The problem with early booking

[pamwinn]

Typically, I book my cruises about 4 months out. Last year I violated that rule by booking in late December for a June cruise. I did end up snagging E730, the prized minisuite on the CB.

 

This year, I've been really bad. I have been booked since the first of September for a June cruise on the Sapphire.

 

The first thing that booking early made me do was book a back to back. But I was very frugal. I started out with an inside for the northbound trip (Alaska) and a meager BD balcony southbound. That money already spent in my mind, I later upgraded the inside to a BD. What the heck, it was only 500 or so bucks. That money already spent in my mind, I upgraded the BD on the southbound trip to an AD. How can I go without a bathtub for 2 weeks I told myself. What the heck, it was only 400 or so dollars. That money already spent in my mind, yesterday I upgraded the BD to a BB aft (C746) what the heck, it was only 300 more dollars.

 

This is the problem, as I see it, with early bookings. If the trend continues, the BB will become and AD.

 

I am hoping I don't go totally insane and upgrade one of them to a full suite. I like beans and rice but not 351 days in a row.

 

If you book closer to the final payment date, you do not have as many choices and therefore are much less likely to spend just a few hundred dollars more....over and over again.;)

[CruiseFever]

I book as far out as I can and usually dance around with my bookings just like you have. You are not alone. I think the more time I have on my hands, the more I think of it, the more changing I do.

 

But I think that's kind of a fun part of it too.

[travellady]

Oh, do I ever understand. Thought since I'm paying for a family of 5 as a Xmas gift, we'd be frugal and get 2 inside guarantees lowest category available. Well, we are now at 2 insides (had 2 adult sons and my 12 year old in one originally but decided they could use more space so got 2) and one mini-suite for my husband and I. I did start out with a cat BE guarantee, then saw a mini-suite guarantee for just 500.00 more so jumped on it. Heck, it's Xmas, a few weeks short of my 50th birthday, just got a decent bonus in September etc. etc.

[beckers]

I wish I was your travel agent............

[lgt]

Whatever you do, don't book a full suite. Did that last year and never want to sail any other way. You are spoiled forever.

[land lover]

Totally can relate.............................but I book the Cat I want and then watch the pricing and inventory change...... what a waste of time...but it is a hobby:D

[nancyrg]

You are not alone.....I always book far in advance and then watch for "deals" to upgrade for not too much $$. Afterall, if i am already going to spend X amount whats a few hundred more......it seems too good to pass up.

 

We were upgraded by princess twice to full suites-it SPOILS you-it makes every other cabin seem small! If you indulge, be forwarned that it is hard to go back to a regular cabin.

 

have a great trip!

 

nancy

[Crowsie]

We usually book 18-24 months out but this time we only gave ourselves 10 months :eek:

 

Decided to take the kids for the 1st time....going to be lots more expensive with two extra passengers to pay for so decided to go with a balcony cabin.

Much to my horror my husband refused to be in a balcony and insisted we have a mini-suite....silly me for underestimating him :p

 

Turns out it's cheaper to put the kids in an inside cabin across the hall then have all four of us in one cabin...so now I've got the mini suite and a separate cabin for the kids...life is good :D

[Lynda90]

Pam, I can totally relate. I am travelling solo on a b2b next Sept. to Alaska. I usually cruise with my mom and we always get a mini. Well, with the b2b, solo, I knew I had to be conservative and started out with pricing on b2b insides. Decided I just can't do that and looked at the outsides. Then I kept thinking about the incredible scenery I would be missing without my own balcony. So, I ended up with b2b category BB's. No coveted tub, but at least a balcony and elite perks.

[pamwinn]

Totally can relate.............................but I book the Cat I want and then watch the pricing and inventory change...... what a waste of time...but it is a hobby:D

 

It's an addictive hobby!

 

Much to my horror my husband refused to be in a balcony and insisted we have a mini-suite....silly me for underestimating him :p

 

He probably believes it really was his idea

:D

 

I wish I was your travel agent............

 

LOL, I don't know. I think I am a lot of trouble.

 

 

Pam, I can totally relate. I am travelling solo on a b2b next Sept. to Alaska. I usually cruise with my mom and we always get a mini. Well, with the b2b, solo, I knew I had to be conservative and started out with pricing on b2b insides. Decided I just can't do that and looked at the outsides. Then I kept thinking about the incredible scenery I would be missing without my own balcony. So, I ended up with b2b category BB's. No coveted tub, but at least a balcony and elite perks.

 

It's a long time until next september....bet you upgrade to a minisuite before then. Two weeks is a long time without a tub...that's what got me.:D

[Mitchie872]

I have to agree with Beckers, I wish I were a travel agent.

I think I book my cruise way to far ahead, but what you gonna do? Just book another one in between :D

[sashas_mom]

We just booked b to b's Alaska on the Coral in June. Were you told you have to get off the ship if you wanted to change rooms? At first I was told it was against the rules to change rooms doing a b to b and couldn't do it at all. When I called later to check on something and asked another rep from Princess I was told I could change cabins but would have to get off the ship and re-embark. I don't mind it if I have to get off the ship for whatever reason, but do we have to pack all our belongings and remove them only to turn around and move into a room accross the hall? What have you been told?

sasha'smom

[pamwinn]

I haven't been told anything about getting off the ship. I have done a B2B before and getting off the ship amounted to a very short and escorted trip through customs and right back on.

