Would you complain on this?

[INCHARGE]

It sounds to me like there may be a glitch happening with the "reduced deposit." It's strange that others who took advantage of that special have the same problem. This may be something that Carnival needs to look into. I hope there are not others having this same problem. OP...I'm sorry this happened, and maybe your experience will help others. Good luck.

[Tapi]

I'm really not sure who they hire and what amount of training they have to go thru but the majority of the folks that have "helped" me at the 800 number were definitely not the brightest lights in the harbor!!

 

 

Keep in mind that the agents (Carnival Vacation Specialists or CVS) at the 800-CARNIVAL number is a entry level job, and requires a lower level of experience and education than the PVP's (or Personal Vacation Planners).

 

To become a CVS, all you need is a high school diploma or GED and no previous cruise line experience. To become a PVP, you need a college degree in a related field as well as several years of experience in the travel industry.

 

A lot of people here on Cruise Critic think that the agents at the 800-CARNIVAL number and the PVP's are the same thing, but they are not, and its situations like yours when the differences become more evident.

 

We choose to continue booking our Carnival cruises through our PVP. He's been helping us for 7 years now, and he's only given us impeccable and experienced customer service as well as great product knowledge.

[NCTribeFan]

Guess it doesn't hurt to remind us all to make sure our personal info is correct on the website. I complained to my PVP once that I never get any emails from Carnival except my confirmations, which come directly from him.

 

Well, turns out I never updated my email address. Still don't receive emails from them, but I know now that they have the correct info in my profile.

 

Apparently having filled out your FunPass and having your PVP know your email address and phone number isn't enough. Got to be sure your profile is up-to-date.

 

I'm so obsessive I check my "Manage My Cruise" frequently. If my cruise had been cancelled a week after booking, I would've been on the phone then, not at final payment day!

 

Hope it all works out for you. Sounds like these reduced deposits just aren't worth it!

[disfan13]

If the deposit was $250, was that per person? Or was that a reduced deposit rate? If you made any changes to the booking or rate code, they will cancel the reservation if the correct deposit wasn't corrected. It had nothing to do with your email address.

 

Was your credit card refunded?

[RuthlessBoss]

You got a new cabin for your original price, but it's not next to your friends. That's how I reread your post, not sure if I interpreted it correctly.

[cruzegurl104]

I hope that if they canceled your cruise, you were refunded the deposit! This seems very ignorant of carnival, shame on them. I would talk to whomever I could possibly talk to at CCL to get this resolved. That includes writing a letter to Gerry Cahill. I'd be blowing up the phone everyday until it was resolved.

 

Praying everything works out for you!!:)

[sjcruiser]

I would take it higher up the chain also!!!!

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I hope that if they canceled your cruise, you were refunded the deposit! This seems very ignorant of carnival, shame on them. I would talk to whomever I could possibly talk to at CCL to get this resolved. That includes writing a letter to Gerry Cahill. I'd be blowing up the phone everyday until it was resolved.

 

Praying everything works out for you!!:)

 

I wondered that too! Are they just saying "Thanks for the $250! Too bad you lost your cruise" and keeping the deposit?!

 

:eek:

[CaribbeanBound]

You can always take your business elsewhere. Thankfully a few other ships are also plying the seas these days.

[Winterstale]

The reduced deposit for mine was not "per person" since....that would have meant it was just the usual $500 it normally is...hence the word "reduced".

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[librarymom]

I had nothing but problems when I booked a cruise on a reduced deposit fare. In the future I will always pay the full deposit to avoid any later issues.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[Kenito]

We have a cruise booked Nov 9th - we booked an interior room with a couple we are travelling with, on a lower level for the 409 cost.

 

We put the 250 down payment down in June, and tried to make the final payment in August - but the site kept telling me Oops - our manage our cruise page is down! When I finally called - they told me they had cancelled my cruise 7 days after booking!

 

When I asked why - they said I didn't put down enough money. I let them know they took the $250 off my CC, just like the down payment asked for. Then they said THAT was fine, but they didn't notify me because I didn't have an email address tied to it. I said that couldn't be true, because I got my confirmation email saying, Hooray - you're cruise is 5 months away email with all the details!

 

I had to fight and fight for 2 hours on the phone just to get my original cost of 409. No one wanted to help - they said everything on Riviera was sold out, and I had to pay the upcharge since I didn't call sooner. I'm so frustrated - this is AFTER the March 16th dream debacle where I was notified 8 hours in advance THAT cruise had been cancelled. Am I being petty? I'm just so angry with them - and nothing was my fault. Yet now we don't get to be by our friends, and I had was blamed for everything for 2 hours on the phone. Is Carnival known for trying to do the right thing, or will I just waste my time venting on the phone?

