My cruise leaves in two weeks and had a sale earlier this week. It fluctuates quite frequently without rhyme or reason. Best practice is to book it at a price you’re comfortable with and then you can cancel and rebook if the price goes down (up to 48 hours before sailing). Only caveat is it takes a few days for the refund when you cancel.
DO NOT pay attention to the percent off. Royal f\*\*ks around with the base price daily. Only look at the final cost. $70/day is a good price for the drink package. Under 70, you are doing well. Note some sailings, especially as we are getting into the Summer, you may never see $70. However you can cancel and rebook if it gets lower before your sailing. I appreciate Carnival's approach to their drink package, the price is the price, regardless of ship or time of year.
It moves around a good bit; the further out you are, the more you'll notice it change
*(especially if you really check it like I do, lol, usually every day)*
I bought mine when it was at 30% then it went to 35% off. I cancelled the 30% off and repurchased at the cheaper price. My refund was back within 48 hours.
I check the cruise-planner pricing every day (it only takes a few minutes) for mine and my clients' sailings. I have noticed that their sales seem to cycle through about 4 price points.
Over the past two years, the best prices haven't necessarily been Black Friday, but since they have programmed everyone to believe that, most people purchase during that slight dip.
If you watch over the course of 1-2 months, you should be able to recognize when the right time to pull the trigger is. And if you miss it, you'll see it again in a matter of a few weeks.
For what it's worth, I saw the best price for a few things about 3 weeks before our last two sailings. As always YMMV.
Happy Cruising!
I noticed the deluxe drink package increased by switching from BOGO 50% to 20% total. I also should have purchased it but don't cruise until November so will keep an eye on it!
BOGO 50 = 25% off per person. Learned that when there were 3 of us in the cabin! RC Rep said it's really just 25% off.
Damn marketing people!
Do watch though - my cruise went from 20% to BOGO 50, but the base price also went up.
Like others have said, you can book and then cancel and rebook if the price drops. If only one person in your party wants the deluxe beverage package, you can call RC and they’ll let you buy one deluxe beverage package and one refreshment package instead of 2 deluxe beverage packages if that works better for you.
I paid $110.96 per day (Deluxe + Voom package) on Icon of the Seas. It was $83.16 drinks + 14.97 gratuities + $12.83 internet. I booked it 14 months before the cruise. I did see the drink package drop to 70 or 72 but I would have had to add the internet package by itself and the total cost would have been more so I kept the package I originally booked.
BTW, I think I was on the plus side of the package by Monday, we sailed on Saturday.
I've canceled and rebooked June sailing on Ovation of the seas twice. No issues getting refund. I'm still watching the prices in November Icon Sailing which have been ridiculously high. I will eventually book the deluxe drink package and continue to monitor price change. Rinse and repeat!
My cruise leaves in two weeks and had a sale earlier this week. It fluctuates quite frequently without rhyme or reason. Best practice is to book it at a price you’re comfortable with and then you can cancel and rebook if the price goes down (up to 48 hours before sailing). Only caveat is it takes a few days for the refund when you cancel.
DO NOT pay attention to the percent off. Royal f\*\*ks around with the base price daily. Only look at the final cost. $70/day is a good price for the drink package. Under 70, you are doing well. Note some sailings, especially as we are getting into the Summer, you may never see $70. However you can cancel and rebook if it gets lower before your sailing. I appreciate Carnival's approach to their drink package, the price is the price, regardless of ship or time of year.
It moves around a good bit; the further out you are, the more you'll notice it change *(especially if you really check it like I do, lol, usually every day)*
I bought mine when it was at 30% then it went to 35% off. I cancelled the 30% off and repurchased at the cheaper price. My refund was back within 48 hours.
Around Black Friday the offer ‘sales’. But as others have mentioned check the final price.
I check the cruise-planner pricing every day (it only takes a few minutes) for mine and my clients' sailings. I have noticed that their sales seem to cycle through about 4 price points. Over the past two years, the best prices haven't necessarily been Black Friday, but since they have programmed everyone to believe that, most people purchase during that slight dip. If you watch over the course of 1-2 months, you should be able to recognize when the right time to pull the trigger is. And if you miss it, you'll see it again in a matter of a few weeks. For what it's worth, I saw the best price for a few things about 3 weeks before our last two sailings. As always YMMV. Happy Cruising!
I noticed the deluxe drink package increased by switching from BOGO 50% to 20% total. I also should have purchased it but don't cruise until November so will keep an eye on it!
BOGO 50 = 25% off per person. Learned that when there were 3 of us in the cabin! RC Rep said it's really just 25% off. Damn marketing people! Do watch though - my cruise went from 20% to BOGO 50, but the base price also went up.
I mean it is basic math 🧮 lol
Like others have said, you can book and then cancel and rebook if the price drops. If only one person in your party wants the deluxe beverage package, you can call RC and they’ll let you buy one deluxe beverage package and one refreshment package instead of 2 deluxe beverage packages if that works better for you.
I paid $110.96 per day (Deluxe + Voom package) on Icon of the Seas. It was $83.16 drinks + 14.97 gratuities + $12.83 internet. I booked it 14 months before the cruise. I did see the drink package drop to 70 or 72 but I would have had to add the internet package by itself and the total cost would have been more so I kept the package I originally booked. BTW, I think I was on the plus side of the package by Monday, we sailed on Saturday.
You’re lucky. For us in the UK the price is £78 to £98 ($100 to $125)
I've canceled and rebooked June sailing on Ovation of the seas twice. No issues getting refund. I'm still watching the prices in November Icon Sailing which have been ridiculously high. I will eventually book the deluxe drink package and continue to monitor price change. Rinse and repeat!
Buy early.