Last minute fare pricing

[scdreamer]

Apologies in advance if this question has recently been answered - I did not see it when I searched.

 

My husband and I are considering a ten-day Mexican Riviera itinerary on Grand Princess - departing from SF on Dec 10.

 

We are pretty much on the fence about going or staying home - of course a huge price reduction could convince us ;). We live close enough to SF that it would be easy to drive to the port, and as we are retired, our schedules are extremely flexible.

 

So ... being less than two months out from the sailing date, what are the odds the fares will come down dramatically closer to the departure date? I understand it will have a lot to do with capacity and sales, just wondering if any other cruisers have had good luck waiting until the last minute -and also when exactly is the "last minute?" I know the golden days of showing up at the terminal and getting a berth are long gone - how much prior time for security, etc is required?

[Thrak]

Quite a few retired people book cruises after final payment is due. If there is going to be a last minute reduction this is most likely when it will happen. I'm not retired yet (GAH!!!) but, when I finally do retire my wife and I will likely book some cruises using this method.

 

You will probably be limited as to which cabins are still available and there won't always be any cabins available at all. It depends a lot on the itinerary. Our recent Panama Canal cruise was completely sold out for something like 9 months in advance. There were a very few cabins that became available (for an hour or so) after final payment was due when some people ended up cancelling but only a very few cabins opened up and they were snapped up immediately.

 

With a 10 day Mexico cruise you may have a fairly good chance of snagging a deal after final payment date but one should never count on it.

Edited October 20, 2015 by Thrak

[JF - retired RRT]

It could happen, but chances are better that the price will go up. Also, cabin choices will definitely go down.

 

A couple of examples: we are booked on 3 cruises in November in IE category cabin.

1) paid $197pp casino rate (the book rate was $544), now $224 for reserve

2) paid $330pp casino rate (the book rate was $660), now $504

3) paid $294pp casino rate (the book rate was $859), now $804

 

For ALL of these dates, the original price was a lot less than what you would pay today.

 

It is better to pick a date and a price that works for you and book it.

Also, since you live so close to the port, schedule a BVE and buy some Future Cruise Deposits ($100 is your total deposit plus you will get some OBC depending on cabin & length of cruise).

The next BVEs are 10/25, 11/1, 11/8, 11/15 & 11/30 in San Pedro on the Ruby. There are also some on the Star in Nov/Dec.

[riofriotex]

Please refresh me - since I too am on the fence about cruising this January, and have never been on Princess before - how far in advance are final payments usually due?

 

Thanks!

[scdreamer]

"It is better to pick a date and a price that works for you and book it.

Also, since you live so close to the port, schedule a BVE and buy some Future Cruise Deposits ($100 is your total deposit plus you will get some OBC depending on cabin & length of cruise)."

I have no idea what a "BVE" is.

 

I do understand what you are saying about the potential for prices to go up and for cabin choices to decline. But - we are really somewhat lukewarm about this cruise, so if we wait and we don't find a fare or cabin choice we like, that's okay.

 

Normally, if we were excited about an itinerary or particular date, we would purchase our cruise in advance. This is more of a maybe-yes-maybe-no kind of thing for us.

 

 

 

 

[JF - retired RRT]

I have no idea what a "BVE" is.

BVE = Bon Voyage Experience. You pay $39pp for a partial day on the ship (usually around 4 hours). The $39 is refundable as OBC if you book a cruise within 3 months.

While you are on the ship you can buy FCD, eat lunch or anything else you want:D, tour the ship, etc. BVEs are the first to board after wedding parties and before in transit, Suite/Elite/Platinum, & all the masses.

 

FCD = Future Cruise Deposit. Pay $100, it is your deposit if/when you book a cruise. It is good for 2 years, can be extended for 2 more years and is refundable if you decide to never, ever use it.

If you book a cruise with the FCD, you will receive from $15 to $150 OBC depending on length of cruise and cabin type. You can only buy the FCD while on a ship or a lesser value FCD within a certain time period after you get off a ship (not sure how long that is).

