When to book TA for 2025?

[Formal_Cruiser]

I have my eyes on a Carnival cruise from Europe to the US summer next year. Schedule wise it would be possible to take kids along, which makes the itinerary very enticing.

 

I'm trying to estimate an optimal time for booking. Never cruised Carnival, so I have no idea, how the prices develop and if there are sales campaings I should wait for.

 

When would be a recommended time to book? I have no preference for cabin location, but it should be ocean view at least to comfortably fit four. I can wait for a long time, but do not want the cruise become fully booked. Would there be considerable savings with waiting?

[n6uqqq]

I don't see any advantage to waiting. Carnival prices have been going only up that I have seen lately. Plus now you get a better selection of staterooms. If you book early saver rate and the price drops you can take advantage of that and Carnival will match the lower price.

[Saint Greg]

Book early saver or any rate that has price protection and you can take the price drop. 

[mz-s]

Why would you wait? If the price goes down, you just cancel and rebook or get price protection. Waiting will only give you less cabin selection and likely cause you to pay more.

[Formal_Cruiser]

9 hours ago, n6uqqq said:

I don't see any advantage to waiting. Carnival prices have been going only up that I have seen lately. Plus now you get a better selection of staterooms. If you book early saver rate and the price drops you can take advantage of that and Carnival will match the lower price.

 

Is not the early saver difference paid in OBC? I think price matching works only in the US. It might be possible to book the cruise through the US site, but Carnival also has sites for the EU countries. I wonder if I will run into problems somewhere using the US site, as the terms and conditions might vary.

 

Thanks to all for advice, I'll have to research this more.

 

 

[jimbo5544]

Early is almost ALWAYS better.  

[Frank12]

18 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

Early is almost ALWAYS better.  

What Jimbo5544 said!

[Pyxie]

5 hours ago, Formal_Cruiser said:

 

Is not the early saver difference paid in OBC? I think price matching works only in the US. It might be possible to book the cruise through the US site, but Carnival also has sites for the EU countries. I wonder if I will run into problems somewhere using the US site, as the terms and conditions might vary.

 

Thanks to all for advice, I'll have to research this more.

 

 

 

With Early Saver, the rate is reduced if before paid in full and given as OBC after. But, to your point, I don't know that the rules are the same in Europe. I would call and ask for sure.

[JimmyTheSaint]

As someone who's sailed three Transatlantic crossings with Carnival and we have the Mardi Gras Transatlantic booked for Oct 2025 I would recommend you book as early as possible. These sailings tend to sail at or very close to capacity so the price only goes one way from now, upwards. 

[lostsoulcruiser]

Not sure Carnival's schedule entirely matches with yours. I was looking at the same thing and there is nothing in the tradional summer months that goes from Europe to the US.  There is one in each of the following months June, October and November. The June cruise ends up in New Orleans.  

My reasons for looking at a TA from Europe to the US is silly, coming back to the US, it is  25 hour days as opposed to going to Europe which is 23 hour days.  It is a psychological thing.

 

Others have commented on price, book now if you are certain.  Any price reduction can be refunded in the form of an OBC.  The only problem with this is that you have to continue to follow the prices.  Carnival does not do that for you.  

Good luck on your travels.

[Formal_Cruiser]

5 hours ago, lostsoulcruiser said:

Not sure Carnival's schedule entirely matches with yours. I was looking at the same thing and there is nothing in the tradional summer months that goes from Europe to the US.  There is one in each of the following months June, October and November. The June cruise ends up in New Orleans.  

 

In Finland school summer holidays start already in June, so it is exactly the cruise to New Orleans I am thinking about. I have never been there, just in East and West Coast, so it would be interesting to visit there.

 

In a best possible situation there would be more port days also at the end of the cruise, but in the beginning the ships visits a couple of ports in Spain, in which I have never been, and also Azores would be a very exotic destination. And really there are not cruises every year which do coincide with the school holidays. The Venezia crossing started just a few days too early, otherwise we would have been on it. I have been on a week long cruise with my family, and my son was so sad when we had to leave the ship. I know this would be fantastic opportunity.

 

I notice that the consensus is to book early. I think I will heed it and wil not wait until the last minute forbetter prices. There seems to be a lot of rotating cruise deals, however. A 3rd and 4th person free would mean significant savings, if something like that would become available.

[csm5986142]

We have done 32 cruises with Carnival and in our experience, booking early has been better. 

We are already booked on the Mardi Gras TA October 2025.  

[jimbo5544]

Esp if you like a particular room category.