Do you stay with current price & terms or Are you switch happy?

[snoopyb]

Do you stay with price/terms you already have and wait for price range you want or do you hop on any price drops regardless of terms (aka switch happy :)) ?

*Not earlier saver*

 

For example,

Stay with

Price = $1000, Terms = 30day final payment (waiting for range of $800-850)

Or switch to

Price = $950, Terms = 60day final payment

 

Are there certain terms that are more worth it than slight price drops like reduced deposit, closer final payment, etc?

Edited June 1, 2014 by snoopyb

[snc_cam]

We book a cruise when we feel the price is good (< $100/person/night including fees/taxes) for the dates we want. If you wait, you may watch the prices go up and up and up. For example, currently have three cruises booked. For all three cruises, the prices are higher now than when we booked them. There is always the chance they may come down, but most probably not.

 

So, book when you can afford it and enjoy it. If the prices fall, you may be eligible for an OBC. If not, enjoy what you got for the price you are willing to pay.

 

In your example, is the $150-200 "possible" price difference worth it? If the price goes up, will you be kicking yourself for not getting it while you had the chance?

 

Steve

[irishnyc]

If you book a rate that allows price drops, why wouldn't you collect on that?

[snoopyb]

If you book a rate that allows price drops, why wouldn't you collect on that?

 

Because maybe you prefer the 30day final payment instead of 60, or any other terms that make the slight price drop not worth it for you.

[irishnyc]

Because maybe you prefer the 30day final payment instead of 60, or any other terms that make the slight price drop not worth it for you.

 

I go into any cruise expecting to pay full deposit when I book. But that's me personally. The money all has to get paid eventually, so I'd rather get some OBC than put off paying what has to be paid eventually anyway, since it's not saving me anything by putting off the inevitable.

[Tapi]

I'm a different kind of switch happy. I'll book a cruise, and a few months later I'll find another itinerary, ship, or cruise line that I like more and I'll just cancel my old booking and make a new one.

 

HUGE reason why I can't get myself locked in with Early Saver or any other fare that is not 100% refundable until final payment.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[snc_cam]

Tapi.... better idea for you that gives you the "early bird"... stay with your first cruise and book the second independently :) That way, you have another cruise waiting after you get done with the first one.

 

Steve

[snoopyb]

I'm a different kind of switch happy. I'll book a cruise, and a few months later I'll find another itinerary, ship, or cruise line that I like more and I'll just cancel my old booking and make a new one.

 

HUGE reason why I can't get myself locked in with Early Saver or any other fare that is not 100% refundable until final payment.

 

Yeah, I was thinking about this when contemplating booking Early Saver a year in advance. What if I want to go someplace else, different cruise line, etc.

A carnival pvp was telling me that early saver is good for people that are DEFINITE about their plans (dates, ship, etc.) if not you will be paying change fee/lose deposit.

[Sparky2]

Yeah, I was thinking about this when contemplating booking Early Saver a year in advance. What if I want to go someplace else, different cruise line, etc.

A carnival pvp was telling me that early saver is good for people that are DEFINITE about their plans (dates, ship, etc.) if not you will be paying change fee/lose deposit.

 

I assume you are aware that you don't really lose your deposit. After paying the change fee, the deposit is held in escrow to be used toward final payment when you book a new cruise.

 

I also heard through CC that some have been able to transfer that deposit (minus $50 pp) to the other cruise if booked immediately.

[RWolver672]

When we book a cruise, we pick the ship, pick the date, pick the cabin, pay the downpayment, then don't even look at the prices until it's time to pay it off. I learned a long time ago that after I buy something, the price will go on sale the next day. With a cruise, if the price does go down before final payment, I still get the lower price. It's not worth looking at it every day and watch it go up and down. Whatever the price is a final payment day is what I pay.

[Sparky2]

When we book a cruise, we pick the ship, pick the date, pick the cabin, pay the downpayment, then don't even look at the prices until it's time to pay it off. I learned a long time ago that after I buy something, the price will go on sale the next day. With a cruise, if the price does go down before final payment, I still get the lower price. It's not worth looking at it every day and watch it go up and down. Whatever the price is a final payment day is what I pay.

