on sale.

It's always important to check the current pricing before making final payment. You can often get Celebrity to make an adjustment if the price dropped.

[vermonter16]

I book when I think the price is right for me. Sometimes I have lucked out at a really good rate and sometimes the price has gone down a lot after final payment. But, I stop looking after that and if someone got a deal because they qualified, I think - good for them, maybe next time it will be me.

 

I have an Alaska cruise booked and we have to fly from Washington, DC. I booked early so that I knew when to book flights....I haven't checked the flights recently for my dates but the last time I did....they were crazy high!

 

You win some, you lose some....that's just how it goes.

[chessbriar]

I'm sorry to hear this happened. Sometimes it can work to your benefit and sometimes not. We have taken to booking the lowest we can accept with the idea of upgrading if the prices drop.

 

Do you feel the airline cheat you when they have a sale after you book? I do, so I try to book Southwest so I can get those lower prices.

 

I hope you can have still have a great cruise.

[NLH Arizona]

I'm sorry to hear this happened. Sometimes it can work to your benefit and sometimes not. We have taken to booking the lowest we can accept with the idea of upgrading if the prices drop.

 

Do you feel the airline cheat you when they have a sale after you book? I do, so I try to book Southwest so I can get those lower prices.

 

I hope you can have still have a great cruise.

So are you saying that you feel that Celebrity should adopt Southwest Airlines policy on price drops?

[navyrotorhead]

I truly am thankful and appreciative of all the people out there who...

 

...book early at full price just to get that perfect cabin...

 

...or book outrageously expensive suites at full fare...

 

...or drop a couple of grand in the casino...

 

It allows me to do what I do on a very modest, fixed income retirement.

 

In April, I am cruising my THIRD Celebrity transatlantic in 54 weeks for $599pp.

 

With some OBC from the shareholder benefit, and some from my online site, I get to enjoy Celebrity for $30-$40 per day. Granted, it's an inside room, but all I do there is sleep and shower.

[Chicago Boy]

So in late 2011 I booked our April 2013 Hawaiian cruise and paid $5500 for two for S1 deck 6. Today reading our roll call, a few days ago X has some sale on suites for seniors (thus exluding me) and someone upgraded to a Gty S1 for $4000 and was assigned the S1 aft on same exact floor as us! Same room, just different corner.

 

So, I book 1.5 years out and pay $1500 more for exact room!!! This just makes me feel mad and stupid! Why not upgrade people and reward those who book early then sell the non suite rooms on sale?? I know, it's all about the money for X, but $1500 is alot of money to us and this sure leaves a bad taste in my mouth!

 

 

If you booked your cruise a year and a half out and if you have not made final payment and if there has been a price drop in your catagory then you should be able to get the discount. If the price drop does not apply to your catagory then you may be out of luck. About a month and a half ago we upgraded from a C2 stateroom with balcony level 8 to a C3 Concierge stateroom level 9 for $40.00 more p.p. There was a sale going on at that time and we were able to take advantage of it. Sometimes it works to your advantage and other times not so much. I guess it is the luck of the draw. Our travel agent tried to get us in on the 123 promotion but we did not qualify. Maybe next time. You must have been happy with the price at the time or you would not have booked the cruise. At least that is how I look at it when this happens and yes, it has happend to us. Enjoy your cruise and don't let this get to you. It is what it is. :)

[Shake]

I truly am thankful and appreciative of all the people out there who...

 

...book early at full price just to get that perfect cabin...

 

...or book outrageously expensive suites at full fare...

 

...or drop a couple of grand in the casino...

 

It allows me to do what I do on a very modest, fixed income retirement.

 

In April, I am cruising my THIRD Celebrity transatlantic in 54 weeks for $599pp.

 

With some OBC from the shareholder benefit, and some from my online site, I get to enjoy Celebrity for $30-$40 per day. Granted, it's an inside room, but all I do there is sleep and shower.

 

Amen and 2 Halleluja's back at you !!!

 

What would we do without the early bookers. :D:D

[flames9]

I truly am thankful and appreciative of all the people out there who...

 

...book early at full price just to get that perfect cabin...

 

...or book outrageously expensive suites at full fare...

 

...or drop a couple of grand in the casino...

 

It allows me to do what I do on a very modest, fixed income retirement.

 

In April, I am cruising my THIRD Celebrity transatlantic in 54 weeks for $599pp.

 

With some OBC from the shareholder benefit, and some from my online site, I get to enjoy Celebrity for $30-$40 per day. Granted, it's an inside room, but all I do there is sleep and shower.

 

I say the same thing about people who do very little research when they go and buy their new vehicle,lol :D

[Algebralovr]

You win some, you lose some.

 

In Feb 2012, we paid more for a 2D than some people paid for AQ by the time we sailed. We, however, had the larger balcony and a great location. We booked a year out, and in the month before sailing there were lots of price drops.

