How to get the best Carnival Rate

[Love_to_cruise83]

Hello,

 

I was wondering if anyone has any great ideas of how to get the best bang for your buck? I normally just simply book online at carnival.com, but have thought about using a PVP for assistance. I had one time heard you can get a better rate with a travel agent?

 

Is this true, or do you have any other suggestions?

 

Is it better to book long in advance or last minute do you think?

 

Thanks for your help!

[Jimmy Geegitz]

Book last minute. Definitely NOT a travel agent.

[Roscoe13]

Hello,

 

I was wondering if anyone has any great ideas of how to get the best bang for your buck? I normally just simply book online at carnival.com, but have thought about using a PVP for assistance. I had one time heard you can get a better rate with a travel agent?

 

Is this true, or do you have any other suggestions?

 

Is it better to book long in advance or last minute do you think?

 

Thanks for your help!

 

I have booked with a 3P travel agency and have gotten the lowest ES rate advertised and then as much as a $200 discount on top of that rate.

 

Everyone says that it doesn't happen anymore, and that is Carnival's position, but I'm telling you it does. I would have booked my upcoming cruise with the same 3P agency but I needed to go through a PVP this time as I had a special discount.

[Love_to_cruise83]

Book last minute. Definitely NOT a travel agent.

 

What has been your experience with a travel agent that has been really bad?

[kona_wahine]

I book direct, early saver. I sign up for price drop alerts from cruise fish, and then put in for my own price drops. I don't want to have to depend on anyone else.

[BigB0882]

You are going to get a thousand different answers.

 

I find that you can get the best rate by booking last minute. However, this requires being available to leave at the last minute. Unless you are retired, not a likely option. It can also be problematic if you don't live near a port, if you have to fly then last minute flights can be expensive. Also, be willing to sail on different lines, some lines offer better last minute deals. Finally, be willing to not sail at all. If the rooms are selling then there will be no deals and prices will actually be higher than if you booked earlier.

 

I am going to advise AGAINST a travel agent unless you have a good relationship with one. We went with one and got a decent rate, better than what was being offered on Carnival's website at the time. However, the contract said we were not eligible for any kind of price drops. A few weeks later we were offered a great casino rate and we were stuck paying the much higher price because of the contract with the travel agent. Not all of them do that, many will do price drops but be careful.

[kona_wahine]

There is always guarantee rate, but you don't get to pick your room. It's usually a bit less. I'm one for booking myself.

 

I have been paying using Verizon and AARP gift cards. 10% off the cruise, gratuities, taxes/fees, excursions, and some to put against my S&S card. Our b2b next year I've bought $3200 worth with $320 off. Between ES and price drops plus $50 obc each room I'm feeling pretty good. :D

[ATHENA3]

I also would say don’t do a travel agent. As some travel agents on here they brag about being only for one cruise line, I wouldn’t trust them a lesson I learned a couple years ago. If you do a travel agent look around for a few different prices and extras they give you.

[Saint Greg]

I've never used a travel agent. I book online. Last year I got a good deal 3 weeks before my july cruise. A few days later the price went down and they gave me OBC when I reported it. This summer prices have been crazy. The best price I've seen has been almost double what I paid last year. So I pushed my vacation back to the end of August when prices start to go down. I booked 6 weeks out this time. I've had the PVPs calling me so I thought I'd see if I could a better deal with them. They actually tried to sell me a 4-day cruise knowing I could get a 5-day cruise 4 days later for just $20 more total. Fortunately I had been watching prices and was able to call them on it.

 

Last year I signed up for the Carnival master card. They give you a bunch of free stuff if you sign up for it on the cruise....I've been using it for a year. I try to use it like a debit card then pay it off every week or two. My cable bill, phone bill, storage bill, car insurance, etc all go on it and I earn points. I get double points for booking my cruise on it. After a year of use I have $310 worth of points I can use for my cruise.

[Stateroom_Sailor]

We book direct if we have giftcards (AARP, Verizon, Kroger, Black Friday Sale), otherwise we use a credit card affiliate for 5% back. Last minute bookings are great if you live near port, but we prefer the early saver program.

Edited July 17, 2015 by Stateroom_Sailor

[Ken076]

Also be sure you are checking for the various booking rates (Senior, residency, military, past guest....) that you're eligible for. Ken

[Cruise-Crazy]

Recently I have been booking onboard for the extra OBC. My regular PVP gets credit for it and can Handel any price drops. Also with Carnival stock I get more OBC.

