Facts About Cruise Price Drops

There are two things we do immediately upon booking a cruise. First, of course, comes the happy dance. But then, we make sure that we will be notified if the price of the cruise drops after we’ve booked the trip. It’s a pretty simple thing to do, and it could potentially save you a whole lot of money. With that in mind, we’re here to answer all your questions about price drops. Have a question we didn’t answer? Leave it in the comments, and we’ll update the post as needed!

Q: Why is it important to check the price of the cruise I’ve booked? 

A: If the price of your cruise drops, you will very likely be able to either arrange for a price adjustment (meaning you could get money back) or an onboard credit. This isn’t always possible, especially if you booked a cruise with a certain promotion. Other times, you might be able to take advantage of the rate change, but only if you re-book… which could mean losing perks you got at the time of booking. It varies from cruise line to cruise line, and even booking to booking, but it’s always worth checking.

Q: How do I go about monitoring the price of the cruise? 

A: Well, you could go to the cruise line’s site every day and do a mock booking, but that’s crazy time consuming! Instead, go to cruiseline.com and use their easy to navigate search tool to find your cruise. Once you’ve found the specific cruise you’re booked on, click “Get Price Alert.” You’ll be asked for your e-mail address and, if applicable, what type cabin you’re wanting to monitor the price of. That’s all there is to it! After that, the app will send you an email if the price of your sailing rises or falls!

Q: Do I have to have booked a cruise in order to monitor the price via the app?

A: Nope! You can monitor as many cruises as you like, whether you’ve booked on the ship or are just hoping to book if the price comes down.

Q: What do I do if I receive an email telling me that the price has dropped on a cruise that I’ve already booked, but not yet paid the full balance-due on?

A: Contact the cruise line (or your travel agent) and let the negotiating begin! They will likely either offer you a refund of the price difference, an upgraded cabin category, or an onboard credit. Sometimes, you can take care of this right over the phone. In other instances, you may have to fill out a price-drop form.

Q: What if the price drops after I’ve paid off the full balance? 

A: That’s a bit trickier. In most cases, if the balance has been paid in full, you’re pretty much out of luck. (That’s just one of the reasons we always wait until the last possible moment to pay the balance off!) In rare instances, you might be able to get an upgrade or a little onboard credit, but it’s pretty unlikely!

Have you ever been able to take advantage of a price drop? How much were you able to save? Hit the comments and make everyone jealous!