I seem to recall when I booked the SSS (Song Swan Song), Ngaire tipped me off that I should put a down payment while on board on a next-cruise-to-be-named-later to receive a discount on that next cruise. I didn't do it, thinking I'd not be cruising again after the farewell of the Song, but--hah!--I'm on Navigator next week. Can anyone remind of what this policy is, and what are its limitations?

Also, RSSC seems to be advertising a lot of 2-for-1 specials. For solo cruisers, does this mean no single supplement, since the justification for the SS is that they could be filling that cabin with two full-priced passengers? In a 2-fer special, they wouldn't have those 2 customers.

First just change your thinking from 2 for 1 to 50% off. That is what it is and the singles get the same 50% off the standard fare and then pay the applicable single supplement. Same value for double occupancy or singles.

Onboard booking has just become complicated. $200 per person now.

If you do an "open" booking (which means you say just take my $200 and I will decide later) it is non refundable and you must book a trip within six months or lose your deposit. Even when you book a trip within the six months if you cancel that trip you still lose the $200. You can transfer that $200 to another sailing but if you dont sail eventually you LOSE that $200 pp

If you do a "real" booking selecting a ship and a date then the $200 p.p. is actually refundable. If you cancel that cruise down the line you get a refund of the $200 p.p. You can also transfer it to another sailing.

Yes, I know it is not the most easily understood policy but that is the way it is right now.

Thanks, Ngaire. It seems to me that advertising 50% off would sound more attractive, but maybe that's just my solo traveler mindset, as I see 2-for-1 and figure there's no bargain there for me. The onboard booking policy sounds like it was borrowed from airline pricing policies. That, of course, is not a compliment. But it does sound like you get all the benefits of an open booking by booking a specific cruise and just changing your mind later.

Just to clarify -

If I want to make an open booking for a future cruise, is it better to book a specific cruise (that I know I probably won't be taking) instead of making an open booking - that way I can get the deposit back in the future if I need to cancel?


Thanks!!!
Bill

Yes, exactly. Kind of silly isnt it everyone will figure that out and they will all make bookings with no intention of taking that particular cruise. Those are the rules.

One more clarification - single supplement is based on full brochure fare (usually 25%). Can be quite steep depending on the length of the cruise, but that's the way it is. Love those $99 single supps!