[Davey Wavey]

Gamble.:D

[cruising maniac]

Man!!! You guys are using the WRONG travel agent. I always book online and then transfer my booking to my TA and always get some nice OBC. Never have I been penalized if I decide to change cruises. Never have I had to pay any kind of fee for price reductions. However, be aware that your OBC is a percentage of your cruise fare so if your cruise goes down, so does your OBC. It lets somebody else have a paycheck and instead of it costing me ANYTHING, it saves me about 8% in OBC. :)

[JGlennCruiser]

Call the Casino number, ask for assistance with depositing $10,000 at the casino for play on board, someone will be glad to help you get an exceptional rate. Just kidding but I know some who actually do this.

[bumbles]

Gamble.:D

 

Agreed - I'm not a huge gambler but had enough points to qualify for the casino rate for our November 7-day Southern Caribbean cruise. We are paying 484 pp for a balcony on the Panorama deck...and got some casino cash to boot.

[tiffy0428]

Booking with a travel agent can be good. It's up to them and their discression if they want to charge you the fee. However they do offer low prices and other great perks. It's all about who you know and what they know.

[DebJ14]

I have had great experiences using a TA. Not only do I get a great rate to start with, but she checks the price drops. Let's say I am booked on a past guest rate and a senior fare comes up that is better, then she makes the switch and sends me an e-mail with the lower rate. If booked ES she sends in the form and I get a notice that I have either a reduction in price before hand or OBC after final. I don't have time to constantly worry about my booking. She always rechecks prices before making final payment. We have booked probably 40 cruises with this agent over the past 15 years and I can't think of a single cruise where I ended up paying the price I originally booked.

 

Also, no fees for her services, no fees for cancellation and no fees for changes.

 

My TA always sends us a nice gift of wine and OBC, even on cheap cruises that I know she is not making much on. But, we book everything with her so she will make out better in the long run because we also take some very expensive trips.

 

I don't just sail one cruise line and appreciate that she has a good relationship with many lines. If there is a problem she has a sales rep that can and will help and on more expensive cruises the sales rep will often throw in extras like coupon books, more OBC etc.

[katiel53]

I usually book Early Saver and sometimes I use a Travel Agent and other times a PVP. I have gotten OBC from the Travel Agents.

 

I have learned to question the agency though as to whether or not a cancellation fee applies. I will NEVER again use one that charges a fee, even though I always buy cruise insurance and it does cover that charge. I had a cruise booked for me and for my husband. He passed away so I called the agency to cancel and I had to pay a cancellation fee to the agency as well as the cruise line.

 

I had booked several cruises with his agency (he was the owner) and had referred many to him also. None of us will ever book with him again. It's a matter of asking the right questions and that was one I didn't ask him as nothing ever said in his material that a cancellation fee was charged by his agency.

[Love_to_cruise83]

I usually book Early Saver and sometimes I use a Travel Agent and other times a PVP. I have gotten OBC from the Travel Agents.

 

I have learned to question the agency though as to whether or not a cancellation fee applies. I will NEVER again use one that charges a fee, even though I always buy cruise insurance and it does cover that charge. I had a cruise booked for me and for my husband. He passed away so I called the agency to cancel and I had to pay a cancellation fee to the agency as well as the cruise line.

 

I had booked several cruises with his agency (he was the owner) and had referred many to him also. None of us will ever book with him again. It's a matter of asking the right questions and that was one I didn't ask him as nothing ever said in his material that a cancellation fee was charged by his agency.

 

We book direct if we have giftcards (AARP, Verizon, Kroger, Black Friday Sale), otherwise we use a credit card affiliate for 5% back. Last minute bookings are great if you live near port, but we prefer the early saver program.

 

We credit card are you using for 5% back? The best I have is 1.5%.

[Stateroom_Sailor]

We credit card are you using for 5% back? The best I have is 1.5%.

 

"Discover It", they have rotating 5% back categories, and year around % back from affiliate companies.

 

We also use Sam's Club Mastercard. 5% back on Gas, 3% back on restaurants and travel.

Edited July 17, 2015 by Stateroom_Sailor

[cessnabmw]

In my opinion, the best rate has always been through a TA.

 

I just booked a cruise with a TA and got $225 OBC free. You cannot get that via a PVP or booking directly! They do prices drops free, and take care or any changes.