Usually book Es, uh oh

[teaach]

I am sailing on the Breeze, S caribbean in May 2013. I usually book ES and reap the OBC rewards. This time I booked Casino rate since it was cheaper and I got a small amt of casino credit to gamble with. I booked an ext aft as this is my favorite balcony cabin. Today I do a mock booking and an ext aft is available for $400 cheaper per person. We are def past final payment. I want to keep my aft, but is there anything I can do about getting any credit for the cheaper rate. Moving up to a suite is not an option as that price has not changed and is $1000 more than the original fare for both my dh and myself.

[EmmasNana]

You are SOL.

[GTO-Girl]

I am sailing on the Breeze, S caribbean in May 2013. I usually book ES and reap the OBC rewards. This time I booked Casino rate since it was cheaper and I got a small amt of casino credit to gamble with. I booked an ext aft as this is my favorite balcony cabin. Today I do a mock booking and an ext aft is available for $400 cheaper per person. We are def past final payment. I want to keep my aft, but is there anything I can do about getting any credit for the cheaper rate. Moving up to a suite is not an option as that price has not changed and is $1000 more than the original fare for both my dh and myself.

 

I'm honestly not trying to be mean, but why would you think you should get a price drop when you did not book Early Saver?

 

I hope it's not honored because otherwise there would be no reason for those of us who booked early to book ES.

 

Again, not trying to be mean........honestly......:o

[hornonaboat]

I am sailing on the Breeze, S caribbean in May 2013. I usually book ES and reap the OBC rewards. This time I booked Casino rate since it was cheaper and I got a small amt of casino credit to gamble with. I booked an ext aft as this is my favorite balcony cabin. Today I do a mock booking and an ext aft is available for $400 cheaper per person. We are def past final payment. I want to keep my aft, but is there anything I can do about getting any credit for the cheaper rate. Moving up to a suite is not an option as that price has not changed and is $1000 more than the original fare for both my dh and myself.

Entitlement mentality. If you want the price drops either as a reduction in rate or OBC then book ES. Don't know why you even check prices if you're not ES especially after final payment.

[WindsorFred]

One of the main reaso we always book ES.

[golfadj]

Sorry OP as you book so shall you reap

[Quilting_Cruiser]

Entitlement mentality. If you want the price drops either as a reduction in rate or OBC then book ES. Don't know why you even check prices if you're not ES especially after final payment.

 

I usually book ES, but when I don't, I definitely don't go look at prices after final payment! I agree completely--either book ES or don't look at fares after final payment!

[lauraezzell]

Sorry OP, but if you did not book ES, then you would not be entitled to any drop in prices. The price protection guarantee if only for those that book under ES.

[vigurl]

But the OP can upgrade for a few bucks more. I was able to get a sap balcony for $10 more.

[Quilting_Cruiser]

But the OP can upgrade for a few bucks more. I was able to get a sap balcony for $10 more.

 

 

If you read OP's post, she said she doesn't want to change cabins--she likes where she is.

[T. Advisor King]

Entitlement mentality. .....

 

That's a little harsh, isn't it? I don't think the OP is acting "entitled". He/she is asking a question, not complaining of unfair treatment. In fact, I think it is pretty clear from the thread title that the OP believes he is out of luck.

 

If anyone is to blame, it is the cruise industry and Carnival in particular using a complicated series of rate classifications that are difficult to navigate (and that often their own sales people are incapable of understanding or explaining), all of which leaves customers with vague sense that when the price of a comparable cabin goes down that they can qualify for some sort of rebate, refund or credit.

[teaach]

But the OP can upgrade for a few bucks more. I was able to get a sap balcony for $10 more.

 

I am on your roll call. You straightened out the Sonny Binns excursion in Aruba. Again thanks for that. Sonny emailed me and confirmed yesterday. I was wondering what a sap balcony is. I still got an amazing deal on my ext aft through the casino rate. I was able to upgrade to ext aft for $40 more than original balcony rate on the Lido deck by booking through a Casino rate screen shot. I guess I am so used to getting OBC ES price drops, I was just a little shell shocked at the big drop in the only ext aft left on the ship. For a long time there were no ext afts left, but one must have been released recently. Again, I should take others advice, don't do mock bookings if you did not book ES. I am still a very happy camper with 2 months left and an amazing cabin to boot. See you on board!

