Hoping for 2014 Xmas cruise price drop - let the flamming begin

[xcell]

This is the first time that I bought my flights first before the cruise but the price was just too good to pass up.

 

So either I am going to spend 8 days in Miami this upcoming Xmas or will be going on the Getaway Dec 20-27th.

 

 

I missed one opportunity to get a guaranteed minisuite for $1000 pp (family of 4) - looked to be a one time only, the next day it rocketed up to $1400 pp. So hopefully, now after final payment has passed, either I'm going to pay thru the nose to go on this cruise (I can only take timeout during the holidays) or the price will come down to something more reasonable...it's like $6500 for the 4 of us right now.

 

I know... I know... it's prime time... chances are low... just venting and hoping at the same time...

 

Any one ever see holiday cruises drop after final payment...

[valleyvillage]

What is flamming?

I hope you get your cruise!

[Clay Clayton]

What is flamming?

I hope you get your cruise!

 

If you flame a flamm do you get extra popcorn to pass around?;)

[triptolemus]

This is exactly what Amex cards are for.

 

Book it now, worry about it later!

[xcell]

Amex cards?

 

They said to wait 48 hrs after final payment to see if prices change.

 

The hard part is waiting... you snooze you lose (or what I saved on the flights I'm paying back for the cruise).

Edited September 20, 2014 by xcell

[NancyL2]

Hope it all goes in your favor. :)

Edited September 20, 2014 by NancyL2

[time2cruise1]

The risk you run is prices may drop but not for cabins that hold 4. Often they restrict late bookings to 2 passengers only. Has a lot to do with lifeboat capacity.

[TrumpyNor]

I did a new years cruise last year (booked it early), and the prices just kept rising, also after final payment date and up until the sailing date.... My guess is that it will unfortunately probably be the same with a Christmas cruise....

Edited September 20, 2014 by TrumpyNor

[xcell]

I'm crossing my fingers. Checking daily. Holding my breath. What ever it takes.

[bachcruise]

Same thing happened to me a couple years ago and I ended up taking a different ship..still had a great cruise. Hopefully the price drops on Getaway but if not maybe consider another ship with the same dates out of Miami.

 

 

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[culinarc]

Same thing happened to me a couple years ago and I ended up taking a different ship..still had a great cruise. Hopefully the price drops on Getaway but if not maybe consider another ship with the same dates out of Miami.

 

 

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I agree between MIA or FLL it's hard to fathom you cant end up on a great ship heading somewhere. You could also spend some time in South FL and take a cruise maybe a 5 day.;)

[surran12]

I agree between MIA or FLL it's hard to fathom you cant end up on a great ship heading somewhere. You could also spend some time in South FL and take a cruise maybe a 5 day.;)

 

I second this plan. Don't just limit yourself to the Getaway keep an eye on all the options out there. I hope something comes through for you. Good Luck!

[david_sobe]

****throwing water on the flames*****

 

Hope it works out. Price drops around Christmas can happen but probably rare.

[mitsugirly]

For those that have mentioned FLL and Miami, don't forget about Tampa too. It's still always an option if the Getaway doesn't work out.

 

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you OP. :)

[wisteria1019]

We essentially did a similar thing - had a TA scheduled from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale, booked airfare that would allow us to add a Med cruise or we would spend those days in Spain. We saw the Spirit sailing drop and jumped on at it 5 weeks out. A week and a half later, the price dropped another $400. Although we would have loved to have saved the extra money, it would have been a bit more nerve wracking to wait any longer than we did.

Good luck and I hope you get what you want!

 

Dawn

[lisakoivu]

I've watched Christmas prices for years and they've never dropped that I've noticed so I booked our first Christmas cruise, on the BA, this past March. Inside rooms have doubled since then, our aft balcony has only gone up $100 though.

 

Like you, I'm hoping there are price drops... I'd put the kids in a balcony if it dropped... I'll take the Haven if I can upgrade for a few hundred per person, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

Who needs the casino.. booking the cruise itself is an exciting and never ending game of chance, it seems. Good luck to all of us who are going/hoping to go/hoping to upgrade... and Merry Christmas.

[Starry Eyes]

I agree with others. Watch other cruiselines, other ships, even other ports. awater you have at least two adults, watch only only prices for cabins of four but also for two doubles. go ahead and make a backup, cancellable hotel reservation in Florida.

I do not think there is anything magical about 48 hours after final payment. For last minute deals on non-holiday sailings, I typically wait longer than that to see clearance prices kick in. I am not sure you will see deals on holiday sailings, but no reason to think 48 hr is magic.

when you see a cruise price that satisfies you, book it.

good luck and stay flexible.

[xcell]

The 48 hours is NCL cancellation or price guarantee policy. So once that passes then no more changes (since it is after final payment)

 

Good tip to look for alternatives just in case but holding for NCL cause I.have future cruise certificates with them.

Edited September 21, 2014 by xcell

[Starry Eyes]

The 48 hours is NCL cancellation or price guarantee policy. So once that passes then no more changes.

 

Good tip to look for alternatives just in case but holding for NCL cause I.have future cruise certificates with them.

 

perhaps we understand that 48 hour rule differently.

 

As I understand it, if I place a hold (or fully book) a cruise right now, NCL will (with substantial limits) potentially match the price if it drops within the next 48 hours...and only for those 48 hours. So if somebody booked 60 days ago, their 48 hour window expired 58 days ago. And few people ever seem to be able to use that 48 hour rule anyway...so many loopholes.

 

If final payment just passed, NCL likely will wait a little while to let any slightly tardy payments trickle in (credit/debit card or TA communication issues and such). Then they will assess bookings and perhaps adjust pricing. I think that generally takes more than 48 hours. so I would not consider 48 hours after final payment to be some golden opportunity. Watch diligently and good luck.

Edited September 21, 2014 by Starry Eyes

[Love my butler]

We're going to Disneyworld!

[wisteria1019]

We're going to Disneyworld!

 

I Love Disney World!!!!!

[monkeybone]

We're going to Disneyworld!

 

Thats great. I always wanted to do that for Xmas :)

 

I was waiting for the BA NYE cruise prices to go down but no luck..... I will just book it next week.

Edited September 21, 2014 by monkeybone

[Siora7777]

One of the groups in our party missed out on the sale my sister and I took advantage of. We decided to book them in the cheapest cabin possible. If the price drops we will see if we can upgrade them. We just want to get everyone on the ship. The group in the inside we booked was okay with that. We are going to continue to watch prices because we'd like to get them at least in an ocean view but they are also fine if there are no upgrade opportunities. We'll see how it goes.

Edited September 21, 2014 by Siora7777

[gooch47]

Don't know about NCL, but our Princess Christmas cruise has dropped twice since we booked it.

[darkprayer]

I've only seen the prices lately of the Christmas sailings go up! I saw a balcony as low at $859 pp but now I see it at $1349!