Best Price Guarantee questions

[mj_holiday]

While on board we made reservations for a cruise with the Cruise Consultant and we got a "Best Price Guarantee".  When the new Regents book arrived this week, I decided to take a look at the price and compare to ours.     When I try to compare the prices to our reservations I cannot tell which price on the booking is what is compared to the Regent published prices.  There is the initial Cruise Fare and from that is deducted early booking and bonus discounts and Onboard savings that results in the Cruise Fare Total.  Is this Total the fare that is guaranteed?

[mrlevin]

The guarantee is not worth the paper it is written on.  The total fare that is "guaranteed" is the 2for1 fare amount before discounts; HOWEVER, it is only good if your same category is available.  More importantly, it is only good if they lower the price in your market (e.g., US).  Regent retains the right to dump inventory overseas (or give our friends up north "Canadian dollar at par") without allowing us to invoke the guarantee.  Book onboard for lower deposits, a little shipboard credit, and a small discount on the fare; don't book onboard because of a worthless piece of paper.

 

Marc

[Travelcat2]

We always book onboard.  We do not find the $200 OBC (for the cruise that you are on) or the Onboard Booking Credit to be “small”.  Saving money is saving money.

 

Yes, there needs to be availability in the category of suite that you have booked.  Regent does not lower fares often but it does happen.  We book onboard for the discount and OBC’s — not because we expect the fare to decrease.

[flossie009]

2 hours ago, mrlevin said:

The guarantee is not worth the paper it is written on.  The total fare that is "guaranteed" is the 2for1 fare amount before discounts; HOWEVER, it is only good if your same category is available.  More importantly, it is only good if they lower the price in your market (e.g., US).  Regent retains the right to dump inventory overseas (or give our friends up north "Canadian dollar at par") without allowing us to invoke the guarantee.  Book onboard for lower deposits, a little shipboard credit, and a small discount on the fare; don't book onboard because of a worthless piece of paper.

 

Marc

 

Sorry to disagree but we have benefited from Regent's price guarantee on two occasions.

 

@mj_holiday, you need to compare the web price or brochure price, after 2for1 and early booking, with the price you paid prior to on-board and SSS discounts.

It is true that there has to be availability in your suite grade at the time of comparison so the guarantee is not so good for categories that sell out early e.g. H grade on Voyager, Mariner and Navigator

 

For us in the UK, the significant advantages of on-board (or 30 day prior) booking is the reduced deposit that is transferable.

[mrlevin]

Susan, agree that reduced deposit that is transferrable is the primary benefit; that is why we have two current bookings.  

 

Marc

[MalbecWine]

We canceled our Explorer cruise for a similar Crystal cruise and we were told the $200.00 deposit can be used in one year or lose it.  We will find one.

[Travelcat2]

22 hours ago, MalbecWine said:

We canceled our Explorer cruise for a similar Crystal cruise and we were told the $200.00 deposit can be used in one year or lose it.  We will find one.

 

This is simply a Regent rule and is not part of the "Price Guarantee".