Letter from GoCCL to Travel Agents regarding price drops and upgrades

[teaach]

Was on phone this am and last night. Talked to 2 diff. PVPs and a supervisor. We are past last payment, booked ext aft, casino rate, not early saver which I usually do. Supervisor offered upgrade to spa cabin which is very nice, but we love our afts. We are keeping our Empress aft and I will keep doing mock bookings. Not the best outcome (I am always about the best deal and I usually get it). However, I am very thankful for the way my life is going. Just got over sinus infection, very mild case of shingles (had vaccine and still got shingles, got antiviral on first day of blisters and shingles were very mild) Also could have impacted family member who is pregnant, but I also dodged that bullet. Others things happened and all worked out well. Looking forward very much to Breeze cruise and spending time with hubby. We are celebrating a few milestones on this cruise - 40th wedding anniv., hubby's 70th bday, my bday and Mother's day. So, all in all, life is good right now. Hoping the Breeze is in good shape and stays that way. Can't wait for an aft wake view.

[taszmom]

Can't get CCL on the phone ...busy signal LOL!

[jkrislc]

I sent a copy of the letter and current sale pricing to my TA and she was able to get the price adjusted. However, she had to do it over the phone and waited o. Hold for quite awhile.

[hd78xl]

It seems that my Dec. 2013 legend cruise is not eligible for these upgrades/OBS as a booked past guest rate because of the date... Do you think this type offer might be offered for later bookings at some point?

[maggieworkman]

While I do agree with Thestapels in theory, the letter that Carnival put out there about "Past Guests being eligible for best possible upgrades should prices go down" negates that statement.

 

The letter NEVER said anything about the guest being before/after final payment.

 

If the guest were before final payment, it's not really a benefit, as the guest could cancel and rebook, so what's the benefit of the letter?

 

If the guest had originally booked ES, they could call their TA or Carnival and get the benefit of the sale.

 

Essentially, if it's before final payment YOU DON'T NEED THE LETTER CARNIVAL PUT OUT THERE.

 

If it's after final payment, Carnival is not honoring anything anyway. It seems like Carnival is trying to APPEAR like they are doing something nice, when in reality all they are doing is wasting our time by having us wait on hold for hours, only to be told NO.

 

I was booked EASY saver and so I could not just cancel and rebook, even though I was BEFORE final payment. I also was NOT eligible for price protection. So, the letter made a big difference in my case. It allowed me to get the price reduction that I normally would not have been eligible for.

 

I will never book Easy Saver again. I was unaware of the NO price protection even before final payment clause when I booked. I knew I wouldn't get it after final payment, but thought it would be like any other code before final payment. I lucked out this time because of the letter.

 

Maggie

[maggieworkman]

A cruiser at hubby's job told him about this letter (have to find out if he's on these boards too) & told me to call Carnival although he's been saying he wants to cancel our October Dream cruise.

 

I was on hold for about 10 min. before they picked up. We are booked past guest/early saver, paid in full.

 

No OBC for us (rep said our category was sold out & up until yesterday it was when I checked carnival dot com, but today there are about 10 coves available on our sailing so ... :confused:), but they did say they'd give us a room upgrade. We have a cove balcony & I was looking forward to that so I didn't take it.

 

We've only been on one cruise & are considered a "past guest". While we're still undecided, not a bad offer given the circumstances. Hubby wanted OBC tho.

 

 

Try again today. Maybe a lot of people yesterday got upgraded from the Cove balconies to higher levels. Maybe you can get the price reduction now?

 

Maggie

[Indianamale]

Please excuse my ignorance, we are booked on the victory in a extended balcony cabin #6459 . We have only paid our deposit how do I know if I can get a upgrade or obc? Does anyone know if this is a good cabin? If anyone knows how to get upgraded or a obc I would really appreciate it.

[mibond007]

Thanks for posting back. Were you also past final payment (I know it sounds silly, but some people DO pay in full before final payment)?

 

The reason I ask is because I spent over 30 minutes on hold with Carnival, only to find out they wouldn't give me an upgrade, because I was past final payment. With the current sale, the price for the highest available balcony is over $100.00 less than I am paying for my 8D, and I am a LOYAL Past Guest with Carnival (going on cruise # 22 with them). However, if I don't get some satisfaction, with everything that's going on, #22 will be my last.