[Quilting_Cruiser]

I am on your roll call. You straightened out the Sonny Binns excursion in Aruba. Again thanks for that. Sonny emailed me and confirmed yesterday. I was wondering what a sap balcony is. I still got an amazing deal on my ext aft through the casino rate. I was able to upgrade to ext aft for $40 more than original balcony rate on the Lido deck by booking through a Casino rate screen shot. I guess I am so used to getting OBC ES price drops, I was just a little shell shocked at the big drop in the only ext aft left on the ship. For a long time there were no ext afts left, but one must have been released recently. Again, I should take others advice, don't do mock bookings if you did not book ES. I am still a very happy camper with 2 months left and an amazing cabin to boot. See you on board!

 

 

Love your attitude! :D Have a great cruise!!

 

BTW, I think the PP meant a "spa" balcony.

[hornonaboat]

That's a little harsh, isn't it? I don't think the OP is acting "entitled". He/she is asking a question, not complaining of unfair treatment. In fact, I think it is pretty clear from the thread title that the OP believes he is out of luck.

 

If anyone is to blame, it is the cruise industry and Carnival in particular using a complicated series of rate classifications that are difficult to navigate (and that often their own sales people are incapable of understanding or explaining), all of which leaves customers with vague sense that when the price of a comparable cabin goes down that they can qualify for some sort of rebate, refund or credit.

That's it....always blame someone else...The "It's the cruise industry and Carnival's fault" excuse...the cousin of the "Entitlement Mentality." It's no one's fault but the OP's. If you don't book ES...Why even bring up price protection? ES is the only rate with a price guarantee. Sorry the rate structure confuses some people. Figure it out like some of us do and you won't have to blame others or think you're entitled to something. It's called doing business...."The American Way". Carnival's business model works for most people.

[klmorg]

I usually book ES, but when I don't, I definitely don't go look at prices after final payment! I agree completely--either book ES or don't look at fares after final payment!

 

Agree...don't even tempt yourself & look at prices after final payment.

[Bases5]

For future reference. Book Es and the next day get price drop to casino rate with the casino credit. Then later if the price drops again its your choice to switch to the new rate or keep the casino rate with the casino cash which ever is better

[Quilting_Cruiser]

For future reference. Book Es and the next day get price drop to casino rate with the casino credit. Then later if the price drops again its your choice to switch to the new rate or keep the casino rate with the casino cash which ever is better

 

 

Bingo! :D

[teaach]

For future reference. Book Es and the next day get price drop to casino rate with the casino credit. Then later if the price drops again its your choice to switch to the new rate or keep the casino rate with the casino cash which ever is better

Thanks for the great tip! I kept looking at the Casino rate for awhile after booking a Lido balcony cabin. I had one of those before and enjoyed it when I wasn't able to book an ext aft for lack of availability. A couple of days after initial booking, an ext aft appeared and using the Casino rate I took a screen shot and called my PVP. The PVP said I had to pay $400 more for the ext aft. I said my screen said I could get it for only $40 more than the Lido balcony. The PVP then transferred me some Casino rep who authorized that I could get the ext aft for only $40 more. That was an awesome deal. I am very happy with that deal, but my nature always looks for the ultimate deal!

[jakesnana]

But the OP can upgrade for a few bucks more. I was able to get a sap balcony for $10 more.

 

This is not true. If you are beyond final payment and have not booked the ES rate, you cannot change your rate code to try to get a less expensive upgrade, or any upgrade. Believe me, I just tried to upgrade because the prices being offered on the latest sale would enable me to get a higher category of cabin for less than I am paying now :(

[T. Advisor King]

That's it....always blame someone else...The "It's the cruise industry and Carnival's fault" excuse...the cousin of the "Entitlement Mentality." It's no one's fault but the OP's. If you don't book ES...Why even bring up price protection? ES is the only rate with a price guarantee. Sorry the rate structure confuses some people. Figure it out like some of us do and you won't have to blame others or think you're entitled to something. It's called doing business...."The American Way". Carnival's business model works for most people.

