Should I book during this Royal Caribbean Sale?

[Blesswith4]

My husband and I just decided that we want to cruise the Allure in April of 2016. I found a cruise that is $989 pp but after the sale and with taxes it comes up to $1101 for person #1 and $642 for person #2. This is for the smallest inside cabin. Is this a good deal, and a good time to book?

[chanat]

Seems like a great price to me. The Oasis and Allure ships are wonderful and typically are more expensive than other RC ships. We are booked for Jan. 2015 On the Oasis for $1040 pp that I got in May of this yr. We have a Central Park balcony and got a $200 balcony discount for being Diamond members.

[Clarea]

There is no way to predict what prices will do. I'd book now and then watch for price drops, which you can get until final payment date.

[mrobstad]

Allure looks like a fabulous ship! I'd say book it, and watch the price up until final payment. You can then take advantage of any price drops, and still be assured you get the cabin you want.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[matj2000]

I would not pay that much for an inside cabin.

 

I believe I got a D2 cabin during Spring break for about $100 more.

 

Check the prices for different weeks and I bet it will be cheaper.

Edited September 18, 2014 by matj2000

[setsail]

You can get a boardwalk balcony in Feb 2016 for almost the exact same price, 1768 total.

[Folk Singer]

Book now and look out for any deals prior to final payment.

[kc320]

I wouldn't pay that much for an inside...I booked on Allure for Feb 2016, sailing solo in an OV Balcony and am only paying $1,900...as a couple you should be able to do at least an Oceanview cabin for less than that....

[molly361]

I would not pay that much for an inside either. However, like the others have said you can book it and watch for any price reductions .

[CRUISEBOY305]

I agree with what others have said. I wouldn't pay that for an inside but then again, only you know your financial situation and what you're willing to pay. You can always book it and watch for price drops between now and final payment date.

[Blesswith4]

I think the cost is a bit much. The problem that I have is that my babysitter works at a school and is only off during school breaks. So I have to cruise during those.:(

[Lindypops]

I love the idea that once you have paid a deposit you can change your booking if you see a price drop.

I have never heard of that in the UK , has anyone from the UK ever done this?

I was under the impression once you had paid the deposit your had entered into a final contract , is that not the case?

 

I know if you have to cancel you do not get your deposit back , that is what you need travel insurance for right from when you book.

 

Also I would be interested to hear if anyone from the UK has tried to us a future booking certificate bought on a previous cruise when they have booked another cruise.

Every time I have tried to use mine the travel agent comes up with a better deal than if I had used the future cruise certificate.

 

Thanks

Linda

[JasonV1]

You can (usually) get insides for less than 700pp if you wait until closer to the sailing.

 

Here is an example price changes for an inside (cat Z) on an upcoming Allure cruise (sails 9/28). The right date column is when the price changed. This pricing does not reflect any BOGO pricing; it is the "first person" price.

 

Price Created Updated

$ 949 2013‑09‑28 2013‑11‑06

$ 869 2014‑07‑01 2014‑07‑02

$ 819 2014‑07‑02 2014‑07‑07

$ 736 2014‑07‑07 2014‑08‑01

$ 819 2014‑08‑01 2014‑08‑04

$ 849 2014‑08‑05 2014‑08‑05

$ 649 2014‑08‑05 2014‑08‑13

$ 749 2014‑08‑13 2014‑08‑13

$ 649 2014‑08‑13 2014‑08‑25

$ 699 2014‑08‑25 2014‑08‑28

$ 749 2014‑08‑29 2014‑09‑18

 

Here is the same data for the 4/10/2016 Allure sailing (cat Q inside). Gives you an idea of how prices can change even that far out.

 

Price Created Updated

$ 899 2014‑03‑19 2014‑04‑17

$ 989 2014‑04‑17 2014‑05‑01

$ 741 2014‑05‑01 2014‑05‑30

$ 989 2014‑05‑30 2014‑05‑30

$ 741 2014‑05‑30 2014‑07‑11

$ 989 2014‑07‑11 2014‑07‑11

$ 741 2014‑07‑11 2014‑07‑16

$ 989 2014‑07‑16 2014‑08‑01

$ 741 2014‑08‑01 2014‑08‑07

$ 989 2014‑08‑07 2014‑08‑07

$ 741 2014‑08‑07 2014‑08‑21

$ 989 2014‑08‑21 2014‑08‑21

$ 741 2014‑08‑21 2014‑08‑26

$ 794 2014‑08‑27 2014‑09‑04

$ 1,059 2014‑09‑04 2014‑09‑04

$ 794 2014‑09‑04 2014‑09‑11

$ 1,059 2014‑09‑11 2014‑09‑11

$ 794 2014‑09‑11 2014‑09‑18

 

All this data is publicly available, but I can't mention the website name. I'm sure if you Googled cruise price tracking you could probably find it. FYI, if no one has ever tracked the cruise you may not get full historical prices as the website doesn't necessarily check every cruise every day, but only those where people are paying to track prices. I pay a very small amount to track my future cruises so that I get immediate e-mails when the price changes; when you see that some drops last only a day you realize how important that feature is. Works well if you are trying to snag a last minute (pay for) cabin upgrade.

