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On 2/19/2024 at 1:21 PM, Kevin135i said:

We've been battling with Carnival about our refund since the cancellation that happened with Panorama, last December, due to mechanical failure.

At first they were very accommodating and understanding. They reassured us that we will get the full refund and credits for future bookings. Despite the disappointment, we knew it was nobody's fault and that stuff happens in life. We carried on with the anticipation of booking a new cruise once we receive the refund.

Sadly, that's where things starts to get a little fishy. We received the cheque in the mail and went to the bank to deposit it. A few days later, we were notified that it bounced and we were charged additional fees due to that. Now we are out of our refund AND owe more money due to the cheque not going through. We thought this was extremely odd since Carnival is a huge corporation, so why would a cheque from them bounce? We tried to get a hold of Carnival to no avail. Every time we speak to someone on the phone, they claim that they have no way of communicating with the finance/refund department. Seriously? You have no way of talking to your own company? We were advised to continue to correspond with the email we previously were in contact with regarding the supporting documents and file number. We emailed back explaining the situation and this situation got even more shady. The email we received back was written like a broken robot with horrible grammar and spelling mistakes, including our name. It literally looked like one of those spam email you get that tries to scam you. The email stated that the previous cheque was cancelled due to a request for a change of address. So a NEW cheque was sent out to the NEW address. We then immediately inform them that we made no such request and please provide proof of any such request that was made, by who and to what this "new" address is?

They refuse to provide any information or claim that they "cannot see that information" on their system?

What? How does this makes any sense? The only thing I can think of is that someone internal is taking advantage of the situation and saw an opportunity to commit fraud because of the chaos and the volume of refunds that are being issued.

 

Anyone have any advise how we can go about this? or potentially, anyone experiencing anything similar? We're currently at a lost and extremely frustrated that we're out so much money, especially when we've had nothing but positive experience with Carnival until this event.

you’re 100% being scammed by a guy in Nigeria.  I don’t know the backstory but carnival will always communicate with you.  They will never ask you to email them and then send a response back like a 3 year old wrote.

Call carnival directly.  Google their corporate office in Miami.  Nothing else matters.  You’re being scammed.  You’re out that $ the bank charged you, consider it gone.
 

How people get scammed, I’ll never understand.  Why would a billion dollar company only communicate with email?  Why would a billion dollar company’s check bounce?  Why would a billion dollar company even send you a check?

what’s the email they’re talking to you from?

5 hours ago, rodndonna said:

 

As a person who  generally flies  in day of, the difference for us is although we really enjoy my cruises, we don't put anywhere near the  same level of importance on them that you appear to. If we miss one (has not happened yet for cruise holidays), yeah it would suck, but would not be a life altering event or even rank anywhere in the difficult moments of  our lives.

 

 

A few things… I only get 1-2 “vacations” a year so yeah, it’s extremely important I get where I’m going to make sure we’re set when it’s time.  As i mentioned earlier, I used to live 10 minutes from the port so it was easier but now that I’m in Vegas, have you seen the airport?  I LOVE it here but any time there’s anything going on, it impacts the entire city.

I live a few miles away from the strip.  With construction, with F1, with the Super Bowl, with some marathon they have today, doing ANYTHING can add an insane amount of time to your daily activities.  They had hundreds of thousands of people fly in.  Imagine the stress the airlines are under.  So i understand 3 days might be excessive but (I get to see my friends and family at home) I still won’t take the chance.  Cancelled and delayed flights are so common now it’s just not worth risking IMO.  Getting to the port with 5 minutes left?  Bonkers.  Give yourself time to relax, it’s vacation right?

This is why I fly 3-4 days early and fly home 1-2 days after.  I used to live 10 min away from the port in Fort Lauderdale and 40 minutes away from Miami but now that I moved, I won’t put myself in your situation!  Especially with a vacation pending?????  Cmon!  Not sure what you do for work but you gotta figure it out next time!!

On 2/22/2024 at 6:36 AM, hawkinsh said:

I hope I will not have a situation on my hands, but I am concerned.  My wife and I will be celebrating our 25th Anniversary on the Celebration for a week starting July 21.  We are taking our 3 kids with us and have two cabins.  One deck 5 Cove Balcony and one inside cabin across the hall.  We decided to invite family to travel with us.  My mom, sister & aunt decided they would travel with us, and will be in a cabin a couple doors down.  However, I do have a couple concerns for them.  I am hoping you have some advice.

