Calling to get lower rate

[texasgirl73]

So I thought I'd share this for anyone that was wondering. I booked a cruise on the Liberty for April. I'm not 100 percent certain we will go (I'm maybe 80 percent sold on it) so I did not choose Early Saver but instead went with a refundable rate. At the time I didn't realize that I could get a slightly lower rate as a repeat cruiser. The savings wasn't huge, $30, but I have plenty of time so I figured there was no need to throw away $30 so I called to see if my rate could be changed without cancelling and rebooking. The lady who I spoke to was super nice but it took a while for her to make the change. First she told me that because I didn't have very many points, I wasn't eligible for any benefits. I told her that when I did a mock booking after entering my VIFP number there was an option of a returning cruiser rate that was lower than my current rate. She didn't seem to believe me at first but finally saw what I was talking about. Then she told me that I would be penalized for canceling the first booking so it didn't seem worth it. I had to explain that my booking was fully refundable, that I had not booked Early saver for that very reason. She kept checking and then finally said she would check with resolutions and get back with me. In the end my rate was lowered and I kept the same booking number. It took a half hour but it worked. Obviously, it wouldn't have if I was past final payment. I just wanted to share and to recommend that you don't just take the word of the rep on the phone, they don't always have the correct answer. I did this more for future reference than for the $30 I think. And this was not a rant, I wasn't unhappy with her at all, she was very nice and helped me. They probably don't have to make the change and I could have been forced to cancel and rebook but they seem to make exceptions when it's before final payment.

Edited August 17, 2016 by texasgirl73

[firemanbobswife]

This is why I have a PVP. I don't have the time nor the patience for the CSRs. They have all been nice, but honestly I know more than a lot of them I have spoken to.

[camper49]

After being told no..I would of said thank-you and called back to speak with someone else...

[JaniceB]

Thanks for sharing

[texasgirl73]

This is why I have a PVP. I don't have the time nor the patience for the CSRs. They have all been nice, but honestly I know more than a lot of them I have spoken to.

 

 

So there's a difference? I'm fairly new to Carnival but that makes sense. I almost just said never mind and hung up but she was trying and I was just sitting at home sick, watching TV. I normally wouldn't have bothered.

[CharlesKru]

I also recommend getting a good PVP if you think you will be cruising alot with Carnival.

 

Heck, mine calls me every few months to tell me new offers, and see how we are doing. He has fixed things I have messed up. gotten us price drops, and has helped us get a Vista TA Inside Havana cabin. He gets my OBC for stock applied the same time as I call, and gets my price drops for Early Saver.

 

He is my second one, since starting to cruise again in 2006, and I will be sad if he ever retires or goes somewhere else.

[Kechin Yer Eye]

I just got off the phone with a CSR about my upcoming Liberty cruise. I am booked with a casino offer for an inside room and was calling to see what it would cost to upgrade to a balcony. I figured since we were past final pymt date and the big sale that just ended I would take a look and see what was left.......there are several balcony rooms still available via a mock booking. CSR took forever, but was very nice, and came back with a price that is MORE than if I just went straight to the website and booked a balcony cabin right now. I told her no thanks and hung up. Think I will call back later and see what kind of response I get. After reading some of what ya'll have said here, I think it might be worth a shot.

[texasgirl73]

Hmmmmm. Maybe I need a PVP. One actually called a friend of mine who booked a cruise on the Liberty through Priceline in September just to ask him if there was anything he could do for him. No ones ever called me and I've booked 3 cruises directly through Carnival.

[firemanbobswife]

Hmmmmm. Maybe I need a PVP. One actually called a friend of mine who booked a cruise on the Liberty through Priceline in September just to ask him if there was anything he could do for him. No ones ever called me and I've booked 3 cruises directly through Carnival.

 

 

So a PVP or the TA from the other site called him?

[crusinpsychRN]

So there's a difference? I'm fairly new to Carnival but that makes sense. I almost just said never mind and hung up but she was trying and I was just sitting at home sick, watching TV. I normally wouldn't have bothered.

 

PVP's are much more knowledgable. You can ask 5 C employees a question and 5 different answers. Even Guest Services is bad like that.

[texasgirl73]

So a PVP or the TA from the other site called him?

 

 

He specifically asked me if I had ever spoken to a PVP before so I'm pretty sure it was PVP from Carnival.

[firemanbobswife]

He specifically asked me if I had ever spoken to a PVP before so I'm pretty sure it was PVP from Carnival.

 

 

That's good. If you liked them, then use them from here on out. It's much easier to be able to talk to one person for all your needs. Mine knows me by the sound of my voice. All I have to say is "Hey, it's me - your favorite person!" He's like a member of the family now.

Edited August 17, 2016 by firemanbobswife

[tgirl25]

I did this on my last cruise... What happened is we booked in Jan 2015 an inside with obstructed Oceanview which was about 1380 for 2 people for the 7 day Magic cruise early Dec 2016, it was also on promotion of like 49$ deposit per person. June came around and the price dropped to like 1030$ for 2 people, I talked to the cruise line and they said as long as I paid the additional 402$ to come up to the current 500 deposit for 2 they could change it. So I saved about 350$ just by keeping an eye on the fares and got an amazing price.

 

On a side note our room was great, 2602. It had the 2 twin/queen set up and then also a sofa that could turn into a bed(we were only 2 so it was a sofa) plus the obstructed walkway view had a great window that overlooked the bow of the ship and ocean. So people would use the deck in front and peek into the rooms but that wasn't that common. Did shut the windows when we left but opened them when we were in there. awesome way to get a big window room for the cost of a inside.

[tgirl25]

I just got off the phone with a CSR about my upcoming Liberty cruise. I am booked with a casino offer for an inside room and was calling to see what it would cost to upgrade to a balcony. I figured since we were past final pymt date and the big sale that just ended I would take a look and see what was left.......there are several balcony rooms still available via a mock booking. CSR took forever, but was very nice, and came back with a price that is MORE than if I just went straight to the website and booked a balcony cabin right now. I told her no thanks and hung up. Think I will call back later and see what kind of response I get. After reading some of what ya'll have said here, I think it might be worth a shot.

Call like 2wks ahead and ask what they have available for an upsell and how much. Many call back every day and are not able to get anything till like 5 days prior, however I have heard of people going from inside to balcony for 100 or 200PP once they open the upsell thing up closer to sailing. GL