Check your rates!! Dropped a lot!

[Organized Chaos]

58 minutes ago, TakeMeAway1001 said:

With the amount of info available on sites like this and FB, I am fairly certain that Carnival already receives a large number of guests inquiring about price drops. Price drops and requests for an OBC or an upgrade to a better cabin with a lower price than what one paid is nothing new. I have been cruising since 2001 with 16 on Carnival and it's been a thing for as long as I can remember. I would go out on a limb to say Carnival closely monitors the amount of "free money" their reps are handing out and if it were deemed a major issue they would intervene. Requesting to speak to a supervisor isn't unusual and it would be very simple for the rep to say there isn't one available if they weren't interested in allowing the guest to pursue the request further. Not sure if the comment about demanding an OBC that one shouldn't get was directed at me or not, but in the event it was, I didn't demand anything and while I didn't book the ES fare, I was well within my rights to exercise their 48 hour price guarantee since I booked less than 24 hours before 😉

 

My comment had nothing to do with inquiring about price drops. To do so is part of Carnival's policy. I was referring to someone taking it beyond what policy allows. Once a customer service rep. denies the request for OBC because they are following company policy, and the customer then insists it be escalated to a supervisor because they're not happy being told no, it goes beyond a simple "request." It doesn't matter if it's you, me, or anyone. If I booked at a rate that didn't offer price drops or OBC after final payment, then I wouldn't demand they give it to me, nor would I suggest others do it. That's just me. I stand behind what I said...I don't think what they did for you is as common as you claim.

[TakeMeAway1001]

18 minutes ago, Organized Chaos said:

 

My comment had nothing to do with inquiring about price drops. To do so is part of Carnival's policy. I was referring to someone taking it beyond what policy allows. Once a customer service rep. denies the request for OBC because they are following company policy, and the customer then insists it be escalated to a supervisor because they're not happy being told no, it goes beyond a simple "request." It doesn't matter if it's you, me, or anyone. If I booked at a rate that didn't offer price drops or OBC after final payment, then I wouldn't demand they give it to me, nor would I suggest others do it. That's just me. I stand behind what I said...I don't think what they did for you is as common as you claim.

In my situation the rep denied my request by saying it was past final payment, yet in the terms and conditions of the 48 hour guarantee it said nothing about final payment. So she was attempting to follow what she thought was company policy, but was misinformed. I booked at a rate that didn't offer price protection past the 48 hours and again, no demands were made. If she was breaking company policy I am sure the person she was discussing it with while I was on hold would have backed her up. I would honestly hope what they did for me by honoring their 48 hour lowest price guarantee is common since it's their policy. 

[Riczak01]

I already called one time & scored $220 in inboard credit. The price is even lower now. Is there a limit on how many times you can do the price match?

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

2 hours ago, Riczak01 said:

I already called one time & scored $220 in inboard credit. The price is even lower now. Is there a limit on how many times you can do the price match?

No limit to how many times you can price match.  

[matymil]

It took me several attempts to get a drop. Don't get me wrong, normally I get great customer service with Carnival but over the years I have noticed that sometimes you will get people on the phone that either seem like they are reading from a script or just don't want to help you. The first few times, I checked the website before I called but for some reason they were not seeing the same prices on their end. Also I have a casino rate so that makes it tricky. I ended up calling yesterday and I got another room near the one I booked (Cove balcony) for $285 cheaper. 

[matymil]

55 minutes ago, PrincessArlena'sDad said:

No limit to how many times you can price match.  

Unless you booked a casino rate. They cant match prices, you have to move your room and when I did it I was told "my boss is letting me do a one time exception"

 

[helene109]

Dropped another $20 today!! Yeah check them again!!

[cruising with the family]

FYI, I called and was told only early saver is eligible for price drops after final payment date.  end of story.  no negotiating.  I was nice.  she just said, sorry, there is nothing that can be done.  I booked under a VIFP rate and am ineligible to change.  😞 

[VentureMan_2000]

Just off the phone with my TA... just got a $218 price adjustment lower.  Sweet !

[jdemps]

I rarely have a price drop but do check often.  West coast cruises seem to be higher and don't drop like east coast cruises.

Mine on miracle Oct 31 has gone up about $80 since booking.  

[simkoreb]

I booked through costco for my Aug 8th breeze trip.  We are on deck 11 spa balcony.  It looks like there are no cabins in this category left, so how do I know if there is a price drop?  Never done this before.  Thanks!

Edited March 1, 2020 by simkoreb

[bury me at sea]

1 minute ago, simkoreb said:

I booked through costco for my Aug 8th breeze trip.  We are on deck 11 spa balcony.  It looks like there are no cabins in this category left, so how do I know if there is a price drop?  Never done this before.  Thanks!

 

If there are no cabins available in your category you have nothing comparable for a price match.

 

However I would check frequently prior to final payment date because cabins may open due to cancellations.  Just do a mock booking.

 

You have to match to a cabin for the same number of people you have booked.  

[lensonlife]

2 minutes ago, simkoreb said:

I booked through costco for my Aug 8th breeze trip.  We are on deck 11 spa balcony.  It looks like there are no cabins in this category left, so how do I know if there is a price drop?  Never done this before.  Thanks!

