Direct booking with Carnival

[woodman]

I just booked a cruise for next January with Carnival. I booked guarantee O/V for 3 people.
I got a good price and was told that if the price drops I will be givin a refund or shipboard crdit. Of couse with a Gte. I am in line for an upgrade I hope. Need some input, is there any disadvantages to booking directly with Carnival. Thanks for your thoughts.

[imatarb]

I've heard great things about people who book with Carnival PVP's (personal vacation planners). They will do their best to assist you.

I'm sure others who have experience booking with Carnival will respond, too.

You're in good hands.

Lisa http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[b]Monarch of the Seas - 1994
Royal Majesty - 1996

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=9400d3&cdt=2004;5;9;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500
Until VICTORY is ours


<MARQUEE>A day at sea is better than any day at work</MARQUEE>

[CruiseFever]

I did once, for our first cruise, believing I would cut out the middleman which is what I thought a Travel Agent was. My Carnival PVP was readily accessible to answer my questions and I had a lot of them because I had not discovered Cruise Critic then.

If I had it to do all over again I think I would have booked through them anyway just becaue I did not have a Travel Agent or any other source that I trusted to buy through

So I think you did the right thing

I do think that as you prepare for your cruise, coming here to have all your questions answered and then on and after your cruise that you'll probably gain the knowledge to do a lot of the booking yourself. What you'll need is a trusted and efficient travel agent and there are plenty of them out there.

On your cruise, make a point of going the the Cruise Critic meeting that will surely be happening. That's a good source for information about good travel agents. Chances are you'll meet someone whos been on a bunch of cruises and just loves a certain TA.

Or you may just stick with your Carnival PVP.

In any event your cabin on a particular ship on a particular sailing is alot like buying a pair name brand shoes. Once you decide on the size and style you look for price and would be foolish to pay $100 at one store when another one has the exact same shoes for $80.

Welcome to the board though and be sure to come here for some great info, I learn something new every day.

Happy Cruising

Chris

www.LifeIsCruising.com (http://www.LifeIsCruising.com)

Next up:
Caribbean Princess 06/26/04
Star Princess 10/24/04
Diamond Princess 12/22/04
Carnival Miracle 03/13/05

[LadySophisticate]

I have booked our last two cruises with a Carnival PVP. My PVP is absolutely the best! She not only gave us credit twice, she made sure all of our requests were met. She even called me upon our return to make sure everything went well with our cruise.

Great customer service!

Carnival Fascination 2/95
Carnival Imagination 02/96
Costa Victoria 03/97
Celebrity Galaxy 01/00
Carnival Destiny 01/02
Carnival Legend 02/04

[woodman]

How can I find out when and where the Cruise Critis group is meeting?

[3timecruiser]

We booked directly with a PVP and would do it again. WE had specifically asked for a room in midship as I do get motion sickness. As this was for our 30th ann and we are past guests we got a very good deal with upgrade at time of booking. No one else could get us the deal that she had gotten us.

[ralmyers]

I just booked with someone other than Carnival and I saved 350.00 over there rates on the Triumph. However, I have also booked with Carnival and never one time had any problems. Good luck!

Triumph
<IMG SRC="http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;5;22;16;00;00
&timezone=GMT-0500">

Fantasy - 94
Imagination - 95
Ecstasy - 99
Triumph - 04

[stlrboo]

Now that I've been hanging around the 'boards' for a while, and gained a ton of insight and information, I believe I may just do my own arrangements for our next cruise. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif
This one was totally through Carnival, and it was almost flawless, though a little pricey at times!
I need to try it on my own! I'm ready.. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif


I married my best friend in OchoRios, April 22!

http://www.xpectmore.com/images/odie_anm.gif
Triumph 4/04
Imagination 5/00
OceanBreeze 11/96
USS 'Neversail' SanDiego 10/65

[ralmyers]

Try buycruises.com, expedia, or ***********.com. I had all three and Carnival price my recent cruise and they were all quite a bit lower!