 

So is it Anti-American that Carnival employees cant explain the rate classifications, or that I can't always figure it out on my own regardless? Your message was a little unclear where you stood on the subject.

[hornonaboat]

So is it Anti-American that Carnival employees cant explain the rate classifications, or that I can't always figure it out on my own regardless? Your message was a little unclear where you stood on the subject.

Let me provide some clarity for you TAK. Don't depend on others to figure out the best deal for you when you cruise. Don't depend on the Carnival employees, the travel agents, or your friends or relatives. Educate yourself and live with your decisions. The original poster obviously impulsively jumped at a "Casino" rate, then sometime later realized there were better rates out there and wanted the "entitlement" of getting the better rates like people that book ES. Then a poster later mentioned that it is the "industry's fault and specifically Carnival's" for offering so many confusing rates. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how to get the best deal. Read, study, practice, & research the subject matter. Don't depend on others even if they are employed by a company you do business with to give you the best deal for you. If you want that....don't be so lazy and figure out yourself how to get the best deal. Entitlement Mentality, Blaming of others, and Dependence upon others to further your cause, none of these were what our founding fathers had in mind....meaning those 3 things ARE NOT The American Way.

[Sparky2]

For future reference. Book Es and the next day get price drop to casino rate with the casino credit. Then later if the price drops again its your choice to switch to the new rate or keep the casino rate with the casino cash which ever is better

 

We booked next years B2B using ES rate while on our January B2B in order to get the OBC.

 

The Casino Rate is currently only offered through 11/30/13. I'll keep checking till it's offered through 1/30/14, then switch ours to Casino Rate.

 

That's what I did with our January 2013 cruise. Received a nice OBC from Casino Rate since we'd already passed final payment.

[T. Advisor King]

Let me provide some clarity for you TAK. Don't depend on others to figure out the best deal for you when you cruise. Don't depend on the Carnival employees, the travel agents, or your friends or relatives. .... The original poster obviously impulsively jumped at a "Casino" rate, then sometime later realized there were better rates out there and wanted the "entitlement" of getting the better rates like people that book ES. .... It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how to get the best deal. Read, study, practice, & research the subject matter. Don't depend on others even if they are employed by a company you do business with to give you the best deal for you. If you want that....don't be so lazy and figure out yourself how to get the best deal. Entitlement Mentality, Blaming of others, and Dependence upon others to further your cause, none of these were what our founding fathers had in mind....meaning those 3 things ARE NOT The American Way.

 

Okay, thanks for helping me figure this out. I have a few more questions. You say that I shouldn't depend on Carnival's staff to explain the terms and features of the different rate categories and that I should just "figure it out" on my own. You were very clear on that point. So how would I figure it out if I can't talk to the people who have the answers?

 

Hmmmm. Let's come back to that in a bit.

 

I first wanted to commend you on your psycho analytic skills. Based on the OP's statement "This time I booked Casino rate since it was cheaper and I got a small amt of casino credit to gamble with" you were able to determine that he (she?) "obviously impulsively jumped" and didn't simply make a reasoned purchase decision with the best information readily available. I hope you apply these skills as a profession and that your obvious abilities aren't wasted on highway construction, hotel management, architecture or the practice of law.

 

So to avoid being "lazy", I need to figure out the best price category, but to do so, I can't ask the people who work for the company selling the product and service. I presume you would similarly discourage me from researching the information on their website (since surely if their people are unreliable I can't expect to be able to depend on what they might have available to read). I'm sure asking questions on CC is out of the questions, since those posters must know less than the people wo work at CCL, not to mention the fact that by asking for information here, I will no doubt be labeled as "entitled" or "lazy" or something.

 

So are you recommending that in order to get the best rate, the only viable alternative is to get a job with CCL, so that I can have access to the corporate information without having to personally ask a corporate employee?

[Quilting_Cruiser]

 

So are you recommending that in order to get the best rate, the only viable alternative is to get a job with CCL, so that I can have access to the corporate information without having to personally ask a corporate employee?

 

But, if you got a job there, you would be just as unreliable as everyone else there, so I don't think that's the answer...;)