Sleeper Cruise???

[ourcruiseyears]

As long as ES is available for the cruise you want, you can switch from the PG rate to ES (then all ES rules will apply).

 

Great to hear! Thank you for the answer to this question!

[Mary Ellen1]

I think most of your questions have been answered, but here you go...

 

I would love to take the advice/suggestions given here!

 

We are always nervous about getting everything 100% correct when we book onboard so we tend to skip doing so, but we love the onboard credit we get when we do!

 

To make sure I understand correctly:

 

1. We need to request to book a sleeper/dummy cruise with the shortest, farthest out available cruise at the past guest rate. I am assuming we should also request the least expensive stateroom?

 

Not necessarily Past Guest rate. Just don't book Early Saver, because you'll incur penalties if/when you switch the Sleeper Cruise to the Cruise-You-Really-Want. :) You want to book the cheapest rate that's not Early Saver.

 

2. While onboard, we will put down a $100pp deposit right then if it is a 3-5 day cruise? (It’s been a few years since I last did this!)

Yes, unless there's some special or something that has a lower deposit.

 

3. When we get back home, we find the cruise we want & contact Carnival to change the booking to this new cruise.

Yes, but... ONE EXTRA STEP is recommended:

Add the Sleeper Cruise to your calendar, add the Final Payment date to your calendar, and add SEVERAL REMINDERS that you have this booked, to make sure you don't miss the deadline. I do this on Google Calendar, where you can send yourself reminders of upcoming events.

 

(The first time I ever booked a Sleeper Cruise -- on Holland America -- I didn't do the add-to-calendar thingy. I woke up in the middle of the night, freaking out that the Sleeper Cruise had just passed its final payment date, and we were locked into it. :eek:)

 

A few more questions…

 

4. If the 3-5 sleeper/dummy cruise received a $50 OBC, will we instead get $100 OBC if we change it to a 7-12 day cruise?

Yep!

 

5. If our deposit increases because we change to a longer cruise, we will pay the increase when we call, correct?

Yep.

 

6. We always book Early Saver & watch for price drops. Once we book the Past Guest rate onboard, can we choose the Early Saver rate for the cruise we change it to if it is within the ES time-window?

Yep again! That's what I did with our most recent cruise -- I booked it last November, aboard the Glory, then switched it to ES on the April Conquest cruise we just took. My sister came with us, and I sent in the Friends & Family certificate so she'd get $100 OBC too. :D

 

Thank you so much for your help with this!

[Mary Ellen1]

1. can you book a dummy cruise and use it for a another you are already booked on? (we are going on a 4 day cruise in 3 weeks' date=' and have another one booked for October)

 

I don't see why not. As long as your outside the penalty phase for your October cruise, you'd cancel that one, then re-book it on-board the ship. Or, book a Sleeper Cruise on the ship, and change it to the October one when you get home.

 

2. Does each person booking ge the OBC , or is it just one per cabin?

 

Per cabin.

 

3. Can you use later for casino rate cruises?

 

Probably?? I've not done that. The OBC is attached to the 6-digit booking number you get on-board. You need to re-use that booking number when you move the Sleeper Cruise over to the Cruise-You-Really-Want. :D

 

4. can you book more than one aboard ship?

 

YES! :( Just don't be standing in line behind the person who's booking 4 upcoming cruises. Where each one has a cabin for Grandma, and a cabin for the sister, and another one for the kids. And the Future Cruise Guy's internet connection is s-l-o-o-o-o-w. :eek:

 

Good luck!

[ourcruiseyears]

Mary Ellen,

 

I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to give me thorough answers! The older I get, the more I have to ask & clarify it seems!

 

Hubby & I are going to start cruising several times a year now that the kiddos are all grown. We'll be booking all of them on board this way now thanks to this discussion!

 

Thanks to everyone that participated with helpful advice & answers!

[trixiegal]

I have another question. Is it possible to transfer the sleeper cruise reservation to a TA for even more perks in addition to the OBC given by Carnival?

 

 

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Edited May 1, 2016 by trixiegal

[Raxter54]

I have another question. Is it possible to transfer the sleeper cruise reservation to a TA for even more perks in addition to the OBC given by Carnival?

 

 

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Good question. I have a great TA, and would hate to bypass her. Would I get the OBC if I had them transfer it to my TA?

 

 

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[Mary Ellen1]

Good question. I have a great TA, and would hate to bypass her. Would I get the OBC if I had them transfer it to my TA?

 

 

Sent from my iPod touch using Forums mobile app

 

I don't see why not. I haven't done that, but after you've booked your Sleeper Cruise, the OBC is attached to the 6-digit booking number that you'll get on board. That, just like any other booking, can be transferred to a TA.

 

Good luck!