Any chance Carnival will let me transfer a deposit for a more expensive cruise/room?

[Eli_6]

So, I have two Australian cruise rooms deposited for summer 2024 but now that I have seen the Europe 2024 sailings, I would like to do a Europe sailing instead.  They did change itinerary for one of the Australia sailings, but the real reason has more to do with airfare and ease/expense of getting to Europe vs Australia. The Australia cruises were booked over a year ago on a casino deal, the Europe itineraries weren't out, and airfare was less back then.  I want to transfer the deposit to a Europe cruise for 2024 for the same time period.  Obviously, I can't be in two places at once. The two Europe rooms are a lot more (more than double) so it seems like it would benefit Carnival.  In the past, Carnival would transfer deposits for a more expensive room.  I brought this up to my TA, but she just said that they don't do that anymore.  However, I was considering either calling myself or emailing guest care and saying "Hey, look- you guys changed the itinerary on this cruise and this port I really wanted to go to is now not on the itinerary....so will you move my deposits over for this more expensive cruise at the same time?"  Is it worth a try or not?  I did get them to do this twice before--even before Covid--but I know things have changed now.

 

It isn't a huge deal as I will just eat the deposits even if they say no.  But the deposits were about $420 so I feel like it is at least worth an email. 

Edited March 4, 2023 by Eli_6

[edspec]

I'd try it, all they can so is no.  I've read of them doing this type of transfer before, it seems to be who happens to answer the phone/email.  Good luck!!!

[13cheermom]

I would definitely try!  I used to have a PVP and then she left the company so have just been calling in to the regular # and dealing with different service reps.  I have had good luck with most of them and if I didn't agree with their knowledge I would just call back and talk with someone else.  Not sure I will ever go with a TA or PVP again.  I don't blame you about the airfare to Australia, would love to go but can't justify that long of a flight for that $.  Now Europe, isn't cheap but definitely worth it, and am ready to go back, it has been about 10 years, but we loved it!  Good Luck!

[maryann2]

I cancelled the Jubilee TA cruise before it was cancelled by Carnival anyway. 

I was able to transfer the deposit to Venezia TA minus $50 administration fee. I had not booked Early saver. I did it through my PVP so not sure how it would work with a TA.

Not sure if you are Diamond yet but if you are mention to the Diamond desk that your TA won't help.

[Eli_6]

11 minutes ago, maryann2 said:

I cancelled the Jubilee TA cruise before it was cancelled by Carnival anyway. 

I was able to transfer the deposit to Venezia TA minus $50 administration fee. I had not booked Early saver. I did it through my PVP so not sure how it would work with a TA.

Not sure if you are Diamond yet but if you are mention to the Diamond desk that your TA won't help.

I am not diamond yet, unfortunately. 😞

[Saint Greg]

Pre-covid they charged me $50. Last year I did it twice and they didn't charge me anything.

[LUVMYGSDOG]

I have done this several times in the past couple years with no problem.  Was never charged a fee.

 

Kim

[TrqoisWtrs]

You could run into a problem because its an Australian cruise.  I had the same wish last year - changed my mind on Australia B2B I had put deposits on and wanted to transfer the funds to a US cruise, but because it was Australian $ to US$ they wouldn't do it.  I couldn't understand that at all - deposit was paid in US, it is listed on the US website, not .au and I would have to pay balance in US.  Still no (and I am diamond.)  So I just moved it a bunch of months out and now I'm going to Australia next year. 😜

[Cruising_Addict]

You have to call them and ask. Typically they will transfer what you paid for your deposit, less $50 per person, but you will have to pay a new deposit. Meaning, your old deposit becomes a future cruise credit and FCC’s can’t be used towards deposits. 

[cruise junky joan]

I have just run into this for the first time. I booked a carnival cruise last may2022, that I want to cancel and I get an email from my agent saying the deposit is non refundable.

the cruise is 13 months away! I’ve never run into this before. What gives?

