Cruise Price has gone Down but will not Refund

[dei6360]

I just looked at our cruise price and it has gone down $150.00 per person so I called my TA and she called carnival and was told that since our cruise is Aug 29th and fully paid for they will not give us $300.00 credit only $150.00 in credit. She said the reason is it is after the time when we could cancel and it is paid in full. Has anyone ever had this happen and if so what has been done?

[GoinCruisin]

That is generally the rule... at least they are offering you a shipboard credit... some people don't get that... as the cruise draws near, they sometimes lower the pricing in order to sell more cabins... I guess it is the luck of the draw for those booking early... same happened to us, they gave us $100 credit, the difference was really $250 but we were happy with anything we could get...

[klfrodo]

I'm sure you were happy with the price when you originally booked.

 

Now you're being offered a $150 shipboard credit as a gesture of goodwill. I'd take the credit and run.

 

Not many people would reverse that gesture of goodwill had the price gone up and offer to pay the difference.

[dei6360]

The thing I forgot to metion was that we just Booked this Cruise 3 weeks ago and was told by our TA that if the price goes down that we would be able to get credit. I am waiting for her to call me back to tell me what is going to be done.

[klfrodo]

If the TA told you that, then they would be obligated to refund if in writing. Carnival didn't make that promise to you, the TA did.

 

Just my thoughts

[GoinCruisin]

If your TA told you that, you need a new TA... as it sounds like she does not know what she is doing... they cannot make guarantees like that...

[mwpyle]

I usually book directly with Carnival--I've got one of their agents who knows the names of most of my children and which cruise they were conceived on! My expereince is that: 1) Someone at Carnival can do something that a TA cannot; 2) The folks at Carnival have ALWAYS met the best prices I can find from any online ad or TA.

 

That said, it sounds like the problem MAY be with the TA. I'd think that your complaints might need to go to the agency rather than Carnival. My expereince is that NO CRUISE LINE gives you ongoing discounts up until the week of departure (although I'm sure that someone of this board may have a different expereince). That would totally mess up the whole reservation system. If you were told something else, I'd bet the misunderstanding came from the TA....

 

The cruise was a good value when you booked it 3 weeks ago. You were paying WAY less than the brochure cost then--and now. You've got a bonus $150 credit to enjoy on drinks, the casino, or shore excursions... I'd say ENJOY!

[dei6360]

Ok just got off the phone with our TA she said that Carnival has agreeded to the $150.00 in credit only and that the TA company would give us anoter $75 in credit. I explained to her that we only booked this cruise last month and she said that if the price went down we would get credit so she agreeded to include the other $75 making the total $300.00. This is my 4th cruise and 1st time I have ever had the price go down so I did not know that the Cruise lines would not give credit after final payment, I was only going on what our TA told us when we booked. This was about more than just $300.00 this is also about good business practices. I was told if the price goes down that we would get the cruise for the lower price......

 

 

Hey it all has worked out so no need to keep complaining; this is just something to remember when we book our next cruise and watch for the price to go down.

 

Now all I need to do is figure out what to do until Aug. 29th.

[yarlenna]

In exchange for getting best choice of cabin and locking in a rate that you are happy with, you take a risk that the price might go down while you are fully paid and in penalty time. One questions, how would you feel if the price went UP and Carnival decided to increase your total amount due.

I can't go back to the lady I brought my home from and say that my neighbor bought the same model home for $2,000 less and I want a refund. So, why should it be any different for a cruise?

[kristikae]

You were paying WAY less than the brochure cost then--and now.

Everyone pays WAY less that brochure cost...unless they have a terrible TA.

As far as the statement about the neighbors house...that doesn't really apply here. Carnival has a history of giving refunds (whether upgrade, cash back or shipboard credit) if the price goes down. If they stopped it all together it would be one thing but because this is something they do regularly, I think the OP is entitled to this.