That is strange...I upgraded from inside to OV and paid the additional 90.00 I would think they would upgrade you but not give you OBC for the difference at least. That is why I use a PVP.

[teaach]

Please excuse my ignorance, we are booked on the victory in a extended balcony cabin #6459 . We have only paid our deposit how do I know if I can get a upgrade or obc? Does anyone know if this is a good cabin? If anyone knows how to get upgraded or a obc I would really appreciate it.

Do a mock booking on Carnival for your cruise. Pick ext aft cabin. If your cruise rate is higher than the Past Guest rate, call Carnival and reduce your final payment. If you booked early saver just submit the early saver form from Carnival website, and that will keep you from sitting on hold for a long time due to sale and increased call volume.

[wannago35]

Try again today. Maybe a lot of people yesterday got upgraded from the Cove balconies to higher levels. Maybe you can get the price reduction now?

 

Maggie

 

Thanks Maggie, I actually did make that call this morning. Then hubby asked what the room upgrade was (although I'm not really interested in that as I was excited about the cove balcony). Called back & was on hold for at least an hour ... then took about 30 min. for them to tell me I wasn't eligible for a room upgrade anyway. When I explained someone told me earlier today I could get a room upgrade, he said that would only apply if the price of our room was reduced so ... back to square one but not a big deal since we're still undecisive and technicall have a couple of months to figure it out before we lose too much $.

[lcp9984]

Was on phone this am and last night. Talked to 2 diff. PVPs and a supervisor. We are past last payment, booked ext aft, casino rate, not early saver which I usually do. Supervisor offered upgrade to spa cabin which is very nice, but we love our afts. We are keeping our Empress aft and I will keep doing mock bookings. Not the best outcome (I am always about the best deal and I usually get it). However, I am very thankful for the way my life is going. Just got over sinus infection, very mild case of shingles (had vaccine and still got shingles, got antiviral on first day of blisters and shingles were very mild) Also could have impacted family member who is pregnant, but I also dodged that bullet. Others things happened and all worked out well. Looking forward very much to Breeze cruise and spending time with hubby. We are celebrating a few milestones on this cruise - 40th wedding anniv., hubby's 70th bday, my bday and Mother's day. So, all in all, life is good right now. Hoping the Breeze is in good shape and stays that way. Can't wait for an aft wake view.

You are very blessed! It's good that you know that....have a wonderful cruise !!

[teaach]

I am truly blessed. Thanks.

[Angiet75]

2 managers and 2.5 hours holding and still getting the run around

 

 

MY TA called me back said she could get me the same catagory for free on the 8th deck under Lido..NO THANKS. not an upgrade to me. too noisey been there done that.

Legend May 4th WPOOHOO

[nbsjcruiser]

https://www.goccl.com/~/media/GOCCL/Files/News%20and%20%20Updates/PastGuestAppreciationUpgrades.ashx

 

Saw this on GoCCl and thought I would let everyone know....worth asking for.

 

Dear Travel Agents,

During the last couple of months since the Carnival Triumph fire, we’ve received an enormous show of support from our Past Guests. So many of them have called, emailed, Tweeted and posted on Facebook to demonstrate their confidence in Carnival. This has meant a lot to us and as a gesture of appreciation, we will be extending complimentary upgrades to them in the event a lower price becomes available after they book.

Please feel free to contact us if your client is a Past Guest and there is a rate adjustment on the category they purchased.

Sincerely,

Carnival Cruise Lines

 

Now that's a funny letter! Running it through the 'ol Baloney filter it becomes pretty obvious that instead of saying "we're taking a hit on bookings and getting slagged in the news for our shortcomings" they come up with this. When has any company voluntarily done something like this? Only when they're taking a hit. This reminds me of all those sickening BP commercials. Yep, you're doing it because you're nice guys. Sure ya are. You're just hoping like heck to hang on to the repeaters at this point.

 

I'm actually not too surprised to see this. Last week I got a call from Carnival because we're past guests and haven't cruised on them for a while. Come back!

