Compensation for price drop right after final payment?

[Cruisepucks]

Greetings,

 

We had booked a cruise on board a HAL ship a few months ago and have just made final payment. The day after final payment, the price dropped by almost $400 per pax.

 

This hasn't happened to us on HAL for a while. In the past, (when priced dropped after final) we have been given OBC's, and more recently, a credit for a future cruise, but that was a couple years ago.

 

Can anyone tell us what the HAL current practice is for providing any compensation for price drops after final payment?

 

These drops really discourage folks from booking ahead and I'm sure the cruise line would rather keep people booking months ahead, but given the downturn in the cruise industry as recently reported, they should be doing something to take care of their returning passengers when the price drops after final.

 

Thanks for any recent information anyone can provide on HAL's current practices.

 

Cheers

 

Cruisepucks:cool:

[Click.Write.Post.]

Greetings,

 

We had booked a cruise on board a HAL ship a few months ago and have just made final payment. The day after final payment, the price dropped by almost $400 per pax.

 

This hasn't happened to us on HAL for a while. In the past, (when priced dropped after final) we have been given OBC's, and more recently, a credit for a future cruise, but that was a couple years ago.

 

Can anyone tell us what the HAL current practice is for providing any compensation for price drops after final payment?

 

These drops really discourage folks from booking ahead and I'm sure the cruise line would rather keep people booking months ahead, but given the downturn in the cruise industry as recently reported, they should be doing something to take care of their returning passengers when the price drops after final.

 

Thanks for any recent information anyone can provide on HAL's current practices.

 

Cheers

 

Cruisepucks:cool:

 

I can't tell you HAL's current practice, but a similar situation just happened to us as well. I called my TA and they called HAL, but HAL wouldn't do anything for us this time. This has happened in the past to us and HAL has typically offered a free upgrade, but not this time. The TA was surprised and commented that HAL is usually willing to do something when this happens. I considered calling again, but haven't at this time.

 

Good luck!

[SilvertoGold]

"HAL will do absolutely nothing for you" is the way a TA I know put it. She runs into this all the time now.

[cabinluvn]

We had that happen on an Alaskan cruise. We booked an OV and the price dropped after final payment. We called our TA and what they offered was a cabin on the main floor under the BB King stage. No thanks

 

 

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[Loreto]

We booked a last minute Alaska cruise on the Zaandam for August 13 on a flash sale where full payment was required at booking. Did this through a brick and mortar TA, not my usual Big Box TA. Of course after the flash sale the fare dropped. TA said HAL offered an upgrade ( no thanks as we had booked a favorite cabin) or they offered a $250 future cruise credit (to be used within a year) which I took. I was surprised that anything was offered! There was a huge price drop last March on our Cuba cruise, and there was nothing I could do about it...so much for booking early....I was sick about it.

 

 

 

With Big Box TA it is in their contract that they will give you a price drop, but they will deduct it from their generous ship board credit.

Karen

[Hlitner]

Not sure we understand why any cruise line should offer anything if they drop the price after final payment. Doing a last minute booking is a decent strategy (we do it every year) but has a lot of risk. When we do a last minute booking we decide to take a cruise and look for a great deal. But we are somewhat flexible as to date, cruise line, ship and itinerary. But the cruiser is taking a risk as to whether they can get something they want and will also get a choice of left over cabins.

 

With HAL we sometimes do long term bookings when its on an itinerary we simply must have....and will also do last minute bookings on a whim. If you have already booked a cruise at a specific price it means you must have thought the pricing was fine. So no reason for anyone to give you a lower price if you made the choice not to gamble on a good last minute price drop.

 

Hank

[Mom&MeCruiseAL]

In June, right after full payment our Alaskan cruise price dropped. When I questioned my TA to check into what HAL would do, they changed me from an inside to an oceanview guarantee without confirming with me. I would rather have had an OBC than an upgrade. It wasn't a free upgrade as the oceanview was the same price as we paid for the original inside cabin. I also lost my Denali dollars promo but no one thought to tell me that until I questioned it weeks later.

[springtx249]

We booked super early last year for a European cruise on the Koningsdam. I noticed a significant drop in price and alerted my outside TA> They ended up upgrading us from a high level midship inside cabin to a Vista suite for no extra $. My brother and friends were happy with their room, so they offered them $400 pp credit on a future cruise. Guess you just have to ask! You shouldn't be penalized for booking early!

