Early saver and upgrading

[KrisB0414]

I'm sure this has been asked before but I wanted to make sure I am correct... We are booked in a 4C (interior, aft, upper) on Imagination for Sept 9th, and I just found a 6A (ocean view, aft, riviera) for the exact same price. I just sent in my form stating the I wanted to upgrade. They should move us with no problem right? Unless of course someone else snatches up this room because it's the only one available.

 

Thanks in advance :)

[firefly333]

Yes, they should move you. For just moving cabins, I call my PVP and ask her to do it since you are not asking for any price adjustment.

 

I would even call the toll free number if it was night like now to get it done. I would say there is only one cabin and not wait for a few days while it gets to the price drop folks.

[KrisB0414]

Just got off the phone with them and was told that I could not upgrade even though it's the same price, it has to cost more. I then mentioned that I booked early saver and was told that is only for cabins that cost less than what I paid. So now I am confused. She then tried to sell me the cabin at a higher price, so I declined. Guess I'll wait and see what happens with the form I sent in.

[k2excursion]

Just got off the phone with them and was told that I could not upgrade even though it's the same price, it has to cost more. I then mentioned that I booked early saver and was told that is only for cabins that cost less than what I paid. So now I am confused. She then tried to sell me the cabin at a higher price, so I declined. Guess I'll wait and see what happens with the form I sent in.

 

That person you spoke to is wrong. I would try calling back and talking to someone else. With Early Saver, you are supposed to be able to upgrade, even if it doesn't cost more. Some other rates have been preventing people from upgrading after final payment unless it costs them more. That is not the case with Early Saver, so that rep is confused. With Early Saver, you are accepting some restrictions in favor of the benefits of price protection.

[firefly333]

I too would call back.

 

If they dont want to do it and give you the run around, Id ask to talk to a supervisor.

 

Ahhh. Im sitting here trying to change my flight price on SW and their system is down for the last hour the rep on the phone said.

 

I love how they find ways to not do things or make it difficult.

 

Keep trying, thats what I would do.

[KrisB0414]

I am going to call back in the morning and try again. Even if they tell me the same thing and I upgrade do you know if I will stay booked as early saver? The fare I'm looking at now is a resident rate. If I do stay as early saver then I could just do it and then use the price protection form and get the difference in obc.

[canadiangal40]

Once you start with Early saver you stay Early saver, even though the price you are matching is a different fare code.

[k2excursion]

I am going to call back in the morning and try again. Even if they tell me the same thing and I upgrade do you know if I will stay booked as early saver? The fare I'm looking at now is a resident rate. If I do stay as early saver then I could just do it and then use the price protection form and get the difference in obc.

 

You will always remain Early Saver no matter what. However, you said that this 6A room is the only one available. Once you take it, that category will be sold out, and at that point, you cannot price match anymore. There must be availability within your category, for the same number of people. You would have to hope for someone else in a 6A to eventually cancel or upgrade while the prices are low.

[cruisinfanatic]

You will always remain Early Saver no matter what. However, you said that this 6A room is the only one available. Once you take it, that category will be sold out, and at that point, you cannot price match anymore. There must be availability within your category, for the same number of people. .

Not true. If a cat 6B was available for less than the OP was spending, but no availability in 6A, they would be able to get that rate

[golfadj]

I would also call back. Same thing recently happened to me and my pvp made the change with no problem.

[k2excursion]

Not true. If a cat 6B was available for less than the OP was spending, but no availability in 6A, they would be able to get that rate

 

Not according to the rules of Early Saver. There must be availability within YOUR category. You cannot price match to a higher category unless you move up to that category. I know that several people have been given the lower rate without being forced to upgrade (I'm trying to do that right now), but according to the rules, they are not supposed to give you the lower rate unless you upgrade. Currently, we are definitely not wanting to upgrade, but we are trying to get the lower rate. I'm not expecting to get it, but I'm hoping they'll break their rules to benefit me.

[cruisinfanatic]

Not according to the rules of Early Saver. There must be availability within YOUR category. You cannot price match to a higher category unless you move up to that category. I know that several people have been given the lower rate without being forced to upgrade (I'm trying to do that right now), but according to the rules, they are not supposed to give you the lower rate unless you upgrade. Currently, we are definitely not wanting to upgrade, but we are trying to get the lower rate. I'm not expecting to get it, but I'm hoping they'll break their rules to benefit me.

I've done it twice. Seems you cant price match to a lower category is what they mean

[wiskt]

Not according to the rules of Early Saver. There must be availability within YOUR category. You cannot price match to a higher category unless you move up to that category. I know that several people have been given the lower rate without being forced to upgrade (I'm trying to do that right now), but according to the rules, they are not supposed to give you the lower rate unless you upgrade. Currently, we are definitely not wanting to upgrade, but we are trying to get the lower rate. I'm not expecting to get it, but I'm hoping they'll break their rules to benefit me.