 

Issue #1:  One of them is crowd adverse.  By that I mean, she is not good in crowds especially when she is unfamiliar settings.  This is completely new, as they have never cruised before.  She will often have an anxiety attack, and then she struggles to get it under control. I know that it will be impossible to avoid crowds, but I hope to acclimate her more slowly, until she is more comfortable to the environment.  Does anyone have any suggestions that might help her, especially on the first couple days as we get used to the boat?  I want her to get out of her cabin and have fun, but I do know we will have to have a plan to navigate the crowds.

 

Issue #2:  One of the people in the room has some mobility issues. This is a huge ship.  Any advice on getting around?  I keep pushing for a scooter, but she is not receptive to the idea.  She does not use one in her daily life, and seems to see it as a non-idea.  However, she does not walk that much in her normal day either.

 

Thanks in advance for any advice and suggestions you have.

so issue #1, my best friends sister had an anxiety attack the first day and they had to take her to medical.  Once she calmed down they let her go back to the room.  If you know of potential problems, why not take precautions?  Anxiety meds, whatever calms them down?  
 

#2, my father had major back surgery and now that he’s 73 and refuses a scooter, he uses a cane and sits when necessary.  Make due with what you have.

I highly suggest getting anxiety meds, panic attacks are no joke.  Good luck.

I haven’t cruised on carnival in a long time.  My boarding time is 12:00-12:30.  
 

the most recent cruise I took on Harmony, I brought water with me and the rooms weren’t ready for a few hours.  It was annoying.  However, I opened the door that was shut and dropped my stuff off and left.  The room Stewart was cool and didn’t mind.  I was in and out in 60 seconds.  
 

im seeing people write, they LOCK the access door to the rooms til 130?  If not, what’s the ‘rush’ to get on the ship so early?  I want to start my vacation as I type this but 30 minutes isn’t worth $70 to me… maybe I’m missing other perks, after all, I didn’t even know what fttf was until 20 minutes ago.

If the freedom is comparable to the glory, anything besides freedom.  Never sailed on it but the glory was the most disgusting ship I’ve ever been on.  Vista.

Going on cruise in a week…

So I looked online and carnival says you can’t bring anything on the ship.  
 

then I called to ask about room upgrades and the lady I spoke to said you can bring a 12 pack of water/redbull per person as long as it’s not plastic bottles.  Then another lady said you can’t bring anything.

you can on Royal, anyone know first hand, can you bring anything?  Sometimes the security guard won’t let you sometimes they couldn’t care less but hearing different things from multiple people plus the website is confusing.

Why would they kick him off?  What did he do????

The flights are expensive, long as hell and the ships are small and old. I’d love to go there but no thanks!

So it’s the same, I’ll definitely look into that.  Thank you!

Hey all, been awhile since I cruised on carnival… I’m going on the celebration in a few weeks and want to surprise my gf with a massage. (How sweet I know…)  My question is, do they drop the prices the closer to the end of the cruise like they do with Royal?  Any massages worth it?  They just emailed me they have a 20% off any massage or spa treatment, code, VSPA24.  Trying to figure out the best deal possible.  Thanks !!!!

On 1/30/2024 at 5:47 PM, freewilly said:

We always book interior and get same lame offers. I guess they think  folks want a window . Not interested in being on deck 1 or 2. Pass.

Im going in a few weeks myself.  First carnival cruise in years.  Gave me a good offer to start.  $1200, interior on the 8th floor, $225obc, 7 day, free drinks while gambling… they messaged me, $300 to upgrade to a Havana interior or $2900 for a suite.  What’s the difference in a regular interior or Havana interior?  Absolutely nothing worth 150pp…. Now, ocean view or balcony, we can talk.  But a different interior when it’s only 600pp?  Not a chance.

So just to follow up, I’m 2 days from heading out and they pulled the royalup area when I log in so I can’t see it anymore.  I’m not a dummy and I’ll assume I didn’t get anything but there wasn’t an email or any correspondence saying anything relating to winning/losing.

anyone else have this happen?

