carnival shore excursion price match

Booking Procedures

• Carnival Vacation Protection (CVP)
• Deposit and Final Payment Guidelines | Forms of Payment
• Cancellation and Change Guidelines | Refunds
• Infants / Minors / Pregnancy
• Passenger Vessel Service Act - Jones Act
• Carnival Breeze
• Carnival Celebration
• Carnival Conquest
• Carnival Dream
• Carnival Elation
• Carnival Firenze
• Carnival Freedom
• Carnival Glory
• Carnival Horizon
• Carnival Jubilee
• Carnival Legend
• Carnival Liberty
• Carnival Luminosa
• Carnival Magic
• Carnival Miracle
• Carnival Panorama
• Carnival Paradise
• Carnival Pride
• Carnival Radiance
• Carnival Spirit
• Carnival Splendor
• Carnival Sunrise
• Carnival Sunshine
• Carnival Valor
• Carnival Venezia
• Carnival Vista
• Ship Class Guide
• Fun Ship Features

Have Fun. Be Safe

• Health Protocols and Requirements for Sailing

Travel Documentation and Online Check-in

• Travel Documents
• Online Check-In

Getting There

• Cruise Terminal Information and Parking
• Airport and Pier Transportation
• Air Information

Before You Board

• Embarkation Day Check-In

Youth and Family

• Youth Programs (Under 2 and 2-11 years old)
• Teen Programs (12-17 years old)
• Carnival's Seuss at Sea
• Age Policies

Things to Know

Onboard experiences.

• Fun Ship Features Quick Reference
• Shore - Excursions
• Spa and Fitness
• Outdoor Fun
• Entertainment and Activities
• For Your Convenience
• Onboard Guidelines and Policies
• Past Guest Recognition Programs

Onboard Celebrations

• The Fun Shops
• Special Occasions
• Wedding Cruises and Vow Renewals

Dining and Beverages

• Dining and Snacking Options
• Dining Rooms
• Beverage Options
• CHEERS! Beverage Program
• Bottomless Bubbles Soda Program
• Liquor and Beverage Policy

Onboard Communication

• WI FI Service and Carnivals HUB App
• Staying Connected

Money and Gratuities

• Gratuities (Tips)
• Sail & Sign Onboard Account
• Forms of Payment
• Cruise Cash/Bar/Photo
• Financial Access

Shipboard Health and Safety

• Passenger Bill of Rights
• Guest Screening Policy
• Safety and Security
• Safety Briefing - Muster Station Drill
• General Health Information
• Privacy Notice
• What to Pack
• Cruise Ticket Contract
• Carnival Vacation Protection
• Guests with Disabilities
• Choosing Your Cruise
• Tech Support
• Early Saver Promotion
• Minors / Infants / Pregnancy
• Making changes to your booking
• Carnival EasyPay
• Financing Powered by Uplift
• US Department of State Travel Tips
• And more things to know....

Debarkation - After Your Cruise

• Preparing to Go Home
• Post Cruise Inquiries
• View All Deck Plans

Shore Excursion Best Price Guarantee

Guests sailing on a Carnival cruise who book a shore excursion through us can be completely confident they are getting the best price and best value with the introduction of a new shore excursion best price guarantee. The only guarantee of its kind in the cruise industry, the program is now available fleet wide for all Carnival Cruise Lines shore tours on ships sailing from North America.

Under the best price guarantee, guests who find the same tour offered by another operator at a lower price than their booked excursion either before or during their cruise will be eligible to receive 110% of the difference in the form of a shipboard credit applied to the guest’s onboard Sail & Sign® account.

How it Works:  In order to be eligible to receive the Best Price Guarantee, you must reserve the applicable shore excursion(s) prior to the commencement of your cruise and complete and submit an online Shore Excursion Best Price Guarantee claim form at least seven (7) days prior to the commencement of your cruise. Carnival will review your claim within five (5) business days. If your claim meets the requirements provided in the Terms and Conditions , Carnival will issue a non-refundable onboard credit worth 110% of the price difference. An email confirming the outcome of the request will be sent to you. 

Benefits of Booking Through Carnival: Guests who book their excursion through Carnival enjoy the convenience of having shore excursion tickets delivered to their stateroom, 24/7 access to shipboard staff to answer questions and obtain assistance, and an assurance that they will receive a refund or the excursion time will be adjusted as needed based on weather or other issues affecting a ship's scheduled port of call visit. Additionally, ongoing communication between tour operators and shipboard staff ensures that the cruise line is aware and can make necessary changes to a ship's departure time when a tour is running late or unexpected circumstances arise.

The best price guarantee is applicable to shore excursion matches on the same date as the tour purchased from Carnival.

