Royal Caribbean’s Best Price Guarantee

When I read yesterday's release (detailed below) regarding Royal Caribbean's Best Price Guarantee, I thought it sounded familiar. Not much has actually changed about the fare guarantee, but Royal Caribbean wants to be sure travelers know about it, as well as other advantages of booking their preferred cruise early.

Vacationers can enjoy the benefits of booking early and the peace of mind of receiving the best advertised prices with Royal Caribbean Intl’s Best Price Guarantee program. By booking early, vacationers have access to a much wider selection of staterooms and availability on their desired departure date. If the guest then finds a lower fare advertised by Royal Caribbean for the same ship, sail-date and stateroom category, they can receive the difference in price as an onboard credit to spend on cocktails, spa services, specialty dining, and other shipboard purchases. Any dollars not spent will be refunded at the conclusion of the cruise.

“Best Price Guarantee gives guests peace of mind, allowing them to plan ahead, book early and get the staterooms and excursions that they want with no worries that a better deal will come along after they’ve committed,” said Betsy O’Rourke, senior vice president of Marketing, Royal Caribbean Intl. “We want our guests to know that they received a good deal from us, which helps them enjoy their vacation with us even more.”

Guests can take advantage of Royal Caribbean’s Best Price Guarantee immediately from the time of booking to up to 72 hours prior to sailing. When guests booked with Royal Caribbean find a subsequent qualifying lower price advertised by the cruise line after they’ve booked, they simply contact Royal Caribbean or their travel agent, who will make the request to the cruise line. The difference in pricing will be provided in the form of an onboard credit. For reservations outside of the final payment period, onboard credit may be replaced, upon request, with a reduction to guests’ outstanding balance or a refund, as applicable.

A limited number of pricing programs are excluded from the Best Price Guarantee program and it does not apply to group bookings. Other terms and conditions may apply (to see them all, visit www.RoyalCaribbean.com/BestPriceGuarantee). For instance, price protection will be available for most fare types with the exception of Royal Sales Event and Exciting Deals; Travel Agent, Interline or Industry Reduced Rates; Employee rate programs; and a select number of price programs and promotions for new bookings only, as specified in the price program detail.

Highlights of the program are:
• No forms to fill out
• Book any time and know you are protected up until 72 hours prior to departure
• Outside of final payment: Upgrade options, Onboard Credit, or price reduction (refund if applicable)
• Inside final payment: Upgrade options or Onboard Credit