A fare code, also called a rate code, is the short code a cruise line uses to identify the exact price program your cabin was sold under. It tells the line whether you booked a non-refundable deposit fare or a refundable one, a public promotion, or a restricted rate such as a loyalty, casino or resident offer.
Two people in identical cabins on the same sailing can hold different fare codes and have paid different amounts. The fare code, together with the stateroom category, is what defines your booked fare.
It matters for price drops because cruise lines compare like with like. Celebrity's Best Price Guarantee lets a booking on a non-refundable deposit fare reprice only to the same fare type, while a refundable deposit booking can take the lower fare of either type. Carnival's Early Saver price protection only honours a lower fare you are eligible to receive, and does not cover Super Saver fares. A lower price sold under a different code may not count toward your claim.
Your fare code or fare type usually appears on the booking confirmation next to the cabin category. If you cannot find it, your travel agent or the cruise line can tell you. The guide to cruise fare codes goes through the common types and how each line treats them.