Triumph
<IMG SRC="http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;5;22;16;00;00
&timezone=GMT-0500">

Fantasy - 94
Imagination - 95
Ecstasy - 99
Triumph - 04

[cruisingator2]

You have to do your homework prior to booking. Check with Carnival and then check around with some of the other agencies. Carnival is not always the cheapest out there. I usually book my three and four night cruises with my PVP and then book the longer cruises with my TA. There is more play in price for the longer cruises and I always get a much better deal on those without going through Carnival.

Gordon

http://community.webshots.com/user/cruisingator

NCL Starward-86, Starship Atlantic-91, Caribe-92, Seabreeze-93, Fantasy-93, Norway-94, Celebration-94, Sensation-95, Imagination-96, Destiny-97, Celebration-98, Triumph-99, Victory-00, Majesty of the Seas-01, Fascination-01, Carnival Pride-02, Majesty of the Seas-02, Carnival Legend-02, Fantasy 7-03, Glory 9-03, Fantasy 11-03, Triumph 3/04.

9/02/2004 Fantasy
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=808000&cdt=2004;9;2;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500

Navigator of the Seas 12/04/04
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=111111&cdt=2004;12;04;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500

[ralmyers]

And besides... maybe it is just me, but I think doing the homework is half of the fun and anticipation. I love that part!

Triumph
<IMG SRC="http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;5;22;16;00;00
&timezone=GMT-0500">

Fantasy - 94
Imagination - 95
Ecstasy - 99
Triumph - 04

[FurryCruiser]

Well, my PVP at Carnival has been wonderful. I generally cross-check prices, but haven't seen a great deal of difference. And, the one time I didn't use Carnival to book, there were all sorts of problems getting the tickets. However, that's just my experience with a particular alternate route.

My mother's parents, who are cruise gods at this point (generally 3-4 cruises a year, every year, for the past 15-20 years) use a travel agent. The agent knows them, what ports they prefer, and calls them when an abrupt good deal comes up on one of the itenerary's they like. So, a TA can great. I've personally had better luck with the PVP at Carnival.

04/03 Carnival Ecstasy
01/04 Carnival Pride
07/04 Carnival Fantasy

Fantasy, 7/04
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=228b22&cdt=2004;7;4;16;30;00&timezone=GMT-0400

[LornaT]

Just a hint, yes Carnival will reduce your rate, upgrade you or give you shipboard credit.....but you have to be the one to ask for it. They will not call you and offer it (except maybe for an upgrade) so watch their on-line pricing and when you see it go down (even after final payment) call your rep/PVP quick.
I learned that with my PVP, she knew for my first cruise last year that the pricing was going down, but their not allowed to call, luckily she knows I'm watching them too and when I called I first got an upgrade and then with another drop managed to get a suite for a nominal increase....Yippee

[redryder75]

I agree with Lorna. If you use a PVP, you have to watch and ask for price reduction consideration. Thanks to all the suggestions on this board, I did and Carnival treated me great...an upgrade and shipboard credits. I chose the PVP mostly because I wanted a real person to deal with on our first cruise and I did not have a standing relationship with a TA. Armed with the experiences shared on this board, I would feel more comfortable dealing with an online agent next time around. Thanks to everyone here.

Jun 13 '04 Elation
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=006400&cdt=2004;6;13;16;30;00&timezone=GMT-0600

[Cotton]

Hmmm. I may be the exception here. I've used the same PVP for the past 3 cruises, and just booked another with her this week. She DOES call me if there's a rate reduction. Has done it twice. Then I call her if I see a lower rate, and have gotten further reduction, and/or shipboard credits for every cruise. Love that gal!

Festivale 1987
Carnivale 1988
Mardi Gras 1989
Pacific Princess 1990
Norway 1994
Holiday 2001
Holiday 2002
Holiday 2003