Edited September 18, 2014 by JasonV1

[JasonV1]

The future cruise cert isn't supposed to impact pricing, or so I thought (unless possibly you are booking under a group rate, this is just a guess on my part).

 

I have heard that for UK passengers it is better to book with US travel agents as you get access to price drops, can cancel without penalties outside of final payment, and may also be able to get additional perks (I get OBC from my TA, works out really well).

 

I love the idea that once you have paid a deposit you can change your booking if you see a price drop.

I have never heard of that in the UK , has anyone from the UK ever done this?

I was under the impression once you had paid the deposit your had entered into a final contract , is that not the case?

 

I know if you have to cancel you do not get your deposit back , that is what you need travel insurance for right from when you book.

 

Also I would be interested to hear if anyone from the UK has tried to us a future booking certificate bought on a previous cruise when they have booked another cruise.

Every time I have tried to use mine the travel agent comes up with a better deal than if I had used the future cruise certificate.

 

Thanks

Linda

Edited September 18, 2014 by JasonV1

[floridaglen]

I love the idea that once you have paid a deposit you can change your booking if you see a price drop.

I have never heard of that in the UK , has anyone from the UK ever done this?

I was under the impression once you had paid the deposit your had entered into a final contract , is that not the case?

 

I know if you have to cancel you do not get your deposit back , that is what you need travel insurance for right from when you book.

 

Also I would be interested to hear if anyone from the UK has tried to us a future booking certificate bought on a previous cruise when they have booked another cruise.

Every time I have tried to use mine the travel agent comes up with a better deal than if I had used the future cruise certificate.

 

Thanks

Linda

 

Unfortunately, those of us that live in the UK cannot take advantage of a price drop unless we have booked through am American travel agent. I believe the best we can do is ask for an upgrade if the price drops. I feel totally discriminated against!!!:(:(

[Esmerelda]

We just got off the Allure 2 weeks ago. For a D5 balcony, I paid $969 per person. For a junior suite, we paid $1600 per person. This was booked January of 2014. That might give you an idea if you got a deal or not. The date we sailed is in my signature.

Edited September 18, 2014 by Esmerelda

[mescuba1]

My husband and I just decided that we want to cruise the Allure in April of 2016. I found a cruise that is $989 pp but after the sale and with taxes it comes up to $1101 for person #1 and $642 for person #2. This is for the smallest inside cabin. Is this a good deal, and a good time to book?

Im sure you can do much better, if thats the week you want watch for a price drop and call you can get the reduced rate

Edited September 18, 2014 by mescuba1

[sanger727]

I think the cost is a bit much. The problem that I have is that my babysitter works at a school and is only off during school breaks. So I have to cruise during those.:(

 

Think that is probably the cause of why it's more than what other people are paying. Prices are usually higher when schools are out because many people can only vacation then. The prices could def go higher than what you have now, I would book and watch for price drops. There's a website that will monitor for your for $1 and alert you if they drop. Apparently you're not allowed to name it but if you try googling for it you will probably be able to find it.

[cruisnfool]

personally I would not book that far out unless you are committed to that particular week.

there is no reason for RCI to reduce a cruse that far out.The BOGO that are going on have altered the price of the first to not lose on the second.. be very watchfull.

[NathUK]

Unfortunately, those of us that live in the UK cannot take advantage of a price drop unless we have booked through am American travel agent. I believe the best we can do is ask for an upgrade if the price drops. I feel totally discriminated against!!!:(:(

 

Then book with a US travel agent like we have been doing for years. Cheaper pirce, on board credit and free speciality meals.

 

Occasionaly you can find a bargain, some dates on the Gettaway for instance are £200 cheaper in the UK but they are very few and far between.

[Folk Singer]

Unfortunately, those of us that live in the UK cannot take advantage of a price drop unless we have booked through am American travel agent. I believe the best we can do is ask for an upgrade if the price drops. I feel totally discriminated against!!!:(:(

 

 

It doesn't seem to be fair.:(

[floridaglen]

Then book with a US travel agent like we have been doing for years. Cheaper pirce, on board credit and free speciality meals.

 

Occasionaly you can find a bargain, some dates on the Gettaway for instance are £200 cheaper in the UK but they are very few and far between.

 

How does this work then? Do you book online or over the phone? Do you pay in dollars? We don't know any US travel agents and I'm fairly sure you are not allowed to recommend any here on the forum. I've tried to access Royal Caribbean's US website using .com but it seems to know that we are in the UK and automatically reverts to the UK site .co.uk.

 

I'm assuming the prices on the US & UK websites are fairly comparable but what is annoying me is when there is a price drop before final payment and we who live in the UK (and possibly the rest of Europe, Asia etc) cannot benefit from this as do Americans and Canadians. It just doesn't seem fair :(

[vacation_junkie]

My husband and I just decided that we want to cruise the Allure in April of 2016. I found a cruise that is $989 pp but after the sale and with taxes it comes up to $1101 for person #1 and $642 for person #2. This is for the smallest inside cabin. Is this a good deal, and a good time to book?

 

We booked a B1 Boardwalk Balcony Cabin for $2725 including taxes for 3 people for the Feb 7th Allure sailing. That seems kinda high for an inside room.

[Folk Singer]

:(:eek::rolleyes: