Anyone else duped by RCI-Radiance of the Seas 7-10-20?

[Coralc]

I think you entered in to a contract with them when they accepted your deposit. A long time ago I found a really low price on Monarch. We were already booked, and I called to have my price adjusted. The customer service representative, could see the low price but said the system wouldn't let her book it. She said that if I could book it online, they would honor it, because it was showing on the website. I couldn't get it to book online either.

 

The point being, you saw the price, took the extra step of going through a TA, and paid the deposit, which was accepted by Royal Caribbean. They had the option of correcting it at that point. IMO Royal Caribbean should accept and honor your booking.

 

It is like their stupid drink package faux pas, which the rest of us are apparently paying for.....  

[Slugsta]

There was a similar thread, possibly on the RCI board, where someone had a booking for 2 suites accepted at an unbelievably good rate. The OP had queried the price and had been assured that it was correct, even had emails form the company etc. However, the price wasn't correct and the cruiseline refused to honour it. 

 

I will have another try at finding the threat I am referring to and will post a link if I do find it  . . .

[xtsea99]

7 hours ago, Donray said:

Could include the page with the price as a post here?????

Attached is the advertised price as it appeared on July 8th.

[dswallow]

6 hours ago, xtsea99 said:

Attached is the advertised price as it appeared on July 8th.

 

That's not a page from RCCL's web site; that's from a large online travel agent. 

[Jimbo]

On 7/26/2019 at 8:01 AM, xtsea99 said:

On July 9th I booked a 12-day Alaskan Cruise/LandTour, (cruisetour 12A) for uly 10, 2020 as advertised, for 2 people for a total of $2924.86 .... yesterday I received a call from RCI that they advertised the price incorrectly (their error was also applied to multiple travel agency sites), and that in order to keep my cruise I would need to pay $9,672.72.   Bait and switch, false advertising.  Has anyone else been affected by this?  They (RCI) made an "executive decision" to not honor their pricing.  I'm now out airfare, excursions, travel insurance, etc.  If I don't pay up by August 2, 2019, they will automatically cancel my reservation.  I am appealing to their "upper management" and their Board of Directors, but I'm trying to find anyone else to has experienced this (or similar, and what your outcome was), so we can band together.

 

I've cruised on over 50 cruises, and my husband has been on more than 30; this would have been our first experience with RCI.  

 

Pam Monroe

Really now ,$3000 for a 12-day Alaskan Cruise/LandTour, for 2 people.............you had to know it was a mistake right?

[mac1_131]

There are other errors on radiance cruise pricing that still haven't been fixed on their web page

Me and my TA had a back and forth for weeks over that because they could not find the price I was seeing and finally I figured out on my own that it was just a website coding problem

it's amazing that even after I've reported the mistakes to their tech support they choose to ignore it and let the errors continue

I've always wondered if I booked the lower price that I finally figured out was a mistake if they would have honored it I guess now I know they would not have honored it

but it's really distressing that even after a loyal customer like me has reported the website has mistakes on it they don't even bother to fix it

To me that does imply a pattern of bait and switch

[mac1_131]

There are other errors on radiance cruise pricing that still haven't been fixed on their web page

Me and my TA had a back and forth for weeks over that because they could not find the price I was seeing and finally I figured out on my own that it was just a website coding problem

it's amazing that even after I've reported the mistakes to their tech support they choose to ignore it and let the errors continue

I've always wondered if I booked the lower price that I finally figured out was a mistake if they would have honored it I guess now I know they would not have honored it

but it's really distressing that even after a loyal customer like me has reported the website has mistakes on it they don't even bother to fix it

To me that does imply a pattern of bait and switch

[taglovestocruise]

I saw your post from a few days ago. I checked the online TA we use and saw the same price. I then checked the RC website and the price was over $4000 pp for a inside. That was within 10 minutes of your post. With your 30+ cruises you should of known a 5 night land tour and a seven night cruise was mispriced at $1200, especially considering that is the most expensive week of the Alaska sailings.  I was one of the ones who got the $18.00 UBP for our Oct. 2020 cruise on Allure,  I knew it was a mistake, 99% certain it would be pulled, but what the heck I went for it. I was totally surprised they honored it. Even more surprising is the fact that 3 days later we cancelled it, have not come close to a $600 bar bill since we became Diamond.  A $30 mistake is far different then a $8000 dollar mistake. 

[MommaBear55]

On 7/26/2019 at 8:01 AM, xtsea99 said:

On July 9th I booked a 12-day Alaskan Cruise/LandTour, (cruisetour 12A) for uly 10, 2020 as advertised, for 2 people for a total of $2924.86 .... yesterday I received a call from RCI that they advertised the price incorrectly (their error was also applied to multiple travel agency sites), and that in order to keep my cruise I would need to pay $9,672.72.   Bait and switch, false advertising.  Has anyone else been affected by this?  They (RCI) made an "executive decision" to not honor their pricing.  I'm now out airfare, excursions, travel insurance, etc.  If I don't pay up by August 2, 2019, they will automatically cancel my reservation.  I am appealing to their "upper management" and their Board of Directors, but I'm trying to find anyone else to has experienced this (or similar, and what your outcome was), so we can band together.