For additional information or questions about Carnival's Shore Excursion Best Price Guarantee, click here .

Was this answer helpful?

Answers others found helpful.

• Carnival's Shore Excursion Program
• Shore Excursion ‘Pre-Sail’ Information
• Shore Excursion FAQs
• Carnival’s ‘Behind the Fun' Tour
• Fun Aboard, Fun Ashore

Lowest Price Guarantee

YOU’RE GETTING THE LOWEST PRICE POSSIBLE… 110% GUARANTEED !

If you find a better Carnival-advertised deal within two days of booking your cruise… well, we’re going to be very surprised. And then we’ll give you 110% of the difference in onboard credit! You can be confident that our prices are the lowest, so you can get on to more important things... like counting down the days until you sail!

Just Remember This:

• You have 48 hours from the time you book to find a lower price.
• Carnival will give you 110% of the difference in onboard credit.
• Lowest Price Guarantee only applies to publicly available rates.

Think you've found a lower price?

View Terms And Conditions

• Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival Shore Excursion Best Price Guarantee

By houseflipper48 , January 23, 2019 in Carnival Cruise Lines

Recommended Posts

houseflipper48

Hi, Has anyone taken advantage of the shore excursion price guarantee? We are looking at Belize excursions and private tours are much cheaper. But I like the fact that the Carnival tour we'd like to take leaves directly from the ship. Wondering how easy it is to submit claim.

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

so do all the other excursions, the only problem with the Carnival guarantee is you have to tour with Carnival. We have done several Belize private excursions, they all started at the port terminal.

Shaded Lady

Full disclosure I've never tried the process myself, but from what I've read, the process to submit a claim is not difficult, but getting Carnival to agree that the excursions are in fact an exact duplicate can often be challenging - if one offers transportation and the other doesn't for example, it's not a match. But what the heck! Lots of people are successful at it so I'd say give it a try!

As Coevan said, you need to book the excursion through Carnival first, then submit the claim for the price guarantee. If it's rejected you would still have the option to cancel the Carnival excursion and go with the private one... (note- if you cancel onboard I believe you will get OBC, not a credit back to your payment form, like you'd get if cancel before the cruise).

I did it for our Altun Ha excursion in Belize last year. I orginally booked thru Carnival, went and found an almost identical excursion after reading about doing the price match on these boards, and Voila! I saved almost $20 per person!

It is very easy and we have never been denied.  Gotten onboard credit on multiple excursions.  

It's very easy to submit.  You must first schedule your Carnival excursion, then submit the online form.  I've done it several times without any problems.  

Yes, I did this for the Lamanai Mayan Ruins excursion offered by Carnival and it was easy and had my confirmation within about 2 business days.  You might try searching your excursion "price match" and see if there's already a thread on yours.  That's how I find out about mine.  🙂

SRQbeachgirl

I submitted a claim form last year and received the credit in less than 48 hours.

bakersdozen12

4 hours ago, shawnalr said: Yes, I did this for the Lamanai Mayan Ruins excursion offered by Carnival and it was easy and had my confirmation within about 2 business days.  You might try searching your excursion "price match" and see if there's already a thread on yours.  That's how I find out about mine.  🙂

Same here. We also received the price match for this excursion in Belize. It’s the only one that I have ever gotten approved. All other requests I have put in were turned down due to one little detail. 

Luckiestmanonearth

Carnival is brilliant.  Instead of doing their own research on what is a reasonable excursion price , they put the work on their customers to do it for them.

silvercrikhix

We collected twice on the same cruise. 1 for Atlantis Sub in Grand Cayman & I don’t remember the other off hand. 

‘They paid us 150% of the difference in OBC. We DID NOT book with Carnival but stayed with the private vendor.

IDK, maybe the way it works has changed? The form is on the Carnival website. Very easy to fill out.

Screen shot the others price, receipt, brochure, etc... and attached to the form. Excursion must be EXACTLY the same! 

I did it for Lamanai for my cruise last month.

I covered the excursion booking process on page two of my review if that’s the one you’re looking to do.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2609424-carnival-dream-live-dec-2-9-nola-to-western-carib-fun-times-menus-etc/

10 hours ago, silvercrikhix said: We collected twice on the same cruise. 1 for Atlantis Sub in Grand Cayman & I don’t remember the other off hand.  ‘They paid us 150% of the difference in OBC. We DID NOT book with Carnival but stayed with the private vendor. IDK, maybe the way it works has changed? The form is on the Carnival website. Very easy to fill out. Screen shot the others price, receipt, brochure, etc... and attached to the form. Excursion must be EXACTLY the same! 

