Q. IN May 2024 my wife and I booked a 14 night Cunard cruise to the Canary Islands, departing in November 2025.
We paid a deposit of £1,155 and the cost of the cruise was £7,698.
But in September 2024 we noticed that Cunard was advertising the same cruise for £1,130 less than we paid.
I got in touch with them and asked it to reduce our fare, since we had paid such a large deposit early, but it refused.
We decided to push back our departure until November 2026 for the same ship, in the same cabin and at the same price as the original booking.
But not long afterwards Cunard again advertised the cruise for £1,440 less.
I asked again to reduce our fare but it refused.
We decided to cancel the cruise as we were disappointed with the way that we have been treated.
But Cunard will not refund our £1,155 deposit.
We can’t afford to lose this sum. Can you help?
James Stewart, via email.
You thought you’d save money by booking a cruise in advance but after Cunard’s treatment you felt left at sea.
No one likes to feel they’ve overpaid, so I can understand why you asked Cunard to reduce your fare.
Most cruises have a price adjustment policy, which gives you perks or a refund if the cost of the cruise falls after you’ve paid for it.
Many companies will offer you cruise credit, complimentary upgrades or a refund for the difference.
But these policies vary between firms and the amount of time you have to claim depends on the cruise company.
Sadly Cunard doesn’t have a price adjustment policy.
It said its fares are based on live pricing, so they can go up or down.
Meanwhile, the fare you chose means if you cancel your cruise you will not get your deposit back, but you can move your departure to another date in certain circumstances.
I felt that Cunard was being tough on you, so I asked it to reconsider.
Cunard acknowledged that its price changes can be frustrating for customers who booked early.
It has applied £148 of onboard credit to your booking and has also agreed to let you reschedule the cruise one more time.
I’m disappointed at this outcome.
In future, I wouldn’t blame you for booking a trip with a cruise company that has a price adjustment policy.
Always read the small print when booking a holiday to avoid being caught out.
But more importantly always take screenshots and make a note of rates being charged so you can prove if the price has dropped substantially.
Ask Adele total: £232,628.
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