Is Carnival price promise all it’s made out to be?

When I saw that Carnival were doing a price promise on shore excursions, I thought ‘brilliant’!

At last something is being done about the prices!

So what is the deal?

The cruise operator pledges to refund 110% of the difference in price, should you find it cheaper. The offer applies to the comparative cost between Carnival and another cruise operators or websites.

So…. Not only do you have to book the trip and pay 7 days before you travel, you then have to find a better price from another cruise operator or website based excursion provider. You then complete a form online or on board ship in order to qualify for the price guarantee.

The other catch is, it has to be the exact same tour… meals, drinks, entrance fees, everything the same..

I contacted Carnival for further clarification and this was the response…

Most cruise lines, including Carnival Cruise Lines, work with independent third-party operators to arrange for tours in a particular port and the guarantee applies to those shore excursion operators and tour operations web sites.  In terms of ‘comparable’ tours, we need to be able to verify that the tour has the same elements which may include transportation, entrance fees and meals, for example, in addition to the other core features.  Claims received prior to the voyage are reviewed by the tour operations team. Claims received on board are reviewed by the shore-ex team on the ship.

Clear as mud!!

After looking at the terms and conditions and how you claim this back, it just seems such a run around and a complete con!

In short…

ü  You have to book the excursion 7 days before you travel

ü  Identify an exact alternative for a better price even though the cruise lines use the same excursion providers

ü  Notify Carnival of the price difference on a form before you go or on board

ü  Wait for their decision to pay you in on board credit

So they don’t lose anything… the money is still spent on the ship

Blue Lagoon – Iceland

Why don’t the cruise lines just reduce the prices?? Whenever I have travelled and booked an excursion in port, I have always found it considerably cheaper than the price offered by the cruise line.

I would love to hear your thoughts….

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Dunns River Falls – Jamaica