Booked cruise, but didn't do ES

[Oshkosh]

my travel agent convinced me not to do Early Saver due to the non refundable deposit. but my cruise is more than 6 months away. the difference in price wasnt much but now after reading the board I realize if there are price drops I am out of luck. I booked past passenger rate but not Early Saver with the non refundable deposit. can I switch? or am I elibible for price drops? the big queston: we booked a suite do they drop often? I noticed balcony and others drop often but not the suites as much

 

thank you for your time:o

[salty dingo]

I'm with you. I don't know why anyone in their right mind would put up with a non-refundable booking.

 

You can get the exact same fare-reduction policy without booking ES. Most reputable TAs will accept fare reduction requests. If your does not, find a new one.

 

P.S. as we come out of the recession, fares are going to trend upward over time. There will be fewer fare reductions than we have seen lately. I'm not going to make any ES bookings!

[dadroy]

I booked 4 couples under ES for the Spirit in January. One couple in a 9A, one in an 8c and two in 4A. Since we booked in May, the 8C has dropped $300 and the 4A $60. So so far they are ahead of the game. One of the 4A's canceled and lost $100, but the rest of their deposit is good for any cruise in the next 12 months. All in all, I think the group of us turned out well. The 9A's are sold out, so probably no price reduction until after final payment.

 

We are all in a position where canceling or rescheduling is not a problem so would probably do ES again.

[salty dingo]

We have cancelled one cruise over the years - we had a Med cruise booked on Freedom and then DW lost her job and we thought it would be wise to cancel.

 

It's rare to have to cancel but it does happen. I would not let the possiblity of cancelling be a big concern but it is a tiny concern at the end of the day.

 

On our 2010 cruise, we made a "regular" booking. No group cruise, no special anything. It was on NCL Pride of America in Hawaii. The TA told us they do not monitor prices, but if we did, and saw a lower rate, just call and they would secure that rate for us.

 

We have done that twice so far and the fare has gone down over $1,200 for an inside cabin in August.

 

So, my advice would be to talk to the TA and see if there is any advantage to booking ES that outweighs the small chance you may need to cancel.

[chasinraynbowz]

We booked our last one using ES and would do it again in a heartbeat. We have to plan our vacations months ahead of time (due to work) and have not had to cancel any vacation (land or cruise) yet. If I have to cancel for any reason, then I will lose the $100 (and if its work related, then they would pay so I wouldn't be out anything).

 

To the Op - On our last Fantasy cruise, we had an OV cabin. We orig booked a 6A, upgraded to a 6B and then got OBC for another price drop. I noticed that from the time we booked till the time we sailed, the suites dropped in price by over $300pp because there were still so many available a month before the cruise. I suspect had the suites sold better, the price would not have dropped as much.

 

Its really up to you. If you can afford to lose the $100 in case you have to cancel, then do it. And from reading these boards, Carnival is not offering any fare reductions unless you book ES.

[salty dingo]

One more thing... I don't like getting OBC for a price drop.

 

With our Hawaii booking the $1,200 fare reduction is simply that much less we will pay at final payment. I would not be able to handle that much OBC! Sure they give you the balance when you leave but why tie up that money for so long?

 

One thing ES has over regular bookings is fare reductions after final payment. A regular booking probably will not have much luck in that case.

 

Still, if you are like me and belive fares will increase, and not continue to decrease in the future, an ES booking is unnecessary restriction.

[chasinraynbowz]

One more thing... I don't like getting OBC for a price drop.

 

With our Hawaii booking the $1,200 fare reduction is simply that much less we will pay at final payment. I would not be able to handle that much OBC! Sure they give you the balance when you leave but why tie up that money for so long?

 

One thing ES has over regular bookings is fare reductions after final payment. A regular booking probably will not have much luck in that case.

 

Still, if you are like me and belive fares will increase, and not continue to decrease in the future, an ES booking is unnecessary restriction.

 

 

Yeah, one of our reductions was before we paid in full, so it brought down the amount owed, which was nice. And as I said before, another reduction allowed us to upgrade to a midship cabin. $1200 is a LOT of OBC, ours was around $100 which was nice.

