Why are CARNIVAL cruise prices so low right now?

[IntrepidFromDC]

Someone posted a topic about low cruise prices and it got moved, I followed it but it lost its' Carnival lean.  So I started this thread.  I always wanted to do a Panama Canal cruise, but most of them only go part way through the canal, into the turnaround bay, and then back again.  East coast partial-transit cruises don't even get to see Panama City.  So while looking at the great prices, I just saw this:

 

I realize with a cruise this long and a 2:1 sea day : port day ratio I'm going to lose ~$1,000 - $2,000 in the casino, but can anyone tell me why this is not a STEAL?

[pogoism9]

That looks like a Jackpot deal. Same rate I booked my 13 night TA with for next year. They seem to be flowing like water! If wish I had more disposable income so I could snap up like 8 of them 😛

[mexicobob]

Looks like a great deal but many days at sea. Some like that, some do not. Wish I could go but can not be away that long.

Some of the sea days in The Pacific could have rough ocean. 

[IntrepidFromDC]

40 minutes ago, mexicobob said:

Looks like a great deal but many days at sea. Some like that, some do not. Wish I could go but can not be away that long.

Some of the sea days in The Pacific could have rough ocean. 

If it had a San Francisco port day I'd be ON IT.  Right now I'm on the fence.

[JeanieTheMom]

I have that cruise booked, and I paid much more than that, but not as much as I see it listed for on Carnival's web site now. Too bad I don't see your rate when I search!

[Markmom18]

I WISH that people who book cruises, like me, could be offered $100 cruises. Yep, I know you gotta be a gambler, which I’m not.
 

 So, I pay ‘regular’ prices and am grateful I can go at all. 
 

TILL …. 🤣🤣… I read threads like this … and the little Bobbi in me …. Cries “It’s not fair”. 🥲🥲

 

🛳🛳

Bobbi 

[IntrepidFromDC]

14 minutes ago, Markmom18 said:

I WISH that people who book cruises, like me, could be offered $100 cruises. Yep, I know you gotta be a gambler, which I’m not.
 

 So, I pay ‘regular’ prices and am grateful I can go at all. 
 

TILL …. 🤣🤣… I read threads like this … and the little Bobbi in me …. Cries “It’s not fair”. 🥲🥲

 

🛳🛳

Bobbi 

Just remember, a wise man may have once said "it's casino contributions built the Mardi Gras"... 

[Virga]

3 hours ago, pogoism9 said:

That looks like a Jackpot deal. Same rate I booked my 13 night TA with for next year. They seem to be flowing like water! If wish I had more disposable income so I could snap up like 8 of them 😛

 

Man, I have the money but not the time!  Even without being a gambler, prices across the board are as good as any of the last minute deals I try to score.

 

Even worse, I actually do have the time - but my husband doesn't, and I can't very well go transit the Panama Canal for the first time without him =/

[xDisconnections]

Because availability isn’t as limited as the cruise lines want you to believe.

[ladychater]

3 hours ago, Markmom18 said:

I WISH that people who book cruises, like me, could be offered $100 cruises. Yep, I know you gotta be a gambler, which I’m not.
 

 So, I pay ‘regular’ prices and am grateful I can go at all. 
 

TILL …. 🤣🤣… I read threads like this … and the little Bobbi in me …. Cries “It’s not fair”. 🥲🥲

 

🛳🛳

Bobbi 

I've never put as much as a quarter into a slot machine on a cruise and I got this super deal, too!  Check your emails from Carnival.  They've sent me tons of them this year and the one that linked to the super duper deals didn't look at all different from the regular ones.  The subject line was "Splash into fun with exclusive savings" which doesn't exactly sound like "open up for $100 cruises."  If I didn't already have 3 cruises booked, I would have jumped all over these deals.  I just don't have the vacation time (and nothing sails out of my nearest port, San Fransico).

[firefly333]

6 hours ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

Someone posted a topic about low cruise prices and it got moved, I followed it but it lost its' Carnival lean.  So I started this thread.  I always wanted to do a Panama Canal cruise, but most of them only go part way through the canal, into the turnaround bay, and then back again.  East coast partial-transit cruises don't even get to see Panama City.  So while looking at the great prices, I just saw this:

 

I realize with a cruise this long and a 2:1 sea day : port day ratio I'm going to lose ~$1,000 - $2,000 in the casino, but can anyone tell me why this is not a STEAL?

I'm so dying to do a Panama canal but solo at over 2k for a inside, nope. Guess I needed to gamble away more money last week. No offers.

 

 

 

[SNJCruisers]

More casino deals for the gamblers.  How about starting a thread about non gamblers who are stuck paying full price on either of the Excel Class ships.  The other 20+ ships in the fleet are in my rear view mirror.

[jsglow]

3 hours ago, SNJCruisers said:

More casino deals for the gamblers.  How about starting a thread about non gamblers who are stuck paying full price on either of the Excel Class ships.  The other 20+ ships in the fleet are in my rear view mirror.