 

 

I've also done it more than once. I check and price match to my current booked category or HIGHER. Each time I have found a higher category for the same $ or less I was told that I CAN MATCH, but also had to move cabins up to the higher category. I believe this is so you keep moving UP in category making it harder to price match.

 

I ALWAYS BOOK LOW in an "A" or "B" room under EARLY SAVER and move up during automatic upgrade sales or price matching to a lower price for a higher category. Everyone always says to do a "mock booking" or use the "fairviewer" but you should always also check the category just above you for lower pices. Many times I have been book InT C cat and seen OV A or B cabins on a deck lower cheaper for my inside room. Especially if the the interior's are selling out fast but the OV or BALC are slow selling.

 

CARNIVAL will more likely always be glad to move you UP because it only opens up the lower cheaper cabins for re-sale. By the time that ship sales most of the same "A & B" cabins have been resold over and over by people upgrading.

 

ANOTHER IMPORTANT NOTE: Also be sure to LOG IN when checking for price drops on Carnival and check if you have any VIFP OFFERS under uour "SPECIAL OFFERS". Those prices (if you have any) will not show up in a mock booking or under the fairviewer if you are not LOGGED IN since they are unique offers for your VIFP number. I price matched to a CASINO RATE offer that was about $200 lower for my same cruise & category that did not show up anywhere else but in my special offers.

 

I also check in the morning and then again at night if there is a BIG sale going on. Your category may show as "sold out" in the morning, but then can open up in the afternoon as others upgrade.

 

ITS ALL A GAME, Once you understand

Customers book LOW $ and move or be offered to move or upgrade up, but the Cruise line (for the most part) fills the ship from the TOP DOWN

 

This is why you pretty much always will have an 4a, 4b, 6a or INSIDE GTY available right up until sailing.... because the upsell calls go out and/or those lower cabins tend to always move up and they re-open for re-sale.

HAPPY HUNTING FOR THOSE PRICES!

[KrisB0414]

Called back today and was able to make the change with no problem :D

 

So excited to try out my first ocean view cabin! I've been on a balcony once, my very first cruise with the Wonder, but I was only 13 so I didn't fully appreciate it :p

[wiskt]

Called back today and was able to make the change with no problem :D

 

So excited to try out my first ocean view cabin! I've been on a balcony once, my very first cruise with the Wonder, but I was only 13 so I didn't fully appreciate it :p

 

 

CONGRATS and enjoy it!

This is another reason why I have a CARNIVAL PVP and do all my contacting with the same person. TA's can be great but its a 3rd party you are now dealing with and most TA's are not interested in reducing YOUR cost because it means reducing their commission. I say cut out the middle man and deal direct with the cruise line, but thats just me. Others is a matter of personal choice.

[KrisB0414]

I didn't use a TA, just called the toll free Carnival number and spoke with a rep. Well two different reps for this situation lol.

[k2excursion]

Called back today and was able to make the change with no problem :D

 

So excited to try out my first ocean view cabin! I've been on a balcony once, my very first cruise with the Wonder, but I was only 13 so I didn't fully appreciate it :p

 

Congrats! That is certainly a great deal. I've always loved OV rooms. I've enjoyed balconies too, but I don't think I am able to fully appreciate it, since I'm out of the room so much. OVs are a great compromise. I knew that you would eventually reach a Carnival rep that knew the actual rules of Early Saver.

 

As a side note to the debate that I sparked (sorry), wiskt was saying exactly what I was saying: when your category is sold out and a higher category becomes cheaper than yours, you have to upgrade to get the lower rate, at least according to the rules. Plenty of people have gotten the lower rate without having to upgrade (which is Carnival breaking their own rules), but more have been told that they must upgrade (which is the rule). Almost everyone would be in situations where they would love the upgrade or are indifferent about it, so they just take the upgrade for the cheaper price, but there are a few exceptions.

 

Currently, we are booked in a sold out category PT, but a 4B (2 categories higher than PT) is $220 less than where we're at. We don't want to upgrade, because the PT is a much larger room, has a sofa bed for the 3rd person, & has portholes. But I sent the form in to try to get the lower rate, even though that would involve them breaking their own rules. If they automatically upgrade us without our permission (which has happened to many people), we agree that we will deal with the worse room and enjoy the $220 discount. OP, for you, you are in a position where this would probably not be a factor. A 6B would be no worse than a 6A, and so on. So keep checking the higher categories. If you do keep moving up, you probably wouldn't want to get a room on Empress deck that is below the galley, which is between midship & aft elevators. Other than that, if prices drop & your category is sold out, move on up.