Early saver keeps failing me

I booked 2 cruises this year on early saver. In the past I've had awesome luck with it. So far I'm 0 for 2 on it this year.

My cruise which is in 15 DAYS!!!!!! (Sorry a bit excited) kept going up in price and finally sold out. I was really hoping to get an upgrade:mad: no biggie at least I got a good price.

My next cruise is in January and price isn't going down on that one either. It keeps having sales where the oceanviews are cheaper than the insides but... only if they pick the room. And from what I was told I can't take one of those and stay in early saver?

Is that correct?? Do you have to have an assigned room to stay on early saver?? I really want to upgrade to an ocean view

That is what I thought also but a lot of people on my January cruise were able to switch to a guarantee room. They are still price matching but can only price match to another guarantee room price in their same category.

For example, switch to an inside guarantee, you price is now $400. Next sale, an inside guarantee is $350. They were able to get the $50 obc due to they are matching to an inside guarantee. They are still ES but can only price match to a guarantee room.

Some were denied the credit but reminded Carnival that they originally booked ES and were given the credit because once ES, always ES and you can price match to the category you are in.

Hope this makes sense.:)

I no longer use ES. I use the Military rate, which is always the same price as ES. I never see price drops anymore. I don't know if it's the sailings I choose, the cabins or just bad luck, but ES hasn't really done me any good. I did have to pay the $50 p.p. change fee once.

In the past I've gotten several hundreds of dollars in OBC using early saver but not any more.

That is what I thought also but a lot of people on my January cruise were able to switch to a guarantee room. They are still price matching but can only price match to another guarantee room price in their same category.

 

For example, switch to an inside guarantee, you price is now $400. Next sale, an inside guarantee is $350. They were able to get the $50 obc due to they are matching to an inside guarantee. They are still ES but can only price match to a guarantee room.

 

Some were denied the credit but reminded Carnival that they originally booked ES and were given the credit because once ES, always ES and you can price match to the category you are in.

 

Hope this makes sense.:)

I am gonna call them again. They told me if I took the guarantee room I would be booted out of early saver because you have to have a room assignment to get it??

That is what I thought also but a lot of people on my January cruise were able to switch to a guarantee room. They are still price matching but can only price match to another guarantee room price in their same category.

 

For example, switch to an inside guarantee, you price is now $400. Next sale, an inside guarantee is $350. They were able to get the $50 obc due to they are matching to an inside guarantee. They are still ES but can only price match to a guarantee room.

 

Some were denied the credit but reminded Carnival that they originally booked ES and were given the credit because once ES, always ES and you can price match to the category you are in.

 

Hope this makes sense.:)

Permission to make this kind of switch is at the discretion of Carnival as it is not part if the existing terms and conditions of the Early Saver offer. Many have been successful in making this one time change and remain Early Saver but can not make any other change to something other than a guarantee rate.

Do so with full understandng of how the terms of your altered booking will affect you.

I booked ES for my January cruise in 2016. The price has gone up so high that I never did see a drop. I called to see about an upgrade and all they did was give me a price that was going that day never considered my ES price. Why bother booking ES and all I have to do is wait until I see a reasonable price and let them choose my cabin.

Permission to make this kind of switch is at the discretion of Carnival as it is not part if the existing terms and conditions of the Early Saver offer. Many have been successful in making this one time change and remain Early Saver but can not make any other change to something other than a guarantee rate.

 

Do so with full understandng of how the terms of your altered booking will affect you.

I agree but as I stated lots of people on my sailing have done it and are still price matching to Guarantee rooms. Do I think it is fair, no because it is inconsistent with Carnivals ES policy but is Carnival allowing it...evidently yes.

I passed on the guarantee rooms and I am also paying hundreds of dollars more than the others on the same sailing.

I agree but as I stated lots of people on my sailing have done it and are still price matching to Guarantee rooms. Do I think it is fair, no because it is inconsistent with Carnivals ES policy but is Carnival allowing it...evidently yes.

 

I passed on the guarantee rooms and I am also paying hundreds of dollars more than the others on the same sailing.

I am gonna call and give it a try.

I just called and the lady said she can upgrade me ONE time but I will no longer be in early saver and will no longer be able to upgrade my cabin or make any other changes.

I told her people have told me you can so long as you stice with the guarantee cabin and she said absolutely not...

