Does RCI match other travel agent prices?

[28margaritaville]

We have cruised a lot, and cruised with RCI a lot. Have successfully made use of their policy to price drop when booked through RCI (though we did many cruises before we knew this existed!)

The cruise we want to book is way cheaper through a travel agent and has lots of on board credit as well. Has anyone tried/ successfully had RCI match another company price for the same cruise?

I prefer to book direct through RCI if possible.

Looking forward to the feedback.

[L454S]

No, RCI won't price match with travel agents. You can however still get any price drops until final payment. You just call and have your T/A call and get the reduction for you. Once booked with a T/A, RCI will not deal with YOU directly, even if you try to call them for a price drop.

There are times on shorter cruises or booking an interior cabin that the OBC given by a T/A is not worth it. 

[28margaritaville]

Thanks so much for the advice - I did not know you could still get price drop when booked through a travel agent! Great news! I understand the agent will have to then do all the calling that RCI won't deal with me.  Thanks again ?

[Lovetocruise2002]

2 hours ago, 28margaritaville said:

Thanks so much for the advice - I did not know you could still get price drop when booked through a travel agent! Great news! I understand the agent will have to then do all the calling that RCI won't deal with me.  Thanks again ?

From what I understand, TAs have to price their prices to match RCI.  Technically, they cannot give it to you for lower.  However, deep discounts can come from certain agents and those are their own discounts that they are offering you.  So RCI will not match that.  I have had my prices readjusted many times through a TA.  Just over the weekend I saved another couple hundred on an upcoming cruise this way.  But like @L454S said, I noticed the discount and then contacted the agent, not RC.  Also, with some TA, their prices are already so deeply discounted that certain OBC offers from RCI don't apply to their already reduced rates.

[DocLC]

Make sure that you're comparing apples to apples when comparing prices. I have found that some TAs, especially the online agencies, don't include the taxes and fees, so always look at the final price. In addition, if they're heavily discounting the cruise through their commissions, consider what impact this might have on service. For example, I can find some good pricing through the warehouse clubs, but they charge a cancellation fee even if you cancel for final payment. Some also charge a change fee to process a fare reduction, so in the end the discount may not be all that much.

If it's a good deal, go for it. Just make sure you know what you're getting in terms of service.

[Matt]

1 hour ago, DocLC said:

Make sure that you're comparing apples to apples when comparing prices. I have found that some TAs, especially the online agencies, don't include the taxes and fees, so always look at the final price. In addition, if they're heavily discounting the cruise through their commissions, consider what impact this might have on service. For example, I can find some good pricing through the warehouse clubs, but they charge a cancellation fee even if you cancel for final payment. Some also charge a change fee to process a fare reduction, so in the end the discount may not be all that much.

If it's a good deal, go for it. Just make sure you know what you're getting in terms of service.

I'll echo what Doc said.  You should contact this TA prior to booking and ask if there are any agency-charged fees if you want to change something on the reservation.

I love using a TA and recommend it for everyone, but you want to steer clear of any agency that charges you change fees (not fees from RC, but fees from the agency).

[twangster]

I've often get a better price through an agency compared to direct.  Some larger agencies commit to certain blocks of cabins and they get a wholesale rate cheaper than what you or I get direct.  This in part is why you will see different inventory through agency compared to direct.  For the Alaska Group Cruise my cabin wasn't available direct, only through agency.  Some agencies may offer OBC, some offer specialty dinners or free travel insurance.  They can make those offers since they get a cheaper rate.

I'm looking at a 2019 cruise to New Zealand on Ovation that isn't even offered by RCI direct - the whole ship is only available through agency, at least at this point.

I sometimes use a large agency that has many different faces.  They front end many different branded websites and they answer the phone like you are calling airline A or hotel B cruise specialist but they are a common collection of agents all working from home using the same back end computer platform.  Being a large agency they can commit to blocks of cabins - they, like RCI know what historically will sell and what won't.    

I've gone through several agents at this agency and finally found one that knows the system.  She is my go to agent now, most of the time.  She doesn't work 24x7 so sometimes I've had to go with someone else when I see a great deal that I know won't last long.

Having said that my May cruise on Adventure was 20% cheaper direct.  So it works both ways.  As I was pricing different cabins and applying or removing my Crown & Anchor discount I suddenly lucked into a super cheap C&A balcony.  Solo rate was $695 one minute then $499 the next.  Oceanview was $599 so I grabbed the balcony. That rate hasn't re-appeared yet.

Sometimes the C&A rate isn't a good deal, sometimes a different promo is better.  A good travel agent will look at all options, even fares I can't see.

The point is there is no one way always works best.  Booking near term cruises is very different compared to booking next year cruises.  

I've seen a lot of complaints about a certain warehouse company that offers cruise bookings.  They use their discounts to offer OBC but it's their OBC, not the same OBC that RCI often offers.  The problem is a lot of times their OBC doesn't transfer to the ship so people board and have no OBC.  They blame the cruise line but it's really the warehouse club that failed or kept it deliberately.  Another warehouse club offers cash cards to their stores instead of OBC.  These places seem to operate like sweat shops and many times their agents don't know anything or will say anything to get the sale.  "Yes that ship has bumper cars" when it doesn't.  

The point here is that you have to be careful with online or big warehouse agents.  It's a lot easier when you know exactly what you want.

Jackie at MEI is very proactive at re-pricing my booking every time a new deal or promo is announced.  You won't get that level of service at most big online agencies, it's your job to monitor price drops.