Not happy Carnival customer right now

[travelgurl2]

Booked a 7 day cruise out of New Orleans last week (3/23). Checked today, and cruise is $80.00 cheaper - and Carnival WILL NOT match their own price. I know that if I had booked Early Saver they would have, but I could not book Early Saver because the cruise is 45 days out. I know $80.00 is not a huge difference, but it annoys me that they won't match their own price. Been cruising with Carnival for many years....now thinking of switching.......did talk to a supervisor, and while they were sympathetic, there was ..."nothing they could do....."

[SadieN]

Doubt any line would match the fare in this situation.

[tbjl24]

Booked a 7 day cruise out of New Orleans last week (3/23). Checked today, and cruise is $80.00 cheaper - and Carnival WILL NOT match their own price. I know that if I had booked Early Saver they would have, but I could not book Early Saver because the cruise is 45 days out. I know $80.00 is not a huge difference, but it annoys me that they won't match their own price. Been cruising with Carnival for many years....now thinking of switching.......did talk to a supervisor, and while they were sympathetic, there was ..."nothing they could do....."

 

Maybe ask for an upgrade in lieu of the difference? Worth a shot

[ASchaff]

You knew that you couldnt price match when you booked, as you didnt book early saver and it is after the final payment, so I am not sure why you are so upset. You agree to the terms of the rate, and take a chance when you book that there may be a lower rate etc. This is not carnivals fault, youre being unreasonable.

[KevInPitt]

I'm confused by your unhappiness.

 

You booked at a time when price "match" or "drop" wasn't an offered amenity of the fare. You're upset you weren't given the lower price anyway?

 

Absolutely astounding.

[Buck64]

Booked a 7 day cruise out of New Orleans last week (3/23). Checked today, and cruise is $80.00 cheaper - and Carnival WILL NOT match their own price. I know that if I had booked Early Saver they would have, but I could not book Early Saver because the cruise is 45 days out. I know $80.00 is not a huge difference, but it annoys me that they won't match their own price. Been cruising with Carnival for many years....now thinking of switching.......did talk to a supervisor, and while they were sympathetic, there was ..."nothing they could do....."[/quote

 

Sounds like you knew the rules before you booked because you sound like you're familiar with Early Saver.

These are the chances we take when not booking Early Saver. Also if $80 (which isn't the cruise lines fault) is making you think about stitching cruise lines, then you probably need to go ahead and do so because evidently you're not happy with Carnival and anything that doesn't go right with your cruise is going to be magnified.

[opie051699]

So, they said they wouldn't do it before you booked...you agreed that they wouldn't do it before you booked, and now you are mad because they did what they said they would do, which was what you agreed to? I'm confused...

[Buck64]

I forgot to ask why you think you should be entitled to a refund/price drop??

[tonit964]

If they gave the $$$ difference, there would be no point to ES rate.

[Tannison]

Unfortunately, that's the way it is. Try to look at this way...if they had matched your price...why would anyone book early saver which comes with $50 pp penalty for changes or cancellations. Its a risk for those that book ES, so nobody would take that risk if Carnival price matched in your situation.

I know it must be frustrating as you are not that far out of their price guarantee time frame, but hopefully you can see the flip side of it.

 

I hope you still have a great cruise!

[loxley]

That is the way it is. Which you sounds like you knew. So first, were you looking at rates and second, since you seem to know the rules, did you think an exception was going to be made for you?

[Ken076]

45 days out is well after the final payment deadline. Except for ES, Carnival doesn't price match after Final Payment date - I don't know of other lines that do this?

If the price drop had occurred w/in 48 hours of your booking, you could have gotten a price drop via the 48-hour price protection guarantee.

If it's any consolation, If the fare for a category above yours drops to/below what you paid, you can normally get an upgrade to that Category.

Ken

Edited March 30, 2015 by Ken076

[etwright]

Why would/should Carnival change their policy just for you? :confused::confused::confused:

[newmexicoNita]

Doubt any line would match the fare in this situation.

 

I think you are right, but most lines will make an attempt to upgrade the cabin. I guess we all have to see both sides of the coin. What one cruise line does, another will not, but then there is always something that makes up for it. Whether we are talking cruise lines, hotels, airlines whatever, the chance of getting an adjustment after payments are made is doubtful. Look at it this way: you were happy with the price or you would not have booked and paid for the cruise. Checking prices after final payment often just leads to unhappy cruisers. You will always find someone that got a better deal than you did. I am not a Carnival loyalist but I do understand where they are coming from on this one.

Edited March 30, 2015 by newmexicoNita

[Bellicheck Brain Trust]

Booked a 7 day cruise out of New Orleans last week (3/23). Checked today, and cruise is $80.00 cheaper - and Carnival WILL NOT match their own price. I know that if I had booked Early Saver they would have, but I could not book Early Saver because the cruise is 45 days out. I know $80.00 is not a huge difference, but it annoys me that they won't match their own price. Been cruising with Carnival for many years....now thinking of switching.......did talk to a supervisor, and while they were sympathetic, there was ..."nothing they could do....."