I guess I will no longer use early saver

I just called and the lady said she can upgrade me ONE time but I will no longer be in early saver and will no longer be able to upgrade my cabin or make any other changes.

 

I told her people have told me you can so long as you stice with the guarantee cabin and she said absolutely not...

 

 

 

I guess I will no longer use early saver

I'm surprised they allow anyone to switch to a guarantee at all (and I know they do because I've seen it before but only that one time and no further price drops) because you are "downgrading". And in the ES rules it clearly states that downgrading is prohibited. Even though one may still be in the same class of room, a guarantee is in fact a downgrade.

I am having a little difficulty here. ES is "failing you" because you didn't get any price drops? So, in other words, you got the best possible price, bought it, and then sat back and watched the price go up and your fellow cruisers pay MORE than you for the same accommodations?

Take a little time and pat yourself on the back for timing your purchase well and snagging a better deal than others are getting.

When I lost booked, the ES rate was the best rate available. So, there was no real risk. Maybe it "failed you" if a lower rate was available, but you booked gambled on the ES payoff?

I am having a little difficulty here. ES is "failing you" because you didn't get any price drops? So, in other words, you got the best possible price, bought it, and then sat back and watched the price go up and your fellow cruisers pay MORE than you for the same accommodations?

 

Take a little time and pat yourself on the back for timing your purchase well and snagging a better deal than others are getting.

 

When I lost booked, the ES rate was the best rate available. So, there was no real risk. Maybe it "failed you" if a lower rate was available, but you booked gambled on the ES payoff?

I suppose you are right. I've had such success in the past that I am spoiled.

I am a bit aggravated at the fact that the only price drops I ever see anymore are on guarantee cabins. .

But I agree that I have a good price on my cruise and can't complain about that.

First time Carnival Cruiser, booked ES for upcoming cruise. Was able to price match when they had OBC offers for the first 2 cabins we booked. Now waiting for either price drops or OBC offers to match for the other 2 cabins. If I don't get any, like the one person said, good price was why I booked ES the price match thing is the bonus.

I suppose you are right. I've had such success in the past that I am spoiled.

 

I am a bit aggravated at the fact that the only price drops I ever see anymore are on guarantee cabins. .

 

 

 

But I agree that I have a good price on my cruise and can't complain about that.

I've had success in the past also but those ES drops are becoming very scarce. I understand that Carnival is a business and with their bookings stronger than ever right now it would be foolish on their part to drop prices when they don't need too.

In the past I've gotten several hundreds of dollars in OBC using early saver but not any more.

 

 

I am gonna call them again. They told me if I took the guarantee room I would be booted out of early saver because you have to have a room assignment to get it??

Correct. If you switch from ES to a GTY, you lose ES. I have only done it once but it was worth it for the $600 OBC I got.

Also, I disagree with the poster that moving to GTY is a downgrade. If you are in an 8A (the lowest balcony category) the worst you can get with a GTY Balcony is an 8A so it is a lateral move, not a downgrade. If you were in an 8B, then it is possible that you would downgrade.

Early Saver is just that now--book very early to get the lowest price. Today, with sophisticated computer programs that adjust the price based on continuously changing supply and demand--and without human intervention--the price will only go up as time goes by. We have not seen any price drops on our cruises since 2012.

For my cruises in 2011, I received only a $20 price drop. For 2012, I matched to a casino rate that saved me a lot but I considered the casino rate a one off thing.

For our cruises in January, we were able to take advantage of several price drops in August and September and saved $500 so there are occasional price drops still (and we booked right when the Pride Journey cruises were announced).

It can happen, it just doesn't always.

We don't book ES because we got burned REAL GOOD when Carnival switched ships and didn't want to refund our money. We have a cruise booked with Carnival now, but not using ES. Oh no. Never again.

I booked 2 cruises this year on early saver. In the past I've had awesome luck with it. So far I'm 0 for 2 on it this year.

 

My cruise which is in 15 DAYS!!!!!! (Sorry a bit excited) kept going up in price and finally sold out. I was really hoping to get an upgrade:mad: no biggie at least I got a good price.

 

My next cruise is in January and price isn't going down on that one either. It keeps having sales where the oceanviews are cheaper than the insides but... only if they pick the room. And from what I was told I can't take one of those and stay in early saver?

 

Is that correct?? Do you have to have an assigned room to stay on early saver?? I really want to upgrade to an ocean view

I'm having the same luck. We do only B2B cruises now - 14 days. In 2014 & 2015 we got a lot of price drops. This year we're also 0 - 2. Prices are considerably higher than what we booked almost 1 year before so we did get an excellent price.