[mjkacmom]

1 hour ago, cruise junky joan said:

I have just run into this for the first time. I booked a carnival cruise last may2022, that I want to cancel and I get an email from my agent saying the deposit is non refundable.

the cruise is 13 months away! I’ve never run into this before. What gives?

It’s a non refundable deposit.

[ninjacat123]

I needed to move my Jan 2025 cruise to a week later and my PVP made it happen minus the $50/pp admin fee.  I actually saved money on the fare because of moving it one week later. I didn't expect that to happen. Yay!!🤑

[firefly333]

Try it and let us know. 

[stobe1]

They should let you. Like others have said, my PVP has been able to do it for me with a small service charge/admin fee.

 

It's like I tell my daughter all the time -- if you don't ask then you definitely won't get it.

Edited March 5, 2023 by stobe1

[CruisingFamily2005]

Done it several times and I was never charge a fees.

[Eli_6]

I am on the phone with them right now.  Their first response was they couldn't do it, but then I pointed out that: 1) I have done it before, 2) this is a more expensive cruise, and 3) Carnival changed the itinerary and now is no longer going to a place I wanted to go. I am not flying across the world to Australia and not getting to see the main place I wanted to see...that was originally on the itinerary and Carnival changed.  She put me on hold to ask a supervisor. 

[Eli_6]

So, still on the phone and they said they could transfer it minus the $50 per person fee...however, now the system is giving her a hard time because it is in Australian dollars.  So it may not let her, but at least she is trying. 

[Eli_6]

Yay!  They refunded me the deposit minus the $50 per person fee to my credit card for the cruise I booked directly with them. I have to go through my (unhelpful) TA for the other booking they said.  (For some reason, I booked one through the website and one through the TA.)  Honestly, though, I know if I get her to transfer over that deposit that means I will have to use her for my new bookings and it isn't really worth it to me to do that for the $130 I will get back because I have not liked using a TA.  It makes everything more difficult.  I much prefer being able to call and talk directly to Carnival.

[ninjacat123]

9 minutes ago, Eli_6 said:

Yay!  They refunded me the deposit minus the $50 per person fee to my credit card for the cruise I booked directly with them. I have to go through my (unhelpful) TA for the other booking they said.  (For some reason, I booked one through the website and one through the TA.)  Honestly, though, I know if I get her to transfer over that deposit that means I will have to use her for my new bookings and it isn't really worth it to me to do that for the $130 I will get back because I have not liked using a TA.  It makes everything more difficult.  I much prefer being able to call and talk directly to Carnival.

I'm happy to hear Carnival made one cruise doable!

[mz-s]

During the thick of COVID and during the initial restart, they were easy to work with regarding rebookings. I was even able to move a deposit from a further out cruise to a last-minute free getaways cruise offer during that time with no fees or anything.

 

I have an Alaska cruise booked for 2024, granted booked with a reduced deposit, that I wanted to move the deposit to a different cruise. Nothing doing. Since the deposit was only $100, any changes to that cruise would forfeit the deposit (a $50pp fee eats that entire deposit). Their flexibility seems to have been flexed from here on out. So I'm going to end up losing that $100 since we likely won't be going on that cruise no matter what happens. Oh well, not the first $100 I've lost...

Edited March 6, 2023 by mz-s

[80sGal]

I had a very helpful phone rep after the restart who waived the 50 pp fee when I pointed out I wanted to move it to a longer, more expensive cruise.  I really think it's the luck of the draw on who happens to answer the call.  

[Eli_6]

40 minutes ago, 80sGal said:

I had a very helpful phone rep after the restart who waived the 50 pp fee when I pointed out I wanted to move it to a longer, more expensive cruise.  I really think it's the luck of the draw on who happens to answer the call.  

I totally agree.  I was happy to even get the deposit back minus the 50 pp fee.  Some people haven't even gotten that. It just seems to be luck of the draw on how helpful your phone rep wants to be.