Annoyed at price drops

[cyntil8ing]

Well, I'm not annoyed for the folks on my cruise that booked early saver; I'm genuinely happy for them. Speaking of folks on my cruise, our roll call is dead! Combined with the price drops, I'm half convinced we're going to be on an empty ship.

 

Now as much as I hate to admit it, I bought into the "Prices are going to go up" countdown crap and booked our summer family cruise at past guest rates before the "big price increase" 3/22. Our past purchase procedure, because we don't decide early enough to get early saver, is to watch the available rooms carefully and purchase the lowest acceptable category. It has worked very well for us. I knew that it was too early and that there were too many cabins left, but wasn't comfortable enough about what that increase was going to be.

 

Since then, they've gone down a couple of times and we upgraded our cabin. We are now in a Spa balcony and have nowhere left to go. This morning, prices dropped another $80.

 

I'm really annoyed that I gambled and lost. Just wanted to vent.

[shof515]

try and book early saver, it will help you...

[cyntil8ing]

try and book early saver, it will help you...

 

Yeah, work and school issues make that difficult, as well as it being a bit of a personality issue. DH and I are both definitely the wait-and-see type of people so being pressured into an early commitment is tough. We dated for over six years before deciding to get engaged! :rolleyes:

[firefly333]

I would be annoyed too, at a $80 price drop that I couldnt get. :( ... and nowhere to move up.

 

I had similar before and moved up to a 6D with a aft view, couldnt get price drops thru that TA, they have a no refunds policy .... paid once to upgrade to a OV. Darned if Carnival didnt downgrade my cabin to a 6B .. to make it worse, the cabin was smaller than a regular OV, had problems, closet, one door didnt open, tv wasnt where others had it, because of the thinner cabin (only affects the middle two across the aft of Triumph ... at least on that ship, they were smaller), plus it didnt have a regular window, we had a slanted down window with a shelf.

 

Live and learn. Goes on the list of cabins to not book.

[LuvCruising01]

Well, I'm not annoyed for the folks on my cruise that booked early saver; I'm genuinely happy for them. Speaking of folks on my cruise, our roll call is dead! Combined with the price drops, I'm half convinced we're going to be on an empty ship.

 

Now as much as I hate to admit it, I bought into the "Prices are going to go up" countdown crap and booked our summer family cruise at past guest rates before the "big price increase" 3/22. Our past purchase procedure, because we don't decide early enough to get early saver, is to watch the available rooms carefully and purchase the lowest acceptable category. It has worked very well for us. I knew that it was too early and that there were too many cabins left, but wasn't comfortable enough about what that increase was going to be.

 

Since then, they've gone down a couple of times and we upgraded our cabin. We are now in a Spa balcony and have nowhere left to go. This morning, prices dropped another $80.

 

I'm really annoyed that I gambled and lost. Just wanted to vent.

 

 

Sorry for the loss of $80 to you as I know it really hurts knowing what would have been a free spa treatment or room sign and sail credit just disappeared!

 

I feel the same way when I'm shopping for my new computer.

 

I would have lost it in the Casino anyways if I were gambling still. I learned from that though and learned its better to have not bet than to have bet and lost.

 

Hope you can make it up in extra fun times and wonderful memories on your cruise (I would make it up on the soda card anyways at min of 12+ per day x 7 days)

[MargaritaPlease]

Why fret over this and let it ruin your cruise?

 

You thought you were getting fair value for you money when you booked, right? So leave it at that, ignore prices from here on out, and go on your cruise with a goal of having fun! It's all in the attitude.

[Lady_Jag]

I understand completely. If it makes you feel better, in a misery loves company sort of way, the PORT CHARGES and TAXES for my May cruise dropped by about $400, and Carnival said they will not refund or credit the amount, even WITH early saver. :eek:

 

Seems ridiculous that Carnival would profit from government taxes and fees, but it is what it is. It's very disappointing, but it won't keep me from enjoying my cruise...I'll just be more selective when booking my next one. ;)

[cyntil8ing]

Why fret over this and let it ruin your cruise?

 

Oh, it will not be ruining anything! But please give me at least a few hours before telling me to get over it. ;)

 

I went slightly over our budget to buy this cruise. Now, the original cabin is under that budget. We have a better cabin location, so it's ok in the end.

 

The lesson learned is to go with my instincts and ignore the marketing hype.

[Carriecruises]

How do you tell how many rooms are left?

[S.S.Oceanlover]

I understand completely. If it makes you feel better, in a misery loves company sort of way, the PORT CHARGES and TAXES for my May cruise dropped by about $400, and Carnival said they will not refund or credit the amount, even WITH early saver. :eek:

 

Seems ridiculous that Carnival would profit from government taxes and fees, but it is what it is. It's very disappointing, but it won't keep me from enjoying my cruise...I'll just be more selective when booking my next one. ;)

 

That's a big price drop for taxes. How many people is that for? Carnivals page list the taxes taxes and fees at $144.