[sail7seas]

If the price had gone up to higher than your price, as I have seen happen, would you have asked to pay more?

 

 

Good you all seem to be happy with the adjustments hAL made, is all now okay?

[rsldonk]

I saw a price drop on the cruise I’m going on Sunday on the day of my final payment. In calling HAL, they couldn’t adjust the price but they did give me a free upgrade from a regular verandah to a signature suite. Once you pay your final payment, you’re locked in usually but my PCC was pretty cool about it and hooked me up.

 

 

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[iancal]

We have had re-fares on cruises booked through our on line TA. Prior to the final payment window.

 

The savings, in our instance $500. each or so, were NOT deducted from the OBC that the TA was providing. The OBC did not amount to that.

 

The TA provided OBC was reduced. We expect that. The OBC is probably based on a percentage of the commissionable fare. When this drops, as it did for us, then we expect that the OBC will be reduced accordingly. Not eliminated, just reduced.

 

We do not expect a price drop after final payment if we have purchased prior to that. Nor do we expect a price drop if we purchase, as we usually do, inside the final payment window is the sell price is reduced further. On one cruise we found out that bookings were light. We cancelled a few days prior to final payment and booked a month later at a substantial discount. But we were taking a chance. Not everyone want to do this particularly if they want a specific cabin or if air is a challenge for them.

[sail7seas]

We have had re-fares on cruises booked through our on line TA. Prior to the final payment window.

 

The savings, in our instance $500. each or so, were NOT deducted from the OBC that the TA was providing. The OBC did not amount to that.

 

The TA provided OBC was reduced. We expect that. The OBC is probably based on a percentage of the commissionable fare. When this drops, as it did for us, then we expect that the OBC will be reduced accordingly. Not eliminated, just reduced.

 

We do not expect a price drop after final payment if we have purchased prior to that. Nor do we expect a price drop if we purchase, as we usually do, inside the final payment window is the sell price is reduced further.

 

sounds r easonable, on the part of both sides :)

[iancal]

There has to be a certain amount of reasonableness and common sense.

 

Do people really expect HAL or any other cruise line to honor the lowest price points post final payment period.

 

IF people what the flexibility to select their cabins, ensure a cabin on the cruise etc. then they should be willing to sometimes pay a premium for booking early and getting this option. IF not, their other option is to book late and take their chances. You cannot expect to have the best of both worlds. After all, HAL is a for profit business, not a charity.

 

We typically book inside the final payment window. More often than not it works out well for us based on our preferences, etc. Not always. This uncertainty is the price we pay for taking advantage of late booking offers.

[Toofarfromthesea]

In June, right after full payment our Alaskan cruise price dropped. When I questioned my TA to check into what HAL would do, they changed me from an inside to an oceanview guarantee without confirming with me. I would rather have had an OBC than an upgrade. It wasn't a free upgrade as the oceanview was the same price as we paid for the original inside cabin. I also lost my Denali dollars promo but no one thought to tell me that until I questioned it weeks later.

 

Sounds like you have a bad TA. When the price dropped after final payment date on a recent cruise my TA told me my options rather than unilaterally changing my booking.

[kenevenpar]

Following up what Sail said, who would agree to pay more if the fare rises? I suspect nobody. Maybe Hal should make that a choice; we refund a price reduction, if you pay us an increase.

 

 

What airline refunds a price drop, any? Same for a hotel.

 

 

Some would say that this policy incentivizes a pax to book after final payment. As mentioned, that certainly involves some risk, not to mention the potential for increased airfare and hotel.

 

 

My $.02, ymmv

[SilvertoGold]

I read this thread and see different circumstances and different results. It is confusing.

 

HAL appears to have changed their game plan for after final payment. Who you book with and/or what you have paid (promo or not, etc) may have a lot to do with what happens once the pricing decreases after final.

 

It would be nice to know if there is an actual HAL policy.

[Mom&MeCruiseAL]

Sounds like you have a bad TA. When the price dropped after final payment date on a recent cruise my TA told me my options rather than unilaterally changing my booking.

Yes, it's a one and done with this TA. He offered a voucher off a future cruise to make up for it. I don't think so.

