Royal Caribbean cruise - misleading "offer"

[Deleted User]

I'll insert the "if the prices had gone up the next day would you have offered to pay more, as it's unfair you got a better deal".

simonlangford

camelot1971 - I presume that's a tongue-in-cheek remark? I fully expected that the prices would have gone up the next day because the offer was described as being "too good to miss" and there was a prominent countdown banner on the website enticing me to book before the deals expired. As it turns out, when the deals expired they were replaced by better deals. So to describe the initial deals as "too good to miss" was misleading and was a deception.

reason2 - I can indeed cancel and rebook, that may be the best route, but I'm still £600 out of pocket due to the deception.

Geodark

You have to ask yourself, were you happy with the price you paid at the time - that is all that is relevant.

DoaM

Which legal entity have you contracted with? Are they based in the UK?

(Something's in my mind about these "countdown timers" on websites being a breach of advertising rules or similar, but I can't remember the exact details. Of course that only applies to UK companies - hence the question above).

PS - have you tried contacting them to see if they'll transfer you to the better deal? You could always say that this incident has left a sour taste and you're minded to cancel and book with a competitor. Carries more weight if you're a previous customer with CC.

simonlangford

DoaM - I contracted with a UK-based travel agent. They have tried to reason with RC on my behalf but without success. The countdown timer was on royalcaribbean dot co dot uk. The phrase "too good to miss" was on "Royal Caribbean UK Travel Agents" facebook page. I have also spoken direct with RC myself but they will not help. They have admitted they are able to waive the cancellation fees but said they won't do it in my case.

Geodark - yes, I suppose I was happy at the time, but now I realise I have been deceived and am wondering whether I have any recourse.

Aylesbury_Duck

simonlangford wrote: »

I can indeed cancel and rebook, that may be the best route, but I'm still £600 out of pocket due to the deception.

But you're not out of pocket at all. You're still "up" on the normal pricing and if you did this, you'd be even better off! Are you seriously debating the chance to save a real £1200 because in your view you'd be a virtual £600 worse off? That's madness. The latest offer simply isn't available to you as a completely new customer (without cancelling and re-booking), so it's pointless comparing your deal to it.

I get that it's a psychological reality that you feel deceived but I think Geodark's question is the appropriate one: Were you happy with the price you paid at the time? You were because you booked it, happy that you'd got a "deal".

You can go on beating yourself up over what might have been with any transaction. What will you do if the company allow you to cancel and re-book at the new rate, then a week later they offer yet another promotion at an even lower rate?

Seriously, enjoy your holiday. That's what you're paying for. With your approach to it, you'll spend every evening meal seething that the glass of wine you're drinking was more expensive than the same wine being drunk by the table next to you.

Exile_geordie

simonlangford wrote: »

reason2 - I can indeed cancel and rebook, that may be the best route, but I'm still £600 out of pocket due to the deception.

No Deception - you were happy with the price you paid so you paid it.

And you really will be $1200 up if you cancel and re-book think of it that way or go on the cruise with a mighty big chip on your shoulder wondering how many people had the free drinks deal - they will be the ones more drunk than you

Rainbowgirl84

Don't check prices a couple of days before you go either as the chances are they'll be even cheaper deals as they try to sell off any free space.

simonlangford

Thanks, I am coming to terms with the fact that I just missed out on something. I suppose it's natural to feel the way I do but your comments have helped me to accept it. I'll have to look at it as I have a chance to spend an additional £600 to get the $1800 of drinks packages (although it irks to think that I would have got them thrown into the deal had I booked less than 24 hours later, when he "too good to miss" deal had finished).

I still think it's bordering on malpractice to claim something as being "too good to miss" when it clearly isn't but I'll try not to let it spoil my holiday.

Aylesbury_Duck

Good for you. Enjoy your holiday!