Early Saver - Am I missing something?

[April42749]

I am looking at the Carnival Triumph for May 2019. I usually book close to sail date, never more than a year in advance. But, this is a NY to Panama Canal sailing and they aren't very frequent.

 

So...if I book ES or Casino rate....each one has a cancellation fee.

 

If I book Past Guest....no fee unless it's after final payment.

 

ES is only $20 more than Past Guest. Casino is $182 more (I'm talking total cost for 2 people).

 

If I have to do my own monitoring for price reductions....and there could be medical issues etc.....what would the benefit be of ES or Casino rates except to save just a few dollars? If the prices went down before final payment I could just cancel and rebook.

 

IMHO...this is a rare cruise and I can't see the prices going down.

[salty dingo]

My view is, if you like the price, go ahead and book the best fare for the cabin you want, and don't worry about any price reductions. If you are happy with the price now, you'll be happy later no matter what someone else pays.

[nicole9s]

just a head's up, if I understand correctly the cruise doesn't actually transit (partially or otherwise) the canal.

 

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[April42749]

just a head's up, if I understand correctly the cruise doesn't actually transit (partially or otherwise) the canal.

 

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I know that. But it's NY to NY! I'm assuming there will be "canal excursions". Anyway, I have until the end of next February to decide.

 

 

NCL has full transit but you'll have to fly either to or from LA.

[bury me at sea]

I know nothing about Casino Rates.

 

Price is far from the only consideration when comparing rates.

 

Might have to cancel, change dates, change passengers? May 2019 is a long time from now.

 

I have had good luck booking Early Saver in the past, but I don't risk it anymore.

 

Past Guest is generally no more than $20 per person more expensive, and up until final payment date I can match to price reductions, change anything on our reservation, and cancel if need be.

 

It works best for me.

[HeidiHo]

Be sure to read the fine print for past guest rates. I just booked the Panorama and therefore 2 past guest rates. One was an early saver and one was not.

[bury me at sea]

Be sure to read the fine print for past guest rates. I just booked the Panorama and therefore 2 past guest rates. One was an early saver and one was not.

 

I totally agree. The terms and conditions of each rate are as important as the price.

 

Read, research, pull the trigger when comfortable.

 

Happy sailing.

[Organized Chaos]

I completely disagree with the notion that a price match/price reduction shouldn't matter to someone just because they were happy with the original price. Yes, if we book a cruise, then we obviously accept the rate at which we booked, but who doesn't want to put money back into their pocket? I know we do. Whether we keep it or use it to spend a little more on the cruise, if I have an opportunity to get the lower rate, you bet your butt I'm going to try. If we miss an opportunity to price match a lower rate, will it ruin our cruise? No, but we'll be disappointed...and there's nothing wrong with feeling that way.

 

OP, two years ago we saved ~$200 through ES price protection (total for 3 of us). For our upcoming cruise, we've saved $105 so far, with a couple months left to go. So here's hoping it goes down a little more. Nothing wrong with wishful thinking. So there are times when a price reduction can save you more than just a few dollars. With that said, booking ES came back to bite us this time around. We originally booked with another family, but several months later, they cancelled on us, so ES cost us a $50 cancellation fee. So technically, we've saved $55 so far with the price reduction, but I'd still rather have it than not.

[NightOne]

I am looking at the Carnival Triumph for May 2019. I usually book close to sail date, never more than a year in advance. But, this is a NY to Panama Canal sailing and they aren't very frequent.

 

So...if I book ES or Casino rate....each one has a cancellation fee.

 

If I book Past Guest....no fee unless it's after final payment.

 

ES is only $20 more than Past Guest. Casino is $182 more (I'm talking total cost for 2 people).

 

If I have to do my own monitoring for price reductions....and there could be medical issues etc.....what would the benefit be of ES or Casino rates except to save just a few dollars? If the prices went down before final payment I could just cancel and rebook.

 

IMHO...this is a rare cruise and I can't see the prices going down.

 

If you can book Past Guest rate for a $20 pp difference of Early Saver then you should definitely do it. The only real advantage to ES is the lower price. Everything else is in favor of Past Guest.

[Clarea]

If you can book Past Guest rate for a $20 pp difference of Early Saver then you should definitely do it. The only real advantage to ES is the lower price. Everything else is in favor of Past Guest.

Does Early Saver give price drops after final payment?

[nicole9s]

I know that. But it's NY to NY! I'm assuming there will be "canal excursions". Anyway, I have until the end of next February to decide.

 

 

NCL has full transit but you'll have to fly either to or from LA.

I know...I was really, really tempted to book it but I don't feel right pulling my son out of school for 2 weeks :(

 

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[NightOne]

Does Early Saver give price drops after final payment?

 

Technically, yes. All the way up until 2 days before sailing.

 

The problem is that after final payment all the deals that are cheaper than your rate are guarantee rates which they don't match against an assigned room. Therefore, I feel safe in saying that it would be super rare to get any price drop after final payment on non-guarantee rates.

 

On another note: you're not actually considering sailing on Carnival are you? :)

[Clarea]

Technically, yes. All the way up until 2 days before sailing.

 

The problem is that after final payment all the deals that are cheaper than your rate are guarantee rates which they don't match against an assigned room. Therefore, I feel safe in saying that it would be super rare to get any price drop after final payment on non-guarantee rates.

