HELP! Pros and Cons of Booking "Early Saver"????

I thought if you book "early saver" if any other fare rates came out that were lower you could get that price if you booked ES. I know you used to have to pay a $50 change fee PP if you changed the cruise date. Any other cons to booking ES?

Thanks for information!

I thought if you book "early saver" if any other fare rates came out that were lower you could get that price if you booked ES. I know you used to have to pay a $50 change fee PP if you changed the cruise date. Any other cons to booking ES?

 

Thanks for information!

I noticed that when I did a dummy booking using early saver it was charging me extra for staterooms on higher decks. These same decks were included in the regular carnivalidays saver fare. It ended up being only $60 more to book the regular fare and I was able to get my deck of choice. That, coupled with the flexibility of changing dates and/or the ease in case of having to cancel made it a no brainer for me to book the non early saver rate.

The only con is the $50pp penalty if you switch ships, sailing date or cancel.

As to the con's of ES, in addition to the $50/pp that you forfeit for cancellation (the remainder of your deposit is held by Carnival toward a future cruise), if you invoke the price protection feature you may lose any promo's that you had when you originally booked. Things like:

OBC - if you had OBC originally and there is none available when you re-book under ES, you lose the OBC.

Reduced deposit - if you had a reduced deposit promo when you originally booked and there currently is no such promo, you would have to pay the difference between your original reduced deposit amount and the current deposit requirement.

You do have to look closely at all the details of your original booking and the current, lower price fare to determine to total effect and whether or not you want to pursue the price protection.

And a pro is being able to price match up to two days before sailing.

I think people tend to jump at the price but really need to think about the pro and cons, so good for you shadow for exploring all the options.

I have always been a fan of early saver but most of my recent cruises there has been no price reductions. We are booking either casino offers or more unique sailings, such as repos and longer cruises so the price just seems to climb.

I booked ES through a big box TA. I found that carnival is now offering OBC on my sailing so I called to get that added. They said to call my TA. I did and my TA was told no.

I don't think i can do anything about this.

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Early Saver has worked well for me for a couple of reasons. Before booking I triple check that barring emergencies family member A can go and there are several others who would happily take an empty spot. I would be willing to pay the change fee.

I buy travel insurance as soon as I book. I fully understand any changes will cause complications and cost money.

Got some good price drops 4 years ago, small price drops 3 years ago, and none the last 2 years.

As someone else has pointed out you will lose promotional obc and deposit reductions unless the price you match is offering the same promotion.

You can price match only to your exact same cabin type, e.g. 8E to 8E, for the same number of guests. This renders Early Saver practically useless if you book a rare cabin type, e.g. aft-wrap, scenic ocean view.

I will probably not book Early Saver for my next cruise because it will be so far in advance.

I booked ES through a big box TA. I found that carnival is now offering OBC on my sailing so I called to get that added. They said to call my TA. I did and my TA was told no.

 

I don't think i can do anything about this.

 

 

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This is a TA issue. My local TA has always got the OBC and price drops for me but it reduces his commission.

Before booking with a TA I would ascertain how he/she handles price drops.

I booked ES through a big box TA. I found that carnival is now offering OBC on my sailing so I called to get that added. They said to call my TA. I did and my TA was told no.

 

I don't think i can do anything about this.

 

 

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The question is why were they told no? Is the base fare still the same price now as what you paid when you originally booked?

I see you also found out that you can't book with a TA and then get Carnival to help you. That's what the TA is getting the commission for. as they own the booking.:)

Hey Jimbo, I'm booked on Carnival.:)

Bill

Early Saver has worked well for me for a couple of reasons. Before booking I triple check that barring emergencies family member A can go and there are several others who would happily take an empty spot. I would be willing to pay the change fee.

 

I buy travel insurance as soon as I book. I fully understand any changes will cause complications and cost money.

 

Got some good price drops 4 years ago, small price drops 3 years ago, and none the last 2 years.

 

As someone else has pointed out you will lose promotional obc and deposit reductions unless the price you match is offering the same promotion.

 

You can price match only to your exact same cabin type, e.g. 8E to 8E, for the same number of guests. This renders Early Saver practically useless if you book a rare cabin type, e.g. aft-wrap, scenic ocean view.

