Early Saver upgrading to a higher category but cheaper fare

[txponycruiser]

Has anyone upgraded in Early Saver (its paid off) to a higher category cabin when the new cabin is at a rate less than what you paid for the lower category? Do you get OBC with that?

 

We have a Cove but with the fares lower on balcony cabins closer to the lido and we have a 12 year old son, I'm thinking maybe it might be better to be closer to the fun so I don't have to worry about him running all over the ship to get to the pools and slide.

[RuthlessBoss]

Unless it's substantial, I'd keep the cove. Even if the higher balcony is available, he'd still have to navigate the elevators. Does he usually have run of the ship without you?

[BlondeKajun]

It is my understanding from my own TA that you can upgrade, but doesn't hurt to call & ask :)

[txponycruiser]

He actually wouldn't have navigate elevators because we'd either be one deck below or above the lido. This will be the first year he can check himself out of the youth activities. Since I know he'll rather be at the pool once he makes friends, I'd like to have a room near the lido so he doesn't have to go to far.

 

I spoke with a representative that said I would still have to pay the upgrade fee but that doesn't make any since when I paid $2300 for a cove and a Vista is $2002.

[K&P Luv2Cruise]

He actually wouldn't have navigate elevators because we'd either be one deck below or above the lido. This will be the first year he can check himself out of the youth activities. Since I know he'll rather be at the pool once he makes friends, I'd like to have a room near the lido so he doesn't have to go to far.

 

I spoke with a representative that said I would still have to pay the upgrade fee but that doesn't make any since when I paid $2300 for a cove and a Vista is $2002.

 

There should be no cost to upgrade...and once Early Saver, always Early Saver. Just remember that you cannot downgrade to a lower category, but CAN upgrade.

 

Call back and tell them you want to change (not upgrade) cabins. and see what pricing they give you. Act surprised when they tell you the lower amount, and then say "then that should give me $$$ in OBC right?...have all your facts and figures in front of you (do a mock booking and see if the taxes have increased since you booked/paid), and if they don't give you what you think you are entitled to, ask for a Supervisor.

 

Good Luck...keep us posted.

[dave_k58]

We had Early Saver on Lido mid ship( 8f) and upgraded to Panorama midship ( 8g) and got considerable OBC because the 8g was quite a bit cheaper at the time.

[3Pelicans]

I actually just did something very similar last weekend. We had two empress level balcony cabins one was early saver one was a casino rate. I saw aft extended balconies open up at $20 less than the early saver I had paid and $90 more than the casino rate. I figured the upgrades should cost no more than $70 total. When I called my TA she came up with a $180 per cabin charge for the upgrade and then realized that didn't look right and called carnival. In the end she had to conference me into the call and it took nearly a day to get it all figured out but we ended up with $70 OBC (which I still think is a mistake) and paid $70 for the upgrades as I had expected. I am not fighting the $70 OBC and am happy to have a little gambling money for the cruise. Good luck - be patient. If you have a TA ask them to conference you into the call with carnival and have them make the changes - when we did that they realized that the total cost was only $70. Have a great cruise!

[txponycruiser]

Woohoo!! When at first you don't succeed, call back and get someone who knows what they are talking about. Upgraded a cove to a balcony on panoroma for LESS than the cove and have over $100 OBC! :D

[crusing48/51]

Woohoo!! When at first you don't succeed, call back and get someone who knows what they are talking about. Upgraded a cove to a balcony on panoroma for LESS than the cove and have over $100 OBC! :D

 

Congratulations! Enjoy your OBC!

[MNCruizer1]

Did you just price out a balcony and figured it out that way? We have early saver and our cruis is in August but we haven't found any price drops. Feel like I might be doing something wrong. TY

[Danacat222]

Yes, you can, and if you call and they say you can't, call back and speak to someone different. that JUST happened to me. I booked Early Saver and just tried to upgrade from an 8D standard balcony to an 8K extended balcony, $20 less than what i booked originally. My PVP is on vaca, and so I called carnival and the first person i spoke to flat out refused to upgrade me even though i have a screen shot and am right on the website doing a mock booking. After debating for 2 minutes i told her to forget it, and i just called back and had the upgrade made with zero problem and $20 OBC.