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Original poster

Royal Caribbean changing cruise price after paying

469 replies

Mum1976Mum · 04/05/2023 09:26

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.

OP posts:
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Original poster
Mum1976Mum · 04/05/2023 18:52

I'm happy to pay tips onboard for good service but, after this fiasco, I need to make sure it's good first!

OP posts:
PurpleWisteria1 · 04/05/2023 18:54

Marchintospring · 04/05/2023 18:34

If you’re going to be rude at least read it properly “pp” means per person. You can easily do a cruise for £700 per person.

Show quote history

Eh? was that directed at me? I was asking how is it possible to go on holiday for a whole family for £675 (total) which is what the previous poster said they did

Showdogworkingdog · 04/05/2023 18:55

What a shitty way to treat a customer. My friend is a big cruiser, she uses Cruise Nation and is always telling me it’s almost as cheap to be AI on a bargain cruise than stay at home. Hopefully they’ll be a bargain on there for your dates.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 04/05/2023 19:05

We discovered that the £410 extra included over £300 in gratuities ...

Sorry, but that sounds to me like a hastily thought out cover story. It's quite common to charge gratuities upfront, but IME it's usually added to the original "headline price" and paid at the time, not suddenly dropped on people later

Just make sure a "daily gratuity" doesn't appear on your account each day when you're on board, and if it does get it removed at Guest Services/Reception. I wouldn't normally suggest this, but after the way they've behaved they could go swing if it was me

Am I the only one who thinks over 2k for a cruise in Norway isn’t a bargain???

No babyproblems, you're not. The only times I've paid over £2000 are for a far east cruise or with genuinely premium lines, and that's been in balcony cabins or mini suites. For a mere 7 days round the Fjords in an inside stateroom on a mass market line they've got to be joking, even allowing for post-Covid attempts at clawback

ShowUs · 04/05/2023 19:07

HermioneWeasley · 04/05/2023 18:45

Glad you’re sorted. It’s really important to pay at least the suggested tips on a cruise as staff rely on them - they are paid little or no salary. It’s not right, but it’s why cruises are good value and you get exceptional service.

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My friend worked on a cruise ship and got paid loads!

It’s very long hours though and you have to share living spaces etc but she said people do it because it’s such good money and you obviously don’t have many outgoings.

PurpleFlower1983 · 04/05/2023 19:07

Puzzledandpissedoff · 04/05/2023 19:05

We discovered that the £410 extra included over £300 in gratuities ...

Sorry, but that sounds to me like a hastily thought out cover story. It's quite common to charge gratuities upfront, but IME it's usually added to the original "headline price" and paid at the time, not suddenly dropped on people later

Just make sure a "daily gratuity" doesn't appear on your account each day when you're on board, and if it does get it removed at Guest Services/Reception. I wouldn't normally suggest this, but after the way they've behaved they could go swing if it was me

Am I the only one who thinks over 2k for a cruise in Norway isn’t a bargain???

No babyproblems, you're not. The only times I've paid over £2000 are for a far east cruise or with genuinely premium lines, and that's been in balcony cabins or mini suites. For a mere 7 days round the Fjords in an inside stateroom on a mass market line they've got to be joking, even allowing for post-Covid attempts at clawback

For some reason the Fjords is always expensive and Royal Caribbean are expensive when you have kids so it’s a bargain in that context. There are obviously much better value cruises out there.

PurpleFlower1983 · 04/05/2023 19:15

ShowUs · 04/05/2023 19:07

My friend worked on a cruise ship and got paid loads!

It’s very long hours though and you have to share living spaces etc but she said people do it because it’s such good money and you obviously don’t have many outgoings.

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The pay for the Asian workers is terrible.

lambdog · 04/05/2023 19:19

I am so happy for you op that it’s been (almost) resolved after all that stress. I hope you have a brilliant time and everyone on board is much more competent! Please don’t let it ruin your holiday 💐

ShowUs · 04/05/2023 19:27

PurpleFlower1983 · 04/05/2023 19:15

The pay for the Asian workers is terrible.