[mustgo]

Last week our cruise price dropped a good bit just after final payment. We had transferred the booking to the big box. I called them and asked if our only loss in canceling and rebooking was the future cruise certificate and onboard credit. They checked with Holland, it was verified but Holland gave us the choice of a balcony upgrade or future cruise credit of $300 each plus a $100 drink card. We had a balcony we liked as well as some other benefits we would lose by rebooking so took the future cruise credit and drink card. We were very pleasantly surprised because had not expected them to do anything. We have a year to make another booking and I am sure we will.

[fatcat04]

Last week our cruise price dropped a good bit just after final payment. We had transferred the booking to the big box. I called them and asked if our only loss in canceling and rebooking was the future cruise certificate and onboard credit. They checked with Holland, it was verified but Holland gave us the choice of a balcony upgrade or future cruise credit of $300 each plus a $100 drink card. We had a balcony we liked as well as some other benefits we would lose by rebooking so took the future cruise credit and drink card. We were very pleasantly surprised because had not expected them to do anything. We have a year to make another booking and I am sure we will.

 

That was nice. Bet it will make this cruise even more enjoyable :D ...and you get to plan another cruise, always a plus (y)

[William W]

I was just on the phone with the TA. HAL initially wasn't willing to do anything even though what I paid for an inside is higher than what they are selling the balcony right now. And it appears the cruise is not selling well and they still have a lot of empty cabins.

 

However, when I asked my TA how much it will cost to pay to upgrade to an ocean view cabin, she was transferred to a Pricing Specialist at HAL, and the Pricing Specialist was able to upgrade me to an Oceanview at no cost or a VA for $10pp.

 

Lesson learn here is a regular agent at HAL may not give you anything, but a Pricing Specialist may offer you something.

[iancal]

VERY good advice.

[boufa]

Remember there is no price protection policy at HAL. If you booked a non-refundable fare then you are locked in. Sure nice things might happen, but not always. If you book a refundable fare, then prior to final payment, you can make adjustments, but you may lose your previous amenities.

 

Once final payment comes, there are not guarantees. Working with a good TA that has a good working relationship with HAL will typically get you better results, but not always. Anything can happen. I watch pricing very close on HAL and would guess at least 75-80% of all sailings the price goes UP not down (depending on how early you booked) or were sold out. Of course, that is just my observation, yours may be different.

[rjwlfan4us]

There has to be a certain amount of reasonableness and common sense.

 

Do people really expect HAL or any other cruise line to honor the lowest price points post final payment period.

 

IF people what the flexibility to select their cabins, ensure a cabin on the cruise etc. then they should be willing to sometimes pay a premium for booking early and getting this option. IF not, their other option is to book late and take their chances. You cannot expect to have the best of both worlds. After all, HAL is a for profit business, not a charity.

 

We typically book inside the final payment window. More often than not it works out well for us based on our preferences, etc. Not always. This uncertainty is the price we pay for taking advantage of late booking offers.

 

Carnival has a price guarantee up to a few business days before the sailing.

[rjwlfan4us]

Greetings,

 

We had booked a cruise on board a HAL ship a few months ago and have just made final payment. The day after final payment, the price dropped by almost $400 per pax.

 

This hasn't happened to us on HAL for a while. In the past, (when priced dropped after final) we have been given OBC's, and more recently, a credit for a future cruise, but that was a couple years ago.

 

Can anyone tell us what the HAL current practice is for providing any compensation for price drops after final payment?

 

These drops really discourage folks from booking ahead and I'm sure the cruise line would rather keep people booking months ahead, but given the downturn in the cruise industry as recently reported, they should be doing something to take care of their returning passengers when the price drops after final.

 

Thanks for any recent information anyone can provide on HAL's current practices.

 

Cheers

 

Cruisepucks:cool:

 

There isn't a downturn in cruising. It's the opposite. Most, if not all, of the cruiselines are building new ships to try to keep up with the demand.

[TAD2005]

It all depends on how your particular cruise is selling. If you are past final payment date, and the ship is only 60-70% full, then the passenger has a lot of clout to get fare reductions and other perks. If the ship is almost full, you don't have much of a chance to get any concessions. The most important thing in marketing cruises is "heads in beds". As we all know, your cruise fare is only about 70% of the total cruise cost. Your onboard spending is critical for making a cruise financially a winner for the bean counters. That's why 3rd & 4th persons in a cabin sail so cheaply. They make up for the low fare by those person's onboard spending.