Possible cancellation, can I minimize the loss?

[PMcFad]

I have a strange situation here. We are booked and paid in full for a cruise next summer (2 adults, 2 -17 year olds). It's our 20th wedding anniversary, my 50th birthday, and the last opportunity we have to go on a summer vacation with our daughters before their senior year (they have plans for the summer before college). We were lucky enough to get the exact room we wanted, and have been planning this for over a year, so it's a pretty big deal.

We just found out that one of our daughters was nominated for a scholars program in our state that begins the day after the cruise starts. The program is a 5 week course, that includes all fees + room & board. You need to be nominated to apply, and out of approx 400 applications only 40 people actually get accepted state wide. It's an honor to be nominated and a great opportunity, so we fully support her going for it. The trouble is the acceptance/rejection letters are scheduled to come out 2 weeks after the last day we can cancel and get 100% of our money back for the cruise.

If she gets in, we will cancel. It's really been planned as a family trip and we just would not be comfortable going without her. But as much as I want to be the proud parent and support her, I know the odds. Cancelling at that time would mean we would lose our deposit, and get the rest back. This is where I'm trying to get creative. If I cancel 3 people off the reservation now, I hold the room and get a big chunk of the money back. Then if she gets in and I need to cancel the whole cruise, I would lose the deposit for a single person. If she doesn't get in, could I add them back to the reservation at that time?

Bad idea? Does the amount per person jump up by adding them back into the room late? Not sure what to do, looking for any advice!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

If she doesn't get in, could I add them back to the reservation at that time?

You may be able to add them back into the reservation.

When adding people to a reservation DCL looks at 3 things:
1) is there space in the room? (Can't put 4 people in a 3 person room, for example).
2) is there space in the lifeboat for that room? (There are more beds than lifeboat seats for any given lifeboat. If all the other rooms for that lifeboat are full, then you can't add a person to your room, even if there is a bed for them).
3) is there space in the appropriate kid's program? (if applicable. DCL has maximum numbers in those spaces and if any of the new cruisers are of the age to be in a club that's already reached capacity, you can't add them).

Also, if you add a person at a later date, you pay the going rate for that person at that time (not the price they were when you booked them originally).

While it's possible you won't get the same room, can you look at moving up the reservation to an earlier cruise?

 

[Rob1872]

If I cancel 3 people off the reservation now, I hold the room and get a big chunk of the money back. Then if she gets in and I need to cancel the whole cruise, I would lose the deposit for a single person.

Just remember the cost for a single person is the same as cost for two people minus the relatively minor cost of the 2nd set of port fees.

You've paid the full amount, but you aren't really at the PIF date. I don't know how much it would cost to put two people back on the room at the 11th hour versus the original fare (assuming as PP mentioned that there is even space in that block of room's lifeboat). However, have you looked into purchasing a trip insurance policy that would reimburse you if your daughter gets selected for the scholastic program? It would probably be a more expensive, "any reason" type policy, but it might be better to pay the additional cost up front rather than risk a) not being able to add the other two names back on the reservation if you can go, b) being able to add the other two passengers but having a massive increase in their fare, or c) risking keeping the full reservation and paying the cancellation fees if you hit the 1 in 10 selection.

At the very least, I'd compare the premium for travel insurance that would cover this event versus the cancellation fee for all 4 of you.

 

[KantLose]

Have you looked into a cancel for any reason trip insurance policy? Thinking this would be the least stressful situation for you as you will have the trip if she doesn’t get into the program, but can cancel if she does.

 

[Intr3pid]

First of all, look at the timing and itinerary. If the cruise is expected to fill up well, the price will only go up. In the summer, Europe and Alaska are more popular, but their higher fares, relatively longer itineraries, and pricier flights mean that most people won't plan on doing them at the last minute. On specific sailings, you might get a really good discount if booking inside the PIF dates.

Next, there is no need to cancel immediately. Keep the room until just before the PIF date and cancel at the last minute if needed. Although there is no guarantee, there is less of a chance of the capacity constraints locking the four of you out in just two weeks (after the PIF date).

I would also support my kids for such a program. How about booking the cruise to sail two weeks later as her reward?

 

[FigmentSpark]

Have you thought of changing your booking to 5 weeks out from that so whether she get in or not, your trip isn't overlapping?

 

[DCLDVC1]

First of all, look at the timing and itinerary. If the cruise is expected to fill up well, the price will only go up. In the summer, Europe and Alaska are more popular, but their higher fares, relatively longer itineraries, and pricier flights mean that most people won't plan on doing them at the last minute. On specific sailings, you might get a really good discount if booking inside the PIF dates.

Next, there is no need to cancel immediately. Keep the room until just before the PIF date and cancel at the last minute if needed. Although there is no guarantee, there is less of a chance of the capacity constraints locking the four of you out in just two weeks (after the PIF date).

I would also support my kids for such a program. How about booking the cruise to sail two weeks later as her reward?

That's what I would do.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

So, if she gets the opportunity to go to the 5-week scholar's course (which I sincerely hope she does, what a great opportunity to jump-start her next step in the education world) the remaining 3 in the family will just sit at home? Things in life are always changing. Seize the opportunity and just go.