Do you ever get a better offer on a cruise after final payment?

[Eli_6]

I booked a cruise over the Easter weekend a month or so ago that was more than I would prefer to pay (with price protection) hoping we might get a casino offer later on. The price is even more now.  My TA said new casino offers were coming out in January.   We didn't get any...so I was hoping maybe we might get one after our next cruise in early February if we gamble on that cruise.  We didn't really gamble on our last cruise because it was in Europe and there wasn't time and we haven't gotten any casino offers since then.  Final payment on our Easter cruise is due before our Feb cruise.  Has anyone gotten lucky and had their cruise go down after final payment?  I am going on it regardless but was just wondering. 

Edited January 9, 2023 by Eli_6

[Schoifmom]

I've had at least one price drop after final payment date, submitted a price protection form, and received the difference as OBC.

[mz-s]

Well the problem with a lot of casino offers lately is (at least mine) have said they're good for new bookings only, so you can't price match an existing booking. Or at least it would seem that way, I don't know how they'd react if you actually tried.

 

The way things are going right now though I wouldn't hold my breath on the price going down. I am seeing some good offers for the average cruise but holiday/special cruise prices are generally only going one direction right now...up up and away...

[RoperDK]

Not sure about prices going down after final payment at this point in time.  I think ships are sailing pretty full.  As for casino offers, I have found they only have a limited number of cabins available for casino bookings.  Once those cabins are gone, the offer still looks available, but you won't be able to book using the offer.  In other words, there won't be any discount available for your cabin type.  You might get your extras (DOU and Freeplay) though.  Good luck.  

[Elaine5715]

47 minutes ago, Eli_6 said:

I booked a cruise over the Easter weekend a month or so ago that was more than I would prefer to pay (with price protection) hoping we might get a casino offer later on. The price is even more now.  My TA said new casino offers were coming out in January.   We didn't get any...so I was hoping maybe we might get one after our next cruise in early February if we gamble on that cruise.  We didn't really gamble on our last cruise because it was in Europe and there wasn't time and we haven't gotten any casino offers since then.  Final payment on our Easter cruise is due before our Feb cruise.  Has anyone gotten lucky and had their cruise go down after final payment?  I am going on it regardless but was just wondering. 

It is almost impossible to get any changes in a casino offer since it is considered a cancel/rebook after the final payment date, not the date you paid the cruise off early.  The change in offers can result in loss of original perks

[Eli_6]

49 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

It is almost impossible to get any changes in a casino offer since it is considered a cancel/rebook after the final payment date, not the date you paid the cruise off early.  The change in offers can result in loss of original perks

The original offer I am on is not a casino offer. I was hoping to get a casino offer.

[Elaine5715]

35 minutes ago, Eli_6 said:

The original offer I am on is not a casino offer. I was hoping to get a casino offer.

Then, that may be possible,  check and check again.  However, I just got a second set of great casino related offers and I did zero casino time on my very last cruise in Aug 22 so check now

[BlerkOne]

I wasn't allowed to switch to a casino offer after final payment. YMMV.

[chocolate melting cake]

It's happened to us on regular deals------when we called we received OBC.

[Elaine5715]

2 hours ago, chocolate melting cake said:

It's happened to us on regular deals------when we called we received OBC.

Casino offers have different restrictions

[justafem]

I was able to about a month ago.  Booked a cruise, paid it off.  Then got a casino offer and utilized the best price guarantee. Received $1600 onboard credit.  Huge win!

[EllieinNJ]

2 hours ago, justafem said:

I was able to about a month ago.  Booked a cruise, paid it off.  Then got a casino offer and utilized the best price guarantee. Received $1600 onboard credit.  Huge win!

What is the best price guarantee? 

[DanvilleCruiser]

1 hour ago, EllieinNJ said:

What is the best price guarantee? 

From Carnival’s website,

If you find a better Carnival-advertised deal within two days of booking your cruise… well, we’re going to be very surprised. And then we’ll give you 110% of the difference in onboard credit! You can be confident that our prices are the lowest, so you can get on to more important things... like counting down the days until you sail!

