I just experienced a $1000 drop in the price of my Greenland cruise after booking. Below is are some tips to get the best and cheapest price and a summary of my experience with Princess Cruises.
Tip 1. Always check the price of your cruise after booking, particularly at the 2-3 month mark before departure . Prices often reduce around US holidays (mine was Memorial day). Make sure you use the exact same requirements (i.e same cabin type, number of passengers, currency type) to check the price. Also make sure it is offer the same benefits (i.e. on board credit amount, gratuities, internet etc).
Tip 2: If the price drops significantly take a screen print or picture so you can send it to the travel agent or cruise line customer service if required.
Tip 3: Call your agent/cruiseline customer service same day as prices change almost daily.
Tip 4: Make sure you know what you want the outcome to be - for me it was an upgraded cabin and a credit (mine was to my credit card) but often they will offer onboard credit. If its onboard credit make sure its usable for everything - i.e. crew appreciation, shore excursions etc.) You need to be able to tell them what you want.
Tip 5: If you want an upgrade make sure you have the cruise ship deck plan open on the web so you can see the placement. For me I wanted an obstructed or non-obstructed ocean view. If its obstructed - key in the cabin number and ship and search the web. There will often be pictures of the view on the obstructed. For me 2 of the cabins available only has a small portion of the view blocked. Also check the web for "worst cabins" on the ship. Mine said there may be noise during the day from rehearsals on the deck below but not during/after show.
Tip 6: Do not give up if the customer service rep is not helpful (always get their names) - in my case I wrote the president of the cruise line as the customer service people kept transfering me and I got cut off and hanged up on. I also asked for a supervisor.
Tip 7: Thank the rep who helps you
Ok now for my experience:
Once I saw the price drop - I tried the cruise sales specialist first but she was off.
I then called customer service. The first rep (Rep 1 even though I wrote down the name), quickly put me on hold and then disconnected me after about 20 minutes.
I called back and after waiting - you will always wait at least 10 minutes to get connected. The second rep Rep 2 said only customer solutions can help and she will transfer me - and she tried staying on the line until I got connected but the Customer Solutions Rep hung up on me immediately. (its now been about 2 hours).
I call back and got Rep 3 - I told her the story and she said there was nothing she could do she had to transfer me to customer solutions - I said I wanted a supervisor - she refused and transferred me to the customer solutions line. The message said the wait time was 30 minutes plus - It was actually 47 minutes but Rep 4 connected. I told her my story and she wanted my phone number so if for any reason we got disconnected she could call me back.
I told her what I wanted - she offered me a refund of the difference but I would lose part of my shore excursion credit and option 2 - the upgrade (I checked the cabin on line) and a partial credit. She waited until I checked online and while I tried to pay the difference on the shore excursions. When it wouldn't allow me she took the payment over the phone.
In the end, I got the upgraded cabin I wanted, a large credit $800 plus dollars to my credit card and then I paid the shore excursion difference (US dollars). In the end I saved about $400 plus Canadian dollars on my cruise, and I have the better cabin, same shore excursions.
Is it worth the pain - 4 plus hours, several hang ups but I was determined and persistent.
The cruise line should just automatically refund the difference but they are betting you won't act - but not me and really not you if you take advantage of the tips.
Hope this Helps
Marcia