You must have fallen through the cracks somehow.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS In order to be eligible to receive the Best Price Guarantee, you must (1) reserve the applicable shore excursion(s) prior to the commencement of your cruise; and (2) complete and submit an online Shore Excursion Best Price Guarantee claim form at least seven (7) days prior to the commencement of your cruise. Failure to meet any of the following conditions will result in your claim form being rejected. Carnival Cruise Line will review your claim within five (5) business days. Lower rate must be publicly advertised and available to the general public at the time your claim is filed, as determined by Carnival Cruise Line personnel. Rates offered on membership program websites, corporate discounts or rates; group, charter, rewards program, incentive, meeting, convention, consolidator or interline prices; prices obtained via auction or similar process; or prices available only by using a coupon or other promotion not offered to the general public are ineligible. The Best Price Guarantee is available only for exact shore excursion matches, for example, duration of the shore excursion, transportation fees, and the exact same dates of the shore excursion as booked through Carnival Cruise Line. The Best Price Guarantee is not available for shore excursions booked through any third-party where excursion details are unknown until after purchase. If your claim meets these requirements, Carnival Cruise Line will issue a non-refundable onboard credit worth 110% of the price difference. An email confirming the outcome of the request will be sent to you. If you cancel your excursion, your onboard credit will also be cancelled. The onboard credit is nonrefundable, nontransferable, and has no cash value. The onboard credit must be used during the applicable cruise. Any unused portion of the onboard credit will be forfeited. Carnival Cruise Line reserves the right in its sole discretion to modify or discontinue the Shore Excursion Best Price Guarantee or to restrict its availability to any person, at any time, for any or no reason, and without prior notice or liability to you. The terms that are in effect at the time of your booking will determine your eligibility under the Shore Excursion Best Price Guarantee. No change in the Shore Excursion Best Price Guarantee will affect any coupon that has already been issued to you. The failure by Carnival Cruise Line to enforce any provision of these Terms & Conditions shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.

No falling through the cracks here.

I went back and looked.

It was on the Breeze in 2014.

The other excursion was for the hop on hop off trolley in Key West.

I’d have to say the policies/conditions have changed since then.

We kept the excursions with the business’ themselves and Carnival put 150% of the price difference on our account as OBC.

I know we followed the restrictions/submission requirements at that time. They are/were very specific. 

We also had reason to speak to the guest services manager on another matter during the cruise. 

She had commented on how well I had researched for and got the 2 OBC’s. 

For the Atlantis Sub, we watched the Carnival group leave before we went on our sub. 

It is super easy to submit. When I did it, the link that I provided to the excursion website didn't work, so I got an email from Carnival stating that I could resubmit or reply directly to the email. I replied directly with the link and my claim was approved!

This was for Balmoral island in the Bahamas though, no experience with Belize.

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

• Welcome to Cruise Critic
• New Cruisers
• Cruise Lines “A – O”
• Cruise Lines “P – Z”
• River Cruising
• Cruise Critic News & Features
• Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
• Special Interest Cruising
• Cruise Discussion Topics
• UK Cruising
• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
• Canadian Cruisers
• North American Homeports
• Ports of Call
• Cruise Conversations

Announcements

• New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!

Write Your Own Amazing Review !

Click this gorgeous photo by member SUPERstar777 to share your review!

Features & News

LauraS · Started Wednesday at 08:11 PM

LauraS · Started Tuesday at 07:43 PM

LauraS · Started Tuesday at 01:14 AM

LauraS · Started April 26

• Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
• Find Your Roll Call
• Meet & Mingle
• Community Help Center
• All Activity
• Member Photo Albums
• Meet & Mingle Photos
• Favorite Cruise Memories
• Cruise Food Photos
• Cruise Ship Photos
• Ports of Call Photos
• Towel Animal Photos
• Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
• Write a Review
• Live Cruise Reports
• Member Cruise Reviews
• Create New...

Search Travel Market Report

• Packaged Travel
• Hotels & Resorts
• Destinations
• Retail Strategies
• Niche & Luxury
• Training & Resources
• Brian Israel
• Briana Bonfiglio
• Dan McCarthy
• Dori Saltzman
• Jennifer Arango
• Kelly Fontenelle
• Keri-Anne Slevin
• Louis Intreglia
• Sarah Milner
• Tom McCarthy

