Never stop looking - re-fare / re-book

[voljeep]

Couldn't find the previous thread - sorry

 

Cross post from our Roll Call

 

Quick FYI - You may want to check the Princess website for this cruise and the current pricing. We just re-fared / re-booked in the same cabin at the current pricing - yes 5 days before our cruise. Now remember, as this is a new promotion from what we had previously booked under, we did lose our prepaid grats, but the savings more than made up for that. Well worth a quick look and phone call . Your situation may vary GOOD LUCK

 

Now we didn't save a lot of money because it was already booked at a great (for us) rate - but it was still enough to enjoy a specialty dinner if we choose with a couple of nice drinks for my wife - I have the drink package, well duh!

[Meanee]

Is that even possible? My TA told me that past final payment date, rebooking will put me inside cancellation penalty time.

[voljeep]

We booked directly with Princess, and that is one reason we did - Not a lot of 'perks' from a TA on these shorter cruises, at least not for us it seems. Again, it may all depend on the rep you get when you call.

[Host CJSKIDS]

I think at the moment Princess is doing things they don't normally do to keep people on the ships. The amount of people who have canceled sailings is astounding. The amount of empty cabins on sailings next week is astounding.

[voljeep]

the ***** rollout - or selective ***** rollout has got to be a major concern

[Pam in CA]

I never book directly. That’s like paying the manufacturer’s suggested retail price. Princess allows TAs to discount fares and while most don’t, some do. I book a year or two ahead, often when bookings open, and usually pay a lot less than even the last minute sales. Most of the time, prices go up, then they go on sale and people think, “Oh, great! I got the sale price!” only they’re really paying more than they would have by booking early and using a good TA. Yes, if a promotion comes along that I’m eligible for, I get the promotion and sometimes a refare.

[deliver42]

I just booked the Regal on 10/28 for Dec 10th for 1398.00. This is for a balcony ( my choice of room) with free grats. When I called last week, knowing we wouldn't have the *****, they gave us $200.00 OBC. I don't think a TA could or would match that.

[MCC retired]

I just booked the Regal on 10/28 for Dec 10th for 1398.00. This is for a balcony ( my choice of room) with free grats. When I called last week, knowing we wouldn't have the *****, they gave us $200.00 OBC. I don't think a TA could or would match that.

 

 

 

There is no fare/deal that Princess offers direct that is not available to any TA . No need to match but are allowed to do even better .

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[voljeep]

We have always booked directly with Princess after our 1st cruise when we booked thru AAA.

 

On only one occasion - a 10 day Panama Canal partial transit was it worthwhile to transfer the booking to a TA.

 

Now maybe if we went consistently on longer cruises and used the same TA things might be different. I am a bulldog when it comes to checking prices / promotions etc. I enjoy it as it seems like a game between me and them - either a TA or direct

[Denmal]

I always book with princess direct. In our last cruise a transatlantic, I was checking prices as saved 3900 in a mini. No problem with refunding my money. The we got a an upsell to a suite and still was under the 3900 savings. My princess cruise consultant is GREAT. She gets me unpublished discounts all the time and never has a problem when I call for a price drop.

[Selion]

Is that even possible? My TA told me that past final payment date, rebooking will put me inside cancellation penalty time.

Just ask your TA to call Princess. You have a TA, put him/her to work for you.

[Liz54]

I am also a bulldog and a control freak. I book with Princess well out - at least a year,- and watch. Then I switch to a TA with a better rate or great perks. The TA I used for my upcoming cruise has got me two big price reductions and added free grats despite the fact that it said "new bookings only". This guy may become my forever TA!

[Wishing on a star]

I heard that Princess was adding the gratuities on these current Caribbean cruises, when requested, even though they are not always listed on the web-site.

Anyone know if they are still doing that?

 

We have a deposit with a TA that I had recommended by a long time CC expert. But, this TA does not seem to be ready to really do anything for us over and above the standard booking or changes. Literally has said, I don't have the time.... Ugggghhhhh.

Wish I could finally find a TA like the one Liz mentions!

[Denmal]

Wishing on a star - You should call Princess and asked to have a cruise consultant assigned. I get casino discounts for just about every cruise and believe me, I do NOT play a lot- The most I spend on a 14 day cruse is about 200 bucks in the casino. I play the nickel slots. The cruise consultant team is great -

[voljeep]

Just to verify - the cruise consultant team are Princess employees? I would really like to have a consistent contact with Princess, but have also had very good experiences just calling, and if needed, calling back

[Steelers36]

Our current booking has been changed by me initiating booking three segments instead of full voyage to save a ton based in Princess pricing. Then I caught two price drops on two segments. No need to have booked direct - my TA made the booking change and also the re-fares. Still got my discount every time. As I have posted other times, there are two main differences for me in choosing between booking direct with Princess and with a discount TA:

 

1) Getting a discount off Princess pricing - even when it's a promotion or sale.

2) Giving up some control over my booking.

 

#1 trumps #2 when we are saving a lot of money. And my TA is good and responsive. I have connected with a couple of TA's who don't give anything worthwhile at all off an Inside booking. Most of our bookings have been Inside Caribbean for 7 or 10 days and admittedly not a lot of profit there. My current TA discounts any fare.

[Denmal]

The cruise consultant is a princess employee. She tells me every time I call, she is my main contact at Princess and will do wherever needs to be done to help me. When I had a problem with a tour price, she fixed the problem and got me a better OBC

[voljeep]

Care to share the name - or are they just assigned when you get ready to book a cruise?