How to get the best deal?

[Jillybean_513]

I'm in the process of booking cruise #3, and am curious who everyone goes through to get the best deals. The last two we have used a Carnival agent, but wondering if it would be better to use a 3rd party website. I'll be booking for me and 3 girlfriends.

 

One other question, I've only stayed in an interior cabin. I think we can get two interiors for the price of one suite. Those who have stayed in an ocean view suite, would we be comfortable in that, or would two interiors be better.

 

Thanks in advance!

[vwrestler171]

TA's can usually give you more perks, like OBC. However, I do not like adding a middleman into the transaction, I like being able to call Carnival directly and take care of any issues, you lose that ability if you book with a TA. Then you have to hope that you get a good TA, who will submit price drop forms and anything else that arises.

 

Not sure about the Ocean Suite, still seems like it would be cramped and only 1 bathroom would be bad especially for elegant night.

[SadieN]

Confirm the bed situation in a quad suite. Could be a queen sleeper for the 3rd and 4th pax.

 

 

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[Micahs Grandad]

The best deal is a TA who has control over a block of cabins for a cruise and has purchased certain amenities. Not easy to find.

 

Otherwise we settle for dealing with our pvp and get the published rates.

[buddylover]

We like control over our booking (price reductions etc) so now we mostly book thru the cruise lines. To get the best price on CCL we book as bookings open FAR out (like well over a year to two years), prices seem to be at their lowest when they open and ships are empty and then increase due to supply and demand. We also book ES, I know a lot of pax don't like the few restrictions, but we have never changed or cancelled a cruise, so they have never applied to us. When we book, we choose a time/date that will work for us (of course there are always unforseen circumstances, that luckily we have not run into)...and then get price reductions if they even occur, which of late, they only seem to go up in price and not down on the sailings we have booked.

[Micahs Grandad]

Times are great for cruise lines so they have not had to discount to fill up ships so ES has not worked out in past year or so.

[tandemcruzr]

Times are great for cruise lines so they have not had to discount to fill up ships so ES has not worked out in past year or so.

 

Agree if you talk about price drops. However, our current ES prices have resulted in the lowest price available to date. This is for 8 cruises with sailing dates from Dec 2016 to Dec 2017. :)

[elliair]

I'm in the process of booking cruise #3, and am curious who everyone goes through to get the best deals. The last two we have used a Carnival agent, but wondering if it would be better to use a 3rd party website. I'll be booking for me and 3 girlfriends.

 

One other question, I've only stayed in an interior cabin. I think we can get two interiors for the price of one suite. Those who have stayed in an ocean view suite, would we be comfortable in that, or would two interiors be better.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

We're not allowed to use names of companies here, but if you have a big top warehouse card that begins with a C and ends with an O, check out their website. I'm seeing very large OBC's with them. If you have a credit card called Discover, check their website. You get 5% cashback on your cruise along with OBC. So far this year we have received well over $1,000 cash back with more on the way. C and O has a cash back reward program when you use their Citibank card--it's not as good as Discover card IMHO. I'm having trouble receiving my Citibank card - I'm not impressed with them.

 

P.S. I would never ever book an inside cabin or an ocean view. We only book balconies.

Edited July 3, 2016 by elliair

[sgttami]

Usually I wait to get a Pack and Go offer...just pay port charges!

[Foodie39]

Usually I wait to get a Pack and Go offer...just pay port charges!

 

How do you get pack and go offers? How do you find out about them?

[mistycruiser]

Pack N Go are guarantees normally issued maybe 1-2 months in advance of the cruise when the sailing isn't filling up too fast. Anyone can book these. These aren't just "pay the taxes and tips". You pay for the room plus taxes, tips etc.

I think what he's referencing are Pack and Play from the casino where they offer this also to fill up the ship but it's a special offer under your VIFP number. If you're traveling with other people, have them check there special offers because sometimes hubby get's it but I don't and vice versa. There's no guarantee that any will show up it's all based on supply and demand. Sometimes you can pay to upgrade at a reduced rate but it depends on the offer and how many cabins are still available.