NCL drops prices dramatically after final payment date

[smbeck1211]

Wow, simply wow and I don't mean that in a good way. 

We're booked and made final payment for my daughter's grad trip this June to the UK.  Right after we made final payment the price of the cruise dropped by more than $2000 for our two cabins.

 

We're platinum with NCL and top tier with 3 other cruise lines. Our PCC was away when we booked so we just booked with the NCL reservationist on their 800 number. 

 

When we called to ask about the large price drop the customer service agent got a manager and they only gave us $200 OBC a cabin which is even less than the 25% of the difference that other posters on CC have mentioned. 

 

Needless to say say we didn't "find our hallelujah" and will scratch NCL off our list of preferred lines for our next cruise in the fall. 

 

Its such a shame that they're not anything like the wonderful cruise line they used to be. I won't be recommending them. 

[spanishguy1970]

yes,  the days of keeping customers happy are long gone, is all about the money. 

[sfaaa]

You made your own decision when to book your cruise and for how much, not NCL. Why are you blaming NCL for your own wrong call and misfortune?

[FLAHAM]

 

 

you are $400 ahead the game.  

[Até]

I feel for you, but if you're topish tier on NCL and three other lines you should know how it works.  Take your lumps and move on.

[luv2kroooz]

Sorry this happened to you and I know how frustrating that can be. With NCL, you are often times better booking last minute if your travel schedule allows. Their pricing model is quite different than other cruise lines. They artificially inflate prices to levels where they can't sell out the ship, then drastically reduce prices in the penalty period. If you aren't able to book last minute and want a good deal, it is probably not a good idea to book with NCL. As more people figure out their scheme and have the same experience as you, early bookings at their inflated rates will decline, forcing them to adjust prices downward or sail with empty cabins. And as unhappy consumers share their negative experience, people will take their business to a different cruise line.

[Son of a son of a ...]

Agreed.  This is not a way to keep a customer, especially one that cruises often.

[luv2kroooz]

42 minutes ago, FLAHAM said:

 

 

you are $400 ahead the game.  

Not following your math. If they bought something a month ago and it is on sale for $2,000 less today and only got $400 back, it sounds to me like they are behind at least $1,600.

[FLAHAM]

6 minutes ago, blcruising said:

Not following your math. If they bought something a month ago and it is on sale for $2,000 less today and only got $400 back, it sounds to me like they are behind at least $1,600.

 

Who has been on these boards for more than a day or two and does not fully understand that close-in sailings may (or may not) reduce prices to levels that do not apply to those past final payment?  This is pure whining.

[luv2kroooz]

4 minutes ago, FLAHAM said:

 

Who has been on these boards for more than a day or two and does not fully understand that close-in sailings may (or may not) reduce prices to levels that do not apply to those past final payment?  This is pure whining.

That's a different issue that can be debated. I was questioning how the OP was ahead $400.

Edited March 8, 2019 by blcruising

[Two Wheels Only]

Prices rise and fall...and sometimes rise and fall again. Maybe you booked when it was high and others who booked before you did got a lower price. Whatever the case, you were willing to pay what you did and were probably happy when you booked. NCL dropping prices in a last ditch effort to sell the remaining staterooms shouldn't bother you. What if the remaining staterooms are the ones that most people wouldn't want?

[d9704011]

1 minute ago, blcruising said:

That's a different issue that can be debated. I was questioning how the OP was ahead $400.

He’s ahead $400 because there is no particular reason why NCL was obliged to give him anything.

[luv2kroooz]

3 minutes ago, d9704011 said:

He’s ahead $400 because there is no particular reason why NCL was obliged to give him anything.

That's not relevant either. I agree NCL was required to do nothing. If they had done nothing, OP is behind $2,000.

 

NCL was kind enough to give them a $400 refund in the form of an OBC to reduce the loss from $2,000 to $1,600 even though they weren't required to give them anything. They are still behind $1,600. 

 

NCL is giving the $400 adjustment to reduce the OPs loss by $400, not to put him ahead by $400!

 

 

[d9704011]

3 minutes ago, blcruising said:

That's not relevant either. I agree NCL was required to do nothing. If they had done nothing, OP is behind $2,000.

 

NCL was kind enough to give them a $400 refund in the form of an OBC to reduce the loss from $2,000 to $1,600 even though they weren't required to give them anything. They are still behind $1,600. 

 

NCL is giving the $400 adjustment to reduce the OPs loss by $400, not to put him ahead by $400!