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

1 hour ago, EllieinNJ said:

What is the best price guarantee? 

This is what I think they meant:

 

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2705/~/early-saver-promotion

[EllieinNJ]

1 hour ago, PrincessArlena'sDad said:

This is what I think they meant:

 

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2705/~/early-saver-promotion

I have a refundable rate.  Is this also considered best price guaranteed?

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

22 minutes ago, EllieinNJ said:

I have a refundable rate.  Is this also considered best price guaranteed?

Generally, rates with refundable deposits get price protection up until pay in full date (though it never hurts to ask). Early saver rates have a non- refundable deposit.

 

You do need to be careful though. Price matches could result in an increase in the deposit required- and make sure you ask the agent to check this, or the booking could be auto canceled for insufficient deposit. 

 

Also, you could get a price match to a lower fare, but lose the obc from the old fare, resulting in a net increase in price. 

[d12j28]

19 hours ago, Eli_6 said:

I booked a cruise over the Easter weekend a month or so ago that was more than I would prefer to pay (with price protection) hoping we might get a casino offer later on. The price is even more now.  My TA said new casino offers were coming out in January.   We didn't get any...so I was hoping maybe we might get one after our next cruise in early February if we gamble on that cruise.  We didn't really gamble on our last cruise because it was in Europe and there wasn't time and we haven't gotten any casino offers since then.  Final payment on our Easter cruise is due before our Feb cruise.  Has anyone gotten lucky and had their cruise go down after final payment?  I am going on it regardless but was just wondering. 

IF you get a casino offer they are for new bookings only. You would have to cancel and then rebook. Unless it was a really good offer it probably wouldn't be worth it because you would get hit with whatever the cancellation penalty is on the first booking. 

[Eli_6]

5 hours ago, EllieinNJ said:

What is the best price guarantee? 

I meant price protection.  I always try to book a rate with price protection.  If the rate of the cruise goes down or you get offered a better rate later, then carnival gives you the difference in on board credit. 

[dallasdan]

We booked a Hawaii cruise over a year ago on my DW's casino offer.  Free interior room with $200 free play for her only.  Last week we both received a better casino offer and we were able to switch our room to the Interior with obstructed view on the 4th floor and we both received $500 free play and free drinks everywhere.  We only had to pay $38 more because the port fees and gratuities were slightly higher.  We did go on 2 cruises after our booking and we did spend way to much time in the casino on the last cruise in May.  We leave in February.  I just kept doing mock bookings to see if I could upgrade our room.

Edited January 10, 2023 by dallasdan

[BlerkOne]

Okay. I guess the question was about price matching and not obtaining casino perks.

 

Casino rates are promotional rates not available to everyone, even though it may seem like it. Per the T&C they are not technically eligible for matching, YMMV.

 

 

[Eli_6]

2 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

Okay. I guess the question was about price matching and not obtaining casino perks.

 

Casino rates are promotional rates not available to everyone, even though it may seem like it. Per the T&C they are not technically eligible for matching, YMMV.

 

 

Yes, I was asking about price protection, but also asking about rebooking. Either one. I did not initially book under a casino rate for this cruise, but we do sometimes get casino offers. 

 

My thought process was because we sometimes have gotten free rooms, $99 balconies, etc. and this room was pretty much full price, losing the initial deposit (which is all you lose up until 56 days before the cruise and day 55 will not occur until after we get back from our next cruise) would be well worth re-booking under a casino rate should we get a casino offer when we get back from our next cruise.

 

With that said, I sometimes think that if you have several cruises booked, they don't send you casino offers...    

Edited January 10, 2023 by Eli_6

[Eli_6]

I realize a better deal on a holiday weekend is pretty unlikely to happen which is why I went ahead and booked it awhile back.  But I suppose I will keep checking back just in case.  The cheap rates have spoiled me such that now when I pay full-price, I feel like I overpay. 

[lazydayz]

Some years ago we did early saver on three rooms.  Two of those cabins then qualified for casino offers.  We ended up with thousand of OBC and had a great cruise.