Royal Caribbean changing cruise price after paying

[Mum1976Mum]

So, we have just about scraped the money together for a holiday in July. Lots of holidays out of our price range but managed to book a 7 day cruise around Norway for 2.7k - 2 adults, 2 kids. Booked it yesterday morning, paid in full, all good. I booked the hotel, parking, pet sitter etc. yesterday afternoon all non refundable. Got an email at 9pm last night to say price was wrong on website, price would not be honoured and offering me $100 in onboard credit (which we don’t need).

So this morning they still haven’t got in touch to tell me how much more I will have to pay if I don’t cancel. I phone up, it’s £1500 extra!!! I’ve now been on hold to speak to a supervisor for an hour but they say they won’t be able to do anything.

What on earth do we do? If we cancel we are £500 out of pocket. Any advice welcome. I’m so sad.

@Mum1976Mum

So sorry to hear this.

I hope you manage to go, but please check that your bank's travel insurance covers cruises as it often doesn't.

You couldn’t make it up! Just received this! Talk about running salt in the wound! Thanks for the advice about the bank travel insurance - I’ll check this!

can you go to ABTA and or ATOL for some advice?

That seems really unfair OP, especially as the mistake wasn’t corrected on the website. T&C’s are one thing, but you must feel absolutely gutted, I know
I would, so sorry this has happened to you.

I know it's not the point but we are going on P&O Iona on 8th July to the fjords. We've paid £1400 for 3 of us. This was last year so I think a bit more expensive now £1600 I think but not much more. So you could cancel with RC and rebook for that one it's only a day later so hopefully would be easy to move the pet sitter for a day and the hotel too?
I know it's a ball ache but sounds like you need a holiday.

Or you could try calling Iglu, get them to price it up etc.. confirm the price won't change and book direct through them then cancel and get your refund from RC?

Why can't you just let them cancel the holiday and book something else? That's a ton of money you could easily get something else on same dates?

Because I would lose £500 in hotel and parking fees etc.

yeah there's something not right going on here. are you sure its RCCL that called you and not a scammer? I have booked the same cruise 3 weeks earlier for two of us plus my 18 month old in a balcony cabin for about £2.2k so i don't think 2.7 is unreasonable for 4 in a inside cabin. in fact i think £4k for that is extortion. Deff tweet it.

Don't give up on it and let them get away with this. Be firm with them. You are going on this holiday for the price you have already paid. If they insist on trying to make you pay more even though the holiday is still on websites (including theirs) at the same price, you will refer them to the Advertising Standards Authority and trading standards.

As others have said, are you sure this isn't a scammer? Have you rung them on the number on their website (0344 493 4005)? Don't rely on a call apparently coming from them. People can fake caller ID.

Yes I’ve phoned that number numerous times today and spoken to people.

Good. So this isn't a scam. In that case I would go with my previous post and be firm with them. You were given a promotional discount. That discount is still available on their website, so why do they want to take it away from you.

I can't see how this can be legal, to be honest

I'm sure that is totally illegal. I had a travel agent try that on when I was young and he only backed down when I said that I would write to the papers about it. Times have changed so I presume you would have to report them to the authorities and take to twitter

If those dates work for you, which presumably they do.

just book another holiday on same dates and keep your bookings? 😐

You’re flying out of school holidays… you’ll be able to pick up something good OP for sure

Not for travel. It's an exclusion.

OP, you've been advised several times to contact the CEO and been given his email address. Seriously do this. We cruise a lot (not in RCCL though) snd I had a problem a couple of years ago. I emailed the CEO in the US and the following day had a call from a UK based customer service agent who sorted us out.

Their website is still offering the same price at 4pm.

OP, message Don's Family Vacations on YouTube. He has nearly 200k followers and covers stuff like this in his daily videos. Then cancel and rebook with MSC, P&O or Marella (all much cheaper than Crappy Carribbean).

I have emailed and contacted everyone that has been suggested but no response yet

It really is made very clear on their website

pricing errors can massively backfire though!

This week, cruise giant Royal Caribbeanmade a major pricing mistake.
After briefly waffling, according to TPG reader Anthony W., who watched the line vacillate on social media, the line on Wednesday announced it would indeed honor a “fat finger” underpricing of its top-tier Deluxe Beverage Package that could end up costing it millions of dollars in lost revenue.
The line said more than 20,000 customers were able to book the package online for upcoming sailings at a rate of just $18 per day — nearly 70% below the normal cost of $55 per day — before it caught the error. For someone on a typical seven-night voyage, that works out to a savings of $259.

Ex travel agent here. Where they don’t technically have to honour the price, they should have taken the price down by now and the fact that Iglu are still selling it is also suspicious. I would contact ABTA for some advise x

UNSOLD holiday prices can change. UNSOLD.

do you really think you’re being helpful at this point?