Royal Caribbean announce no price cuts within 30 days of cruising

Royal Caribbean’s chairman and CEO Richard Fain has announced that their three brands, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises will no longer have prices discounted within 30 days of sailing.

The exceptions to this rule will be three and four night sailings.

This policy is meant to ensure cruise prices do not drop drastically before a sailing, leaving passengers that have already booked angry and frustrated.

The thing is though, cruise prices will always change and can go up and down subject to demand and special offers. I speak with many passengers who see a better deal at some point after they have booked with many cruise brands and with no price guarantee in place it is just one of those things. The passenger must choose the right time and deal for them to make their booking.

I do also see occasions where clients are also upset that a cruise they have been watching has suddenly gone up in price before they have made a booking.

Royal Caribbean did have a price match type policy at one stage but they have now got round all of that now with terms and conditions allowing their special offers to be for “new bookings only”. P&O did offer a price match also for a time on their “Vantage” fares a couple of years ago and this did not also work out.

Personally if I book a holiday and I see a reduction after I have booked I do find it a shame of course but I accept that this is the nature of the business and I personally choose when to book and at what price.