lowering cruise price

[cajun]

How do you know when the prices of cruises go down? I booked conquest, in October through Carnival, and I would like to find out when or if I can get a discount if the price is lowered. I paid for the cruise in October as well. My sailing is Hopefully in April. Thanks for any information.

[Al]

Go to the Carnival website, and enter the information as if you were booking for the first time. If the price for your category is lower, contact Carnival. But better still, check out some travel agencies on-line. Their prices are almost always better than the cruise lines' fares. If you find one that gives you a sweeter deal, all you have to do is provide them with Carnival's booking number, and the cruise will be transferred over to your new TA. It's not always best to pay in full up front (I usually squirrel away the money until it's due), since you might run into a little resistance moving a paid-up cruise from Carnival to a TA (they don't like to refund money).

If your final payment date has past, and you discover a lower price somewhere, it's almost certainly for new bookings only. But Carnival will likely appease you with a $50pp onboard credit if you mention that you discovered a better deal. Happy Hunting, and have a great cruise!

[kakarp]

Just keep checking their web site. The DW and I always book right form Carnival, I always choose our cabin. For instance for my upcoming May cruise I booked two cabins on upper deck 6 both balconies. My DW and my brother and his DW. I booked these last June. I do my home work to see what is above and below the cabins, IE bars, clubs restaurants. Then call and book. After that I keep an eye on the web site for sales and discounts. When I see a sale going on or a price reduction, I call. Have always gotten the new price. Again for my May cruise my cabins on deck 6 were about 1049 per person. Saw sale and got down to 929 pp. Saw another sale got down to 849 pp and an upgrade to lido deck 9 two balconies. I could have had deck 10 but was to close to front of ship for my tastes. So I asked for lido deck and got it. At least I know were I am going and it is what I want.

Last year after we had paid in full I saw deal called Carnival and because we were paid in full Carnival credit back to my credit card the sum of $300. $150 pp. My brother took the $300 shipboard credit. At the end of the cruise he had not spent the $300 so on the last night went to the pursers desk and was given a check for the rest. The ship credit worked so well I wish I had elected for that option. Ship credit is what Carnival would rather give so I found out later.

[mr jimmy]

Carnival did the same for us when they lowered the price before we made the final payment by reducing the same amount for the payment, and then when there was another price drop after that, they gave us the corresponding $ for $ shipboard credit. The credit shows up on your receipt with the ticket book they send. No resistance - happy to do it for us - but still we had to ask for it. We just looked at the latest CCL pricing and some of the internet prices for the latest.
One other thing - my brother was unable to get any credit since he had been upgraded several times since booking.
This is our second booking direct through CCL and we have been very satisfied with their service.

[thechangingtable]

jumping in on this thread. what about the cruise agents that include gift MC/Visa with purchase?? I am thinking of using an online agent for a carnival booking. The price is good I think, plus it includes a $175 mastercard mailed sailing week (so that means I cannot take it with me I guess?).

will the online agent be willing to adjust prices if I am getting the GC? is that why they dont ship the GC? any experience with these sales tactics?

[kakarp]

I'm sorry that I can't help you on this. I've never heard of it myself.

Anyone else maybe???