 

I wasn't aware of price reductions for regular bookings before they are paid in full. The OP might want to check that out. With ES, you can get a reduction up until 2 days before the cruise.

[yogi2929]

We just booked a six day Elation cruise for March. The ES (cat6C), Past Guest (cat 6A to 6C upgrade) and OV Guarantee rates were exactly the same. We booked it at the PG rate because there doesn't seem to be much wriggle room built into this fare.

[salty dingo]

With ES, you can get a reduction up until 2 days before the cruise.

That is indeed a valuable benefit you can't get anywhere else. However, it only works if they have to cut prices due to low demand.

 

In the near term, it may work well, but not so sure next year and further out. If the economy rebounds and more people have money to cruise, prices will rise.

[thinfool]

can I switch? or am I elibible for price drops? the big queston: we booked a suite do they drop often? I noticed balcony and others drop often but not the suites as much

 

thank you for your time:o

 

Yes, you can switch if you do it promptly. The ES rates go away when the cruise is less than 5 months away.

 

Basically you have to cancel your current booking and rebook.

 

Price drops are unpredictable, but I don't think that Carnival will give you the difference if you are not booked under ES. Your TA should be able to give you guidance on this.

 

Remember, a price drop lowers his/her commission on your sailing. Could this be a motive for steering you to a non-ES rate?

 

Travel insurance may protect you in case you have to cancel and therefore lose the $50. pp it costs.

 

Remember, a TA is your employee....if he/she isn't doing what you ask, get a new one.

[CanWeGoYet?]

I have a question along these lines - booked a penthouse suite for a short cruise and final payment is due in a couple days. I have learned that most of these suites are sitting empty at this point. The fare was cut $30 per person last week, but no further price drops. I am certain there will be larger price drops after final payment is due, and we would not be eligible for to get these drops since we booked too late for early saver.

 

Would it make sense to cancel and then re-book when prices for the cat 12s dropped? Out of 28, 24 are still available. I don't know how my PVP will respond to me canceling to try to get a lower fare, my hope would be he would give us a heads up if the suites started to book up. But I have never done this before so am looking for advice.

[FloridaGators]

I just wanted to say that with ES you do not lose your whole deposit. You lose $50 and the balance is applied to another cruise. So you are not loosing the whole deposit.

[mr jailerman]

I have a question along these lines - booked a penthouse suite for a short cruise and final payment is due in a couple days. I have learned that most of these suites are sitting empty at this point. The fare was cut $30 per person last week, but no further price drops. I am certain there will be larger price drops after final payment is due, and we would not be eligible for to get these drops since we booked too late for early saver.

 

Would it make sense to cancel and then re-book when prices for the cat 12s dropped? Out of 28, 24 are still available. I don't know how my PVP will respond to me canceling to try to get a lower fare, my hope would be he would give us a heads up if the suites started to book up. But I have never done this before so am looking for advice.

If Carnival will still let you switch to ES, I would jump on it ! I also had a Penthouse on that Same ship this past June (U-74) They are Great ! You will not regret it !:)

[thinfool]

I just wanted to say that with ES you do not lose your whole deposit. You lose $50 and the balance is applied to another cruise....

 

....within 12 months.

[big_duck]

I don't understand the big bugaboo about cancelling.

 

If you take out travel insurance and you have to cancel for an insurable reason (most policies cover job loss), you get your money back.

 

If you don't have insurance or an insurable reason, then you lose $50 a person (unless you can never cruise again).

 

The two of us are booked on the Miracle ES and if I had to cancel I'm out a hundred bucks, or 1 bad night at the casino.

[green eyed lady]

I booked early saver because the ES rates were considerably lower than any other rate for my New Year's Pride sailing. For 5 people, I saved several hundred $$ over the regular price. About a week after I booked the ES 3rd person rate dropped by $70...I got the adjustment within a few days. Since then, the rates have skyrocketed! :eek: To me it was well worth getting the lower rate :D (now hopefully I don't have to cancel...lol) ;)

[ballinafad]

I have a question along these lines - booked a penthouse suite for a short cruise and final payment is due in a couple days. I have learned that most of these suites are sitting empty at this point. The fare was cut $30 per person last week, but no further price drops. I am certain there will be larger price drops after final payment is due, and we would not be eligible for to get these drops since we booked too late for early saver.