35 minutes ago, volk904 said:

Is Johnny  Rockets open for breakfast on the Harmony?

Yup.

3 minutes ago, JenTX4NYC said:

where do you actually bid?

Main page, log on.  Scroll a little and it says, royalup.  Right under your reservation.  16 days til sailing, still waiting to see if I get it!!

Royal Caribbean Blog recommends going *just* above the minimum.  I doubt it makes a difference but I understand why he said it.  If everyone bids the absolute min, $5 more should get it.   Going on HOTS in a few weeks, staying in an ocean view so I bid on 3, the best being a balcony for $120 more.  I paid 750+tax… the prices are so volatile I’ve never seen anything like it.  If I get it, it’s a steal, if I don’t, oh well.  I really hope I do though, I love a good story!!!

Shbsbdbd

Not sure what that term means but I know people book someone into their cabin all the time who sleeps with their parents.

 

I have lost count how many tiimes I have gone and paid double. This time I asked a friend. Said she can just pay her port fees and taxes and tips and maybe take me on a excursion, whatever you can work out.

 

If you are telling me no one ever takes a mattress off a bed and sleeps in another room. you must be listening to some officialdom, idk. Ive seen it with my own two eyes, so I know its done.

It means, no one wants a 3rd person in their cabin. Best news would be a buddy of mine breaking up with his gf and ill join. But really, I wish Carnival was more forgiving to solo passangers.

I have met single cruisers, most recently on Victory in June, who said they only had to pay for one person even though they were the only one in the room. The one thing that they all had in common was they booked the cruise less than a week before the cruise. I assume in these situations Carnival figured it was better to have one person in a cabin instead of sailing with the cabin empty.

Ahh,,,good idea. my anxiety might not like that but i do.

Once in a blue moon they have no or less solo supplement out of Miami, I saw one last year in Oct lol

 

Id say find one of your friends with 3 in the cabin and make a deal with them to book one of them in your cabin, even if he sleeps elsewhere.

 

Carnival doesnt want solo cruisers. they used to do 1As for 150% but not any more. Makes me laugh but i have seen their so called single prices, at more than double what one person would pay, makes no sense, of course its just double.

 

But they do everything possible to discourage you from taking up a cabin all by yourself.

I was already told no 3rd wheeling!!!!!

I'm going on my yearly cruise with my friends/family and I'm the only single person. I called them and they said they can't help me w/rooms right now. What I mean by that is, NCL has solo rooms for people who are smart (single!!)

Honestly tho, the cruise is in march, carnival horizon, 8 day.... if I book alone, I'll be paying full price and that won't happen.

Any tips for carnival? I'm the one who picked this cruise too. If I knew my buddy I usually room with would actually start dating this girl, I would of went back to NCL and got my own room! This sucks, any advice for single cruisers on Carnival!?

It seems like the idea of tipping on your own isn't that new or horrible of an idea. Cruise critic has an article on it. https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=298

the entire thing is a scam. as i said, no one truly knows how the tips are dispensed. all i know is what i see. what i see is, when the room guys/waiters/staff go above and beyond, they get cash. do all of you who 'always leave tips on' also give an extra tip when the bartender pours you a drink? you're already paying 18%!!!

i said it before and ill say it again. not 1 of you "tippers" truly know where the tips go. if you feel inclined to leave the DSCs, so be it. at the end of the day, i guarantee every single one of you would give a smaller tip at a restaurant for bad service. but its OK to accept bad service in your room?

ill leave tips on every cruise from here on out if someone can tell me 100% where all the tips go and have proof to back it up.

I don't care how they distribute the money. I will NEVER take off the DSC.

and thats your right but for all you know, you're just paying the cruiseline whatever they charge as a DSC on top of what you already paid for hte cruise itself. the stewards for all you know get none of it!! atleast i know where my money goes. directly in their pocket.

You might just want to try and call again - not all operators you get are familiar with how the details work.

 

We had no issue getting the $250 MyVegas award OBC along with the $100 offered by our TA.

same thing!! priceline offered $100 and i cashed in $250 for 100k, no questions at all!!