Questions about military discount

[flitter306]

My fiancee and I used his military discount to book back-to-back cruises for our honeymoon and I have a couple questions:

 

First, does the military rate fluctuate like the "regular" rates fluctuate? I know there are a limited number of cabins for the military rate - but I'm wondering if the military rate could go below what we paid.

 

Second, has anyone ever noticed the "regular" or past guest rates drop below the military rate?

 

I ask because I see that many of you get OBC when rates fall and I'm just wondering if I should continue to the monitor the rates since we still have 7 months til we cruise.

 

TIA!

[serene56]

Watch the rates-- IF they fall then ask about the military rate coming down.

Remember that cruisecritic members represent less then 1% of the sailing public. Not all cruises come down in price.

 

Only one out of 9 that I have booked has come down.

[98Charlie]

flitter 306:

 

First off, congratulations on your upcoming wedding!:)

 

Regarding military rate fluctuations, you raise an interesting question and I'm sure you will get differing answers.

 

We completed our first Carnival cruise with military rate in December. I monitored the cruise price over the course of months prior to the cruise and saw the price drop close to sailing. Called our TA as some on our CC roll call said they were receiving onboard credit.

 

Our TA checked with Carnival and said Carnival would not give us OBC for the cruise but would give us an upgrade. Upgrade turned out to be much better for us than the OBC other CC members said they were getting.

 

We leave next Sat. on our second Carnival cruise booked with a military discount. I kept monitoring the price over the past few months only to find the price of that cruise has kept going up and up. No OBC or upgrade for this cruise but we are extremely happy with the price we are paying for balcony cabin on this cruise.

 

Dianne

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

We (almost always) book our sailings with the military rates. These are anywhere from $50 to $500 less per person than their "regular" rates - and I have never come across a rate on a given sailing which was lower than the military rate.

 

On one out of every 3-4 sailings of ours we were able to get our rates lowered after booking thanks to the base (non-military) rate being lowered. Every several weeks I will call, with a list of my bookings, and re-check rates. I book directly through Carnival, so there is never the RISK of not having a lower rate passed along to me due to a private TA not wanting to see their commission lowered..:eek: Some sailings have dropped MORE THAN once. More often than not, if final payment has already been made, they will refund the difference from a rate drop to your credit card, rather than an OBC - though I was told last week that my February Sensation booking dropped, and that I would get $80 OBC! When I made that call, I found that my 7/1/07 Legend sailing had also dropped - saving $147 more there (the final payment amount due was reduced by that amount).

 

IF the category that you booked sells out, then there can be no more rate adjustments - so I have been told on a few occasions. Last week, when calling Carnival, I found that our March Legend sailing had sold out of Cat 11's - thus ending any chance of lower rates there. I was told the fare for our adjoining CAT 8 cabin had gone UP. FORTUNATELY they do not (or at least have NEVER) pass/ed the higher cost on to you.

 

So - nothing ventured, nothing gained. It is, after all, a 1-800 number!!

 

BTW - We do not use a PVP. We simply call the 1-800-CARNIVA number and get much quicker service that way. I don't care to wait to call during a PVP's window of working hours. You can reach Carnival 24/7. If you KNOW your stuff, and what you are looking for, that works A-OK! I have heard some say that their PVP gets them upgrades or other amenities. We book the specific cabin we desire and cabin decorations and goodie baskets are already taken care of by Carnival and the OPC (Casino).

 

Tom

[7SEASSISTER]

24 Carnival is always available. PVP's work very long hours into the evening to accomodate PST as well as folks off after work for EST.