Years ago, when infomercials were very popular, there was one that I will likely never forget. It was for some sort of rotisserie cooker. The slogan the host used was “set it and forget it.” At different points throughout the infomercial, the audience was cued to join in with, “Set it and forget it!”
I may be showing my age by mentioning an old infomercial, but while “set it and forget it” may be great for a rotisserie gadget and a long list of other things, when you are talking about cruise fares, it is certainly not the best technique.
Many of us are conditioned to book early for a cruise, and I am in total agreement. You typically can be certain you get the departure dates you desire and the cabin category you prefer. This makes it much easier to plan time away from work or school and to plan for any additional travel needed to reach the cruise departure port.
If you employ the “set it and forget it” philosophy here, chances are you could be missing out on some real savings. Since I am admittedly a budget traveler, I look for opportunities to maximize my savings and stretch my travel budget.
For years, I employed the “set it and forget it” idea. I would book my cruise, never knowing I could take advantage of price decreases and promotional offers when they occurred. Imagine my surprise when I was first introduced to the concept of “repricing” my cruise—checking the current fare or promotion after booking to see whether a better offer might be available.
Most recently, prior to our Alaskan group cruise, most of the cabins were repriced, and the savings varied from $70 to almost $400. There were two cabins in a highly sought-after category that did not qualify. Most members of our group, except those who didn’t qualify, were happy to hear they were getting a refund. Even more recently, a group sailing next March was able to reprice their cruise because the final payment date had not occurred yet.
While the policy on repricing your cruise varies with each cruise line, it is always worth having a conversation with whoever booked your cruise to inquire about the possibility. It may be that you don’t qualify or that you have waited too long, and this time, that’s okay. Not all cruise lines give refunds for repricing. Some offer onboard credit or a future cruise credit.
So, booking your cruise early may still be the right decision, but that doesn’t mean you should “set it and forget it.” Cruise fares and promotions can change, and taking another look along the way may uncover an opportunity you didn’t know was there. Sometimes, a little attention after the booking can help your travel dollars go a little farther.