RCCL refuses to reduce cruise fare to match Happy Hour Special

[ted1717]

Ladies and Gentlemen of the CC message Boards

 

BEWARE! DESPITE THE THREADS ON THIS SITE RCCL REFUSED TO REDUCE MY CRUISE FARE TODAY EVEN THOUGH THEIR HAPPY HOUR SPECIAL IS IN EFFECT THIS VERY MOMENT!

 

What is most disturbing about this piece of information is that over the weekend I received very different information.

I first learned of the Happy Hour specials here on this message board on Friday night. I even did some research here and found threads that indicated people had received these reductions on their fare AFTER FINAL PAYMENT.

So Saturday mornng I called RCCL and spoke to a customer service representative and I was told that despite the web site showing a Happy Hour special they were not in effect until Tuesday. This agent had asked for and I had given her my booking number.

On Sunday I was doing more research on these boards and I began to realize that I was going to have to go through my online travel agent in order to get this reduction. Unfortunately the travel agency was closed on Sunday. I called RCCL again and spoke to another travel specialist and I was told that my information was correct and that only through the agent could I get this reduction. This agent did not have my booking number but did find my booking information by ship's name , sail date and my name.

So today, Monday at 9:01 AM I was on the phone with and I was told " RCCL does not give reductions after the final payment". I had TA conference call me with RCCL and the agent repeated that statement. I asked for a supervisor who repeated that no price reductions were given after final payment. I asked why I had not been told that in the previous 2 calls and she said that probably the agents did not realize I had made final payment. I told her that the first agent had my booking number and second one knew my sail date. As I am well within the 60 days of the sail date I had to have paid in full. I also indicated to her that I had read about this policy on these boards and that since RCCL and Cruise Critic had a working relationship with regard to Meet and Mingles it was obvious that RCCL was aware of the threads that indicate that they do give price reductions after payment in full. She said that there was nothing she could do.

I told her I was going to post this thread and that RCCL would not be known for its friendly customer service for long.

I am most disturbed that I was not given this same answer the first time I called. I have paid for the trip the reduction would have been nice(over $300.00 PP) but not essential. I just do not like being misled!

In the meantime please let me know if anyone received different treatment because that would only make this more infuriating.

[Iamthesea]

It has been my experience that Happy Hour specials are for new bookings only. I have not read anything on these boards where someone has received the special with a current booking (especially after final payment.)

[PSCruiser]

I think you should be due a price reduction, but you are in a gray area here.

Just off a cruise 2 weeks ago, and I had gotten 2 adjustments on it AFTER FINAL PAYMENT, but when I was at the onboard cruise consultant I heard her tell another client that they don't adjust after final payment, so I don't know if that this is a new policy they are trying to institute. I wish I could find a place where their policy is in writing.

First, be sure that the Happy Hour prices are not listed as for new bookings only, that is their easy out. If this is not the case, then I would try again, and hope you are dealing with new people at RC. Having the online agent in the middle probably is not a help unless they are really willing to go to war for you.

 

BTW: actually listing the name of your agent here is a good way to get your message pulled.

[TonyRic]

Yeah they won't match the happy hour specials, but will match lower standard rate. I have first hand experience with this over the past week with my FOS booking.

 

If you aren't within your penalty portion, just cancel/rebook.

[mrdood]

Ladies and Gentlemen of the CC message Boards

 

BEWARE! DESPITE THE THREADS ON THIS SITE RCCL REFUSED TO REDUCE MY CRUISE FARE TODAY EVEN THOUGH THEIR HAPPY HOUR SPECIAL IS IN EFFECT THIS VERY MOMENT!

 

Well I hate to break this to you, but those do apply to new bookings only, and RCI's business policies are not driven by what is said on threads on this site - helloooooooo:rolleyes:

[teajak]

What part of new bookings only don't you understand ? RCI spells that out quite clearly.

