doretm123 Posted May 20, 2017 #1 Share Posted May 20, 2017 hi we have a cruise booked on allure of the seas for 8th Oct 17 and have an ocean view room. We would like to change to a balcony room but I am not getting any sense every time I call RC. Their agents are assuming I want to cancel and rebook which would then cost more than the cruise in the first place. Has anyone managed to change their state room without having to cancel and rebook? TIA Doret Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merion_Mom Posted May 20, 2017 #2 Share Posted May 20, 2017 hi we have a cruise booked on allure of the seas for 8th Oct 17 and have an ocean view room. We would like to change to a balcony room but I am not getting any sense every time I call RC. Their agents are assuming I want to cancel and rebook which would then cost more than the cruise in the first place. Has anyone managed to change their state room without having to cancel and rebook? TIA Doret Welcome to Cruise Critic, doretm. Where do you live? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merion_Mom Posted May 20, 2017 #3 Share Posted May 20, 2017 If you are in North America, then you would have to pay the difference between what you originally paid for your cabin and what RC is asking now for the balcony cabin. If you live in Europe, the rules are different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doretm123 Posted May 20, 2017 Author #4 Share Posted May 20, 2017 hi thanks for your reply! Yes I am in Europe and I don't mind paying extra but it seems crazy to have to cancel and rebook. I'm not all together sure if the agent is understanding what I want though. regards Doret Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary1960 Posted May 20, 2017 #5 Share Posted May 20, 2017 I just upgraded a virtual balcony on harmony in July to an ocean balcony and just paid the $400 difference. No cancellation needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merion_Mom Posted May 20, 2017 #6 Share Posted May 20, 2017 But the booking rules are different in Europe. You can't "just" pay more for a better cabin. You DO forfeit your deposit, and start over with a new booking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandboxer Posted May 20, 2017 #7 Share Posted May 20, 2017 They refused my offer to pay £700 GBP to upgrade to a junior suite after final payment. I think they must be crazy...whatever product you sell why would you turn down more revenue that comes with additional sales? Why ? Because I live in the U.K......nuts!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doretm123 Posted May 20, 2017 Author #8 Share Posted May 20, 2017 I know it's crazy!! I've just called and they want £2500 to change the room from ocean view to balcony. We only paid £1300 for the whole cruise!:mad: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doretm123 Posted May 20, 2017 Author #9 Share Posted May 20, 2017 I didn't pay a deposit. I paid the cruise in full. Just seems unfair the rules are different in the US Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vegcurry Posted May 20, 2017 #10 Share Posted May 20, 2017 If you book online with a US travel agent you get their terms and conditions. I do it all the time now and it's cheaper too. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doretm123 Posted May 20, 2017 Author #11 Share Posted May 20, 2017 Hindsight is a wonderful thing lol wish I had now :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livelovelaugh84 Posted May 20, 2017 #12 Share Posted May 20, 2017 I know there are rules around promoting travel agents but is there anyway you can tell me more about how it works using a US travel agent from the UK? I've always wondered if this is possible!! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fluckster Posted May 20, 2017 #13 Share Posted May 20, 2017 But the booking rules are different in Europe. You can't "just" pay more for a better cabin. You DO forfeit your deposit, and start over with a new booking. I had no problem upgrading my booking from outside to balcony. Just paid the £80 difference. It was a GYT rate thou. I'm in the UK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doretm123 Posted May 20, 2017 Author #14 Share Posted May 20, 2017 I had no problem upgrading my booking from outside to balcony. Just paid the £80 difference. It was a GYT rate thou. I'm in the UK There is hope then? I will keep trying. What is GYT Rate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted May 20, 2017 #15 Share Posted May 20, 2017 There is hope then? I will keep trying. What is GYT Rate? I think they are referring to a Guarantee (GTY) rate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjkacmom Posted May 20, 2017 #16 Share Posted May 20, 2017 I didn't pay a deposit. I paid the cruise in full. Just seems unfair the rules are different in the US Your laws are different, there are also benefits with stricter travel protection. For example, on NCL, those booked in the US have to pay gratuities on free perks, folks booked on your side of the pond don't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doretm123 Posted May 20, 2017 Author #17 Share Posted May 20, 2017 I think they are referring to a Guarantee (GTY) rate. What is a guarantee rate please? TIA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doretm123 Posted May 20, 2017 Author #18 Share Posted May 20, 2017 Your laws are different, there are also benefits with stricter travel protection. For example, on NCL, those booked in the US have to pay gratuities on free perks, folks booked on your side of the pond don't. Maybe so but surely they can't justify £2500 to change a room that would have cost an extra £100 on booking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Rewind Posted May 20, 2017 #19 Share Posted May 20, 2017 What is a guarantee rate please? TIA Instead of selecting Cabin 3600, you pay a cheaper rate for ANY CABIN in category Q. At some random time before sailing, the cruise line assigns you a cabin that they have left over. You could end up in the back of the ship on deck 2, the front of the ship on deck 9, or if pigs end up flying even a grand suite. In short, it's a cabin lottery. Keep in mind though that the chances of getting one of the nicer cabins is somewhere between 0 and 00. The cruise line would much rather discount the good cabins and get others who are able to pay to upgrade to do so. That frees up another slightly lower class cabin which someone else pays to upgrade to which then opens up another even slightly lower cabin... and on and on until only the inside cabins on deck 2 under the galley and above the anchor are left. They are great way to get a cheap getaway if you really don't care where you cabin is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker19 Posted May 20, 2017 #20 Share Posted May 20, 2017 Maybe so but surely they can't justify £2500 to change a room that would have cost an extra £100 on booking Of course they can (because that's what you agreed to in the original contract) and cruise pricing, like airlines and hotels, is dynamic so you can't compare with prices at the time of original booking - you have to compare to the current pricing. What you may not know is that you could call RCI three times and get three different answers. While the official policy may be what they you have heard so far (have to cancel and rebook) you may get an agent that will make allowances. Call back, perhaps several times. Oh, and one other tip - don't pay for the cruise in full until final payment. Not only would this change be much more palatable with a minor deposit loss, but large price drops may also be viable (even with deposit loss). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wendychloecruiser Posted May 20, 2017 #21 Share Posted May 20, 2017 I know there are rules around promoting travel agents but is there anyway you can tell me more about how it works using a US travel agent from the UK? I've always wondered if this is possible!! Sent from my iPhone using Forums It's very simple. Make google your friend. There are many companies that would love your business. Call them. Check their location and determine time zones. If more people from the UK et al booked in the US the cruise companies would be more likely to allow customers from both sides of the pond to have access to equal bookings benefits. A quick example... It took a five minute phone call to change my cabin within the same category to a better location on an upcoming cruise. I could not do this if I had booked in the UK. AND I received a refund on the rate adjustment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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