Early saver rate and price drops

[Beachgirl676]

So I just briefly found out about the wonderful early saver rate and price protection so I called carnival and they reduced my final payment by $20 and I received $50 onboard credit... I'll take it!! So my question now is can I continue doing this each time I see a decrease in price? Have you done this and been successful?! Thanks! Happy cruising!:cool:

[Jajone]

I have done it 5 times already and my cruise isn't till March

[Beachgirl676]

I have done it 5 times already and my cruise isn't till March

 

Wow!! That's awesome good for you! I'm excited lol how much OBC or discount have you received so far?!

[woodman]

:D I call every 2 weeks and have the rep. check out all my bookings. Made $70. today be doing this. They are always happy to check for you just call. I also check the prices on the booking engine from time to time. Found a lower fare for one of my bookings and will call tomorrow to check it out. Some times it works out other times there is a reason I can't get the cheaper price. Don't ever cost to check.

[riclop]

So I just briefly found out about the wonderful early saver rate and price protection so I called carnival and they reduced my final payment by $20 and I received $50 onboard credit... I'll take it!! So my question now is can I continue doing this each time I see a decrease in price? Have you done this and been successful?! Thanks! Happy cruising!:cool:

Yes keep checking, the more the better.:cool:

[mdsgu]

I've gotten four price drops for a Thanksgiving cruise. Check out Carnival Fare Viewer (just Google it) and it will give you the price -- just the cruise fare -- for your sailing. If it's less, you can claim it and reduce the price of your cruise. With Early Saver, you can get as many price drops as you can find up until 2 days prior to sailing.

[beerman2]

Google

Carnival Fare Viewer! Really simple to use without tying up Carnival reps.

 

I've had 4 price drops for my May cruise.

[naxer]

Yes. But with any future price drops, you may lose the $50 OBC, which depending on your circumstances, may not make the price drop worth it.

[CruzCrazy]

As the previous poster noted, be sure to do the math on any future price drops and see if the new price is lower after subtracting the $50 on-board credit. Sometimes the new rate will also include on-board credit, sometimes not, so just be aware. For instance, if you see a lower price in the future that is $80 cheaper, but does not come with any on-board credit, you would still be $30 to the good by taking the new rate.

 

Also, double-check the taxes and fees. They fluctuate. This week, my rate went down by $60, but the taxes and fees went up by $10, netting me $50 (the OBC was a wash because both rates came with $50 OBC). I say this because sometimes for a small price drop, it could get eaten up totally by a rise in the taxes and fees.

 

Oh, and when you sail, if you see some random small amount of credit on your bill, it's likely from a last-minute drop in the taxes and fees, which Carnival credits to your account.

 

One more thing, although the Fare Viewer is nice to quickly check on the cruise fare (it does not include taxes and fees), doing a mock booking will get you other discounts that Fare Viewer won't tell you about (like senior, military, residential, or casino rates). You have to be signed in with your VIFP number to see those rates.

 

Good luck and happy sailing!

[easyboy]

As the previous poster noted, be sure to do the math on any future price drops and see if the new price is lower after subtracting the $50 on-board credit. Sometimes the new rate will also include on-board credit, sometimes not, so just be aware. For instance, if you see a lower price in the future that is $80 cheaper, but does not come with any on-board credit, you would still be $30 to the good by taking the new rate.

 

Also, double-check the taxes and fees. They fluctuate. This week, my rate went down by $60, but the taxes and fees went up by $10, netting me $50 (the OBC was a wash because both rates came with $50 OBC). I say this because sometimes for a small price drop, it could get eaten up totally by a rise in the taxes and fees.

 

Oh, and when you sail, if you see some random small amount of credit on your bill, it's likely from a last-minute drop in the taxes and fees, which Carnival credits to your account.

 

One more thing, although the Fare Viewer is nice to quickly check on the cruise fare (it does not include taxes and fees), doing a mock booking will get you other discounts that Fare Viewer won't tell you about (like senior, military, residential, or casino rates). You have to be signed in with your VIFP number to see those rates.

 

Good luck and happy sailing!

 

Totally agree. Net savings should be established after considering other cost items that affects bottom line price.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[LindaKE]

With the mock booking, I get much lower rates for our upcoming cruise. We received $260 reduction so far, but Fare Viewer shows a higher rate, not a lower one.

[ccruisequeen]

Wow!! That's awesome good for you! I'm excited lol how much OBC or discount have you received so far?!

I got a $60 drop in just a week between booking and checking again. I took screen shots and emailed them to my PVP and he agreed. Final payment isn't until next month, so hopefully there will be more.

[Beachgirl676]

Thank you all so much for helping me understand!! This is a great thing, however, I will be cautious!! I appreciate it thanks!

[beerman2]

Thank you all so much for helping me understand!! This is a great thing, however, I will be cautious!! I appreciate it thanks!

So true about maybe losing OBC.

 

First price drop I lost the 50.00 OBC, however the rate dropped by $110.00 . I gladly gave up the OBC to save 60.00.

Cumulative on next 3 price drops have been 120.00.

 

I'm happy with the 180.00 savings so far.

 

On Carnival Fare Viewer you just have to compare like categories to what you have booked. 8E to an 8E for example.

 

You don't have to concern yourself with the taxes/fees. Just go by the basic fare you paid.

[ontheweb]

Yes. But with any future price drops, you may lose the $50 OBC, which depending on your circumstances, may not make the price drop worth it.

 

Another thing to watch out for is you may lose out your reduced deposit if you have one. You may have to pay a higher deposit when taking the fare reduction. You still win in the end if the fare is lowered, unless you do not pay the new deposit as your cruise reservation may then be cancelled!

Edited October 11, 2017 by ontheweb
added if you have one