Carnival Price Match on Shore Trips Irks Agents

Carnival Cruise Lines said it will guarantee prices on its shore excursions, giving qualifying passengers a 110% refund on the excursion price. The move has irked travel agents who say the move is another way for Carnival to cut them out. The Carnival Shore Excursion Best Price Guarantee offers cruisers a 110% refund of the excursion price, paid in shipboard credit, if they find a similar third-party excursion online for less. Cruise passengers must fill out an online form, providing Carnival with a URL that links to the competing deal, which must be advertised to the public. Sales hurdle for agents? The move does not affect travel agent commissions on Carnival bookings, since Carnival hasn’t paid commissions on its shore excursions for years. But the guarantee could create a sales hurdle for travel agents who recommend commissionable third-party excursions to their cruise customers. Carnival said the initiative isn’t meant to ostracize agents who sell third-party excursions. "The guests book through us to get the guarantee,” explained Mico Cascais, vice president of tour operations for Carnival Cruise Lines. “If guests book outside Carnival, they won't get any claim back.” Aimed at first-time cruisers The line cited research showing that the number of excursions booked by first-time cruisers has fallen since 2009. It said it hopes the price guarantee will encourage more excursion bookings. "First-timers are more hesitant because of all the noise out there with the independent websites,” said Cascais. “It's not just agents; there are local, one-person websites usually using price as a leader and creating great confusion.” Depending on itinerary, shore excursions can be one of the top revenue departments on a ship. Agents react Agents reacted unfavorably to news of the guarantee, saying the move is yet another Carnival decision that makes life difficult for them. “I’m none too happy about this and don’t understand why Carnival would do this,” said Bob Zweig, owner of Cruiseland, a Cruise Planners agency in Cooper City, Fla. “Wouldn’t it just be easier to pay us commission on their shore excursions? “Instead of trying to work with the travel agent community, Carnival is trying to take business away from us,” he said Like other cruise-selling agents, Zweig offers his customers third-party shore excursions, in part to boost cruise earnings. “Years ago they decided to not pay us commissions on excursions, so we found our own companies to work with,” he said. Bargain hunters only Mostly, the guarantee will affect only the most cost-conscious cruiser. “For clients looking to get something for nothing, this will appeal to them,” said Lisa Silvestri, owner of Silvestri Travel in Sarasota, Fla. “For those looking to have a great experience, this won’t make any difference. They’re going to choose their excursion regardless of the price.” Agents said it is extremely rare that a third-party excursion is priced lower than a similar Carnival offering. Usually third-party excursions are equal in price or more expensive due to smaller group size, they said. “If you shop around and look at where the shore excursion companies have priced their product, there isn’t a huge difference in price from [the cruise lines],” said Zweig. “Some may be more expensive, but they offer excursions that Carnival doesn’t.” Third-party reaction Third-party excursion providers said they expected Carnival’s price guarantee to have little impact on their business due to the variety of products they offer. “In today's environment, cruisers have more choices than ever with respect to whom they buy excursions from,” said Mike Bonner, owner of Shore Excursions Group. “We do not believe this new policy will impact the independent excursion providers since there is very little crossover between what the cruise lines offer and the excursions offered by independent providers.” Products compare favorably Other excursion providers said their smaller group experiences will always be attractive to cruisers. “We feel that when real comparisons are made, people will continue to look to us for better, more creative and competitively priced activities in smaller venues,” said Julie Karp, owner of Shore Trips. “We visit each port and design tours that we feel are more interesting to smaller groups. We also do not have to cater to the masses and therefore can integrate stops that are unavailable to large numbers.” Competitive gambit Ultimately, the guarantee is another move by Carnival to double-down on the budget cruiser. “They’re struggling for business right now and are dropping prices,” said Zweig. “But matching a shore excursion isn’t going to generate new bookings for them.” Fran Golden contributed to this report.

MOST VIEWED

• Report: Delta Air Lines Plans to Drop Baggage Recheck on Arrival to U.S.
• Four Spots Onboard the All-New Sun Princess We’re Not in Love With
• Op-Ed: Why I Won’t Use Costco for Travel Again
• Catering Strike Causes Delays at Toronto Pearson Airport
• Delta Air Lines Is Changing the Way It Boards Flights
• Testing the Waters with Dori: The NCL Stranded Passenger "Fiasco"
• Margaritaville at Sea Offers Advisor-Only Pricing
• Taiwan Earthquake Update: Train Services Resume, Flights Operating Near Schedule
• Horseshoe’s Jubilee Tower Becomes the Versailles Tower at Paris Las Vegas
• California Bans Drip Pricing: What It Means for Travel Advisors
• The NCL Stranded Passenger “Fiasco”: Your Replies
• Holland America Group Resigns USTOA Membership

Unique Ways Travel Advisors Enhance Their Clients’ Journeys

Here are some of the ways that advisors can enhance their clients’ journeys.

Subscribe today to receive daily in-depth coverage, analysis of industry news, trends and issues that affect how you do business. Subscribe now for free.

