Should I be getting anything other than points?

[grannyc]

I was here a while back asking questions about how to book a cruise for 17 people for our 50th anniversary next summer. Well, I did it and have arranged for 8 cabins leaving in July for western carribean.

 

Just a little curious as I have so many friends who cruise all the time and they keep telling me that with all I have booked I should be getting something like a "free berth" or a reduction on a ticket.....something other than points to use while onboard.

 

Is this true and should I be pursuing it? I worked directly with Carnival and all that was ever mentioned was that I would get some points to use for drinks etc.

 

Since I'm a total novice at this perhaps someone can give me some guidance.....perhaps my friends were sailing with other lines etc.who may give reduction in fare etc.

[cruzevirgins]

I was here a while back asking questions about how to book a cruise for 17 people for our 50th anniversary next summer. Well, I did it and have arranged for 8 cabins leaving in July for western carribean.

 

Just a little curious as I have so many friends who cruise all the time and they keep telling me that with all I have booked I should be getting something like a "free berth" or a reduction on a ticket.....something other than points to use while onboard.

 

Is this true and should I be pursuing it? I worked directly with Carnival and all that was ever mentioned was that I would get some points to use for drinks etc.

 

Since I'm a total novice at this perhaps someone can give me some guidance.....perhaps my friends were sailing with other lines etc.who may give reduction in fare etc.

 

Did you do a group booking with Carnival? Those PVP are out to make a commission and don't tell you everything you need to know regarding group travel...we learned the hard way. You are not getting what is coming to you. We were told we had to have 8 cabins to make what Carnival considers a group. In fact, in three weeks we are traveling with a group. My fiance and I received a "free" balcony room by coordinating the group. We still had to pay our deposit which was applied to the taxes and port fees. Our "Free" room still cost us $850, but it beats $1800! However, the 8 cabins must be a group reservation, not just 8 individual reservations. Our guests are receiving $75 in cabin credit too. Carnival's group benefits are NOT that great. Carnival considers 100 cabins a large group, so we're in the minority with 8 cabins, but to you and me it seems like a lot of people to get organized and travel with! We are using a travel agent who went to bat for us with Carnival. Good luck. You are definitely entitled to more perks, just not many!

[iamlynn98]

Hello there!

 

I am in the process of doing just what you have done (there are 16 of us). Just yesterday I called Carnival directly to see about thier group rates. They quoted me a price about $60 cheaper than any I had found online per cabin as well as perks like $100 credit to the stateroom account for each cabin, $50 in casino chips per person and a few other perks for EVERYONE in the group. :D

 

The agent I spoke with said that for every 15 guests that go, the 16 goes free (of course they have to pay taxes etc which works out to be about $500 less than the cabin prices). So, techinally you could use this "free" passage as yours, but what we are doing is splitting up the difference between all the people that are going (all 16 people will get a reduction on the price they pay rather than one person "lucking out").

 

Hopefully I have explained this well enough. Sometimes my brain works faster than my fingers while typing! :)

[grannyc]

Thanks.....you have told me exactly what others have told me and yet I worked both with the group people and a pvp and nothing was ever mentioned about the deals that you all got. Guess I'd better get on the phone in the morning!!!

 

We definitely have 8 cabins with 17 people going and we are paying for it all so sure would like some help from Carnival!!!

[Wennfred]

(all 16 people will get a reduction on the price they pay rather than one person "lucking out").

 

I like the idea, but I still think that you as the person doing all the work should get the break in price or even the free cabin. The problem with setting it all up, I havent done it myself nor will I but my friend did for her family, A total of 30 people and guess what, all 30 cancelled out, they all placed their deposits also and my friend still got the cabin at the reduced price. I wouldnt mention the Price break to your party as you are doing all the work and with a great chance of half of them cancelling out.

 

Let me know how it goes and good luck.

 

Fred

[cruzevirgins]

I'd take the free room too if I were you. We have not told our guests about us getting a free room. Like I said, we're still paying $850 so it isn't completely free. Divvying up room benefit over 8+cabins is minimal, but a free cabin is substanial. If you are paying for the cabins, you should definitely be receiving some benefits as well as your guests receiving some benefits...such as cabin credit, a free photo, strawberries & champagne, etc. They owe you that much for spending $15,000+ with Carnival.

[serene56]

the cabins needed to be booked together as a group...

 

the cruise should have been set up as a group. Butleaving in July there is still plenty of time.

 

Call the person and tell them you want to transfer to a group rate. If they say no-- tell them about cancelling and rebooking as a group.

 

On Carnival you sould get 1 free berth-- but must pay the taxes and port charges. I have done groups in the past. and worked it out to get the cheapest rate possible in lue of any kind of perks.

 

Upcoming is a group and we got a free coctail party with 16 cabins booked. 8 cabins only one free berth so its not a free cabin.

PPlease call your agent and ask abou tthis asap.

[Legend]

1. group rates are the same as the gurantee rates

2. one free berth (must pay port charges and federal tax) for every 16th person based on double occupancy. That amount is deducted from ther entire group balance and the group leader can decide what to do with the extra money. There is no free CABIN unless you have more than 32 people and you have TWO free BERTHS which equals a free cabin plus port charges and tax.

 

3. points (if they are being given on your cruise date) are to be used at the group's discretion for things such as

a. on board credit

b. photo coupons

c. cocktail party

d. bathrobes

e. etc

everyone in the group must get the same amenity from the points

 

Everyone's desription of their group benefits looks different because people are just describing it differently. All group bookings work the same way at Carnival. If a TA or a group leader booked it maybe she picked out the amentiy and therefore the group knows nothing about the other choices they had and that's why one person says 'well we got a cocktail party with ours' and another says "we got $100 on board credits" and someone else knows nothing about those two things.

 

Not all cruises are given the points either. If the sailing is in mid summer and you've waited until a couple of months before to book it there may well be no points offered and the only thing you get is a free berth.

 

Call Carnival yourself and don't base everything you know on answers you find here because as you can see everyone can tel you something a little different.

[serene56]

LEgend-- My group rates are a lot lower then a guarantee rate. I mean my group on the caribbean Princess is almost 133.pp cheaper

and my group on the Liberty was 88. pp cheaper then guarantee rate.

 

I agree that all dates dont get any points. My liberty cruise got I think one poit or 1 bottle of wine per cabin-- that was all.

 

But I disagree with 1 free berth for 16 cabins.

 

The person really does need to contact the agent.

I had friends who just booked the whole family onto Explorere of the Seas and they got no amenties whatsoever....after calling Royal they were told each agent does get so many points and its up to the agent onhow to use them. If the agent dont want to they dont have to.

[BlueHerons]

I chose not to get a free berth because I didn't think it was fair to our other guests.

 

Instead I used the freebies toward something everyone could enjoy and a discount on everyones cabin. We got a two hour cocktail reception.

 

I look at it this way, if the situation were reversed and someone else got a free birth without saying a word about this; I would have integrity issues with that person.

 

Also, it is very possible for one of the guests to mention the group cruise to a co-worker or friend and the co-worker or friend to ask what freebies the cruise line is offering.

[Kpstill]

We didn't book as a group because the other discounts were much cheaper for everyone in our group. Check out other pricing scenarios like senior, military, and resident discounts. Do the math for your situation.