hoofbeats95 Posted March 12, 2018 Report Share Posted March 12, 2018 We are meeting friends from Europe in FL in March 2019 for a cruise. They insist we need to book ASAP as once cabins fill the price goes up. I see the current sale on the RC site, but I'm not quite ready to commit yet. I haven't fully understood what the pricing includes and what my cancellation options are. I don't usually plan trips this far out. Any tips on if I should book now or wait a bit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mworkman Posted March 12, 2018 Report Share Posted March 12, 2018 Here is something Matt put together that I think should help you out. https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2018/01/03/first-time-cruisers-what-know-booking-royal-caribbean-cruise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted March 13, 2018 Report Share Posted March 13, 2018 Book refundable if not in a suite. You can cancel or convert to non-refundable to take advantage of a lower price at any time. coneyraven 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monctonguy Posted March 13, 2018 Report Share Posted March 13, 2018 And book as early as possible....often the trend is that some of the lowest/best pricing is when the dates are first announced and then it tends to go up from there. Of course, my other tip is to make sure your not looking/booking on the Royal website as that tends to be the highest/worst pricing out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted March 13, 2018 Report Share Posted March 13, 2018 If you live in US, Canada or Australia, you can always book and cancel up to final payment date (provided your cruise fare is a refundable one). Your friends' advice is definitely the right idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoofbeats95 Posted March 13, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2018 How does the refundable vs non-refundable deposit work in terms of getting a cheaper price adjustment? I wasn't sure which option to choose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted March 13, 2018 Report Share Posted March 13, 2018 Just now, hoofbeats95 said: How does the refundable vs non-refundable deposit work in terms of getting a cheaper price adjustment? I wasn't sure which option to choose. No difference between the two. With non-refundable, you can take advantage of a price drop just like with a normal fare. You just cannot change sail date or ship with non-refundable fare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoofbeats95 Posted March 13, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2018 1 minute ago, Matt said: No difference between the two. With non-refundable, you can take advantage of a price drop just like with a normal fare. You just cannot change sail date or ship with non-refundable fare. If you totally have to cancel can the deposit be credited to a future cruise? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted March 13, 2018 Report Share Posted March 13, 2018 Just now, hoofbeats95 said: If you totally have to cancel can the deposit be credited to a future cruise? Not with non-refundable. In fact, with non-refundable you pay a penalty if you cancel. If you cancel a refundable fare, then yes, you get all your money back (including deposit)...assuming you are not past the final payment date. My advice is work with a travel agent and get the full picture of possibilities. Last thing you want to do is assume one thing, and then realize you're assumption was incorrect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLMoran Posted March 13, 2018 Report Share Posted March 13, 2018 5 hours ago, hoofbeats95 said: If you totally have to cancel can the deposit be credited to a future cruise? 5 hours ago, Matt said: Not with non-refundable. In fact, with non-refundable you pay a penalty if you cancel. If you cancel a refundable fare, then yes, you get all your money back (including deposit)...assuming you are not past the final payment date. My advice is work with a travel agent and get the full picture of possibilities. Last thing you want to do is assume one thing, and then realize you're assumption was incorrect. @Matt, I thought that a Non-Refundable Deposit booking does give you the deposit as future cruise credit if you have to completely cancel (minus the change fee)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovetocruise2002 Posted March 13, 2018 Report Share Posted March 13, 2018 1 minute ago, JLMoran said: @Matt, I thought that a Non-Refundable Deposit booking does give you the deposit as future cruise credit if you have to completely cancel (minus the change fee)? That's what I understood too unless it changed in the last few months. The thing to be careful with the FCC, it is specific to the name on the reservation and non-transferable. It also expires. And a child cannot apply it to KSF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted March 13, 2018 Report Share Posted March 13, 2018 5 hours ago, hoofbeats95 said: If you totally have to cancel can the deposit be credited to a future cruise? From their website: Non-refundable deposit: Non-refundable deposit booking (“NRDB”) cancelled prior to final payment due date will receive a future cruise credit in the amount of the deposit minus a $100 per person service fee (the “FCC”). FCC is non-transferable and expires after 12-months from issue date. 100USD/100CAD per person service fee applies to changes to NRDB ship or sail date. For NextCruise bookings you have 30 days after booking an Non-refundable Deposit NextCruise booking (NDN) to make changes penalty free. After 30 days but prior to the final payment due date the same FCC applies to NDN as it does to NRDB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted March 14, 2018 Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 19 hours ago, JLMoran said: @Matt, I thought that a Non-Refundable Deposit booking does give you the deposit as future cruise credit if you have to completely cancel (minus the change fee)? I need to install an add-on to this board that prevents me from posting before I've had my morning coffee JLMoran and LetsTryThisPlace 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ogalthorpe Haywood Posted March 14, 2018 Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 On 3/13/2018 at 7:37 AM, monctonguy said: Of course, my other tip is to make sure your not looking/booking on the Royal website as that tends to be the highest/worst pricing out there. How do you book your cruises? I like to do it myself bc I like to tinker with my cruise planner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monctonguy Posted March 14, 2018 Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 I book with other travel sites....you can still view and make changes etc to your planner on the royal website once you have it booked elsewhere....so win win! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LetsTryThisPlace Posted March 16, 2018 Report Share Posted March 16, 2018 For the 2 cruises I have done (that I paid for at least) were purchased around the 90-day mark. It can be cheaper but is risky in the fact that not much is left and could just as easily get higher. For my MSC cruise, there was a sale that was way too good to pass up so I booked it over a year in advance. I also don't book directly and use another site. I actually combine 2 sites (travelocity and ebates) who sometimes have sales to give you 14% back in a rebate (this comes 6 weeks after your trip.) When I get everything from my last cruise I'm putting it towards our next cruise deposit. It all depends how risky you want to play it though. If you have a certain ship and time I would book in advance. If you are like me and don't know your schedule until 2-3 months before try the 90 day mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesGurner Posted March 17, 2018 Report Share Posted March 17, 2018 I booked the first day the new dates for 2019 sailings from Southampton we’re released. We booked a 10 night trip on explorer for £700 pp for an interior room. Within 4 days it’s gone up to £1055pp for the same room! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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