 

This will be the first time in different cabins though. From what others have posted, the stewards will arrange the move from one cabin to another and you do not have to take your stuff off the ship.

[sunluva7]

We also book a year or more in advance and play around with the booking. This past August on the CB, we vowed we'd do it cheap, so we started with 2 inside cabins - a double and a quad. Then hubby and I decided, what the heck - let's celebrate his 50th birthday with a Caribe balcony! A couple of months later, the balcony cabin prices dropped like a rock, so we moved the two girls to an inside cabin across the hall (which they were perfectly happy with), and because my older daughter and her friend in the other inside cabin were sad they didn't have a balcony, we upgraded them to a Caribe balcony.

 

That's what's great about booking early. You have lots of time to watch the prices and play around with upgrades and re-bookings.

[West Coast]

We just booked b to b's Alaska on the Coral in June. Were you told you have to get off the ship if you wanted to change rooms? At first I was told it was against the rules to change rooms doing a b to b and couldn't do it at all. When I called later to check on something and asked another rep from Princess I was told I could change cabins but would have to get off the ship and re-embark.

 

If your turn-around-point is in Alaska (Whittier) then you will not have to get off the ship as there are no customs to clear (you would have [pre]cleared US customs when you got on the ship in Vancouver).

[Cessna140]

Where do you go to find out if your cabin prices drop or change or to find out about a special offer?? I imagine that travel agents would go nuts if people called every day to check!

[pamwinn]

I use an huge online travel agency to track prices. These prices are identical to Princess prices. That is not the price I am paying through the TA but if Princess drops the price, it shows up online. Then I contact my TA regarding the drop. Sometimes the drop is very temporary. For example, our minsuite dropped about 100 dollars pp. I contacted my TA who dropped my price. A week later the price was up 200 pp. Now it's back down to the original starting price. If you don't keep track of the pricing, you will miss some price drops.

 

There is no way a TA could possible keep up with all the constant price fluxes for all bookings. I don't contact my TA to look for price drop, but I do contact her when I find one.

[Cessna140]

I use an huge online travel agency to track prices. These prices are identical to Princess prices. That is not the price I am paying through the TA but if Princess drops the price, it shows up online. Then I contact my TA regarding the drop. Sometimes the drop is very temporary. For example, our minsuite dropped about 100 dollars pp. I contacted my TA who dropped my price. A week later the price was up 200 pp. Now it's back down to the original starting price. If you don't keep track of the pricing, you will miss some price drops.

 

There is no way a TA could possible keep up with all the constant price fluxes for all bookings. I don't contact my TA to look for price drop, but I do contact her when I find one.

 

Would that be the large travel agency that ends in "city" ?? Lol....just trying to get the best price I can!! Thanks for letting me know!

[CruiseFever]

Where do you go to find out if your cabin prices drop or change or to find out about a special offer?? I imagine that travel agents would go nuts if people called every day to check!

 

CruiseValueCenter is my #1 source for discount prices. Travelocity and Expedia, it seems to me anyway, have complied with the cruise lines demands and don't discount much. You might get some value-added thing for now but those days are limited.

 

Start looking for a good, agressive travel agent now, you're gonna need one within the year and establishing a relationship with them now wouldn't hurt you down the road.

 

Be sure the one you go with does NOT charge crazy junk fees like "change fees" or extra "cancellation charges". I heard of one that charges for sending you your documents even. They've got to do that to give you the rock bottom rates which is fine if you don't want to change anything but if you do you might pay dearly for it.

 

These are not dishonest agents by any means, they just want the lights to stay on at their agency and they've got to pay for it somehow.

[pamwinn]

Would that be the large travel agency that ends in "city" ?? Lol....just trying to get the best price I can!! Thanks for letting me know!

 

 

Yes it would. When those prices change, it means Princess prices have changed, so if I see a drop, I contact my TA.

[sashas_mom]

We also book a year or more in advance and play around with the booking. This past August on the CB, we vowed we'd do it cheap, so we started with 2 inside cabins - a double and a quad. Then hubby and I decided, what the heck - let's celebrate his 50th birthday with a Caribe balcony! A couple of months later, the balcony cabin prices dropped like a rock, so we moved the two girls to an inside cabin across the hall (which they were perfectly happy with), and because my older daughter and her friend in the other inside cabin were sad they didn't have a balcony, we upgraded them to a Caribe balcony.

 

That's what's great about booking early. You have lots of time to watch the prices and play around with upgrades and re-bookings.

 

I took your suggestion, I am new to this so I try to follow as much advice as I can get, and just got my booking lowered for our Northbound Cruise. Amazing! The Southbound has already gone UP $200.00...but I will keep an eye on both. Thanks again.

sasha'smom

[pamwinn]

just got my booking lowered for our Northbound Cruise

 

 

fun isn't it?:D

[sashas_mom]

fun isn't it?:D

 

Yeh!:p