[jezzdogg]

Happy hour specials are for new bookings only

We had a problem with the same agency the orginal poster used...they do not do price reductions, we had a cruised booked on Princess and hub by for some reason paid in full..before final payment due...we were lucky Princess went to bat for us and wound up givng us higher cat room and shipboard credit to make up the difference.,.last time i used that agency

[cruisinfanatic]

What part of new bookings only don't you understand ? RCI spells that out quite clearly.

I agree

RCCI does give price reductions after final payment as long as the reduction IS NOT A HAPPY HR SPECIAL. They are always for new bookings only. It's always been this way.

[lvtotrvl1]

Have to agree...HH are for new bookings only and it is quite explicitly stated. Not everything you read on these boards are correct, so I don't understand why you are upset with RCCL?

[Puffinater]

It is clearly stated on the Happy Hour Promo both in the header area and in the disclaimer..."New Individual Bookings Only"

[Sue L]

I think you might have misunderstood the source of the price reductions. The reductions other posters have talked about are NOT based on the "Happy Hour" specials which are for NEW BOOKINGS only and is noted specifically. Besides Happy Hour specials are in effect on TUESDAYS only from 9am to 11 pm for calling and 9am to 11:59 for online bookings.

 

 

The reductions are based on the Promowave or when the reduction is shown on the website for their particular category.

 

 

for the promowaves the link is

 

http://www.creative.rccl.com/sales/promowave/RCL.pdf

 

these come out around tuesday or wednesday most weeks and those are good I believe until the next week.

 

I hope this helps clearing up the confusion.

 

Sue

[PH8]

Think it has all been said..............

 

Reductions yes..........

 

Happy Hour no.........

 

Maybe you misunderstood the info you read on here............:confused:

 

Yup,looks like you did...... http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=8924650#post8924650

[Nitra]

In addition to other points made ....

 

HH specials are for Tuesdays only! You cannot get these prices on Saturday, Sunday or Monday, so even if it was possible, the days they called are not HH special days. OP even stated when he called on Saturday he was told they were only valid on Tuesday, so why keep calling on other days?

 

So Saturday mornng I called RCCL and spoke to a customer service representative and I was told that despite the web site showing a Happy Hour special they were not in effect until Tuesday

 

The other thing is the following...

 

Ladies and Gentlemen of the CC message Boards

 

BEWARE! DESPITE THE THREADS ON THIS SITE RCCL REFUSED TO REDUCE MY CRUISE FARE TODAY EVEN THOUGH THEIR HAPPY HOUR SPECIAL IS IN EFFECT THIS VERY MOMENT!

 

Since it is only Monday, and HH are not in effect until Tuesday, the prices are not in effect at this very moment.

 

On Sunday I was doing more research on these boards and I began to realize that I was going to have to go through my online travel agent ( Best Price Cruise) in order to get this reduction. Unfortunately the travel agency was closed on Sunday

 

Again, why does it matter since HH is only available on Tuesday?

[benandelena]

ok, but if they do give reductions after final payment, why did Mary El say "no adjustments after final payment"? this worries me because i've been watching my cruise prices for a drop and we payed the entire thing when we booked with our TA. if all else fails, i will at least request a cabin upgrade or a OBC.

[ted1717]

Thanks all

Yes I can read!

Previous threads certianly led me to believe that they had received reductions based on HH specials.

I am upset with RCCL not because of what I read here but the misinformation 2 of their "cruise specialists" gave me over the weekend. Just tell me not to bother that after final payment HH specials do not result in a price reduction.

 

Sue L am I correct then that if there is a reduction in the Promo waves that I can get that as a reduction?

Before I get any more mud in my face I want to be sure.

 

Thanks!

[Dockman123]

ok, but if they do give reductions after final payment, why did Mary El say "no adjustments after final payment"? this worries me because i've been watching my cruise prices for a drop and we payed the entire thing when we booked with our TA. if all else fails, i will at least request a cabin upgrade or a OBC.

