Military Discount

[happy flamingo]

We've always sailed on Carnival. Considered checking into Royal Caribbean. Can anyone tell me if R.C. offers military discounts as Carnival does? Thanks

[Sue L]

On some sailings they will offer it. Put in your military status, if you are over 55 and your state in the search engine.

[Gonzo70]

We've always sailed on Carnival. Considered checking into Royal Caribbean. Can anyone tell me if R.C. offers military discounts as Carnival does? Thanks

 

My understanding is that they do, but not on all sailings. On the RCL website when searching for cruise there is an option to check off if you are in the military and it will automaticallly check if the discount applies to the particular cruises you are investigating.

[sea-cruise]

We just got $225 off our December cruise. I'll try to find the info from RCCL for you and post it here.....:)

These boards are crazy! I've tried to post the information from RC's website 3 times and keep getting white screens.

[SDPadreFan]

RCCL's military discount only applies to active duty and retirees I believe. Carnival's applies to the same PLUS any honorably discharged veteran. RCCL seems to offer the discount on a minimum number of sailings. Carnival offers it on most sailings (but it is capacity controlled).

[sea-cruise]

DH was in the Marine Corps from 1960 to 1964 and isn't active duty nor retired. I'm still trying to copy and paste the info from the RCCL website.....Hope I can do it....;)

[sea-cruise]

Q:

Are there special prices for military personnel?

A:

Yes, we do offer special rates on selected sailings for military personnel.

 

It is important that at least one guest per stateroom be eligible to be considered in compliance with a restricted price program. It is also important to note that non-compliance of the restricted price program terms will result in the reservation being re-priced to the lowest available fare for that particular day. Furthermore, you will be responsible to pay for any differences immediately or else your boarding rights will be denied.

 

To qualify for a military rate, an individual must be classified as one of the following:

1. Active personnel currently serving in the Canadian National Defense; United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard or Reserves. Proper identification in the form of a United States Uniformed Services WHITE Identification Card for U.S. military personnel, and a WHITE N.D.21 Identification Card with a Red Canadian Flag displayed for Canadian National Defense personnel, must be presented at time of check-in.

2. Retired from any of the divisions listed directly above. "Retired" is defined as A) enlisted personnel or officers with a minimum of 20 years of service, B) medically retired, or C) 100% disabled. Proper identification for those classified in category A, or B must be in the form of a United States Uniformed BLUE Identification Card. Proper identification for those classified in category C is a United States Uniformed TAN Identification Card. Retired Canadian National Defense personnel are eligible and must possess the same white card as described above for active personnel. All forms of identification must be presented at time of check-in.

3. Veterans with an Honorable Discharge serving a minimum of 2 years, or 6-months in an active war zone, in any of the United States service divisions listed above. Proper identification in the form of a DD 214, plus a current photo must be presented at time of check-in.

4. Spouses of actively deployed, or deceased military personnel, are eligible to book one stateroom as long as the eligible spouse is occupying the stateroom. All other guests traveling in the same stateroom are also eligible for the military rate. Spouse must present the PINK Dependent Military ID upon check-in as proof of eligibility.

All guests traveling in the same stateroom are eligible to receive the military rate. No additional staterooms, other than the one that is occupied by the military person is eligible for the military rate. Spouses, parents, in-laws, children or other family members or friends are not eligible for the military rate without the eligible military person occupying the stateroom.

[SDPadreFan]

Just read on RCCL's web site that it extends the discount to military vet's as well. Good news.

[sea-cruise]

Ahhh....FINALLY!!! I was having the most horrible job trying to get it to paste. Anyway, the number 3 item might be helpful to you. Best wishes and happy cruising!! :D

[Gon2hwe]

I was told that they do not offer military discounts until 40 days before the date of cruise. This is a shame because they could fill up alot more ships if they did. Carnival and NCL are good for military discounts but RCCL has not jumped on the band wagon yet. Most military people cannot take vacations on that short notice. They have to request leave and wait for it to be approved...... Come on RCCL give a little back to the people who work to keep us free!!!!!

[SDPadreFan]

I was told that they do not offer military discounts until 40 days before the date of cruise. This is a shame because they could fill up alot more ships if they did. Carnival and NCL are good for military discounts but RCCL has not jumped on the band wagon yet. Most military people cannot take vacations on that short notice. They have to request leave and wait for it to be approved...... Come on RCCL give a little back to the people who work to keep us free!!!!!

 

Right now, I can find military discounts out as far as Aug 21 2008 on RCCL. On Carnival, I can find them out as far as April 2009 on a simple search.

 

By the way, I served 24 years and i don't think I am ENTITLED to "discounts". I am just happy that they provide them.

[Puffinater]

By the way, I served 24 years and i don't think I am ENTITLED to "discounts". I am just happy that they provide them.

 

After 20+ years I will agree with you that the discount is certainly nice to get but it is a far cry from an "entitlement".

Also I have received the discount prior to 40 days out.

[wieslaw]

After 20+ years I will agree with you that the discount is certainly nice to get but it is a far cry from an "entitlement".

Also I have received the discount prior to 40 days out.

 

Hi,

thank you for your service, even that I am a veteran as well but only with a small portion of that long service that you have provided.

 

I believe that all of the 'discounts' provided by the cruise lines ( military, senior, residence ) are just marketing tools for the cruise lines.

Very seldom if ever any of the discounts will apply to cruises that are selling well - and they should not (IMO) ....cruise lines , like any other business are there to make money.

But the discounts will show up on cruises that are not selling so well..... good for the ones that can take advantage of them.

In some way there are two winners: the cruise line and the passenger that got the discount - a sold cabin is a lot better ( for the cruise line)than an empty one. That is why most of the ships are sailing full.

 

If the cruise line 'lowers' the price ( to atract new cruisers) for everybody - there might be many people that will want adjustments to the price that they already paid ....... this way ( the military, ect) there is a lot less people out there that can take the discounts, so the need for 'adjustments' to any previously sold cabins is small.

I am happy that they do offer the 'discounts' but I also think that is mostly for the benefit of the cruise line.

 

Wes

[SDPadreFan]

I've done very well on the military discounts that Carnival offers. We have done an 8 day, high category, balcony cabin on Spirit for @ $700 each, a 5 day oceanview for $289 each. In Carnival's case, the military discounts are capacity controlled (for each type of room) but they are offered at least 15 months out (currently). Examples; 12 day Hawaii (one way), balcony cabin @ $1300 each, 14 day Panama Canal (one way), balcony cabin @ $1600 each.

 

These are offered even if you just served one hitch in the service. RCCL's discounts are good as well, but they don't seem to be offered on as many sailings.