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Are the $0/$20 last minute deals normal, or a COVID thing?

Crismess669

By Crismess669,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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  • Crismess669 changed the title to Are the $0/$20 last minute deals normal, or a COVID thing?
csm5986142

csm5986142

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I have been cruising on carnival since 2009.  These deals have been around since then for gamblers, but the difference I have seen now is that people don't need to spend near as much time/money in the casino to receive the offers.  As you may have read here, some people who have never even gambled on the ships are getting the offers.  Likewise, somebody I know who spends a lot of time/money in the casinos used to receive offers for free balcony or interior rooms, now gets offers for free suites. 

So, I guess what I'm trying to say is that I think the deals will always be around, but the criteria/thresholds for receiving them will probably go back up once they aren't having trouble filling up the ships.  

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tallnthensome

tallnthensome

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59 minutes ago, Crismess669 said:

Basically, will these $0 interior/$20 outside cabin deals be available later in the year? Is this the secret to cruising often?

There are offers to some of us through April for $0 to $100. I received an offer for 2 in an inside for 15 days to Hawaii for $0. Most cruises after April is where the deals fall off. 

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Itried4498

Itried4498

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1 hour ago, mondello said:

Ships are finally filling closer to capacity as the Omicron surge is fading and mandates relaxing. I wouldn't expect free cabin offers around for long.


No, the ships are filling closer to capacity largely because of heavy discounting.  Carnival’s most recent sales include summer and Christmas/New Year’s travel - and that’s on top of the recent price drops.  We don’t get free cabin offers,  but we got a fantastic deal on a cruise in May.  We placed it on hold, and after the hold expired, Carnival contacted us gave us a free upgrade from ocean -> balcony if we agreed to purchase it in full then.  Absolutely insane.

 

The deals won’t last forever — Carnival recently said it expected heavy discounting to continue through 2022, but thinks 2023 will be a banner year.

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Crismess669

Crismess669

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1 hour ago, nwcruiselover said:

Just temporary, to fill ships until cruising gets back to “normal.”  Also, only some people receive these offers.  I haven’t gotten any such offers, but I have friends who are getting them frequently.


I just got off my first Carnival cruise less than a month ago. That may be why. 

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Crismess669

Crismess669

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10 minutes ago, Sailing Smooth said:

We got a cruise over spring break (6 day Horizon) for $200/person in a balcony.  I've never seen anything that cheap, and we don't gamble more than $10 in a quarter machine.  Great deals!

I didn’t gamble on our cruise at all. Even a “free” interior is well over $300 after they add taxes and fees and gratuity, but I I had the time off from work I would certainly go!

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Crismess669

Crismess669

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26 minutes ago, Itried4498 said:

The deals won’t last forever — Carnival recently said it expected heavy discounting to continue through 2022, but thinks 2023 will be a banner year.

I’ll be happy if they continue throughout 2022. I won’t be able to use vacation time until fall and seeing these deals is killing me. 

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mondello

mondello

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Just now, Crismess669 said:

I’ll be happy if they continue throughout 2022. I won’t be able to use vacation time until fall and seeing these deals is killing me. 

You may see decent prices in the fall, prices drop after peak summer season. Those that can cruise when kids are in school and everyone working get the best fares off-peak. I use to love going the first week of Dec., still hot in the Caribbean, post hurricane season and decent flying weather.

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Crismess669

Crismess669

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1 minute ago, mondello said:

You may see decent prices in the fall, prices drop after peak summer season. Those that can cruise when kids are in school and everyone working get the best fares off-peak. I use to love going the first week of Dec., still hot in the Caribbean, post hurricane season and decent flying weather.

This is fantastic. Early December is when I’m looking before the days get too short. Thanks! 

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mondello

mondello

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1 minute ago, Crismess669 said:

This is fantastic. Early December is when I’m looking before the days get too short. Thanks! 

You can wait for last minute price drops before booking but, I'd bet you will see 7 day cruises around $250pp or less? Book Early Saver if you check prices regularly and get price drops refunded or OBC. That was always my week to book.

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Pellaz

Pellaz

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18 minutes ago, Crismess669 said:

I didn’t gamble on our cruise at all. Even a “free” interior is well over $300 after they add taxes and fees and gratuity, but I I had the time off from work I would certainly go!

 

Yep.  TANSTAAFL:  there ain't no such thing as a free lunch.  

But I don't mind paying port fees and taxes (well, not too much) since that money is something Carnival would have to pay out regardless.   And after seeing incredibly risky maneuvers by port-pilots, like jumping onto our ship in really heavy seas, I don't begrudge them their share; they truly earn it. 

 

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Itried4498

Itried4498

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45 minutes ago, Crismess669 said:

I’ll be happy if they continue throughout 2022. I won’t be able to use vacation time until fall and seeing these deals is killing me. 


They’ve already been on sale.  Last week, you could purchase an inside stateroom the week of Christmas on the Panorama for about $1700 all-in for four people (good luck fitting four people in the room) which is insane.

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tidecat

tidecat

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Your best bets will be to go out of smaller homeports (Mobile, Jacksonville, etc.), As those should get you further into March or April. Although I could have booked an interior room for any of five sailings on the Horizon after the one I just completed for port taxes only.

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cruisingguy007

cruisingguy007

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5 hours ago, tidecat said:

Your best bets will be to go out of smaller homeports (Mobile, Jacksonville, etc.), As those should get you further into March or April. Although I could have booked an interior room for any of five sailings on the Horizon after the one I just completed for port taxes only.

 

Mine are only showing February and March, April is grayed out for Long Beach.  

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Itried4498

Itried4498

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1 minute ago, SNJCruisers said:

No you won't.  Been a VIFP member since 1986.  Have received ZERO of these cut rate offers.


I suspect there’s some sort of demographic they’re targeting.  When I was in the hot tub on the Panorama, I conversed with somebody who claimed they received four back-to-back cruises, and $1000 obc.  She said she had no idea… she hardly gambled or anything like that.  Every time I cut through the the casino to get to the restaurant, guess who I saw?  And the cocktail waitress would automatically bring her drinks…

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cruisingguy007

cruisingguy007

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4 minutes ago, SNJCruisers said:

No you won't.  Been a VIFP member since 1986.  Have received ZERO of these cut rate offers.

 

The $200 on board credit and reduced fares are pretty wide spread and a pretty good deal. You should check again, though, they typically don't offer these types of deals if you already have something booked within the time frame of the offer period.  

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