If i book my cruise early and the price goes down, will they match the lower price, ie rebate?

Question

I was reading

http://www.cruisecritic.com/cruiseplanning/articles.cfm?ID

and the part about pricing caught my eye. It said

" There are instances in which part of your paid fare can be reimbursed if the prices for cabins in your category go down, but it requires some research and contact with either the travel agent you used to book your cruise or the cruise line itself. "

Does anyone have any info on that, or personal experience?

Thanks!

Answer 1

I book directly through Carnival using there Personal Vacation Planners and YES if the price goes down he will lower it, this is rare however what usually happens is that we are upgraded to a higher deck, one year we booked the cheapest room on the ship and ended up on the Empress Deck before it was all done.

and the earlier you book the better chance of a lower price, we book a year to 6 in advance.

Answer 2

I book as early as possible, and I have received several price reductions, amounting to several hundreds of dollars.  So yes, you can usually obtain the new lower price if the price goes down.

However, if you book through a travel agent make sure that your agent will match a price reduction without a service charge.  

Usually you have to do your own research on this.  You have to check the prices and if they go down, you have to request the refund.  This usually works well until final payment is due.  After final payment is do it is harder to get the refund.  Some people have obtained an on board credit (OBC) when there is a price reduction after final payment is due.  

Some cruise lines will offer a special for new bookings only.  If that is the case, you might not be able to get the price reduction.

Answer 3

I am booked on my fourth cruise on May 31st. two weeks after putting my deposit it actually went down by twenty dollars per cabin,it may not sound like alot but hey,I am cheap,I called my cruise line booking agent(I do not use a travel agent)and told them I found it cheaper and they went down on my price,if your cruise is paid for and you find it cheaper they will give  you onboard credit for the difference.You can do this periodically until you cruise better saving a few dollars and using it on your cruise than giving it to the cruise line.Happy Cruising!!!!

Answer 4

no

Answer 5

no they won't reimburse if the price goes down, on the same thinking, they won't charge you more if the price goes up.

Answer 6

They will give you the lower price if you find that the fare for your identical cabin and cruise has been reduced and YOU bring it to the attention of the cruise line.  They will not do it automatically.  However,  Its very rare that the price of a cruise goes down from the price offered for an early booking. So, for example, if you book now for a cruise in December its very rare that the price will be lower in October, November or December.  I have been on many cruises with 4 different cruise lines and I always book very early to get the early book discounts and I always find that the price of the cruise has increased by hundreds of dollars close to the cruise date, rather than being less.

Answer 7

I always book directly through Carnival, and yes, they do guarantee the price.  However, with as early as I book, (generally about a year in advance), I have never seen the price go down.  It has always gone up after I book.   But I have benefitted from upgrades.  If an availabale upgrade is offered after my booking, my Vacation Planner at Carnival will give me the upgrade.  I don't have to do anything,  He checks them for me.  (Automated system that checks against his booking he says).  And, I have never seen a travel agent or webpage that has offered a better price.  I went to one site that guaranteed the lowest price, and they quoted me a price over $1500 more than Carnival for a seven day cruise.  Needless to say, they never did respond to the e-mail I sent asking them to honor the lower price.

Answer 8

they wont usually go down they will almost always go up the closer you get to departure date, and if on a rare occasion the price was reduced instead of increased and u bring it to their attention they will most likely see to it that you get it for that price, but thats only if u notice it, they will not bring it to your attention u have to bring it to theirs