 

I will probably not book Early Saver for my next cruise because it will be so far in advance.

I think travel insurance is key to early saver. I always buy it. I've had to only use it once, when we missed a connecting flight and had to spend the night for a next day flight. if you buy insurance to cover all contingencies, then early saver is not a risky move.

Early Saver has worked well for me for a couple of reasons. Before booking I triple check that barring emergencies family member A can go and there are several others who would happily take an empty spot. I would be willing to pay the change fee.

 

I buy travel insurance as soon as I book. I fully understand any changes will cause complications and cost money.

 

Got some good price drops 4 years ago, small price drops 3 years ago, and none the last 2 years.

 

As someone else has pointed out you will lose promotional obc and deposit reductions unless the price you match is offering the same promotion.

 

You can price match only to your exact same cabin type, e.g. 8E to 8E, for the same number of guests. This renders Early Saver practically useless if you book a rare cabin type, e.g. aft-wrap, scenic ocean view.

 

I will probably not book Early Saver for my next cruise because it will be so far in advance.

I thought you couldn't do name changes with ES?

Bill

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I thought you couldn't do name changes with ES?

 

Bill

 

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I believe you are correct. I surely don't want to mislead anyone so thanks for pointing this out.

We always book ES and still will. Now, however, we'll be purchasing travel insurance. We were booked to go on the Breeze in December and ended up having to cancel after final payment date due to something out of our control. We lost $500. That stung to say the least.

I believe you are correct. I surely don't want to mislead anyone so thanks for pointing this out.

I was just asking for clarification purposes as the rules on all cruise lines are forever changing.

Hard to keep up.[emoji3]

Bill

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I thought if you book "early saver" if any other fare rates came out that were lower you could get that price if you booked ES. I know you used to have to pay a $50 change fee PP if you changed the cruise date. Any other cons to booking ES?

 

Thanks for information!

That is the last fare code that i would book at.

So you do not like early saver, do you book PG? And Why?

I travel solo and I normally book ES. I have had price drops as much as $1000k ($600OBC). Since it's only me, I don't have an issue with losing $50, and having the rest held for a future cruise. I also always have insurance.

However, recently on the Vista, I booked 2 placeholder cruises, to be switched over to the Horizon when the itineraries come out. I booked those Past Guest, because I knew I would be canceling and moving them.

I travel with my husband but you can book ES as a solo traveler then add the other guest later with no penalty. I also book PG place holder bookings:)!

Pro: Lately the Early Saver has been the best price. It appears to me that CCL has reduced the late booking discounts and sales.

I thought if you book "early saver" if any other fare rates came out that were lower you could get that price if you booked ES. I know you used to have to pay a $50 change fee PP if you changed the cruise date. Any other cons to booking ES?

 

 

 

Thanks for information!

With ES you can never get your deposit refunded if you cancel your cruise.

With ES you can never get your deposit refunded if you cancel your cruise.

Just a little clarification...only $50 of deposit is non refundable. The rest is held for 2 years for a future cruise. If you fail to book in that 2 years, yes, you lose full deposit.

Pro: Lately the Early Saver has been the best price. It appears to me that CCL has reduced the late booking discounts and sales.

ES is probably the best price 98% of the time. If it's not and you want to be booked ES just book ES and price match to the lower rate.

That being said pg rate is only $20pp more. Gives you flexibility but you lose the price drops after final payment date.

There haven't been a lot of drops in the last year or so anyway.

Bill

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Just a little clarification...only $50 of deposit is non refundable. The rest is held for 2 years for a future cruise. If you fail to book in that 2 years, yes, you lose full deposit.

The ENTIRE deposit is non-refundable under ES.

You cannot EVER get it back in your bank account, etc.

No, you lose $50 pp for a change, but your deposit is still there to apply to another cruise for 2 years.

The ENTIRE deposit is non-refundable under ES.

 

You cannot EVER get it back in your bank account, etc.

No, you lose $50 pp for a change, but your deposit is still there to apply to another cruise for 2 years.

Technically your entire deposit is nonrefundable, but it doesn't have to be totally lost. You won't get the cash refunded back to you, but if you cruise on Carnival again the remaining deposit can be used to pay for that later cruise.