 

And if either of you are current or former armed services members, send a copy of your DD214 to Princess and get OBC for that, too.

[Kamloops50]

Apologies in advance if this question has recently been answered - I did not see it when I searched.

 

My husband and I are considering a ten-day Mexican Riviera itinerary on Grand Princess - departing from SF on Dec 10.

 

We are pretty much on the fence about going or staying home - of course a huge price reduction could convince us ;). We live close enough to SF that it would be easy to drive to the port, and as we are retired, our schedules are extremely flexible.

 

So ... being less than two months out from the sailing date, what are the odds the fares will come down dramatically closer to the departure date? I understand it will have a lot to do with capacity and sales, just wondering if any other cruisers have had good luck waiting until the last minute -and also when exactly is the "last minute?" I know the golden days of showing up at the terminal and getting a berth are long gone - how much prior time for security, etc is required?

 

Your not very likely to get any great deal from SF or LAX after final payment day. Princess usually runs there ships at capacity on the west coast . There will be cabins aviable but you'll pay the going rate.

Edited October 20, 2015 by Kamloops50

[Kamloops50]

Please refresh me - since I too am on the fence about cruising this January, and have never been on Princess before - how far in advance are final payments usually due?

 

Thanks!

 

Most Princess cruises are 75 days before cruise for final payment. Some cruises are different like world or segment of.

[iceleven]

A "drastic reduction" nor a "dramatic reduction" is likely for this cruise. There are very few cabins remaining as it is and you are still more than 6 weeks out.

 

If you are as flexible as you say, why not take a look at Princess website under the heading "Cruise Deals" and click on "Drop & Go." I think there is also a place on the website where you can sign up for offers for these types of sailing.

[scdreamer]

A "drastic reduction" nor a "dramatic reduction" is likely for this cruise. There are very few cabins remaining as it is and you are still more than 6 weeks out.

 

If you are as flexible as you say, why not take a look at Princess website under the heading "Cruise Deals" and click on "Drop & Go." I think there is also a place on the website where you can sign up for offers for these types of sailing.

 

Our flexibility is connected to the nearby port. Last minute airfares do not exist :rolleyes:

[iceleven]

Our flexibility is connected to the nearby port. Last minute airfares do not exist :rolleyes:

 

I understand, as I live 15 minutes from the same port in SF but, for us, other responsibilities such as jobs, pets, family, removes us from the "flexible" factor.

 

I am hesitant to mention this but I know I would be concerned with the weather during this time, as well. You live along the coast, as I do, and now El Nino is now regarded as a reality for this winter and it is being described as potentially an historically strong one. It may, and it may not, affect many of the west coast cruises this winter but it is certainly something to consider.

 

I share my concern not to alarm you or anyone else here on the boards. My husband and I are booked for a 15 day Hawaiian cruise the end of November. We are not willing to cancel it on a "chance" of bad weather but my husband is, for the first time, going to purchase the seasick patches just to be safe. :D

It should be interesting, just the same.

[Colo Cruiser]

Apologies in advance if this question has recently been answered - I did not see it when I searched.

 

My husband and I are considering a ten-day Mexican Riviera itinerary on Grand Princess - departing from SF on Dec 10.

 

We are pretty much on the fence about going or staying home - of course a huge price reduction could convince us ;). We live close enough to SF that it would be easy to drive to the port, and as we are retired, our schedules are extremely flexible.

 

So ... being less than two months out from the sailing date, what are the odds the fares will come down dramatically closer to the departure date? I understand it will have a lot to do with capacity and sales, just wondering if any other cruisers have had good luck waiting until the last minute -and also when exactly is the "last minute?" I know the golden days of showing up at the terminal and getting a berth are long gone - how much prior time for security, etc is required?

 

Odds are that one day when you pull up the sailing it will be sold out.

Don't wait. :(

[zoncom]

The Nov 15 one is listed at your neighborhood SF discount cruise agency for $659, so 12/10 should be slight bit more as of today.