[kristikae]

One other note....many people do not know this but if your airfare goes down (must be the exact same flight and date you are already booked on) most of the airlines will give you either a refund of the difference or a travel voucher for the difference. It's worth it to keep watching the fares even after you've booked.

[LSUtraveler]

It's amazing. We book a cruise after normally checking around for the best price. Almost as soon as we book we start looking for a better price and upgrades and shipboard credits and balconies with peep holes, and lounge chairs and freebies and oh my gawd look at the time, I haven't checked the TA's in the last 15 minutes to see if there was a price reduction.:p

 

OH well, it's gotta be 5 o'clock somewhere!:D

[kristikae]

It's amazing. We book a cruise after normally checking around for the best price. Almost as soon as we book we start looking for a better price and upgrades and shipboard credits and balconies with peep holes, and lounge chairs and freebies and oh my gawd look at the time, I haven't checked the TA's in the last 15 minutes to see if there was a price reduction.:p

 

OH well, it's gotta be 5 o'clock somewhere!:D

I don't see anything wrong with trying to get the most bang for your buck. I work hard for my money and I want to stretch it as far as I can. As I said, Carnival has historically given price reductions or upgrades. As soon as they stop doing this across the board then I'll stop checking the price of my cruise. But as long as it is their company practice, I'm going to get anything back from them that I can.

[LSUtraveler]

Host Kristi

Super Moderator

 

 

You are absolutely correct. It's the American way. My TA has already gotten me an upgrade to an outside balcony and $75 each in ship board credits. Wonder if we can upgrade to the Captains Suite, he can bunk with the crew!;)

 

Still looking for the lounge chairs and since it's in the rear of the ship I'm bringing my ski rope and parasail for morning excercise onboard ship!:eek: Gotta go check the rates again!:cool:

[kathyjack]

This may be dumb questions but...are you ocassionally checking the prices with your TA or are you going into Carnival web-site and looking it up there? We don't cruise until January, so I have lots of time to keep checking, just wanted to know best place to do it. Thanks

[dei6360]

I checked Carnival's web-site and found the price difference, then emailed my TA.

[morriscats]

Which ship are you on 8/29? We are on Pride 8/29 and I called Carnival PVP and she said the prices had gone up. We booked an 8A guarantee and an inside for our kids $949.00 for guarantee and $728.00 for inside. Maybe those are still good prices but no one will tell me what they are now. Any info appreciated.

Karen

[jima53]

I think one of the most important things is to know how the cruise line operates concerning price drops, and cruise credits. Also know how the TA works these same things, but make sure you see it in writing, not just what they tell you. Also, balance the idea of getting the stateroom you want and what you would be happy paying. You have to know what you are entitled to.

 

Jim

[dei6360]

We are on the Paradise and have a Cat 12 suite so there was now way to get any type of upgrade. If you want to see what the current price is go to carnivals website and enter in your cruise info in quick pricing then pick your cruise and it will show you the pricing for all rooms on that cruise

[dickinson]

DEI6360- Congratulations on persuing what you deserve. I have read so many threads over the past several years where people have gotten either on board credit or upgrade or combination of both. Rarely have I read where people complained that they just got on board credit but less than the amount of the price drop (don't flame me folks if I am wrong as I have not read every post!). Your TA told you one thing and because you persisted you got what they said you were entitled to. Good TA (even if they did need a bit of a nudge :D ).

 

Enjoy your cruise! We'll be waiting to board when you are getting off!

[iluvdoxies]

I'm with you Kristi! and the others too.

I always monitor prices, when they go down, I call our pvp at CCL and we have ALWAYS got the full amount of the difference as a shipboard credit- even sfter full payment.

Heck, even one time, just 8 days before sailing and it was a BIG ONE.

So keep checking and calling!

[Sgibbs]

Your lucky you got any credit. We booked with Carnival almost a year ago. The day we made final payment price went down. Have been trying since then to get anything from them. They told us that they do not give on board credits anymore. We leave on Sat.(cat 11).