 

What were they before? YIKES!

 

I thought I read on here before about the taxes going down and they wouldn't give you a price drop. But if I remember correctly I thought they were giving it as an OBC when you boarded the ship?

 

That just doesn't seem right that they can collect monies for taxes and when they go down they just keep the balance.

 

I think Ken knows about this. Maybe he'll see it and comment.

 

Bill

[firefly333]

I understand completely. If it makes you feel better, in a misery loves company sort of way, the PORT CHARGES and TAXES for my May cruise dropped by about $400, and Carnival said they will not refund or credit the amount, even WITH early saver. :eek:

 

Seems ridiculous that Carnival would profit from government taxes and fees, but it is what it is. It's very disappointing, but it won't keep me from enjoying my cruise...I'll just be more selective when booking my next one. ;)

 

thats pretty much impossible. Im guessing you are going thru a TA who lumps port charges in with taxes and fees.

 

No cruise drops by that much. Iv seen changes of around $20 pp ... but never $400... something you dont understand to state this or its a very large group.

[LuvCruising01]

thats pretty much impossible. Im guessing you are going thru a TA who lumps port charges in with taxes and fees.

 

No cruise drops by that much. Iv seen changes of around $20 pp ... but never $400... something you dont understand to state this or its a very large group.

 

maybe they were stating the 400 difference was for the cabin or cabins for their party. my oct cruise has dropped 90 per person since booking. (2 to my cabin = 200.00) plus i worked a discount with my TA to discount due to no coupon books available as promised when i made my deposit.

[mm24fan]

I totally feel your pain. I was afraid the price was going to increase so I booked a balcony guarantee. We got an 8E. Now I see it is $170 per person cheaper to get a balcony. We didn't book directly so I don't suppose there is anything I can do about it <sigh>

 

Oh well, hopefully we will have fun anyway :D

[Lady_Jag]

That's a big price drop for taxes. How many people is that for? Carnivals page list the taxes taxes and fees at $144.

 

What were they before? YIKES!

 

I thought I read on here before about the taxes going down and they wouldn't give you a price drop. But if I remember correctly I thought they were giving it as an OBC when you boarded the ship?

 

That just doesn't seem right that they can collect monies for taxes and when they go down they just keep the balance.

 

I think Ken knows about this. Maybe he'll see it and comment.

 

Bill

 

There are 3 in our cabin, and our Taxes and Port Charges line item (separate from processing fees) was $679.92. Now they're around $200 for the same sailing on the same date for the same number of people in the same category.

 

I called my TA who contacted Carnival. She said Carnival wouldn't give credit for port fees. I called Carnival directly, and the rep told me the exact same thing.

 

"Even with Early Savers?" I asked.

 

"That's correct," the rep replied, "we have no control over what the port fees and government taxes are, and if they had gone up instead of down, we wouldn't have asked you to pay more."

 

"Oh. Well I know the fuel supplement was refunded last year..." I said.

 

"That's something entirely different," said the rep.

 

So I'm pretty much SOL. :( As a last resort, I tried to get in touch with the CARE department via email and asked for clarification, but I'm not expecting much, if I even get a reply.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

maybe they were stating the 400 difference was for the cabin or cabins for their party. my oct cruise has dropped 90 per person since booking. (2 to my cabin = 200.00) plus i worked a discount with my TA to discount due to no coupon books available as promised when i made my deposit.

 

Yes yours has dropped but we are referring to the taxes/fees going down $400. Since taxes/fees are only costing $144pp right now they either had to have paid an astronical fee for taxes/fees, have quite a few booked, or as Firefly said booked with a TA that had all the NCF's combined.

 

Bill

[S.S.Oceanlover]

I totally feel your pain. I was afraid the price was going to increase so I booked a balcony guarantee. We got an 8E. Now I see it is $170 per person cheaper to get a balcony. We didn't book directly so I don't suppose there is anything I can do about it <sigh>

 

Oh well, hopefully we will have fun anyway :D

 

How you book has no bearing on the price drops. It's how you booked and if you are before or after final payment.

 

If you booked a gurantee and it's after final payment all you can do is get upgrades.

 

You have to make sure the price of the 8E is lower then what you paid for the balcony guarantee though since that is what you are assigned to now.

 

Bill

[mm24fan]

How you book has no bearing on the price drops. It's how you booked and if you are before or after final payment.

 

If you booked a gurantee and it's after final payment all you can do is get upgrades.

 

You have to make sure the price of the 8E is lower then what you paid for the balcony guarantee though since that is what you are assigned to now.