 

On another note: you're not actually considering sailing on Carnival are you? :)

No, not currently considering a Carnival cruise. However, I sometimes mention Carnval's ES as compared to Royal's non-refundable deposit fare, and I always thought ES had that advantage of the price drop after final. I did not realize that Carnival normally only dropped the price on guarantees.

[Flip2cruise]

Technically, yes. All the way up until 2 days before sailing.

 

The problem is that after final payment all the deals that are cheaper than your rate are guarantee rates which they don't match against an assigned room. Therefore, I feel safe in saying that it would be super rare to get any price drop after final payment on non-guarantee rates.

 

On another note: you're not actually considering sailing on Carnival are you? :)

I've gotten plenty of price drops after final payment and it wasn't tied to a guarantee rate, what makes you think that?

[bury me at sea]

No, not currently considering a Carnival cruise. However, I sometimes mention Carnval's ES as compared to Royal's non-refundable deposit fare, and I always thought ES had that advantage of the price drop after final. I did not realize that Carnival normally only dropped the price on guarantees.

 

My own experience goes back only 5-6 years, but during that time period the only price drops past final payment have been for guarantees.

 

I have had some really good price drops prior to final payment date with Early Saver in the past. That's not the climate we have been in for the last couple of years.

 

A rate that allows refunds and changes in dates and passenger changes outweighs price drop after final payment date for me.

 

Right now Past Guest rate works best for me since I could take advantage of price drops until final payment date. My last cruise and the two I currently have booked have all increased in price since I booked.

 

Things change. Read, reseach, and adjust.

[April42749]

Thanks for the replies.

 

Since I would have to do the monitoring, at this point "Past Guest" makes more sense since I could always cancel and rebook to ES or Casino rates closer to the sail date.

 

My history is lots of cancellations....life happens and well meant plans are no longer options.

[ckpan]

I booked that NY Panama cruise for the same reason-it was NY to NY. Booked early saver balcony and price has already gone down $90.

 

 

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[Organized Chaos]

My history is lots of cancellations....life happens and well meant plans are no longer options.

If that's the case, then you're better off avoiding ES.

[Herbaltees]

Technically, yes. All the way up until 2 days before sailing.

 

The problem is that after final payment all the deals that are cheaper than your rate are guarantee rates which they don't match against an assigned room. Therefore, I feel safe in saying that it would be super rare to get any price drop after final payment on non-guarantee rates.

 

On another note: you're not actually considering sailing on Carnival are you? :)

 

 

 

Not true. I’ve received price drops after final payment. I have also had friends & family enter the guarantee pool after final pmt for a price drop.

 

I think it just depends on how well the cruise is selling at a certain point.

 

Now, About two weeks prior to sailing, They start rolling out those pack and go rates and those can’t be matched at all.

 

 

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[NightOne]

I've gotten plenty of price drops after final payment and it wasn't tied to a guarantee rate, what makes you think that?

 

 

 

Previous price tracking, research, and past feedback.

 

I’ve seen a few people here or there saying that the got price drops after final payment but never get a way to check it out. I suspect they paid too much in the beginning if that ever happens.

[NightOne]

Not true. I’ve received price drops after final payment. I have also had friends & family enter the guarantee pool after final pmt for a price drop.

 

I think it just depends on how well the cruise is selling at a certain point.

 

Now, About two weeks prior to sailing, They start rolling out those pack and go rates and those can’t be matched at all.

 

 

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Details.

 

Also, talking a Carnival rep into letting someone switch from an assigned cabin to a guarantee doesn’t count. :)

[NightOne]

No, not currently considering a Carnival cruise. However, I sometimes mention Carnval's ES as compared to Royal's non-refundable deposit fare, and I always thought ES had that advantage of the price drop after final. I did not realize that Carnival normally only dropped the price on guarantees.

 

 

 

That is not what they say of course but pretty much how it is in practice. :)

[Clarea]

My own experience goes back only 5-6 years, but during that time period the only price drops past final payment have been for guarantees.

 

I have had some really good price drops prior to final payment date with Early Saver in the past. That's not the climate we have been in for the last couple of years.

 

A rate that allows refunds and changes in dates and passenger changes outweighs price drop after final payment date for me.

 

Right now Past Guest rate works best for me since I could take advantage of price drops until final payment date. My last cruise and the two I currently have booked have all increased in price since I booked.

 

Things change. Read, reseach, and adjust.

I appreciate the info.

[Clarea]

That is not what they say of course but pretty much how it is in practice. :)

Thanks Carl.

[Herbaltees]

Details.

 

Also, talking a Carnival rep into letting someone switch from an assigned cabin to a guarantee doesn’t count. :)

 

 

 

My last cruise I had an 8D two person cabin booked for my parents and a 4G 4 person for my kids. I was in a 2 person 6j/k OV. My parents had at least 2 price drops after final pmt. a military rate the other was a senior rate. My 4 person rate dropped under a more = merrier sale a couple of times. $10-$15.

 

On another cruise in 2014, three of my family members rates dropped under the VA resident sale after final payment.

 

BTW: entering the guarantee pool is the only way to get the guarantee rate. I don’t understand your point. You can’t expect to keep your assigned room and get the guarantee rate.

 

 

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