We did price match to Military Appreciation Month last May and received $100 OBC on each of our cruises. Price was the same, but it offered OBC.

Correct. If you switch from ES to a GTY, you lose ES.

That's not what my PVP told me. For our October 2015 cruise she allowed us to make a one-time switch to a guarantee, retaining our ES, and said that once our cabin was assigned, THEN we'd be able to price match to THAT category only if prices went down further, as we'd still be considered ES.

We were ultimately assigned a cove balcony category 7A about 30 days before sailing. The price for that category never went down though, after the cabin was assigned. So the guarantee rate that we switched to was the lowest price a balcony ever went. But we also understood that if a subsequent guarantee rate went lower than our guarantee rate, we couldn't get the lower rate again, as it was a one-time switch.

If the price keeps going up, then it sounds like Early Saver did get you something...the cheapest price for your room.

I book at a price I am comfortable with. If I get s price drop, great! If not, I've paid a good price :)

I booked 2 cruises this year on early saver. In the past I've had awesome luck with it. So far I'm 0 for 2 on it this year.

 

My cruise which is in 15 DAYS!!!!!! (Sorry a bit excited) kept going up in price and finally sold out. I was really hoping to get an upgrade:mad: no biggie at least I got a good price.

 

My next cruise is in January and price isn't going down on that one either. It keeps having sales where the oceanviews are cheaper than the insides but... only if they pick the room. And from what I was told I can't take one of those and stay in early saver?

 

Is that correct?? Do you have to have an assigned room to stay on early saver?? I really want to upgrade to an ocean view

It is called early saver because you get a decent price, can pick your own cabin, and can take advantage if there are any price drops in your cabin class (Price Protection). There is nothing in the Early Saver program that says the price WILL drop. Since the ships appear to be selling out in several cabin classes over and over this year, there are usually no price drops. In light of that, it appears that you have gotten a decent price, you got the cabin you wanted at the time, and the price you paid was protected.

That's not what my PVP told me. For our October 2015 cruise she allowed us to make a one-time switch to a guarantee, retaining our ES, and said that once our cabin was assigned, THEN we'd be able to price match to THAT category only if prices went down further, as we'd still be considered ES.

 

We were ultimately assigned a cove balcony category 7A about 30 days before sailing. The price for that category never went down though, after the cabin was assigned. So the guarantee rate that we switched to was the lowest price a balcony ever went. But we also understood that if a subsequent guarantee rate went lower than our guarantee rate, we couldn't get the lower rate again, as it was a one-time switch.

Well my PVP is the one that told me that as she was removing my ES status for a one time change to GTY.

I booked 2 cruises this year on early saver. In the past I've had awesome luck with it. So far I'm 0 for 2 on it this year.

 

My cruise which is in 15 DAYS!!!!!! (Sorry a bit excited) kept going up in price and finally sold out. I was really hoping to get an upgrade:mad: no biggie at least I got a good price.

 

My next cruise is in January and price isn't going down on that one either. It keeps having sales where the oceanviews are cheaper than the insides but... only if they pick the room. And from what I was told I can't take one of those and stay in early saver?

 

Is that correct?? Do you have to have an assigned room to stay on early saver?? I really want to upgrade to an ocean view

I don't see that Early Saver failed you - it is the law of supply and demand that is keeping most fares from dropping. There have been a substantial number of threads with others relating that cruise prices this year seen to rising, not dropping.

I doubt it matters what fare class you choose - if the demand is there, the price keeps going up.

That said, I never use Early Saver, but that is not the issue with price increases - I book early and the cost just keeps going up & up.

I am having a little difficulty here. ES is "failing you" because you didn't get any price drops? So, in other words, you got the best possible price, bought it, and then sat back and watched the price go up and your fellow cruisers pay MORE than you for the same accommodations?

 

Take a little time and pat yourself on the back for timing your purchase well and snagging a better deal than others are getting.

 

When I lost booked, the ES rate was the best rate available. So, there was no real risk. Maybe it "failed you" if a lower rate was available, but you booked gambled on the ES payoff?

Exactly - it's about booking early, then sit back and as the price goes up, you realize you got a great rate.

I'm finding Carnival doesn't have the best deal anymore. Other lines are offering free drink packages and other freebies for the same fare.