early saver?

[liquorstore]

I booked a cruise (guarantee balcony) for April 11, 2015 during last CyberMonday. Fare just went down $150 but I'm told I don't qualify because it wasn't an Early Saver. What is the difference?

[nwcruiselover]

You must be past final payment. After final payment, only people booked under the early saver rate can get price reductions.

[j&tcruiser]

Early Saver must be chosen at time of booking. It gives you a price guarantee if the price drops before you make your final payment, you get your price adjusted. If the price drops after you make your final payment, you are given onboard credit. I only book with Early Saver

 

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Edited February 3, 2015 by j&tcruiser

[kicia]

Early Saver is a special rate that is generally cheaper than all other rates when booking. If prices go down before final payment, the amount you owe at final will be decreased, but this is true of all rates. The good part of Early Saver is that you can get price reductions up to 2 days prior to sailing for any rate that you qualify for - senior, past guest, military, etc. You will remain Early Saver and you can receive multiple reductions.

 

Early Saver goes away 3 months before short sailings and 5 months before 7 day or longer cruises, so depending on when you booked it might not have been available. Also, you pick your cabin and generally can't do a cabin guarantee.

 

The catch with Early Saver is that it has restrictions that some people don't like. You can't make any changes to your booking - no name changes, deleting someone from your cabin, no date changes, etc. Well, you can make changes but there is a $50 per person penalty and if you cancel your cruise, the deposit will be held by Carnival for a future cruise.

 

Anyway, the Carnival rep was correct in that you cannot receive the price difference, but people have reported being able to upgrade in some instances.