Cruiser785

I think your letter is perfect. I am one with the insurance they won't reimburse. I also paid quite a bit in gift cards, which wouldn't be a problem, but I truly only wanted this ship doing this Europe cruise and transatlantic. I have no desire to do this ship in Florida...or any other carnival ship. I booked what I wanted...am not getting it and am stuck with lots of gift cards. Not fair. 

Does anyone know if they cover the cost of the very expensive trip insurance we paid for last January?  Flight fees and Miles refunded ? 

On zuiderdam now. No 1 dollar tables...minimum is 6 dollars. 8 deck shuffle...

Deck 5 is great. Air conditioning is working...be thankful!! Enjoy your cruise. 

Yes...craps table was lovely last night 

Thank you for your good wishes. We actually did ask HAL when we booked and were told drydock was 2 weeks before...we were on koningsdam last year after drydock...had quite a few issues, so we wanted to avoid that. (Not big issues, just no working phone in cabin, dirty comforter...stuff that shouldn't have been, but didn't alter our trip at all).  Oh well, last few days have been great and hope for that to continue. 

Hello. OP here. We were in an outside cabin on deck 1. (Wish it was a suite!!) We spent the first night on deck 4 in an outside cabin...were told it was one night only...so spent night 2 sweating it out in original cabin. Now, we have a balcony on deck 5. (Lovely) it was nice and cool last night. So strange to appreciate the small things, like ac, but when you dont have it in the Caribbean, this is a problem for us...plus the fact that we paid for a comfortable cabin and didn't get one. But, 3rd night in our 3rd bed was a nice one. I have not emailed HAL yet. Busy celebration of hubby's birthday today and the thought of rehashing this experience is quite frankly upsetting. We asked for so little,  were made to feel it was so much, and a bit ashamed for bothering guest services with calls every few hours and standing in line getting nowhere. There was a young man in our same situation and he got very loudly angry...was walked away by a suit, but surely got more than everyone else. We have had an extraordinarily difficult year...I wasnt up for yelling or even writing a scathing email. I also didn't want my husband to see how upset I was and not be able to help me/us. Quite frankly, I don't even want OBC for the future, as we dont plan to be back. Perhaps when we get home, I'll feel differently,  but for now, this wore us out. Believe me, they don't care about losing customers.  There are plenty...we are platinum on Princess and Carnival and shall stick with them. However, you all have been so kind and supportive and I am grateful for this community. Happy holiday season to all of you. 

Happy to report that after 2 days of sweat...we have changed cabins, as have many others in our original area. It was a lot to pack and get resettled,  but I am sitting in a cool cabin recovering and relieved that it is behind us. Hubby was informed that since we are now upgraded, there will be no other compensation...not that we asked, but it cost them nothing to move us. The cabin was empty all along. It cost us, as we tipped our steward for helping us!! Hope others did as well. He loses a bigger tip from us 8 days from now. So, he's the loser here. I can only imagine the notes written in the computer about us and how many complaints were made, but obviously others complained more, as many moved early this morning. I am grateful, but should not be made to feel bad about it...and the hours at guest services accomplishing nothing, until this afternoon. Yay for Queen for listening to us...and seeing my hubby's sweat and my tears. As soon as we said goodbye to our old steward, maintenance knocked, saying they were here to fix our toilet...my reaction was sheer laughter...what now?  So, here we go again...I think this is the end of us on HAL. Thx for your many ideas and support...tomorrow is Bonaire and we will be glad to get off this ship, if only for the day! 

No letter at all about when to get to the ship to board, which we were surprised about. 

Still humid in cabin...trying to stay busy...no letter with apology or plan to fix. 

Tomorrow is another day! Thx for your support. 

Karma...hadn't thought of that. The guest services were very clear. A cabin to sleep for one night only...because a new passenger is boarding and needs that cabin today. Interesting...are they boarding while we are at sea? Come on...truth and honesty would be a better way to respect the passengers.  We paid good money and have not received what we paid for...just very sad because my plans and need for relaxation after a pretty horrid year seem to be gone. Trying to smile, but just not happy. 

Have procured a fan. Room is not hot, not cool...but muggy now. A team is working, but about 20 cabins seem to be affected, plus a few others we have heard about, mostly forward cabins. We were offered a cabin to sleep, but I gave it to a woman with asthma. I just couldn't be selfish...but I wanted it badly!  Not a dream vacation,  but hopefully things turn around soon. Yelling or crying wont help...and I want to do both! Thank you for the helpful responses. I dont feel so alone in this. 

Wish I could say our first day had been as positive...perhaps today will be better?

It has been a bumpy start on this cruise, which is post drydock. We sat and waited to board well past 1 o'clock...many stories and excuses given (why not tell us the truth) as we sat like sardines with not enough chairs, no water, etc for hours.  Boarded to a not so pleasant group of people checking us in on paper (like love boat episodes) and the 2nd deck smelled...bad. then, to our cabin on deck 1, which had no air conditioning...reported immediately  and after many calls and finding out over 20 cabins had no air conditioning, we all stood at guest services begging for help. Our rooms felt like saunas and no window to open...how does one sleep this way after a long day of travel? You tell me. Because they did nothing to help. So far, all we can say is  Never take a cruise after a drydock. I want off of this ship...