Royal Caribbean Cruise Brands Amend Price Protection Program

The three brands of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. -- Azamara Club Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International -- have created a new “Best Price Guarantee” program to replace the former price protection plan. With the new guarantee, agents and clients who find a lower cruise fare advertised by the brands within 48 hours of booking the same cruise will get an onboard credit in the amount of 110 percent of the difference between the two fares.

To get the credit, agents or clients need to complete a form online within 48 hours of booking the cruise. If the information submitted meets the criteria, the cruise lines will automatically add the onboard credit to the client’s reservation. For example, if a cruise was booked at $1,299 and then the guest found a fare of $1,199 within 48 hours, they could apply for a $110 shipboard credit.

The program is good within the penalty periods only -- 60 to 90 days before sailing. For cruises outside of penalty, travel agents or guests may cancel and rebook at the lower rate if qualifications of the new fare are met. Lower rates must be fares available to the general public that are publicly advertised by Azamara, Celebrity or Royal Caribbean International. Under the former price protection policy, guests who found a lower fare up to 72 hours prior to departure received an upgrade, if available, or an onboard credit for 100 percent of the price difference.

The new program went into effect May 17, and the companies alerted travel agents to the change in a letter. A company spokeswoman said the change was made after listening to travel agents and studying competitors’ policies. “We always look and evaluate our policies and what our competitors are offering,” she said. “We listened to what our travel agent partners were telling us and, although not widespread, some said they were losing commission on some of people who would book and rebook.”