Early Saver - Fare is higher but OBC makes it lower

[CorrieCJ]

Hi. I am booked on an early saver for Aug 2013 on the Pride... I discovered that my category is available right now at a price $200 HIGHER than I am paying, but the OBC I would get ($250) actually makes it a better deal. I have searched and can't find the answer... would I be eligible for the new rate or will it not work because the fare is technically higher? Any advice would be appreciated. I am using a travel agent (and not a PVP - no flames please) and she doesn't know anything so I am doing all the legwork. Thanks!

[Ken076]

Hi. I am booked on an early saver for Aug 2013 on the Pride... I discovered that my category is available right now at a price $200 HIGHER than I am paying, but the OBC I would get ($250) actually makes it a better deal. I have searched and can't find the answer... would I be eligible for the new rate or will it not work because the fare is technically higher? Any advice would be appreciated. I am using a travel agent (and not a PVP - no flames please) and she doesn't know anything so I am doing all the legwork. Thanks!

 

Note that the OBC is usually stated per cabin - make sure that you're dividing it between the individual fares in the cabin in calculating your price-matching.

 

Otherwise, you can "buy-up" to the higher fare and get the OBC. You have to account for the OBC in your future ES price matches.

 

ken

[beachbum53]

Hi. I am booked on an early saver for Aug 2013 on the Pride... I discovered that my category is available right now at a price $200 HIGHER than I am paying, but the OBC I would get ($250) actually makes it a better deal. I have searched and can't find the answer... would I be eligible for the new rate or will it not work because the fare is technically higher? Any advice would be appreciated. I am using a travel agent (and not a PVP - no flames please) and she doesn't know anything so I am doing all the legwork. Thanks!

 

Is that $200.00 more per person, or per cabin? If it's per person, that means you'd pay $400.00 more just to get a $250.00 OBC. Doesn't seem like such a good deal to me. You could stay at the rate you've already booked, and put the $400.00 towards your OBC.

[CorrieCJ]

No - the cabin is $200 more (total base fare for 3 people) and the OBC would be $250 ($125 pp for up to 2 people). So it would be $50 less per cabin.

[macandlucy]

I have the same situation and just submitted an early saver price protection form for the difference. In my case, it's about $70 cheaper for the cabin with the higher fare and then the refundable OBC of $250.

 

I think there's a case to be made for it, since it is Cash Back in the form of a refundable OBC, and because it's refundable, I could in theory keep that money on my account and just not spend it onboard then cash out at the end of the cruise with that $250 in my pocket. (If they give it to me, however, I will definitely spend it, so I don't even need mine to be refundable!) But we shall see if Carnival sees it the same way.

[beachbum53]

No - the cabin is $200 more (total base fare for 3 people) and the OBC would be $250 ($125 pp for up to 2 people). So it would be $50 less per cabin.

 

If you're doing all of the leg work, why use a TA that doesn't know anything? Next time, why not get a TA that is a cruise specialist, or a PVP? In the meantime, call Carnival and ask someone there what your options are. There are certain restrictions when using Early Saver, so you may or may not be able to make the changes.

[CorrieCJ]

Thanks. I just sent a screenshot, along with a very detailed explanation, to the travel agent. It couldn't hurt, right? If this works, then we will have about $700 OBC between the 2 cabins (the $250 each for this and $100 each for CCL stock)... with 4 kids we should have no problem spending it and it will be nice to know it's waiting for us.

[Froufie]

I had the same situation with my recent Breeze transatlantic when there happened to be some 'Europe Sale' - I had to pay $100 more (plus 'revised' taxes) to get $300 OBC - not a bad deal - and yes it was approved! :)

[Charxu]

Did you try a mock booking because I did it for my Pride cruise in May and the OBC offered was only $100 since it is up to $250 per cabin you might want to check and make sure it is the full amount.

[CorrieCJ]

TO answer beachbum's question... we have this travel club that we paid a membership for, that gives us 5% cashback on top of everything else. We have used them in the past and joined again this year, because we knew we'd make back the membership fee and more, simply by booking one cruise. To be honest, their membership fee has gotten higher, and service has gotten worse, so I doubt we'll renew, but we are already paid this year so... kind of felt stuck.

 

Anyway, follow-up question, if I do get the new (higher) fare and the OBC, then what becomes the new "price to beat" for further price drops? Is it (1) my original ES fare, (2) the new fare that is $200 more than the original, or (3) the new fare minus the OBC, which is $50 less than the original?

[luv2trvlnow]

TO answer beachbum's question... we have this travel club that we paid a membership for, that gives us 5% cashback on top of everything else. We have used them in the past and joined again this year, because we knew we'd make back the membership fee and more, simply by booking one cruise. To be honest, their membership fee has gotten higher, and service has gotten worse, so I doubt we'll renew, but we are already paid this year so... kind of felt stuck.

 

Anyway, follow-up question, if I do get the new (higher) fare and the OBC, then what becomes the new "price to beat" for further price drops? Is it (1) my original ES fare, (2) the new fare that is $200 more than the original, or (3) the new fare minus the OBC, which is $50 less than the original?

 

3. Because when you match to a new fare you will lose the OBC because it is specific to that fare.

 

When you check fares just make sure your total is less than it is now. As you can see there would be some other possible options. There could be a fare that is higher but with more OBC and be less than your paying now. Just remember if a fare includes OBC you will only keep that OBC if you keep that fare rate.

 

Sharon

[Ken076]

TO answer beachbum's question... we have this travel club that we paid a membership for, that gives us 5% cashback on top of everything else. We have used them in the past and joined again this year, because we knew we'd make back the membership fee and more, simply by booking one cruise. To be honest, their membership fee has gotten higher, and service has gotten worse, so I doubt we'll renew, but we are already paid this year so... kind of felt stuck.

 

Anyway, follow-up question, if I do get the new (higher) fare and the OBC, then what becomes the new "price to beat" for further price drops? Is it (1) my original ES fare, (2) the new fare that is $200 more than the original, or (3) the new fare minus the OBC, which is $50 less than the original?

 

 

OOPS! ken

[CorrieCJ]

Thank you Ken, that explanation actually makes a lot of sense!

[Ken076]

Thank you Ken, that explanation actually makes a lot of sense!

 

Just to clarify! I posted but didn't trust my own response and deleted it! sorry, Ken

[CorrieCJ]

AHHH then I think my "thank you" was meant for Sharon, above you. I'm a little tired today.

[tabbi_cakes]

Man, this gets complicated, doesn't it.

 

When you are doing the mock booking, when does it show the OBC you are getting? If I do a price match and get a $250 OBC, it makes my fare go down $70. And I JUST got a $60 drop the beginning of this week.

 

---

Never mind, I found it. I would only get $120 OBC which does not make it worth it.

[CorrieCJ]

Just wanted to follow up - I did get the fare drop. And the TA explained it basically the way Sharon did - that if I find a lower rate that does NOT have OBC attached, I will lose the OBC associated with this fare. That makes perfect sense. I actually saved about $50 per cabin by moving to this new fare, when you net in the refundable OBC.

[serene56]

Did you try a mock booking because I did it for my Pride cruise in May and the OBC offered was only $100 since it is up to $250 per cabin you might want to check and make sure it is the full amount.

 

 

yep the key word here is you could get UP to 250 per cabin.

Most 7 day cruises only get 100 per cabin.