Subscribe to TMR

Here are five all-inclusive resorts that offer unique destination weddings.

The latest on the U.S. State Department's advisories. 

The adults-only all-inclusive Caribbean resort is built on the “Party Your Way” concept.

The entire region of Catalo nia is prepa red for an influx of tourists.

Karisma is the first hotel collection to implement the Autism Passport program.

Îles-de-la-Madeleine is charging the new fee to travelers staying for more than 24 hours during peak season.

• Today's Deals
• Sign Up & Save!

• Top Cruise Destinations
• Alaska Cruises
• Bahamas Cruises
• Bermuda Cruises
• Caribbean Cruises
• Europe Cruises
• Mexico Cruises
• 1.800.764.7419

Never Miss a Cruise Deal

• Thank you for signing up! 
• Click here to learn more about our specials.

Public Transportation

Documents & Check-in

Getting There

Dining & Beverages

Money & Gratuity

Onboard Experiences

Browse by category.

• Health Protocols and Requirements for Sailing
• see more »
• Travel Documents
• Online Check-In
• Cruise Terminal Information and Parking
• Airport and Pier Transportation
• Air Information
• Embarkation Day Check-In
• Youth Programs (Under 2 and 2-11 years old)
• Teen Programs (12-17 years old)
• Carnival's Seuss at Sea
• Shore - Excursions
• Spa and Fitness
• The Fun Shops
• Special Occasions
• Dining and Snacking Options
• Dining Rooms
• WI FI Service and Carnivals HUB App
• Staying Connected
• Gratuities (Tips)

Sail & Sign Onboard Account

• Passenger Bill of Rights

Guest Screening Policy

• Safety and Security
• Privacy Notice
• What to Pack
• Preparing to Go Home
• Post Cruise Inquiries

Popular Questions

Cruise cancellation and itinerary change policy, deposit and final payment requirements, celebrating holidays, code of conduct, online check-in and arrival appointment, i need to cancel my booking, is there a penalty, vifp club - carnival's recognition program, camp ocean (2-5 years) penguins: things to know.

• Cruise Deals
• Subscribe & Save!

Never Miss a Cruise Deal

• Thank you for signing up! 
• Click here to learn more about our specials

Help Center

Travel documentation and online check-in.

• Online Check-In

Getting There

• Cruise Terminal Information and Parking
• Airport and Pier Transportation
• Air Information

Before You Board

• Embarkation Day Check-In

Youth and Family

• Youth Programs (Under 2 and 2-11 years old)
• Teen Programs (12-17 years old)
• Age Policies

Things to Know

• Youth Program Overview

Onboard Experiences

• Shore - Excursions
• Outdoor Fun
• Entertainment and Activities
• For Your Convenience
• Onboard Guidelines and Policies
• Past Guest Recognition Programs

Onboard Celebrations

• The Fun Shops
• Special Occasions
• Wedding Cruises and Vow Renewals

Dining and Beverages

• Dining and Snacking Options
• Beverage Options
• Liquor and Beverage Policy

Onboard Communication

• WI FI Service and Carnivals HUB App
• Staying Connected

Money and Gratuities

• Gratuities (Tips)
• Sail & Sign Onboard Account
• Forms of Payment
• Financial Access

Shipboard Health and Safety

• General Health Information
• What to Pack
• Cruise Ticket Contract
• Guests with Disabilities
• Carnival EasyPay

Debarkation - After Your Cruise

• Preparing to Go Home
• Post Cruise Inquiries

How much do Shore Excursions cost?

Was this answer helpful, answers others found helpful.

• How to Book Shore Excursions in Each Port
• Theme Nights Onboard
• Is Water Included in the Bottomless Bubbles Program?
• Mobile Phones Onboard
• Do you have drink packages or programs onboard?

Special Offers

• Last Minute Cruises

Book a Cruise

• Find a Cruise
• Destinations
• Short Cruises
• Travel Agent Finder
• Melbourne Cup
• Cruise from Sydney
• Cruise from Brisbane
• Cruise from Australia

Already Booked

• Manage My Cruise
• Dining Reservations
• Shore Excursions
• In-Room Gifts & Shopping
• Internet & WiFi Plans
• Beverage Packages
• Carnival HUB App

Customer Service

• Carnival FAQs
• Need Help Planning?
• Post-Cruise Inquiries
• Travel Documentation
• Port Information
• Travel Insurance
• Legal Notices for EU & UK Guests

About Carnival

• Conga For Kids
• Press / Media

• Press/Media  
• Legal Notices  
• Privacy & Cookies  

• © Carnival Corporation. All rights reserved.