Carnival
Price Protection
Which rates are protected?
Need to know what to do if the price of your cruise drops? Look no further!
The first order of business, is to make sure you book an Early Saver fare when booking your cruise. This is planning ahead and booking the best rate you can. The rate should say “Early Saver” by it when booking. This ensures you have price protection up to 2 business days prior to your sailing.
Early Saver is the lowest available core rate when open. Sometimes, limited audiences will see lower fares than Early Saver rates such as promotional fare. Also, Super Saver and Pack & Go fares may be lower than Early Saver, but they come with a lot more restrictions and you also cannot pick your cabin when using these fares.
Early Saver Rates are the only rates eligible for price protection up until 2 business days prior to your sailing.
Compare apples to apples
The first thing you need to check when you’re looking at price drops, is to make sure you’re comparing apples to apples. When you check for price drops on your cabin, be sure you’re checking the exact same category.
For instance, let’s say you have a balcony cabin booked on deck 11 (category 8G). You check for price drops and notice that a balcony cabin on deck 6 (category 8B) is cheaper. Even though they are both balconies, they are not the same category. The easiest way for someone who does not understand cabin categories to do this, is to look at the deck plans of your ship and look at the legend on the map. This will show you which cabins are in the same category as yours.
Promotions & Deposits
When you apply for a price drop, it’s possible you will lose any promotion that you originally booked with. For instance when you booked, you may have used a promo code to get $100 of on board credit. When you submit a price drop, you’re moving to the new rate and could potentially lose your on board credit, of whatever other promotion you booked under. Be sure you’re comparing everything side by side. You may not want to submit a price drop for $25 if it means losing $100 of on board credit.
Also, the new rate you’re moving to may require you to come in with a higher deposit. You may have initially booked your cruise with a $50 deposit but the new rate requires a full deposit. Be prepared for this, and know what you’re switching to.
What happens when I submit a price drop?
If your cruise is paid in full
Carnival will give you the difference in non-refundable on-board credit that you can use on the ship.
If your cruise is not paid in full
If you have not paid your cruise in full, then Carnival will adjust the rate and final amount due.
How to submit a price drop
- If you have a Personal Vacation Planner through Carnival, you can simply send them a text/email. Include the following information:
- Booking number
- First & Last Name
- The new fare being requested
- Where you found the new fare at
Give Carnival a call at 1 (800) 764-7419 and let them know the details of where you found your price drop.
This is the quickest way to submit a price drop. Click the button below.
If you used a travel agent for some reason, you MUST go through them and have them do everything for you. Carnival cannot assist you.
Price Alerts
To get email alerts when your cruise price changes, you can sign up for emails with cruiseline.com to get informed whenever there is a price drop.
Here’s their website (link)
Fare Types
Early Saver
Early Saver rates are available up to 76 days prior to sail dates for voyages 5 days or shorts and are available up to 91 days before the sail date on voyages 6 days and longer. The Early Saver rate will give you price protection up to 2 days prior to your cruise. This is the lowest fare that will allow you to choose your own cabin. If the price drops, Early Saver rates are eligible for the lowest price. This is personally my favorite rate to book under because I get the lowest price always, and I can choose my own cabin. That’s very important to me.
Super Saver
Super Saver rates are typically the lowest fare available, but you do not get to choose your own cabin with this rate. You’re only allowed to select your cabin type. The Super Saver rate requires a non-refundable, non-transferable deposit and it’s available for bookings made more than 90 days prior to the sail date. The Super Saver rate DOES NOT qualify for price protection. If you know for sure you won’t need to cancel your cruise and you don’t care where your cabin is located, this may be your best option.
Fun Saver
The Fun Saver rate is the standard rate where you allow Carnival to choose your cabin for you. This fare typically includes 50% off deposits and you allow Carnival to choose your cabin based on the type of cabin you select. The deposit is non-refundable and non-transferrable. No name changes are allowed and the Fun Saver rate DOES NOT qualify for price protection.
Fun Select
Fun Select rate is the standard rate that allows you to pick your own cabin. This fare typically comes with free cabin upgrades that will upgrade your cabin up to 2 categories within the same cabin class. Upgrades are based on availability. Your deposit is refundable subject to the cancellation policy and penalties.
Pack & Go
The Pack & Go rate is good if you’re a last second planner and go at the last minute. These are specials that run very close to the sail date and helps Carnival fill a ship to capacity. If you choose the Pack & Go rate, you need to pay for the cruise in full, not just a deposit. The entire fare is non-refundable and non-transferable. You only get to choose your cabin type, and the Pack & Go rate DOES NOT include price protection.
I recommend
insuremytrip
You can input all of the riders and exclusions you need for you and your family, then compare policies side by side to see which is the best option for you. Then purchase your policy directly from insuremytrip.
Click for free quote