 

I've cruised on over 50 cruises, and my husband has been on more than 30; this would have been our first experience with RCI.  

 

Pam Monroe

How did you book airfare already? It's usually not available until 330 days before the dates you want. You will get refunded all your excursions. 

[SAmome]

14 hours ago, motheroftwocats814 said:

How can airfare have been purchased already? Something isn't right here! 

 

Probably just so the OP can say they've lost something financially and not just the time spend booking on an error.  If the OP can actually show tickets purchased then RCCL or the online TA should cover a change fee for the airlines expenses but I really doubt airline tickets were purchased.  If they were booked then, knowing fully it was an error in pricing, one should hold their breathe and wait at least a few months to see how things play out to see if honored and not book airfare so far out.

 

RCCL can let slide a caribbean cruise error that might mean fewer available to casino perks but such an expensive cruise tour involving other operators ..... sometimes if it seems to be too good to be true ..........

[Merion_Mom]

7 hours ago, xtsea99 said:

Attached is the advertised price as it appeared on July 8th.

 

1 hour ago, dswallow said:

 

That's not a page from RCCL's web site; that's from a large online travel agent. 

 

I agree.  Although RC apparently accepted the booking, I would blame this one on the well-known, large online travel agency.

 

Chalk me up as another doubter on the issue of airfare and excursions.  😄 

[BeachChik]

On 7/26/2019 at 12:26 PM, Shorex said:

 

Bottom line, cruisers are not entitled to take advantage of advertised pricing errors.

 

 

Yet people were up in arms when the $18 drink package error occurred and were outraged that Royal wasn’t going to honor the price. 

 

This situation IMO isn’t any different. Regardless of whether it seemed to inexpensive, just like the drink package, it was on their website and should be honored. To honor one mistake and not another is just crappy business. 

[Biker19]

1 minute ago, BeachChik said:

To honor one mistake and not another is just crappy business. 

That's been the norm, they've had other occasions where they cancelled "mistake" pricing bookings.

[BeachChik]

1 hour ago, taglovestocruise said:

A $30 mistake is far different then a $8000 dollar mistake. 

 

It’s really not because if we are being realistic that drink package mistake cost them more than 8k. Hundreds of people, if not more, were able to purchase before it got shutdown. Some people booked if for 2 and 3 cruises. Just on a seven day cruise for two people at $30 that is a loss of $420. 

 

I personally didn’t think they they should have honored the drink packages but since they did, I would be using it to fight to keep this booked at the original price. 

[cruisequeen4ever]

Oh I’m sorry; that’s stressful and such a letdown! I don’t know what the legality is, but if I were a business, and a customer had already paid, I’d honor it. Maybe if the customer just had it on hold, it’d be reasonable to correct the pricing, but that’s not the case for you. I hope you can come to a satisfactory agreement. 

[akcruz]

1 hour ago, BeachChik said:

 

It’s really not because if we are being realistic that drink package mistake cost them more than 8k. Hundreds of people, if not more, were able to purchase before it got shutdown. Some people booked if for 2 and 3 cruises. Just on a seven day cruise for two people at $30 that is a loss of $420. 

 

I personally didn’t think they they should have honored the drink packages but since they did, I would be using it to fight to keep this booked at the original price. 

 

Agree it's not about the $$, but instead the publicity.  This is 1 or more a few people who booked this low fair while the drink package was many many more.  If they did not honor the drink package price the bad publicity would be everywhere.

 

We once heard of a great deal and booked it fully expecting to get a call saying sorry.  We waited a few months to book airfare just to make sure we were good.  Would never book non refundable in this scenario at least not right away.

[lovescats5]

This is kinda what happened to us but over a room.  We booked an A3 which was being advertised as a 2 bedroom Star Class suite on Oasis in 2016.  When we were looking over booking fees and everything we started questioning the 2 bd part.  RCI said there was 1 bd and then a sofa bed in the living room.  We countered that a house is not sold as a living room/bed room.  Our TA went to bat for us and in the end RCI gave us a great deal on a Sky Loft and the following year an A1.  But, we made waves with both RCI and the TA for not catching the fact it was not a 2bd as advertised.  Interestingly, within 2 days after we finished arguing with RCI the description on the A3 changed to reflect only a 1 bd suite.

[Bloodgem]

I know nothing about US laws or the rules/regulation regarding the behaviour of US TA's. I believe the US does not have an organisation  like ABTA or something similar.

 

I was wondering; Has the TA done something illegal by accepting a booking for a cruise that they know (or highly suspect) is wrongly priced?

