Don't Book a Cruise Until You Read This
by Wendy Perrin
The cruise deals are flying. I've watched prices for some cruise-ship cabins plummet by $1,000 in the past month. And fares for cruises near the U.S. (Caribbean, Mexico, Panama Canal) this winter and spring, as well as for Europe next summer, are almost sure to drop a lot farther. So if you're tempted to book now for the winter, spring, or summer, strongly consider giving your business to a cruise line that, if the price drops after you buy, will refund the difference between the fare you paid and the new, lower fare.
Right now Crystal Cruises (that's the Crystal Serenity pictured above) is the line with the most customer-friendly booking policies. Not only is it guaranteeing you'll get the lowest price even if you book before a big sale starts, but it has also reduced deposits from 10% to 5% of the cruise fare for all 2009 sailings. Plus it will let you cancel your cruise up to 45 days prior to the sailing with no penalty (70 to 80 days prior is more the norm).
Crystal, by the way, was also just voted the best cruise line in the world by Conde Nast Traveler readers in our Readers' Choice Awards.
Last but hardly least: If you're looking for a clever travel agent through whom to book your cruise--and, trust me, right now it behooves you greatly to use a cruise agent who is superbly well-connected with the top execs at the cruise line you're interested in -- you can find one on my list of the top cruise agents in Conde Nast Traveler's August issue. The list can be found here, but the online version is tough to navigate and use properly, so if you want to know precisely which travel agent to use for which cruise line, click on Ask Wendy and post your question.
Has anyone booked a cruise within the past few months and then watched the price drop for the cabin they booked? If so, I'd love to hear what the cruise line is doing for you: Refunding the price difference? Upgrading you to a better cabin? Giving you an onboard credit? None of the above?
RSS Feeds
just a quick note... we are booked on Cunard - Queen Victoria cruise Oct 2009. As a result of this advisory... contacted my agent who checked w/Cunard. And they met the challenge. The lowered our stateroom rate by $600. Thanks, Wendy
Deanna
Posted by: deannadv | October 27, 2008 at 09:06 AM