[CA Dave]

The $39 is refundable as OBC if you book a cruise within 3 months.

 

Since we always have an FCD available, do you get the FCC as well as the $39 OBC if booked within the 90 days?

 

Thanks

[MCC retired]

Have you TA inform you of any FLASH rates (category guarantee, new bookings only) for the cruise your interested in .

You won't see those rates online but TA's see them .

[Working 2 Cruise]

Since we always have an FCD available, do you get the FCC as well as the $39 OBC if booked within the 90 days?

 

Thanks

 

I don't think so... You'd have the OBC for one FCC only. Then again... that's an interesting question.

Edited October 20, 2015 by Working 2 Cruise

[Shippy]

...as we are considering the same cruise.

The reason being is that the prices are currently very low !

I consider them VERY low.

I seriously doubt they could go any lower even though there are a lot of cabins left.

[Working 2 Cruise]

...as we are considering the same cruise.

The reason being is that the prices are currently very low !

I consider them VERY low.

I seriously doubt they could go any lower even though there are a lot of cabins left.

 

I've never seen those lower than that and, with Princess current policy of sailing with empty cabins, I highly doubt that the fares will drop further.

 

To the OP, if you don't really care, just don't go. If you do care, book now.

[Steelers36]

Cruisers should be vary careful hanging on to try and book late for a cheap fare. Sometimes it works, but sometimes is the key word.

 

Also, be careful with the inventory because you cannot tell how many GTY's have been sold and all of a sudden what you think you see as available cabins can be gone because Princess had to take them off line to balance off against the GTY's that don't have a cabin assigned.

[jasbo49]

If I were the OP, I'd book now. This IS the big sale: $76 a night for a balcony? You won't do any better.

 

Jim

[Cruise Raider]

Apologies in advance if this question has recently been answered - I did not see it when I searched.

 

My husband and I are considering a ten-day Mexican Riviera itinerary on Grand Princess - departing from SF on Dec 10.

 

We are pretty much on the fence about going or staying home - of course a huge price reduction could convince us ;). We live close enough to SF that it would be easy to drive to the port, and as we are retired, our schedules are extremely flexible.

 

So ... being less than two months out from the sailing date, what are the odds the fares will come down dramatically closer to the departure date? I understand it will have a lot to do with capacity and sales, just wondering if any other cruisers have had good luck waiting until the last minute -and also when exactly is the "last minute?" I know the golden days of showing up at the terminal and getting a berth are long gone - how much prior time for security, etc is required?

 

We are booked on this same cruise so have been watching the prices pretty carefully for the last several months. I think the pricing has stabilized and don't have a crystal ball, but once they dropped the price quite low earlier this month, I think that was the bottom. They have sold a lot of cabins in that short period of time (looks like half the ship in a few weeks) and now there is much less availability at that price point....meaning they are selling well. When they sell that quickly, they usually don't tend to drop the price any further. :confused:

[workermom]

Could you please tell me what a "casino rate" is and how you find them? Thank you

[Cruise Raider]

Could you please tell me what a "casino rate" is and how you find them? Thank you

 

They send them out to a targeted group of passengers -- it gives you a discount that is associated with your Captain's Club number. The one I received was sent via e-mail and gave anywhere from a 5% - 35% discount on your cruise and I could use it as many times as I wanted until it expired.

I booked 3 cruises using it and it saved me hundreds of dollars.

[Working 2 Cruise]

Could you please tell me what a "casino rate" is and how you find them? Thank you

 

This was an offer given to a group of passengers. If you have to ask about it... odds are you don't qualify for it. Sorry!

Edited October 21, 2015 by Working 2 Cruise

[Working 2 Cruise]

Could you please tell me what a "casino rate" is and how you find them? Thank you

 

This was an offer given to a group of passengers. If you have to ask about it... odds are you don't qualify for it. But maybe you'll qualify once you have a few cruises under your belt!