Booked a cruise and fares have dropped
 

Booked a cruise and fares have dropped, can I request a refund?

When I took a Baltic cruise several years ago I watched the fares constantly. The fares dropped several months before departure (before I had made final payment) and I contacted the agent I had used to book the cruise.

I had a couple of choices of what to do - I opted to go with a higher category cabin than the one I had originally booked and a larger amount of OBC than what my original deal for the cruise called for. I knew I would use up all of the OBC and I was thrilled to get the higher category cabin, so it worked for me.

Not sure how it would work if you've already made final payment, but it doesn't hurt to ask. Just be sure that the fares have dropped for same category cabin you're booked for.

Getting some kind of upgrade or credit is more likely. Talk to your travel agent and see what he/she can get for you.

We recently got a reduction on two cruises we have booked for December 2011, and July 2012. Both are on Oceania which announced price reductions after we booked, but before we had made final payment. We called our agent at Cruise Vacation Outlet and she got us proportional reductions in our already discounted fares. I don't know what would have happened if we had booked directly with the cruise line.

You can request anything...

usually they do something not a refund though.

Orbitz.com is one that has mailed me a check for the diff

that is pretty cool...

Usually they will upgrade u and or give u credits

The squeaky wheel gets the grease...

If you have not made full payment yet, they may just lower the price and collect the lesser amount. Typically, they will try to "upgarde" you to a much higher category, so you will think you are getting a much better deal and value.

If you have made full payemnt, the ship board credit would be the way to go. You sort of still get your money back as you can use the on board credit for your purcahses, and even tips!

Refund - you mean, you are past the full amount due? In this case, you can ask for upgrade or a small on-board credit. It will be up to them to give you anything.

If you booked and paid deposit only, then tell them to e-mail you an adjusted invoice. Before the full payment they will do that.

As long as you have not made final payment they will refund you, or you can get upgraded. For example we went on a Med cruise in May and about 1 wk before i had to make final payment the cost of a suite was less than the cost of the inside I had booked! I called my agent and got the suite! then i checked about 10 min later and the pricing was back to normal!

On our TA sailing on Carnival Magic in 36 days our inside cabin fare dropped $50 pp.We had paid in full so no refund,but our agent got us a free upgrade to a deluxe oceanview. Our inside passage cruise leaving in 223 days dropped $20 pp. Not paid in full yet so our balance was reduced total of $80 for 4 passengers. I watch Carnival's fareviewer every day for price drops. Hoping over the next 223 days there will be further drops.

The biggest drop I had was $700 and that was BEFORE the final payment :) Maybe 5 years ago.