 

For our Feb 2013 sailing, we booked right after our Feb 2012 sailing. The price stayed pretty much the same until sailing. They did introduce 123GO! To keep prices high. We didn't get the bev package but were able to purchase in on sale in June 2012.

 

We purchased our Feb 2014 cruise the week it was available. Celebrity denied the extra OBC at the time because we got such a great price in the group we booked in. When 123Go came out, our TA got us the beverage package but we had to give up $200 in OBC. No brainier.

 

We just booked the Solstice California Coastal cruise. Got a great deal, but no beverage package. We don't qualify for any discounts either. But the price was low enough to justify it anyway. An Open Passages gave us $100 in OBC with no legwork. This time we benefited from booking late.

 

You win some, you lose some.

 

Enjoy th cruise you booked in the room you selected.

[Miss SeaBee]

I am soooooo tired of reading posts about people feeling cheated by cruise pricing. It's cruise ship economics 101. Feel free to book at the last minute next time and see how that works for you. You might get a great deal! Or, the price might rise, which is true for about 3/4 of the available cabins on my Reflection cruise in 2 weeks. Or find that the only cabins left 3 weeks out are insides under the buffet. I have to book early because of my job. I have to arrange the vacation time off, arrange coverage, etc, etc. I am not mad, because someone else paid less for their cabin than I did. I'm sure someone who is sitting next to me on my flight to Miami probably paid either more or less than I did, too, depending on when they booked. I booked early, paid a price I felt was fair, got the exact cabin I want, and had a year to anticipate. The early bird is not financially rewarded by the cruising industry. Early booking reaps its own benefits.

[Christine Frances]

I truly am thankful and appreciative of all the people out there who...

 

...book early at full price just to get that perfect cabin...

 

...or book outrageously expensive suites at full fare...

 

...or drop a couple of grand in the casino...

 

It allows me to do what I do on a very modest, fixed income retirement.

 

In April, I am cruising my THIRD Celebrity transatlantic in 54 weeks for $599pp.

 

With some OBC from the shareholder benefit, and some from my online site, I get to enjoy Celebrity for $30-$40 per day. Granted, it's an inside room, but all I do there is sleep and shower.

 

Glad there is a bunch of you that are happy with TA's:) We still have a lot of places to go and see. Maybe at some point we will be at the stage that we will book another Caribbean itinerary and probably never get off the ship (been to them all) and maybe book a TA for the pricing, but we are definitely not there yet. The money spent on those cruises (plus air) takes away funds that could be used to visit countries/ports still on our check list.:D We always book early and have never (yet) had prices fall below our original rate. Cabin choice and especially location, is important to us. Definitely glad we all have different priorities!!

[Redtravel]

Up until the final payment, you can cancel or rebook. If you thought that the price was too high when you booked, then why did you book? I only book when I think that the price is fair. Of course, I like to save money. I have had some fares go down. It was nice to switch to a lower fare. Often the price has gone up. If you really want to take a specific cruise or sail in a specific cabin location , then book early and pay. If you can be flexible in dates, cabin locations, etc., then waiting for the close out sales may be for you. It's your decision.

[boogs]

So are you saying that you feel that Celebrity should adopt Southwest Airlines policy on price drops?

 

Only if rooms aren't reserved and it's first come first served, just like Southwest does their seats. :D

[Shake]

We always book early and have never (yet) had prices fall below our original rate. Cabin choice and especially location, is important to us.

 

Yea Right ...... I'm not even close to believing that.

 

You must be that one in a million lucky sailor. :cool:

[firemanbobswife]

About a month and a half ago we upgraded from a C2 stateroom with balcony level 8 to a C3 Concierge stateroom level 9 for $40.00 more p.p.

 

I may be getting senile, but isn't a C2 a higher class than a C3?

[NLH Arizona]

Only if rooms aren't reserved and it's first come first served, just like Southwest does their seats. :D

If the price goes down on Southwest, all you have to do is rebook your original reservation and you get the difference between your original fare and the new fare in your Southwest account.

[twosit]

Senior or not, if price drops like this, after final payment I don't know there is much I can do... Again, I just would think they would upgrade folks who book early or who are very loyal to X and then have discounts on lower cabins... Just saying its hard to accept, especially when there are so few Solstice S1s... They are somewhat interchangeable.

I;m not sure this would help you, but I also believe they miss the boat on this and it would frustrate me. They would create much more good will to upgrade people who pay a lot early than they do to just fire sale expensive cabins. Upgrade the people who bought early and then fire sale the less expensive categories.

[deise17311]

I;m not sure this would help you, but I also believe they miss the boat on this and it would frustrate me. They would create much more good will to upgrade people who pay a lot early than they do to just fire sale expensive cabins. Upgrade the people who bought early and then fire sale the less expensive categories.

 

Lawgirl! See if you can upgrade to a CS!! The price may have come down and you would get a bigger and better suite! We have done this on almost every cruise...booked early and then upgraded when prices dropped to a better cabin!