Princess Cruises Extends Cruise Industry's Best Price Guarantee on 2025 & 2026 Cruises

[LACruiser88]

September 13, 2024 3:22 PM EDT   Princess Cruises Extends Cruise Industry's Best Price Guarantee on 2025 & 2026 Cruises   Now Through Dec. 15, "Better than Best Price Guarantee" Lets Smart Shoppers Book Early with Absolute Confidence    FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla., Sept. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- After a successful launch earlier this summer, Princess Cruises is extending its "Better than Best Price Guarantee" offer through December 15, 2024, so guests can continue to book their ultimate 2025 or 2026 cruise vacation with the added confidence they are securing the absolute best cruise fare available.     With the "Better than Best Price Guarantee" guests are assured that if they find a better fare for the same Princess cruise, stateroom category, and sail date at any time before their final payment, Princess will honor the lower rate and provide 120% of the difference in the form of an onboard credit.   "Now is the best time to secure preferred itineraries to spectacular destinations in the accommodations you prefer – from balconies, suites and more – all at the best pricing," said Terry Thornton, Princess Cruises chief commercial officer. "Plus, our exclusive guarantee covers the extended period from the initial booking all the way to final payment – a perk not always offered by other cruise lines."   How it Works If a guest who books a cruise between now and December 15, 2024, for any 2025 or 2026 departure, finds an active, publicly available lower cruise fare for the identical verified booking on princess.com prior to the final payment of the cruise, guests can submit a Guarantee Claim Form and Princess will give the guest an onboard credit (OBC) with a value of 120% of the difference between what the guest actually paid for the original booking and the located cruise fare*.   Compared to land-based vacations, Princess Cruises offers exceptional vacation value to more than 335 destinations, more than 90 countries and all seven continents. The Princess fleet, renowned for its well-appointed staterooms, world-class dining, grand performances, award-winning casinos and entertainment, luxurious spas, imaginative experiences, and boundless activities, expands to 17 ships in fall 2025 with the addition of Star Princess, the second ship in the innovative new Sphere Class.   No matter the cruise, Princess delivers a premium vacation with the line's award-winning, signature Princess MedallionClass experience which offers unparalleled service and personalization. Guests booking can take advantage of inclusive packages like Princess Plus and Princess Premier which add popular amenities like WiFi, beverages, desserts, fitness classes, crew appreciation and more at an even greater savings of up 65% when the inclusive package amenities are purchased separately.    Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel advisor, by calling 1-800-Princess (1-800-774-6237) or by visiting www.princess.com.   *Full terms and conditions related to the Better than Best Price Guarantee can be found here: https://www.princess.com/en-us/plan/best-price-guarantee/terms-and-conditions.

[voljeep]

so, no more re-fares - just potential OBC - after submitting a form - got it

[paradiselivin1]

If I could simply book a 2026 cruise of my choice! I have tried for the last two days to book the recently announced (see Coral's post) 2026 NE/Canada cruises for "loyal" cruisers but the site crashes. Just tried a chat with someone who told me pricing was not available but the pricing has been announced ~ wish I knew what I'm missing (other than the boat...)

[killineybay]

Is this just a onetime offer or can you submit a form more than once?  I had two price drops on my upcoming cruise.  Months between each drop.  The agency got me a re-fare one time but the next time I had to rebook.  It was enough of a difference to make it worth it.

I was also wondering if this offer is available if you book through Princess but transfer to your travel agency?  Do you send in the form or does your agent have to do it.
Thanks for any clarification.

[SCX22]

1 hour ago, voljeep said:

so, no more re-fares - just potential OBC - after submitting a form - got it

 

Just one or the other, but not both. 

 

Results with the "Better Than Best Price Guarantee" have been more negative than positive based on reports made online.  You're better off asking for a refare by which ever method, straight refare or cancel and rebook, rather than waiting from Princess' backend to approve (or most likely deny a claim).  By the time they get to your claim, the promo might have already ended and if the claim ends in a denial, you lost out.  A refare can be done on the spot and the turnaround is quick.  Less work too, no paperwork to fill out.

 

Personally would rather have the money back rather than OBC which I still have to spend with Princess (which was probably the point when they thought of offering the "Guarantee").

 

Come on Princess we're not this stupid.

[mtnesterz]

Thanks for posting Princess news. As you have likely noticed, there is no more news link at the top of the page here on CC.  I wonder what happened? It is good keep an eye on Princess' latest.

Edited September 13 by mtnesterz

[Ken the cruiser]

3 hours ago, paradiselivin1 said:

If I could simply book a 2026 cruise of my choice! I have tried for the last two days to book the recently announced (see Coral's post) 2026 NE/Canada cruises for "loyal" cruisers but the site crashes. Just tried a chat with someone who told me pricing was not available but the pricing has been announced ~ wish I knew what I'm missing (other than the boat...)

This is just a guess from the peanut gallery. I believe as soon as Princess posts a 14-day itinerary that will take the Majestic from Southampton, where it will be on Sep 19, to NYC on Oct 3, those NE/Canada itineraries will probably become available shortly afterwards. You see Princess recently canceled two 11-day Octoberfest cruises, and our 28-day Northern Lights and transatlantic cruise, and are creating replacement itineraries, to include the 4 NE/Canada itineraries, to fill the void from those cancellations.

 

We were booked on the 28-day NL/TA cruise and here is the guidance we got when it was cancelled. 

 

We regret to inform you that your clients' 28-day Northern Lights Grand Adventure voyage on Majestic Princess has been cancelled due to deployment changes. We apologize for the disappointment this cancellation causes but are happy to confirm we are transferring your clients' booking to a 26-Day Fire, Ice & British Isles Grand Adventure on Majestic Princess departing September 7, 2026. Full itinerary details will be sent to you by the end of this month.

Again, this is just a guess.

[FLAlaska]

13 hours ago, SCX22 said:

 

Just one or the other, but not both. 

 

Results with the "Better Than Best Price Guarantee" have been more negative than positive based on reports made online.  You're better off asking for a refare by which ever method, straight refare or cancel and rebook, rather than waiting from Princess' backend to approve (or most likely deny a claim).  By the time they get to your claim, the promo might have already ended and if the claim ends in a denial, you lost out.  A refare can be done on the spot and the turnaround is quick.  Less work too, no paperwork to fill out.

 

Personally would rather have the money back rather than OBC which I still have to spend with Princess (which was probably the point when they thought of offering the "Guarantee").

 

Come on Princess we're not this stupid.

I actually submitted one and got my OBC. It was about $125 pp. it was super easy and had an answer within 3 days, but they say it can take up,to 5. 

[57eric]

The fine print says the lower fare "must consist of the same ship as the Original Booking, the same sail dates, the same stateroom category, the same number of guests, and the same cruise fare type" (emphasis added). What does this mean?  If Princess comes up with whatever sale, can they claim it's anew fare type, or is that just a code difference?