 

The single best thing this company could do to send a message to people who have left for other lines is to fire that dolt who has enjoyed running this company into the ground. Clean house, reverse the cutbacks, increase service and make safety and redundancy a priority and then maybe they'll be on to something.

[JaniceB]

ok, I sail in 2 weeks and price difference is $400 for the cabin for 2 people. TA got me a 2 cat upgrade, not much for a $400 difference. She said they also tried to give her some cabins she didn't think were very good. I am not even sure the one she got is good. How is the empress deck midship on the Fantasy class ships? I am thinking not so good under the midship dining room. I booked while on a cruise, not sure I will do that again. I think $400 is a big difference and deserved some OBC.

[scubareader]

I'm a past cruiser, but my boyfriend, a first time cruiser, booked for us as a surprise (though we have joint accounts, so we both paid for it). I'm assuming that removes any chance of being included on this?

 

As long as there is a past guest booked in the room then the past guest rates should apply.

 

Call them. Since you are booked in the room. Get the pin number from your boyfriend for the account.

[Rockee4055]

I have my TA looking into it for us. I will let you know what she finds out....

 

Just contacted the TA. She received nothing like this from CCl.

[clairentommy]

I'm not sure what the circumstances are for UK bookings, but I sent a copy of this to my travel agent yesterday and have heard nothing......wondering whether to contact Carnival direct.

 

I also e-mailed Carnival UK asking them about fare checker, that was 2 days ago and have heard nothing back from them either......wondering if anyone out there is actually receiving me lol :rolleyes:

[Isa65]

Just contacted the TA. She received nothing like this from CCl.

 

I don't think this was sent out. This notice is posted on GoCCL, which is the Carnival booking engine and info resource for TAs.

[Riemercruisin]

I wonder up until when Carnival will honor this.

[gracie65]

I wonder up until when Carnival will honor this.

 

 

The letter on goccl does not give an expiration date. It also does not give any details saying if the upgrade is applicable after final payment date. The OP copied what it was so since it does not restrict the finally payment I am assuming if the price has dropped you can get an upgrade.

[EBONI325]

its clearly says "past guest", so what if you are a past guest that booked past guest and not early saver?? This makes zero sense!! :mad:

 

i agree if you're a past guest it shouldn't matter how you booked. I also lost out because my ta booked our group as past guest and not es.

[browneyedwoman]

They don't have to be booked under ES to get the upgrade and they can be past final payment. Remember this only applies if the price is lower than what they booked at. If it's the same price or higher they won't get any upgrade.

 

This is not what the PVP assigned to me said. We booked a past guest rate just around when the Triumph had their issues. Our cruise is in 4/13. He wouldn't give us anything. Is there a phone number to try with someone else?

[AtoZgirl]

https://www.goccl.com/~/media/GOCCL/Files/News%20and%20%20Updates/PastGuestAppreciationUpgrades.ashx

 

Saw this on GoCCl and thought I would let everyone know....worth asking for.

 

Dear Travel Agents,

During the last couple of months since the Carnival Triumph fire, we’ve received an enormous show of support from our Past Guests. So many of them have called, emailed, Tweeted and posted on Facebook to demonstrate their confidence in Carnival. This has meant a lot to us and as a gesture of appreciation, we will be extending complimentary upgrades to them in the event a lower price becomes available after they book.

Please feel free to contact us if your client is a Past Guest and there is a rate adjustment on the category they purchased.

Sincerely,

Carnival Cruise Lines

 

Just got back $240 for this. So thank you OP!!!! One happy girl over here :D

 

If it helps anyone... We booked under the Casino rate and are paid in full. I suggest everyone try! It doesn't hurt. My TA processed our refund with Carnival in less than 5 minutes :) She said Carnival didn't know if it would go back on our credit card or be OBC (since this is something "new" to them). Either way, we're ecstatic!

[BLT2me]

I got through to Carnival this morning. We have a category 8D on The Dream May 4th bought and paid for 2 weeks ago. Carnival was willing to upgrade us but since we already had 8D the upgrade wasn't attractive to us. I persisted that we should be given current past guess rate since we've cruised with

Carnival twice before. The individual I spoke to was very willing to upgrade but insisted that they are only giving additional OBC to those that booked Early Saver.