question about non-refundable deposit

[grest]

I booked a cruise for next year using a non-refundable deposit.  It is a 7 night cruise.  Now I would like to do a different cruise instead, this one 14 nights, and move from an ocean view to a balcony cabin.  Wondering if in this situation the deposit can be changed to the new booking.  If not, okay, but thought I would ask the experts about how, if possible, to make this happen.  Also, will be cruising next week....do you think I might have better luck dealing with the onboard booking person?

Thanks for the help.

[lobo55]

We did this on our last cruise. There was a $50/person penalty. We had paid more than the deposit so they just took the money from that and we forged on. Our friends had only paid the deposit so far and had to pay the $50 at the time of changing.

[PhillyFan33579]

If you booked an ES rate, it will cost you $50 per person to change the cruise.  However, you might get lucky if you call Carnival directly and get the right person to answer your call, although I wouldn’t count on that. Carnival no longer has a future cruise desk on their ships. 

[ProgRockCruiser]

As noted by others in the last minute (ninja'd because I took too long to type!)

 

If you booked Super Saver:

 

You forfeit completely $50 per person of the original deposit, and the rest can be transferred to the new booking.  If your new booking has a deposit higher than that remaining transfer, you have to pay the difference right away.

 

Note that sometimes if you contact Carnival by phone they won't let you apply the original deposit (minus $50 pp) as a new deposit - you have to pay the new deposit in full and the transfer applies to the rest of the fare.  I do not know which is their official policy - I got mine transferred to the deposit, but others have reported differently.

 

There are no on-board booking people any more, as far as I know.  From what I understand, Carnival stopped doing the on-board promo.  Maybe they are now merged into the overall Guest Services area.

[grest]

This was a casino rate.

[ober134]

On board booking was replaced with a post cruise promotion. You will receive an email with offers good for up to 2 wks post cruise. Honestly, I never found on board booking agents to be knowledgeable nor offer fab deals; likewise those post cruise offers don't seem exceptional. Curious to hear if anyone else has different experience on this.

[Djptcp]

 We have booked several cruises with the casino rates and then changed our minds to go on different dates. The non-refundable deposit at the time of bookings was $198. That was lost, however, we then received emails after the cancellations and got $98 of it back applied to our new bookings. In the email, you select the link and it takes you to a form to fill out with the cancelled cruise information and the new booking information. After a few days, the $98 has always been credited to the new booking. So, it cost $100 to make the changes. You have 1 or 2 years to make a new booking to be able to do this.

[bakersdozen12]

One thing to be aware of when it comes to the funds above the $50 per person that you will lose: you can only apply the remaining funds to a new deposit if you book a new cruise when you cancel the first one. Otherwise, it can only be applied to the balance due, and you will need to fork over a whole new deposit. 

 

In any case, you will need to call Carnival. No, there is no way around their rules. You will have to forfeit the $50 per person, as that is the penalty involved with the non-refundable rates. 

[Illbcruzn4life]

6 hours ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

As noted by others in the last minute (ninja'd because I took too long to type!)

 

If you booked Super Saver:

 

You forfeit completely $50 per person of the original deposit, and the rest can be transferred to the new booking.  If your new booking has a deposit higher than that remaining transfer, you have to pay the difference right away.

 

Note that sometimes if you contact Carnival by phone they won't let you apply the original deposit (minus $50 pp) as a new deposit - you have to pay the new deposit in full and the transfer applies to the rest of the fare.  I do not know which is their official policy - I got mine transferred to the deposit, but others have reported differently.

 

There are no on-board booking people any more, as far as I know.  From what I understand, Carnival stopped doing the on-board promo.  Maybe they are now merged into the overall Guest Services area.

 

Super Saver rates for the cruise I was looking at say the deposit is non nonrefundable and non transferable.

 

Super saver rate includes:

 

Disclaimer

Guest selects stateroom type (e.g. interior, ocean view, balcony or suite), but Carnival assigns the deck and location of the stateroom. Carnival will assign the stateroom at a later time. Guests who select the interior upper/lower stateroom type may be assigned upper/lower accommodations. Guests who select the oceanview, balcony or suite stateroom types may be assigned partially to fully obstructed views. This fare does not qualify for Early Saver price protection. A non-refundable and non-transferable deposit is required at the time of booking. No name changes. Request rate code PSV. Click here for additional information and details.

[babe97]

I had a cruise booked for September 2018. I booked early saver and before the final payment date, although we had paid in full, we realized we weren't going to be able to go. No big deal I figured I'd just call them and change it to February 2019 and we'd lose $50pp. I called my PVP and he said "let me see if I can get this fee waived" he put me on hold for a few minutes came back and had applied our entire amount to the new cruise, which was cheaper, so now we are paid in full and have an onboard credit already. I was really surprised. Didn't think they'd do that. Now the other factor that might have played into it was we booked 2 other cabins for family members that are joining us in February and weren't booked on the original cruise. So that might be why? 

[ProgRockCruiser]

2 hours ago, Illbcruzn4life said:

 

Super Saver rates for the cruise I was looking at say the deposit is non nonrefundable and non transferable.

 

Super saver rate includes:

 

Disclaimer

Guest selects stateroom type (e.g. interior, ocean view, balcony or suite), but Carnival assigns the deck and location of the stateroom. Carnival will assign the stateroom at a later time. Guests who select the interior upper/lower stateroom type may be assigned upper/lower accommodations. Guests who select the oceanview, balcony or suite stateroom types may be assigned partially to fully obstructed views. This fare does not qualify for Early Saver price protection. A non-refundable and non-transferable deposit is required at the time of booking. No name changes. Request rate code PSV. Click here for additional information and details.

 

Ah, I may have been thinking early saver, which does allow the transfer to a new booking, minus the $50 pp.

Edited December 31, 2018 by ProgRockCruiser