 

Would it make sense to cancel and then re-book when prices for the cat 12s dropped? Out of 28, 24 are still available. I don't know how my PVP will respond to me canceling to try to get a lower fare, my hope would be he would give us a heads up if the suites started to book up. But I have never done this before so am looking for advice.

 

I did the same thing just a couple of weeks ago. I had booked 2 oceanviews for early Dec. I was watching the trends and felt that the rates would drop after final payment. I decided to cancel and sit on it. My PVP watched the cabin availability daily and together decided when to rebook. I saved $50 per person X 4 people by rebooking a week later. I needed connecting cabins so my choices were limited. If you have that many suites open, it might be wise to cancel and rebook but realize you are taking a risk, though I think it would be minimal given the number of open suites. Let us know what you decide.

[loveJake]

I had booked before the there were ES rates. A few weeks after I booked there was a price reduction and I saved $160. The the ES rates came out and I could save $380, I jumped on it because even if I had to rebook at $250 for 5 people I was still ahead. Then the fuel charge went away, and there was 1 more price drop, so in all I have a drop from original price of around $800. I will go with the ES rates as long as the difference is more then the re-booking fee.

[lnm6170]

we booked ES and and saved from the start .. yes we were told that if we canceld the cruise we would loose 50 pp and would have to book another cruise with in 12 monts but only book it didnt mean that it had we had to sailing out in 12 monts ..

if we wouldnt have booked ES we would have lost out on 100 pp price drop . so yes i would do ES

[CanWeGoYet?]

If Carnival will still let you switch to ES, I would jump on it ! I also had a Penthouse on that Same ship this past June (U-74) They are Great ! You will not regret it !:)

 

Believe me, I would have gladly booked ES for this cruise. We have since purchased airfare so are committed to the cruise. But while my friend hammered out details of arranging childcare & deciding which cruise - the ES rates disappeared. I did not know they discontinued the ES 3 months prior to sailing on the shorter cruises.

[Jsme]

I just wanted to say that with ES you do not lose your whole deposit. You lose $50 and the balance is applied to another cruise. So you are not loosing the whole deposit.

 

 

This is correct but remember you lose $50 pp per deposit.

[firefly333]

Believe me, I would have gladly booked ES for this cruise. We have since purchased airfare so are committed to the cruise. But while my friend hammered out details of arranging childcare & deciding which cruise - the ES rates disappeared. I did not know they discontinued the ES 3 months prior to sailing on the shorter cruises.

 

or sometimes 89 days before. I could have moved up to a different category, but didnt move fast enough and poof.

 

Yep they dissapear it says 5 months on 7 day cruises and 3 months on the shorter cruises.

[firefly333]

I just wanted to say that with ES you do not lose your whole deposit. You lose $50 and the balance is applied to another cruise. So you are not loosing the whole deposit.

 

Dont forget you only have 1 year to apply the balance or you lose the whole deposit. For some this doesnt work as they may not cruise multiple times a year. ... I know its hard to believe not eveyone cruises as much as we do.

[sea_u_onboard]

With non-ES rates you can still get price reductions up until final payment date. After that it is still possible to get upgrades but no OBC or price reductions.

[zqvol]

my travel agent convinced me not to do Early Saver due to the non refundable deposit. but my cruise is more than 6 months away. the difference in price wasnt much but now after reading the board I realize if there are price drops I am out of luck. I booked past passenger rate but not Early Saver with the non refundable deposit. can I switch? or am I elibible for price drops? the big queston: we booked a suite do they drop often? I noticed balcony and others drop often but not the suites as much

 

thank you for your time:o

 

You are not out of luck until 70 days before you sail. Your TA gave you what in my opinion, is sound advice.

 

You will find that suite prices do not drop as often as do other categories, especially if youa re sailing in high season (Dec - April).