 

Your anger is completely unreasonable.... You booked outside the early saver rate and therefore under whatever rate you booked under there was no guarantee for price protection. You knew that going in so you have no right to complain now....

[WetToes]

???

The same people who don't buy insurance then get upset when something unfortunate happens.

???

[SMSACE6]

Booked a 7 day cruise out of New Orleans last week (3/23). Checked today, and cruise is $80.00 cheaper - and Carnival WILL NOT match their own price. I know that if I had booked Early Saver they would have, but I could not book Early Saver because the cruise is 45 days out. I know $80.00 is not a huge difference, but it annoys me that they won't match their own price. Been cruising with Carnival for many years....now thinking of switching.......did talk to a supervisor, and while they were sympathetic, there was ..."nothing they could do....."

 

I understand your disappointment, however I would not expect them to price match unless I had booked ES. It may be possible to upgrade your room for little price difference. Can you ask them if there is a better room for little or no price difference? Whatever happens, please dont let this deter you from enjoying your cruise. I wish you a wonderful cruise and vacation.:)

[Boris-n-Natasha]

I can understand the frustration, but such is life. It has happen to us twice, it would have been nice to just get a few dollars OBC. Both of the drops for us came after final payment - so, the rules say no.

Bottom line is your going on a cruise ... that is awesome the rest is just noise.

[cccer]

If you didn't book ES and are past final payment, why even bother checking for price drops? I understand that you are upset, but I dont understand how you feel Carnival should do something for you.

[richfret]

Booked a 7 day cruise out of New Orleans last week (3/23). Checked today, and cruise is $80.00 cheaper - and Carnival WILL NOT match their own price. I know that if I had booked Early Saver they would have, but I could not book Early Saver because the cruise is 45 days out. I know $80.00 is not a huge difference, but it annoys me that they won't match their own price. Been cruising with Carnival for many years....now thinking of switching.......did talk to a supervisor, and while they were sympathetic, there was ..."nothing they could do....."

 

Sorry TRAVELGURL2, the others are right about the drop in price but it still is frustrating anyway. It's no different than airlines. If you had 150 passengers on board and asked them all what price they paid, you would get 150 different quotes. After all, you may want a pillow or a seat where your legs don't touch the seat in front of you.

 

I think the cruise lines established their system based on first time cruisers. Once you cruised several times, you learn to play the game. It's like the Casino. The odds are in their favor but once in awhile you can win. I had 5 price decreases with the Military rate on my last cruise for a $900 total. Had the increases occurred after final payment, I would have been out of luck. I book a year in advance to get the $100 OBC for booking a cruise on a cruise. I know pricing will usually be high at that point but I book Military (Early Saver for others) to protect myself.

 

At least, now you know the game and can play it better next time (Carnival or not Carnival)

[Out to sea!]

Booked a 7 day cruise out of New Orleans last week (3/23). Checked today, and cruise is $80.00 cheaper - and Carnival WILL NOT match their own price. I know that if I had booked Early Saver they would have, but I could not book Early Saver because the cruise is 45 days out. I know $80.00 is not a huge difference, but it annoys me that they won't match their own price. Been cruising with Carnival for many years....now thinking of switching.......did talk to a supervisor, and while they were sympathetic, there was ..."nothing they could do....."

 

You have 48 hours to price match. After that it's based on the fare code booked.

 

Due diligence.

[ccartman2]

Same thing happened to me on my last cruise. I took the risk of booking my cruise when I did, thinking that the price I paid was going to be it's lowest point before Sailing. I found the price had dropped 3 days after booking. I called, but of course nothing in my case either. I could have chose to wait, and risk the price going up, but I was happy with the price I paid, or I wouldn't have booked. In fact, the price was why I chose to book so close to the cruise date to begin with, instead of the September-November time frame I was looking at.

 

The one thing the call to carnival did do was my PVP offered me an upsell from an oceanview to balcony (same was offered to others I knew on the cruise, so it wasn't special treatment). Who knows if I would have recieved the same upsell if I hadn't called.

[cruisintwinsmom]

Understand your disappointment - have been there. I normally sail Celebrity and Royal Caribbean and neither of them will give a price adjustment after final payments are due. It's the usual course of business. So not sure who you will give your business. :(

[lady_cruiser]

I now how you feel, disappointed. Hopefully it will work out for you the next time.

[kristie64063]

Booked a 7 day cruise out of New Orleans last week (3/23). Checked today, and cruise is $80.00 cheaper - and Carnival WILL NOT match their own price. I know that if I had booked Early Saver they would have, but I could not book Early Saver because the cruise is 45 days out. I know $80.00 is not a huge difference, but it annoys me that they won't match their own price. Been cruising with Carnival for many years....now thinking of switching.......did talk to a supervisor, and while they were sympathetic, there was ..."nothing they could do....."

 

If you've cruised Carnival for many years, then you must know this is how it works ... We all know this, if you're doing any research at all or travel Carnival frequently. So why are you complaining? You knew this going in.

Edited March 30, 2015 by kristie64063