Recently a reader posted a complaint about a cruise deal that quickly vanished –

“I was going to sail with Royal Caribbean but since I very rudely got the shaft by their sales department, I will be looking elsewhere. I called last night to check the availability of 2 cabins but needed to verify with my wife on the dates of the cruise. It was too late to call back so I called first thing in the morning. They raised the prices by over $600!!!! The same cabins are still available but 12 hours later they want to stick it to me on the price. The sales person very smugly told me “supply and demand” so too bad. I do not buy it. That is no way to treat a potential customer.

I say no thank you to Royal Caribbean. I will take my business elsewhere.”

Anyone who has ever booked a cruise can empathize with the writer’s frustration and thank their lucky stars it didn’t happen to them. Nobody in the cruise industry was surprised at this comment. I know people personally who have experienced the same thing: last year friends checked the online price of a cruise and took a few hours to discuss it. When they returned, the price was higher.

The Travel Agent Side

Jean Mallory of White Travel had this response: “First and foremost – they should call a travel agent. “The traveling public often feel they receive better prices directly from the cruise line but that is just not so.” And there’s a good reason for this: ” when White Travel offers a quote, we will often put a courtesy hold on a stateroom IF the ship is filling upor if the cabin is exceptional and would be hard to match – just in case!!. The good news is that White Travel has guaranteed rates on most ships and sailings so this is not normally necessary for us.”

Willie Fernandez of CruisesOnly says “you should always ask if you can have a courtesy hold or a 24hr option. Most cruise lines will offer the client 24hrs to hold a cabin with no obligation. This hold unlike an airline seat will actually lock in the rate for you and give you time to discuss with those traveling with you. I’ve always encouraged my clients to hold a cabin with no obligation, especially if there was less than a handful of cabins left.”

The Bottom Line

If you’re going to play the bargain game in the cruise industry, you better understand the rules. It really is about supply and demand.

** When a cruise line or travel agent tells you there’s only one cabin left so you shouldn’t wait, believe them. This isn’t QVC and it’s not gimmick to get you to pounce quickly on a deal.

** Ask for a non-binding hold on a cabin while you consult with family or friends.

** Jean Mallory points out that it’s not a good idea to wait until the last minute because all too frequently, the bargains are gone. Bookings have increased significantly in the last few months causing prices to increase … not a great deal, but they’ll be higher than last year.

** Use a travel agent to find the best fares.

** When you encounter a great deal, be prepared to pounce quickly