 

 

The OP purchased a cruise for $XXX.  He now wants to compare it to something else that he is not entitled to have but draws the conclusion he’s being deprived of $2000; a figment of a wishful imagination.  Getting a $400 OBC is all he’s going to get and he ought to consider himself as ‘being ahead’ despite his evident disappointment in not getting more.

[FLAHAM]

10 minutes ago, blcruising said:

That's not relevant either. I agree NCL was required to do nothing. If they had done nothing, OP is behind $2,000.

 

 

 

 

Since the entitlement was $0 and OP got $400, OP is ahead by $400.  First rule of management accounting -- sunk costs are sunk!  

[ceilidh1]

Yes, this sucks and makes you feel crappy. BUT, ask yourself this, if NCL had RAISED the price by $2000, would you be willing to hand over the additional money after you had paid what you had paid? If the answer to this is no (and I suspect it is) then you just have to accept what has happened and move on. The risks of booking early are that prices may drop closer to sailing. BUT you have locked in your price (and cabin) in the event that they increase - you have to make the choice as to what is more beneficial to you. NCL is generous to offer anything after final payment in my opinion - I am elite on Princess and have never once got anything after final payment if the price has dropped!

[K_e_short]

I am going to Alaska in July. I had a land based casino offer so only paid $915 CAD (taxes, etc).

 

When I booked the 'real" cost was $3400 CAD. Now the cheapest interior room is $2284. Not much of a savings from my casino deal.

Disappointed but nothing I can do about it. 

[Karysa]

If they keep this model then it’s working for them but if they change it then it’s because people feel like you and start booking elsewhere. Time will tell.

[WestfieldTraveler]

Does NCL allow you to buy-up to better cabin category after final payment day if it is still more than what you paid?

[luv2kroooz]

5 hours ago, ceilidh1 said:

Yes, this sucks and makes you feel crappy. BUT, ask yourself this, if NCL had RAISED the price by $2000, would you be willing to hand over the additional money after you had paid what you had paid? If the answer to this is no (and I suspect it is) then you just have to accept what has happened and move on. The risks of booking early are that prices may drop closer to sailing. BUT you have locked in your price (and cabin) in the event that they increase - you have to make the choice as to what is more beneficial to you. NCL is generous to offer anything after final payment in my opinion - I am elite on Princess and have never once got anything after final payment if the price has dropped!

Of course the answer to your question is no. I don't know anyone, except perhaps you, that would suggest calling up NCL and offer to pay full price today for something that was bought on sale a week ago?

 

[Budget Queen]

7 hours ago, blcruising said:

That's a different issue that can be debated. I was questioning how the OP was ahead $400.

  

Because of the cancel policy and this is after final payment,   they should have gotten ZERO.   

[Budget Queen]

Supply and demand.    AND the OP's acceptance of the terms-  THEY booked under.    There are benefits booking ahead-    alternatively,  why not pick up a last minute deal and wait to book?    Were you flexible,  accepting of not going?    Advantages come at a price in some cases.    I kind of doubt,  they would have been open to waiting?   

 

 

[luv2kroooz]

2 hours ago, Budget Queen said:

Supply and demand.    AND the OP's acceptance of the terms-  THEY booked under.    There are benefits booking ahead-    alternatively,  why not pick up a last minute deal and wait to book?    Were you flexible,  accepting of not going?    Advantages come at a price in some cases.    I kind of doubt,  they would have been open to waiting?   

 

 

Again, not arguing terms and conditions. I get it and understand and agree they were entitled to zero.

 

What I don't understand is how anyone can turn a blind eye to the initial and overall cost of the cruise, whether a sunk cost or not a sunk cost, when analyzing whether someone is "ahead or behind". It is an economic analysis of current overall cruise cost vs. actual overall cruise cost. I stand by what I wrote and am moving on. Thank you.

[ceilidh1]

8 hours ago, blcruising said:

Of course the answer to your question is no. I don't know anyone, except perhaps you, that would suggest calling up NCL and offer to pay full price today for something that was bought on sale a week ago?

 

At no point did I suggest calling NCL and offering to pay full price for something that was on sale a week ago. I simply posed the question that, if OP's price had risen since booking, would they be prepared to pay the additional $$. Essentially, that is what OP was expecting NCL to do when the price dropped. NCL are not obliged to do this, just as OP is not obliged to pay the increase.

 

I agree 100% that it is a crappy thing to do and no one likes feeling that they have paid more than they should. However, this is the risk you take when booking early. Personally, after final payment, I just stop checking pricing - that way I will never know if the price is significantly less than I paid and I will still feel good knowing I locked in a cruise and a cabin at a price I was prepared to pay at that time.

 

[RedRover96]

Try getting a reduced cost from an airline after booking???