The cruise we just got back from, we paid in full when we booked it, and received price reductions all the way up until a couple of days before we left. If you use a t/a it is up to them if they want to give you the price reductions. Mine just joked and said that soon RCi will be paying us to cruise. Over the course of the year we received about 5 reductions with the last being a few days before we left.

[ted1717]

Nitra,

I kept calling to see if I had to get my TA involved. I was told I did!

And I called again today because I was told to call on Monday by the second RCCL agent!

[Sue L]

Thanks all

 

 

 

Sue L am I correct then that if there is a reduction in the Promo waves that I can get that as a reduction?

Before I get any more mud in my face I want to be sure.

 

Thanks!

 

 

I don't have any first hand knowlegde because none of my cruises seem to ever go down, only up!!! Others on here have said they got the reductions based on the promowaves or the price was reduced on the website. It has to be for you exact category though. If E1's are on special and you have an E2 then you DON'T get a reduction .

 

Sue

[nimbex1970]

sorry Ted, but keep the link for future bookings when your travel plans are more flexible and can be booked last minute. We sometimes take a week off 6 months in advance and simply watch the specials and book last minute. Of course doesn't work for spring break and christmas, but this link could get you a great deal along the way.

 

live and learn, no mud slinging here... just sand:D

[Dockman123]

Thanks all

Yes I can read!

Previous threads certianly led me to believe that they had received reductions based on HH specials.

I am upset with RCCL not because of what I read here but the misinformation 2 of their "cruise specialists" gave me over the weekend. Just tell me not to bother that after final payment HH specials do not result in a price reduction.

 

Sue L am I correct then that if there is a reduction in the Promo waves that I can get that as a reduction?

Before I get any more mud in my face I want to be sure.

 

Thanks!

HH specials do not result in price reductions at anytime. They are for new bookings only. Promowave and general price reductions can be gotten at anytime upto the time you leave providing your t/a allows price reductions. You need to check with your t/a as to what his/her policy is.

[PH8]

RCCL shouldnt even be talking to you about any of your cruise details since you booked with a TA........

[PH8]

Thanks all

Yes I can read!

Previous threads certianly led me to believe that they had received reductions based on HH specials.

!

 

NOBODY mentioned happy hour on the thread you posted on.........

 

 

Maybe you misunderstood the info you read on here............:confused:

 

Yup,looks like you did...... http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=8924650#post8924650

[MGoBlue2]

Ladies and Gentlemen of the CC message Boards

 

BEWARE! DESPITE THE THREADS ON THIS SITE RCCL REFUSED TO REDUCE MY CRUISE FARE TODAY EVEN THOUGH THEIR HAPPY HOUR SPECIAL IS IN EFFECT THIS VERY MOMENT!

Aside from the fact that they are valid for new bookings only, they are only valid for booking on Tuesday between 9:00AM and midnight, so they are NOT IN EFFECT THIS VERY MOMENT!.

[isujim]

I hve never used Happy Hour specials because we book so far in advance.

 

but I do have a question

 

Is it normal for them to release these specials Prior to Tuesday? Just want to know for my continuing education.........I always thought they came out Tuesday.......never heard of them coming out early.

 

Just wondering.........

[BonNYTX]

Too lazy to check myself but how much in advance are the HH specials? I was fortunate to get our Rhapsody cabin rate reduced, I THOUGHT from a HH rate but apparently after reading this thread it must have been a promowave rate. The same rate was reflected on the official RCCL website for my cruise. In fact, when I called my TA to alert her to the reduction she told me she was already working on getting me the new fare. We had already made final payment. Kudos to her for working at getting me the reduced rate even if it meant a lower commission. This is how TAs stay in business, customer satisfaction.

BTW I found out that a couple on our cruise paid $300 pp more for an outside cabin on the same deck steps away from our inside cabin. They did not use our TA nor did they ever check weekly for reductions. I think an inside on the same deck is usually $100 pp more??