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Wow that’s awful!

LIZS · 04/05/2023 19:29

In your complaint email to CEO say you paid the £69 under protest to secure the booking. Those referring to $100 compensation do realise that is in onboard credit not a refund? Not much good if the booking is cancelled and op had suffered a £500 loss.

Jellifulfruit · 04/05/2023 19:31

Amazing news!

imagine you’d of been a vulnerable elderly person who had no clue but to pay up at the start? The money they’d of illegally gained. It’s just awful

PinkCast · 04/05/2023 19:32

Good result in the end @Mum1976Mum, well done for sticking with it & not just giving in (which I guess is what the wanted!)
But 😲 what a palaver!!!

PurpleFlower1983 · 04/05/2023 19:34

ShowUs · 04/05/2023 19:27

Wow that’s awful!

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My husband worked on P&O 20 years ago and the Asian crew’s pay was about £400 a month. It will be more now but you get the idea how bad it is. Obviously it’s all relative to cost of living in your country etc but still doesn’t sit right!

Original poster
Mum1976Mum · 04/05/2023 19:42

Honestly, I thought a cruise might be a nice easy holiday for old knackered me. But with all this, the companies taking the piss and paying people peanuts, expecting the gaps to be filled by tips, I'm wishing I had avoided it.

OP posts:
NameChangeNumber359 · 04/05/2023 19:45

Why not drop the CEO an email? I think it's Michael Bayley [email protected]

You'll likely get a response from an executive assistant rather than the man himself, but they are more likely to be concerned about reputational damage to the company than the call centre agents you've been dealing with so far.

Tell him you've been on Mumsnet and now hundreds of angry women are vowing never to sail with RC. And that it's likely to end up in the national press 🤣 You might get your £69 back, you might get an upgrade - who knows? Worth a punt though, surely?

Anyway, whatever you do, good luck and enjoy your holiday!

PurpleFlower1983 · 04/05/2023 19:47

@Mum1976Mum The Royal Caribbean ships are awesome and you’ll have a great time but they’re an American company and tips are expected with every drink etc. Try P&O if you decide to cruise again, they’re generally a lot cheaper, especially with kids, have a great kids club and all tips are already included in the price.

adularia · 04/05/2023 19:53

I’m glad you’ve got it sorted but it sounds like they need to be investigated. It sounds like they put a low price to pull people in (the price is still showing as this for other people) and then increase the price, regularly. Many people would just pay it to avoid the hassle, plus the small print says if it’s a ‘pricing error’ it’s ok for them to do this 😐

Original poster
Mum1976Mum · 04/05/2023 19:55

Thank you 'angry women of Mumsnet' for the comments on Facebook. You are amazing! Honestly, if Mumsnet ran the country it would be in better shape.

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honeyrider · 04/05/2023 19:57

What's the correct facebook page please? I cannot find comments on this.

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Pollyperch · 04/05/2023 20:02

I have taken a few RC cruises and never tipped every drink. We tipped our amazing waiting staff and room attendants at the end of each cruise and that was it. No problems at all. No mention of it. You will love it OP.

TheFireflies · 04/05/2023 20:03

Bamboozleme · 04/05/2023 10:54

No point

what they done, whilst annoying, is an error and they are within their right to cancel.

They have offered 100, which they actually didn’t need to have done.

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You’re wrong.

it would have to be proved that OP knew it was an error. From the price paid, I think that would be a difficult thing to prove. If she’d paid £270 it would be different.

ShowUs · 04/05/2023 20:05

I’ve just read that royal Caribbean have overbooked and are asking customers to cancel.

Maybe that’s why they’re putting the price up as some people would pay it and some would cancel.

ghyt · 04/05/2023 20:07

@ShowUs wonder why they haven't switched off new bookings then?

Original poster
Mum1976Mum · 04/05/2023 20:07

Honestly, the reviews on their Facebook page are dreadful. I'm honestly dreading it now. Lesson learnt: check the Facebook page before booking. 😣

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