I’m in a similar situation where there are no cabs left in my category. You will need to find a layout of the ship decks and see what other cabins are in the same category as yours. Then when you do a price check- look to see if those cabins/categories are available. I know that I will need to find a cabin available in category 4G on deck 8 or 9 of Radiance to qualify (I’m currently on deck 9-Lido), and thus far- nothing. I’ve found the website icruise.com to be helpful with ships/decks/categories. Good luck!

[n6uqqq]

19 minutes ago, simkoreb said:

I booked through costco for my Aug 8th breeze trip.  We are on deck 11 spa balcony.  It looks like there are no cabins in this category left, so how do I know if there is a price drop?  Never done this before.  Thanks!

With Costco you have to pay close attention to the details. The price of the cruise is one thing but you have to keep an eye on if your costco gift card will drop in price, also does the new offer have the same OBC that might be offered. For example if you booked and got a 200 dollar OBC does the new rate still offer that? If it doesn't then you likely would not get as good a deal redoing it. I do follow Costco pricing and they will help you get the better rate if you can find one that has dropped. On a side note it appears the past guest rate is going the way of the dodo. I no longer see past guest rates on the Carnival site at all any more.

[VentureMan_2000]

1 hour ago, jdemps said:

I rarely have a price drop but do check often.  West coast cruises seem to be higher and don't drop like east coast cruises.

Mine on miracle Oct 31 has gone up about $80 since booking.  

I have 3 cruises booked out of San Francisco.  I booked them 15 months out.  I received price drops and category upgrades early on for my Alaska and Hawaii cruise.  Both are nearly sold out -- about 50 cabins left on each cruise, mostly inside cabins -- the cabins that are left have gone up quite a bit in price.

It's my Mexico cruise that I received the recent price reduction for. 

[skiorcruise]

We have a cruise from Italy in September.  With all of the news, I would think that the price would have dropped on it, but it is currently $37 more pp than when I booked last August.

[DeanDeeDee]

Thanks for the heads up.  Saved me $160.

Edited March 2, 2020 by DeanDeeDee

[Illbcruzn4life]

6 hours ago, n6uqqq said:

With Costco you have to pay close attention to the details. The price of the cruise is one thing but you have to keep an eye on if your costco gift card will drop in price, also does the new offer have the same OBC that might be offered. For example if you booked and got a 200 dollar OBC does the new rate still offer that? If it doesn't then you likely would not get as good a deal redoing it. I do follow Costco pricing and they will help you get the better rate if you can find one that has dropped. On a side note it appears the past guest rate is going the way of the dodo. I no longer see past guest rates on the Carnival site at all any more.

 

Is there any other way to book with a refundable deposit?

[n6uqqq]

1 hour ago, Illbcruzn4life said:

 

Is there any other way to book with a refundable deposit?

 

The only way I see now is "fun select" but it is by far the most expensive pricing. I haven't seen the past guest rate in a few months. Now most that say past guest are past guest early saver type deals.

[Illbcruzn4life]

52 minutes ago, n6uqqq said:

 

The only way I see now is "fun select" but it is by far the most expensive pricing. I haven't seen the past guest rate in a few months. Now most that say past guest are past guest early saver type deals.

ok thank you for the reply. Not inclined to book any non refundable cruises on any line so if it stays this way my next cruise on Carnival could very well be my last, but I never say never.

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

19 minutes ago, Illbcruzn4life said:

ok thank you for the reply. Not inclined to book any non refundable cruises on any line so if it stays this way my next cruise on Carnival could very well be my last, but I never say never.

Try calling TA's.  The rate we have from our TA is a refundable deposit, and the rate itself is better than anything available to me on carnival.com 

[Illbcruzn4life]

26 minutes ago, PrincessArlena'sDad said:

Try calling TA's.  The rate we have from our TA is a refundable deposit, and the rate itself is better than anything available to me on carnival.com 

 

26 minutes ago, PrincessArlena'sDad said:

Try calling TA's.  The rate we have from our TA is a refundable deposit, and the rate itself is better than anything available to me on carnival.com 

thanks for the tip. I’ll do that next time I am ready to book.

[Ilovesailaway]

OP thank you for posting this. I normally don't keep an eye out for price drops after I book but I will for my upcoming cruise on Sunrise. I think that the updates on the coronavirus will continue to push prices down. I have emailed my TA to ask how a price drop would affect my booking.

[xDisconnections]

10 hours ago, Illbcruzn4life said:

ok thank you for the reply. Not inclined to book any non refundable cruises on any line so if it stays this way my next cruise on Carnival could very well be my last, but I never say never.

I would never book a cruise with a non-refundable deposit, regardless of the savings. It’s the same way that I would never reserve hotel accommodations under a prepaid rate.

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

9 minutes ago, xDisconnections said:

I would never book a cruise with a non-refundable deposit, regardless of the savings. It’s the same way that I would never reserve hotel accommodations under a prepaid rate.

I always get travel insurance for a cruise (unlike a simple hotel stay), so as long as I'm sure I won't cancel for a non-covered reason, I'll do the non-refundable deposit, as my insurance will cover it if I have to cancel.