 

Bill

 

I booked about 60 days before the cruise and the full payment was due at the time of the reservation, so I am past final payment for sure. Carnival's site currently says that booking an 8A gets you a free upgrade to an 8F.

 

I don't know if I'll try to make any changes or not, but if I wanted to try for an upgrade, would I call Carnival directly or the company I booked with? (I'm assuming it would be the company I booked with but I figured I'd check and make sure).

[Lady_Jag]

I booked about 60 days before the cruise and the full payment was due at the time of the reservation, so I am past final payment for sure. Carnival's site currently says that booking an 8A gets you a free upgrade to an 8F.

 

I don't know if I'll try to make any changes or not, but if I wanted to try for an upgrade, would I call Carnival directly or the company I booked with? (I'm assuming it would be the company I booked with but I figured I'd check and make sure).

 

Yes, you call the booking company, and they will contact Carnival. Good luck!

[gobucks_43228]

Not sure why this is an issue? I booked past guest through my PVP at carnival. I booked in january and have had 3prices decreases. I call him every couple of weeks and check and when available he honors them. Same way with all of my cruises....maybe a PVP at carnival is the way to go???

[ladyd11933]

Not sure why this is an issue? I booked past guest through my PVP at carnival. I booked in january and have had 3prices decreases. I call him every couple of weeks and check and when available he honors them. Same way with all of my cruises....maybe a PVP at carnival is the way to go???

 

 

Everyone is able to match price decreases until final payment, what they are talking about is matching prices AFTER final payment, which you are only able to do if you booked Early Saver.

[mm24fan]

Yes, you call the booking company, and they will contact Carnival. Good luck!

 

Thanks!

 

I just checked the site I booked through and my category on their site is exactly $200 per person cheaper than we paid :eek:

[Ken076]

I understand completely. If it makes you feel better, in a misery loves company sort of way, the PORT CHARGES and TAXES for my May cruise dropped by about $400, and Carnival said they will not refund or credit the amount, even WITH early saver. :eek:

 

Seems ridiculous that Carnival would profit from government taxes and fees, but it is what it is. It's very disappointing, but it won't keep me from enjoying my cruise...I'll just be more selective when booking my next one. ;)

 

FYI - Carnival doesn't adjust and re-adjust Govt Fees & Taxes during the life of your booking, they make one adjustment just as/before you sail; if by the time you sail the Govt Fees & Taxes for your cruise have dropped, your S&S Account will be credited. ken

[Ken076]

I thought I read on here before about the taxes going down and they wouldn't give you a price drop. But if I remember correctly I thought they were giving it as an OBC when you boarded the ship?

 

That just doesn't seem right that they can collect monies for taxes and when they go down they just keep the balance.

 

I think Ken knows about this. Maybe he'll see it and comment.

 

See Post #22 !!!

 

Also, there's some misunderstanding somewhere on the size of those Govt Fees and Taxes - I know of no cruise where they're that much. The nominal Govt Taxes and fees for Dream Itineraries is in the order of $70 per person. A drop of $400 frrom $600+ for three people is unrealistic.

 

ken

[Carnival Platinum Cruiser]

Yeah you can get price drops IF:

 

1) Your cabin category price is lowered and If

 

2) You personally monitor the price drops constantly and IF

 

3) You submit the paperwork right away and IF

 

4) CCL get your paperwork and acts on it.

 

Also understand the penalties of not being able to go for some reason as you booked more than 5 months out.

 

Then I see people post woo hoo I got XXX OBC for my pricedrop. Well yeah that is the current going rate for anyone to book that cabin. CCL is not giving you anything extra just that you paid to much to begin with. I know there are certain situations where ES will be the best price right up until sailing but from my experience many, many times that is not the case and if you are flexible you can snag some tremendous bargains about 2-4 weeks from sailing without all the hassle.

 

Also all that BS CCL posted about prices rising is just that BS. Yeah summer rates are higher but they ALWAYS are. Many late April and May (7 ) night sailings this year are the cheapest I have seen ever.

 

My thinking is wait for the big sales which I know are rare for CCL. Fortunately RCCL and Celebrity have great sales as we snagged a 13 TA best balcony available on a RCCL Radiance class ship for $63 a day PP including all taxes etc. They even upgraded us to a junior suite for free a few days later.

[Lady_Jag]

FYI - Carnival doesn't adjust and re-adjust Govt Fees & Taxes during the life of your booking, they make one adjustment just as/before you sail; if by the time you sail the Govt Fees & Taxes for your cruise have dropped, your S&S Account will be credited. ken

 

Thanks, Ken!

Since I hit a wall with telephone correspondence, I've emailed Carnival twice already about this and still have had no response. I'm going to make another call tomorrow and see if I get the same "no refunds on fees/taxes." I booked my cruise almost a year ago, and the port fees/taxes for the 3 of us were consistent until recently.