[Underwatr]

5 hours ago, Bloodgem said:

I was wondering; Has the TA done something illegal by accepting a booking for a cruise that they know (or highly suspect) is wrongly priced?

I have no answer for your question, but typically the TA is merely acting as an agent - that is, a go-between between the cruise line and the passenger. The agent does not set prices but only communicates the line's published price to the potential customer. Payment is not made to the TA but directly to the line with the assistance of the TA.

As I said I don't know the answer to your question but it seems that the TA would have very little liability for erroneous pricing communicated to the passenger and the TA by the line.

[nadinenurse1]

I am new and sorry to the OP, BUT,it looks like the ad was too good to be true the %’s were off,therefore, logically, it looked wrong from the start,  in my mind,  never ever would I have done that and assumed it be  honored and especially since you are experienced, why would u think it be right so from the onset , you should have immediately recognized.....”too good  to be true “......and you were trying to do something not so terrific..... someone made a error  which you were trying to cash in on.....sorry to anger you... I am way cheaper and money hungry, and I. Would not have done it, but going further to book insurance and what ever else was your doing .  Yes this is mean of me ,but seriously your motive was to clearly get something you knew was not correct,what outcome did you expect? It would be like buying $2000 airfare for$20 because of a typo

[mjkacmom]

On 7/27/2019 at 3:07 AM, Coralc said:

I think you entered in to a contract with them when they accepted your deposit. A long time ago I found a really low price on Monarch. We were already booked, and I called to have my price adjusted. The customer service representative, could see the low price but said the system wouldn't let her book it. She said that if I could book it online, they would honor it, because it was showing on the website. I couldn't get it to book online either.

 

The point being, you saw the price, took the extra step of going through a TA, and paid the deposit, which was accepted by Royal Caribbean. They had the option of correcting it at that point. IMO Royal Caribbean should accept and honor your booking.

 

It is like their stupid drink package faux pas, which the rest of us are apparently paying for.....  

But they are not legally obligated to keep the booking, so they won’t. Similar situations have been posted on CC, I don’t recall anyone getting to keep the low fare.

[NateUpNorth]

I'm absolutely amazed at the amount of people posting "you should have known that sale price would never be honored."

 

I'm guessing many of them are also the customers that religiously check their cruise planners looking for price reductions and beverage package sales to rebook at lower amounts.

 

I'm wondering where exactly their disconnect occurs between "deal" and "you should know better than to hope for a deal".

[AnnaNicole]

4 minutes ago, NateUpNorth said:

I'm absolutely amazed at the amount of people posting "you should have known that sale price would never be honored."

 

I'm guessing many of them are also the customers that religiously check their cruise planners looking for price reductions and beverage package sales to rebook at lower amounts.

 

I'm wondering where exactly their disconnect occurs between "deal" and "you should know better than to hope for a deal".

Honestly, I would have unknowingly booked this "outstanding" deal and not considered it being a wrong price as $3000 is not so out of the realm when looking at other dates for that itinerary.    I would think the sailing is not selling well for whatever the reason.  Most of the dates are about 20% higher than what OP paid.    OP said TA and RCI verified the price was correct. 

 

There have been recent posts on CC telling people about fantastic deals available on Grand Suites.   Are the people booking them stupid and greedy too?  (BTW, thanks to those posters.  Great info.)

 

In the past, I have managed to secure a balcony cabin for 2 for $730 plus $150 OBC for a 7 night spring cruise.   10 night spring cruise for 3 people in an OV for $1600.    Recently, I saw a dirt cheap Aqua class cabin  (Alaska) on Celebrity for $600pp.    I know it was a good rate because previously booked cruises got the price drop credit.  

 

The OP and the TA did their due diligence and I believe the fault lies on RCI.   

[mugtech]

On 7/26/2019 at 8:01 AM, xtsea99 said:

 I'm now out airfare, excursions, travel insurance, etc.  

 

As an experienced traveler why would you book the flights a year ahead of time?

[mom2tcdx2]

On 7/27/2019 at 2:08 PM, Jimbo said:

Really now ,$3000 for a 12-day Alaskan Cruise/LandTour, for 2 people.............you had to know it was a mistake right?

 

I am going to have to say, personally being someone who has only booked 2 7 day Alaska cruises, and paid less than $1000 for them. I wouldn't have considered that price to be wrong.  I don't price out that many cruises, or places to book.  If I were to have stumbled across that or gotten an email for a TA I don't think I would have considered that price to be wrong.  Most of the time I book something because of an email or advertisement I see that seems to have a great price noted.  

 

I do however question the need of more money right now, in terms of the deposit.  And how the person managed to already book airfare and non-refundable excursions.  

 

For instance right now Princess has a 10 day cruise tour on July 11, that is $4500 for an inside.  Which would make me think Royals price now of almost $9500 is extremely high.  

Edited July 29, 2019 by mom2tcdx2