You're not 'stuck' SNJ.  You do it willingly.

[ChrisNCruiser]

8 hours ago, Markmom18 said:

I WISH that people who book cruises, like me, could be offered $100 cruises. Yep, I know you gotta be a gambler, which I’m not.
 

 So, I pay ‘regular’ prices and am grateful I can go at all. 
 

TILL …. 🤣🤣… I read threads like this … and the little Bobbi in me …. Cries “It’s not fair”. 🥲🥲

 

🛳🛳

Bobbi 

I am also receiving these deals without having played in the casino...could also be based on your VIFP tier. I'm Diamond but don't play in the casino and rarely purchase extras (drinks, souvenirs, excursions, etc)

[sparks1093]

4 hours ago, SNJCruisers said:

More casino deals for the gamblers.  How about starting a thread about non gamblers who are stuck paying full price on either of the Excel Class ships.  The other 20+ ships in the fleet are in my rear view mirror.

I don't consider it stuck, I'll gladly pay full price and skip spending tons of time on vacation in a smoky casino while spending tons of money. Just not my cup of tea.

[firefly333]

6 minutes ago, newpherchris said:

I am also receiving these deals without having played in the casino...could also be based on your VIFP tier. I'm Diamond but don't play in the casino and rarely purchase extras (drinks, souvenirs, excursions, etc)

I'm at 197 pts and holding.

 

Imo carnival does these deals so they dont have to price match to lower fares. Maybe if I hadnt booked breeze I too would be getting $25 offers.

 

It's a way to get around price matching to offer it to people not booked for these routes.

 

I really really want a Panama canal cruise but not for over 2k for a 1A. I'd break my rules about flying tomdo one. How many others are like SNL and walking away from carnival over not being picking. Simply put it's not fair to offer to some and not all. There are others who dont post feeling the same. It feels like carnival is no longer inclusive. Its cherry picking. I've always gone out of my way to charge extra onboard, more than I had to and be a good customer. I dont have boatloads of obc. $50 obc on breeze because of stock. I'll owe money again. 

 

Unless I get a offer its bye bye. 

[asalligo]

Carnival is in a rough spot right now. Half of their clientele are not allowed to cruise and the other half are having second thoughts because so many vaccinated are still getting the virus and getting sick and the process of boarding a ship has become so complicated that many have decided to just wait. Carnival is just trying to surf this out and make as much money as they can until they can open cruising to everyone again.

 

For those of you who say this is the new norm, get used to it. Carnival cannot survive your new norm and will have to restructure if this scenario continues for another year. No one outside Carnival knows the cancellation numbers of people who have booked, but cannot cruise under the current restrictions.     

[BlerkOne]

12 minutes ago, asalligo said:

Carnival is in a rough spot right now. Half of their clientele are not allowed to cruise and the other half are having second thoughts because so many vaccinated are still getting the virus and getting sick and the process of boarding a ship has become so complicated that many have decided to just wait. Carnival is just trying to surf this out and make as much money as they can until they can open cruising to everyone again.

 

For those of you who say this is the new norm, get used to it. Carnival cannot survive your new norm and will have to restructure if this scenario continues for another year. No one outside Carnival knows the cancellation numbers of people who have booked, but cannot cruise under the current restrictions.     

The facts clearly do not support those assertions. Well over half of the US population is vaccinated and the numbers are increasing. Well over 1000 land locked Americans die from covid everyday. A cruise ship is one of the safest places to be. Half of Carnival's fleet is sailing, up from 0 a few months ago, with more ships coming on line. Check the prices on Carnival's 2023 Greenland cruise - even higher per diem than Princess! Demand is there.

 

 

Cruising like it is 2019 will never happen again.

[BlerkOne]

1 hour ago, sparks1093 said:

I don't consider it stuck, I'll gladly pay full price and skip spending tons of time on vacation in a smoky casino while spending tons of money. Just not my cup of tea.

Carnival is still mass market with something for everyone.

[davy jones]

They are clearly trying to fill the ship.  If they sent that deal to me, I would be on that sailing.  

 

I guess that I don't sail enough, or spend enough onboard.

[BlerkOne]

Carnival rises as it reports cash flow positive voyages.... 

[Rayefan]

Great Offer.  I booked 5 different cruises through 2022 using that offer.

[tallnthensome]

I have all those $10 and $25 offers and don’t gamble and this last one on Panorama was only my third carnival. I’m of very low importance or value even in my opinion to receive such good offers.

[firefly333]

7 minutes ago, tallnthensome said:

I have all those $10 and $25 offers and don’t gamble and this last one on Panorama was only my third carnival. I’m of very low importance or value even in my opinion to receive such good offers.

I feel like I'm in the big brother show, with the haves and the have nots. Ok you lost this week, its gruel for you for dinner this week. Anyone else watch big brother? 

 

I'd so love to go to Panama, any cruise to panama discounted, I'd move my current bookings around for that. 

[meskel503]

We have booked this one and two more.  Only have to fly one way as we are about three hours from the port.  We are really looking forward to this.