 

Aren't you entitled to price drops prior to final payment?

 

Or do you wait till final payment and take whatever price drop is available then?

[TEXASMUNK]

If someone was totally new to these boards they might very well come away with the impression that:

 

I paid so little I must be going to have a good time.

or

I paid so much no way will I have a good time.

 

When in reality, we each make our own buying decision. If we are happy that decision, I doubt many of us cancel our cruise because we missed a $25 per person price drop or move to the category "I paid so much more than someone else, I am sure to have a miserable time"

 

Do we all love a price drop that we are eligible for? Yes. But once I book a cruise, I am satisfied with my decision and do not begrudge someone who got that $25 lower price.....

[snoopyb]

Thanks everyone for your perspective.

This is my second cruise and the first time "fare watching". With the 1st one I didn't have any idea I could get price drops, etc. lol, and I booked early saver. I was happy with the price paid though.

 

Watching Carnival's recent promotions and how the terms can change with each one got me thinking if maybe a lower fare wasn't the only thing to consider when trying to snag that ultimate "deal".

Edited June 1, 2014 by snoopyb

[RWolver672]

Aren't you entitled to price drops prior to final payment?

 

Or do you wait till final payment and take whatever price drop is available then?

 

I could be wrong but as far as I know, you can only take price drops prior to final payment when you book ES, which we never do.

 

Yes, we just wait til final payment and take whatever price drop is available.

[snc_cam]

With ES, you can get price drops up to 2 days before the sailing.

[RWolver672]

I guess I worded that wrong. If you book any way other than ES, you cannot turn in forms for price reduction like you can with ES. All you can do is book your cruise at a given price, then when the final payment is due, if it's less, you pay less. If it hasn't dropped or went up, you pay the price that was listed when you booked the cruise.

[snc_cam]

figured that is what you meant but didn't want to confuse others. :)

[melsmom303]

yes be careful with these new sales going on with the 50 dollar per person deposit. its nice and all but if you change your mind they are non refundable deposits. ive lost 200. 00 already the first time my job changed our inventory date so i could not have the week off i was already told i could so i sucked it up and lost my 100.00 deposit on the 123 summer sale. ended up switching to the dream i put the deposit down without checking airfare first and the airfare home is so expensive i cancelled again losing another 100.00 deposit. lesson learned this time. :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek

[ColeandAbby]

probably switch

[bigchzz]

Every cruise I have been on I never looked at the prices until final payment was due, this cruise has been different. I booked in Sept for our July cruise and have had 3 prices drops. I have saved over $1000, $321 just today. It does take time looking it up and waiting for a rep but well worth it. :D

 

Scott and Amy

[CoconutJD]

I guess I worded that wrong. If you book any way other than ES, you cannot turn in forms for price reduction like you can with ES. All you can do is book your cruise at a given price, then when the final payment is due, if it's less, you pay less. If it hasn't dropped or went up, you pay the price that was listed when you booked the cruise.

This is not true. If you are not booked ES, you can re-price your cruise all the way up until the final payment date. You cannot use the ES form for this, but you can get price drops or take advantage of a better sale as long as you are before final payment date.

[snoopyb]

This is not true. If you are not booked ES, you can re-price your cruise all the way up until the final payment date. You cannot use the ES form for this, but you can get price drops or take advantage of a better sale as long as you are before final payment date.

 

 

Yeah that, lol. You can reprice (even without ES) until final payment by calling and having them recalculate under the new/cheaper rate. The terms may be different however incl change of final payment date (hence my thought of this topic).

 

However, after final payment, no price reductions, no OBC.

[bugsokc]

Do you stay with price/terms you already have and wait for price range you want or do you hop on any price drops regardless of terms (aka switch happy :)) ?

*Not earlier saver*

 

For example,

Stay with

Price = $1000, Terms = 30day final payment (waiting for range of $800-850)

Or switch to

Price = $950, Terms = 60day final payment

 

Are there certain terms that are more worth it than slight price drops like reduced deposit, closer final payment, etc?

I'm switch happy for sure... Just last week I booked the Carnival Magic and today I talked to the Carnival agent and found out that a casino offer my wife received saved us $130! So... yea... I switched. :)