"Iffy" cruise - book now or wait until after PIF?

[squirk]

I am looking at a 4-day Bahamian on the Dream next March. The trip is not a "lock"; we have some pending things going on that may pre-empt the cruise. Said things will probably not resolve until January.

The PIF for this cruise would be December 2nd, and we will not know by then if we will be able to sail. At this late stage in the game, I'm not sure I am really going to save much money booking now vs. booking in January after the PIF.

There still appear to be a number of staterooms on the sailing, and I would imagine that more might open once people cancel before final payment is due. Side note - I also have one of the NOLA cruises booked for Feb. 2020.

So I am wondering what my play is here. If I book this "iffy' cruise now, meet my PIF for it, and then find out later that I can't sail, can I take all that $$$ and apply it to my 2020 cruise without penalty? Or is that $$$ completely 100% forfeit?

Or do I just wait until January, and if we are able to sail, just pay the full fare upfront at that time? Again, am I probably correct in assuming that booking now vs. booking in January is not going to carry a dramatic change in price? Financially, paying upfront would not be a problem.

I need two connecting cabins, though. Assuming there's connecting-room availability, can you still pick your rooms if you book after PIF? Or is everything GTY at that point, and everyone's just takes their chances?

Thanks!

 

[FigmentSpark]

I'd wait until I knew I could go for sure. You might get a deal after PIF on a room if it's not selling well. If it was one of those that was sure to full up and the price would go up between now and then, that would be a different story.

 

[Shanti]

I am looking at a 4-day Bahamian on the Dream next March. The trip is not a "lock"; we have some pending things going on that may pre-empt the cruise. Said things will probably not resolve until January.

The PIF for this cruise would be December 2nd, and we will not know by then if we will be able to sail. At this late stage in the game, I'm not sure I am really going to save much money booking now vs. booking in January after the PIF.

There still appear to be a number of staterooms on the sailing, and I would imagine that more might open once people cancel before final payment is due. Side note - I also have one of the NOLA cruises booked for Feb. 2020.

So I am wondering what my play is here. If I book this "iffy' cruise now, meet my PIF for it, and then find out later that I can't sail, can I take all that $$$ and apply it to my 2020 cruise without penalty? Or is that $$$ completely 100% forfeit?

Or do I just wait until January, and if we are able to sail, just pay the full fare upfront at that time? Again, am I probably correct in assuming that booking now vs. booking in January is not going to carry a dramatic change in price? Financially, paying upfront would not be a problem.

I need two connecting cabins, though. Assuming there's connecting-room availability, can you still pick your rooms if you book after PIF? Or is everything GTY at that point, and everyone's just takes their chances?

Thanks!

If you won't know for sure until after PIF, then you probably shouldn't book until after PIF unless you can stomach losing at least your deposit.

Or I suppose you could book now & get cancel for any reason insurance. But even that is unlikely to get you 100% of your money back. Usually it's about 3/4 of your money back.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

I am of the feeling that you should book now since you want connecting rooms. If that particular sailing is not selling well, they will discount it for CMs and TAs and others and it will fill up. Once that happens, yoh may not be able to book confirmed connecting rooms.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[squirk]

Thanks, all. But am I right when I say that once you hit your PIF, and you’ve paid for the whole cruise, you can’t rebook and apply that money toward a later cruise?

So, like in my case, suppose I book now, pay in full on my PIF, but find in January that I can’t go. I am not looking for a return of my money. Could I cancel the cruise and apply the whole balance toward my 2020 NOLA cruise?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks, all. But am I right when I say that once you hit your PIF, and you’ve paid for the whole cruise, you can’t rebook and apply that money toward a later cruise?

Maybe. The key is to say "I want to CHANGE my reservation." Do not use the work cancel, if you need to rebook.

 

[cruiser21]

Thanks, all. But am I right when I say that once you hit your PIF, and you’ve paid for the whole cruise, you can’t rebook and apply that money toward a later cruise?

So, like in my case, suppose I book now, pay in full on my PIF, but find in January that I can’t go. I am not looking for a return of my money. Could I cancel the cruise and apply the whole balance toward my 2020 NOLA cruise?

You could apply the balance minus your deposit.

 

[squirk]

Maybe. The key is to say "I want to CHANGE my reservation." Do not use the work cancel, if you need to rebook.

Well, in my case, it would have to be a "cancel", I guess? I already have the NOLA booked, locked in at opening day prices, so I don't want to cancel that res.

You could apply the balance minus your deposit.

Yeah, I didn't think I could get off scot-free on this one. I just I will just wait until my calendar firms up in Jan., and book at that time.