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.

Surely if OP has gone through the online payment form and paid the full amount requested at that point, the ad saying prices from doesn't apply. I assume prices from relates to different prices for different holiday seasons or whatever.

It’s not prices from. I can go on about 4 different websites, including their own and book the same holiday at the same price right now! It’s bonkers

Because there will indeed be a type of booking configuration where this price is applicable or family of 6 in 2 bed room on RO basis kind of scenario!

What sites? What dates?

I have had this happen where I bought via Amazon and they said it was incorrectly priced and wouldn't send the goods to me. It wasn't an obvious 'too good to be true' price, but what seemed a reasonable offer. I would get a refund from them, as clearly the relationship has been soured, and look elsewhere for a holiday over the same dates, so you won't lose out over the pet sitter cost.

I have gone through the whole booking on 2 other sites. Still get the option to book at the original price.
royal Caribbean from Southampton around Norwegian Fjords 7th July, 2 kids, 2 adults. I paid £2668. They are saying it’s now £1500 more!

Legally, it's a grey area.

For obvious pricing errors, then a company would be allowed to cancel. e.g. if you had paid £1500 for a cruise for 4 people then this would clearly have been a pricing error.

But at £2700 and given you are going in term time, then it comes down to whether this is deemed to be an obvious pricing error. It's on the cheap side for a 4 day cruise, but perhaps not so cheap that it is obviously an error.

What do the T&Cs say that you agreed to? They often include price increase terms.

I would phone citizen's advice to see what to do next.

The pet-sitter can be used if you get a holiday elsewhere, but I'm guessing the car parking and hotel are non refundable.

It might be worth posting on that Moneysavingexpert forum as I think lots of people on their are very good at knowing the legalities of this type of scenario.

What sites?

Have you tried posting this on Cruise Critic? Folk on the RC forum have much knowledge of how RC operates.

RC have history for IT glitches. They also have history for honouring prices advertised on their web site.

A few years back they a sold drinks package at a very low price. So low that it was obviously wrong. Word spread on RC Cruise Critic forum and a lot of people took advantage. Including me 😎 There was a big fuss when RC tried to re price and in the end they honoured the price.

I hope you get this sorted OP. I would escalate and email [email protected]
Michael Bayley is the CEO. His office resolves problems much quicker than the call centre. Especially when the issue is all over social media. I would be clear with them about the solution you are looking for.

OP, what number are you phoning? Just a thought that it could be a phishing scam email as heard of that happening before.

Have you looked at your booking terms and conditions yet Op?

@Mum1976Mum which site did you book with? The RCI Facebook site has a phone number and you can FB Message them. I would message with your booking number and ask for help. I've done that with celebrity before and had a quickish reply.

Also, how old are your DC?

I'm on their website now and for 2A 2C in an inside cabin on that sailing it's £2738 coming up for me.

Ok, so I finally got to speak to someone at crappy Caribbean. They told me it was £1500 extra to pay, then that it was £475 extra to pay and now they said it may be £300 ish extra to pay but they are not sure so are escalating it and to expect a phone call within 3 days!!! But apparently I have to pay or it will be cancelled in 24 hours??? What a shambles

The RC will be notifying their third party sellers that error in pricing

and now look at third party booking condition. Again - it will derail the rights of cancellation of the company.

@Mum1976Mum the fact they’re still advertising the supposedly incorrect price is very poor, but take plenty of screenshots.

I'd agree with PPS that contacting the CEOs of RC is worth a try. Also Money Box - I personally know someone whose problem was solved by them.

I'd also recommend contacting the Telegraph's travel consumer journalist, Gill Charlton. The link is to is one of her cases - not the same, I know, but just to show that she seems very effective. I once contacted her about a travel issue we had, and she wrote back to me with advice even though we didn’t get featured in the paper (I’m very definitely not a Telegraph reader btw!).

Another possibility is the Guardian/Observer's consumer journalist, Anna Tims. She’s been writing her column for years and also gets good results. I can’t help feeling that the fact the company is still advertising the original price would interest both of them.

I don't think £2700 is massively cheap for a week in the Fjords. It wouldn't set the alarm bells ringing for me and I've sailed on RC many times. All depends on cabin type, special offers 3/4th passenger discount etc
There are bargains out there sometimes - even on Royal Caribbean.

Some email addresses i used when I had a problem

[email protected]
[email protected]

I also emailed the CEO Michael Bayley

My problem was sorted very quickly after that

You paid at the price stated at time of booking. RC have to honour that price surely as its their mistake

Screenshot that - that suggests this is a deliberate policy to scam people into making uncancellable plans and then fleecing them for more money.

Also I paid £2700 for 3 people with 2 rooms in October 2021 so I would of queried that price or thought it was cheap

@MrsBennetsPoorNerves Really? £2700 for 4 people/7 days clearly isn't the most expensive cruise ever, but it also isn't so cheap that it's obviously too good to be true.

It is less than 100 per day per person. That does seem unrealistic. What kind of holiday other than camping is that cheap?

wouldnt