Early Saver - Am I missing something?

[VaTech8912]

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

 

 

We too have regularly received price drops after final payment with ES rate in standard, every day balc room.

[skcrn]

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? :)

 

 

 

There is nothing wrong with Carnival. It’s a personal choice.

 

 

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[Herbaltees]

Well seeing as how in a matter of hours you've gotten two people, one with two price drops on a single cabin, and one with THREE, I'm willing to bet it's more frequent than your second claim of "ultra rare" and significantly more frequent than your original claim of "never".

 

:') This.

 

I'm just happy that another non believer has been converted.

[ray98]

LOL....can't believe some are trying to claim there are never price reductions on ES. I have received price drops on 4 of the last 6 cruises booked under ES. Every one of them was for an assigned category and none were from me transferring to a GTY. They ranged from $10 to $75pp.

Edited April 5, 2018 by ray98

[bury me at sea]

I had very good experiences with Early Saver for three years in a row and I agree it fits many situations.

 

My personal experience, the last three years, for one ship for one week out of the year, has caused me to change to Past Guest.

 

I am happy for all of you who have benefited from price drops after final payment and I have no reason not to believe you. We can all post only from personal experience.

 

My only point is to know what rate you are booking, understand the terms and conditions, buy when you are comfortable, and have a great cruise.

[NightOne]

LOL....can't believe some are trying to claim there are never price reductions on ES. I have received price drops on 4 of the last 6 cruises booked under ES. Every one of them was for an assigned category and none were from me transferring to a GTY. They ranged from $10 to $75pp.

 

The "debate" (which is now over btw) was not whether price drops occurred but whether or not they did after final payment date. :)

[NightOne]

There is nothing wrong with Carnival. It’s a personal choice.

 

 

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Bob is pretty well known Royal Caribbean loyalist which is why I asked that question. I wasn't implying anything was wrong with Carnival. :)

[ParrotRob]

The "debate" (which is now over btw) was not whether price drops occurred but whether or not they did after final payment date. :)

 

Which they definitely do. My last price drop on my May 19 cruise was March 28, 52 days out.

In fact, I'm gonna go check for another one of these mythical, never-happen price drops right now.

[NightOne]

Which they definitely do. My last price drop on my May 19 cruise was March 28, 52 days out.

In fact, I'm gonna go check for another one of these mythical, never-happen price drops right now.

 

Good thing you are not the kind of guy who would gloat about something ... oh wait LOL

 

I'm thinking this has a lot to do with departure port. :)

[Organized Chaos]

Good thing you are not the kind of guy who would gloat about something ... oh wait LOL

 

I'm thinking this has a lot to do with departure port. :)

First, you were convinced it doesn't happen after final payment. Then you said if it happens, it's because the person paid too much to begin with. Then you said it may be because someone sweet talked a Carnival rep. into switching from an assigned cabin to a guaranteed rate. Then you said Carnival may say one thing, but they're doing another. Then you wanted documented proof and said it was "ultra rare or non-existent." When someone posted documented proof, you tried to find some hidden explanation that would prove it inaccurate. Then you finally admitted it happens, but still questioned how often. And last, but not least, when given many examples of it happening after every single doubt you posted, you now think it has a lot to do with departure ports. It appears you're looking for any excuse possible to convince yourself it doesn't happen, or rarely ever happens. Despite all of the personal experiences in this thread alone, let alone everywhere else, to the contrary. Hey, if someone doesn't want to bother with price matching and doesn't care to put money back in their pocket, that's their prerogative. But it does happen, it happens fairly often, and we're going to take advantage of it as much as we can.

[Cabogirl13]

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.

 

 

What have you found to be the best way to monitor rates to try and catch a reduction?

[bnorris10]

What have you found to be the best way to monitor rates to try and catch a reduction?

 

You simply have to check the rates often - A good time to check is when Carnival emails about a new special

[firefly333]

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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Actually technically you are not:')supposed to be able to price match downward, so they are correct you cant just give up your assigned cabin and take the lower category guarantee, but sometimes Carnival will give in as they get a lot of people who cant understand that matching a guarantee is a downward price match and not allowed under the price match terms.

 

Thas why one of the posters said talking a Carnival rep into this doesnt count.

 

if you are in a assigned inside cabin, technically you should only be allowed to move up to a OV guarantee, not downward and just give up your cabin .... but its ok a lot of people dont understand the rules.

 

I just didnt want the OP to assume they always allow a downward move in category to price match to, its kinda been off and on if its allowed or not. The rules say it is not allowed, but people always push ...

 

Anyway, OP as far as booking in 2019, in my case I wait to book because of my parents health, not even my own . Im also looking at a Panama partial transit. Last year they removed the solo supplement after final payment on this same cruise, but I had a conflicting booked cruise by then ... but the prices can go down.

 

just to clarify, the terms of early saver state you can only price match to your exact category. It does not say if a lower category (including guarantees ) becomes available at a lower cost you can price match and change to another lower category. read the terms. price match ONLY to your exact category.

Edited May 14, 2018 by firefly333

[KarimaJ]

Can you tell me if Early Saver rate is the only one with the price protection? I'm booking my first Carnival cruise so I don't qualify for Past Guest or Casino rates.

[buckeyefrank]

Can you tell me if Early Saver rate is the only one with the price protection? I'm booking my first Carnival cruise so I don't qualify for Past Guest or Casino rates.

 

All rates offer price protection up until the final payment date. After the final payment date, only ES rates qualify for price protection.

[KarimaJ]

I see thank you.

 

 

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