Is it time for change?

Have you ever booked a holiday or a cruise, only to find that four weeks before travel, you have seen the same holiday at a massively reduced price? Most of us have been there (yes even me), and I can quite confidently say for everyone this has happened too, it's a horrible experience. The reason for this blog is simple, what steps can you take to avoid this happening to you!

Let me start with a story, one of my very good clients has booked with a certain cruise line for many many years. She has always booked very early, to get the best cabins, a good price and is not what you may call a complainer. In the past, her cruise bookings may have gone down in price by maybe 15,20 or even 25%. This did not cause any problem as there would always be free parking, on board credit, and more importantly cabin choice on early bookings. This would justify the premium paid. When the cruise went down 50% alarm bells started ringing, and she called me to see if I could help. Regretfully, there was nothing I could do as the cruise line in question, did not operate a price promise. Regardless of her countless loyal years to the brand and her always booking in good faith early. Nothing could be done apart from cancelling the cruise at charges and re-booking. Lesson learned.

Although the above is a very extreme case, if you look at this from the cruise lines point of view, she has still picked her cabin, has extra benefits on board and if she had not seen the cheaper, no frills offer, she would still be very happy with her price. I think the issue here, is just how much the cruise had dropped by. The bottom line is that the cruise lines are in this to make money. They don’t want to drop their prices at the last minute, but have to in order to fill spaces. Although we all want to pay the cheapest rate, this is not possible as we can’t always be ‘at the right place, at the right time.’ This is where a happy medium should come in. In the most extreme cases where the price has massively dropped down, or the most loyal customers have missed out why not split the difference? Or offer upgrades, or even more on board credit? Anything just restore faith! I know if someone said to me after I lost out ‘Mr David, although your cruise has dropped down £500 we are willing to meet you half way and give you £250 back!’ Yes please, back to a happy………er Mr David!

Is the above likely to happen? I’m afraid not. Some cruise lines still operate a price promise like Royal Caribbean and Celebrity (subject to t’s and c’s) who will give you the lower price if the cruise goes down. Others like Princess 2012 and Oceania cruises will let you cancel free of charge, if you have paid deposit and have not yet reached the balance pay in full date (around 17 weeks before sail date). This would mean you can just cancel an re-book the cheaper cruise. Other than booking with the above, What can you do?

I always follow a set of rules.

1.If there is a certain sailing, on a certain ship on a certain date that you can travel. ALWAYS BOOK EARLY.

2.If you are looking at a very unique and popular itinerary, that maybe only goes once or twice a year. ALWAYS BOOK EARLY.

3.If your are a family of four who can only travel in the summer holidays and want to share a cabin of four. ALWAYS BOOK EARLY.

4. If you have to be on a certain ship on a certain date for a wedding or even if your friends are booked. To avoid disappointment ALWAYS BOOK EARLY.

5. If there is a certain cabin, in a certain position that you must have. ALWAYS BOOK EARLY.

6. If you are going in any peak dates, especially Christmas or summer holidays, prices almost always go up. ALWAYS BOOK EARLY.

7. When cruises first go on sale. Some offer free kids places. To take advantage of this ALWAYS BOOK EARLY.

Everything else available, again most of the time it will be cheapest to book early, but if you can go anytime, on any ship, at the drop of a hat. Then waiting may well be the best option!