Carnival and Past Guest pricing

[Baby_Bear]

Just booked my fourth Carnival cruise today - second one on the Breeze - in August. Woo hoo! It always feels good when you have a cruise coming up!:D

 

I had a question on pricing. My cruising partner is usually my mom, she's the only other family member who likes cruising as much as me :) So we have always gotten the senior rate for previous cruises, which has usually made for a nice savings over the published rates. We've never gotten any additional discount, but the senior rate savings are good, usually better than Past Guest or Resident rate, etc. So today, I had told my TA that we would use the senior rate as usual. We both noted the fare. Then she called me back a couple of hours later to say that based on my VFIP number, Carnival was offering an additional discount of $150 pp, over and above the senior rate. Of course we were thrilled, but I was also a little surprised. Is this a new thing they have started? I assume its Past Guest related as she mentioned the VFIP number, but I always thought you couldn't combine rates. I know Royal Caribbean offers past guest discounts over and above whatever discounted rate you can get, is Carnival doing the same thing?

[Carnival_Brides]

There's are two different VIFP Exclusive Offers (different from Past Guest rates that everyone gets). My sister-in-law somehow qualified for it. One is reduced rates (off of the Fun Select rate) and the other is a reduced rate and OBC.

[Baby_Bear]

Thanks Carnival Brides! Since we didn't get OBC, I guess we qualified for the VFIP offer with the reduced rates. Am curious - was this started recently? I don't recall this happening before.

[Carnival_Brides]

Thanks Carnival Brides! Since we didn't get OBC, I guess we qualified for the VFIP offer with the reduced rates. Am curious - was this started recently? I don't recall this happening before.

 

I haven't seen it in the seven years I've been cruising Carnival, and I check promos for my family often because someone always has a cruise booked. I noticed it the other day when I was helping my brother rate check his upcoming cruise. His wife hasn't cruised in almost 2 years, so maybe they were trying to entice them back?

 

Carnival's been running a lot of newish promotions lately (10% gift card promotions, free cruises to random VIFP holders, Elite Casino cruises, etc), so this could be part of those.

Edited June 24, 2014 by Carnival_Brides

[sjcruiser]

There's are two different VIFP Exclusive Offers (different from Past Guest rates that everyone gets). My sister-in-law somehow qualified for it. One is reduced rates (off of the Fun Select rate) and the other is a reduced rate and OBC.

 

When booked my moms cruise for August, the senior rate wasn't available. We booked under Early Saver, and another promo when we added her roommate which made the final payment due on July 17th. Today while checking, the senior rate popped up, which dropped the original price by $125.00, but made the final payment due today. The agent made the changes/dropped the rate, and total amount due, which I paid. She hasn't been on a cruise in two years, but Carnival is enticing previous cruisers back (along with big spenders in the casino) with free cruises. She's on the Splendor with my sister now on one of those free cruises. We tried to get it booked for the one in August, but the offer expired/the cruise had to commence June 30.

[TxChick]

I haven't been happy with Past Guest rates in years. We almost always book early saver because we have flexible jobs and know our kids schedule way in advance.

[sjcruiser]

I haven't been happy with Past Guest rates in years. We almost always book early saver because we have flexible jobs and know our kids schedule way in advance.

 

I usually book Military Rate (which almost always has OBC), or the PG rate which you noted hasn't been that great lately. The PG rate was good, and offered OBC, but then they started advertising the different sales or promos in place of the standard PG rate, which is now probably known as the VIFP rates. I booked early saver/military rate combined this cruise because family members, and others on CC noted the price drops from booking ES. I haven't seen the price drop to where I could use it myself, but have for other in my family as noted above. Most of the rates for my cruise have gone up, or I would lose the OBC I have, or end up with a smaller amount, and it wasn't worth it to take a lesser rate/promo.