 

PSADVOCATE,

 

It sounds to me like after two hours everything is okay, except you are not close to your friends?

 

If so... count your blessings and enjoy your cruise.

 

Unfortunately, if the people we have to deal with to get on the ship were actually running the ship, the ships would all be crashed into each other before they ever get out of the harbor.

 

I am a control freak, so I deal directly with the cruise line. That being the case, I don't deal with travel agents, but I don't disagree with the advice that for you, it may be a good idea.

 

It seems these days that we must be our own experts. We must read everything twice, and ask the Reps everything thrice. If I get an answer I don't agree with, I call and talk to someone else, unless I am dealing with someone I already have a relationship with. If I am my own expert and confirm everything several times, then I eliminate most of the 'surprises' many experience... and of course, they manage to irritate me at least once during the pre-cruise period. On more than one occasion I have had to guide an ill-informed Rep to the correct information.

 

Fortunately when we board, all of that frustration goes away. So flush it all away and just start planning your packing, shore excursions, and where you are going to meet your friends for the Sail Away drink! ;) Don't let these irritations spoil your trip and show your appreciation to your cabin steward and waiters for their good service.

[disfan13]

The reduced deposit for mine was not "per person" since....that would have meant it was just the usual $500 it normally is...hence the word "reduced".

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

Your right! Thanks!

[RuthlessBoss]

We have a cruise booked Nov 9th - we booked an interior room with a couple we are travelling with, on a lower level for the 409 cost.

 

We put the 250 down payment down in June, and tried to make the final payment in August - but the site kept telling me Oops - our manage our cruise page is down! When I finally called - they told me they had cancelled my cruise 7 days after booking!

 

When I asked why - they said I didn't put down enough money. I let them know they took the $250 off my CC, just like the down payment asked for. Then they said THAT was fine, but they didn't notify me because I didn't have an email address tied to it. I said that couldn't be true, because I got my confirmation email saying, Hooray - you're cruise is 5 months away email with all the details!

 

I had to fight and fight for 2 hours on the phone just to get my original cost of 409. No one wanted to help - they said everything on Riviera was sold out, and I had to pay the upcharge since I didn't call sooner. I'm so frustrated - this is AFTER the March 16th dream debacle where I was notified 8 hours in advance THAT cruise had been cancelled. Am I being petty? I'm just so angry with them - and nothing was my fault. Yet now we don't get to be by our friends, and I had was blamed for everything for 2 hours on the phone. Is Carnival known for trying to do the right thing, or will I just waste my time venting on the phone?

OP...Did you or did you not wind up with a cabin at your $409, but just not near your friends? It sounds like you did.

[Georgiagolfer]

You can always take your business elsewhere. Thankfully a few other ships are also plying the seas these days.

 

Seems like the best reply to the OP.:cool:

[Winterstale]

We lost our original cabin too...but got the cruise back at our original price....I am happy and grateful we could work that out....if I am spending a ton of time in the cabin? I'm not having a good enough time :)

 

Take the new cabin and go!!

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[Georgiagolfer]

We lost our original cabin too...but got the cruise back at our original price....I am happy and grateful we could work that out....if I am spending a ton of time in the cabin? I'm not having a good enough time :)

 

Take the new cabin and go!!

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

 

But I think most are missing the point. If you book a certain cabin, why should you have to settle for a different cabin, even if you get it for the original price?

 

Come on folks, admit it, CCL screwed up, and by other replies, not just this 1 person, but many.

[waldocruiser1]

But I think most are missing the point. If you book a certain cabin, why should you have to settle for a different cabin, even if you get it for the original price?

 

Come on folks, admit it, CCL screwed up, and by other replies, not just this 1 person, but many.

 

So what should they Carnival do, make the people that are booked in the cabin now move by giving them a free upgrade to make up for the change?

 

Get over it, if you booked and did not get a confirmation email, and booking number, and waited several months, then days/weeks after final payment date to check on it, you are out of luck, you are lucky they are going to give you the old price back.

 

Get over it and move on, to a better cabin up on the ship.

[Georgiagolfer]

So what should they Carnival do, make the people that are booked in the cabin now move by giving them a free upgrade to make up for the change?

 

Get over it, if you booked and did not get a confirmation email, and booking number, and waited several months, then days/weeks after final payment date to check on it, you are out of luck, you are lucky they are going to give you the old price back.

 

Get over it and move on, to a better cabin up on the ship.

 

OP stated they did receive a confirmation Email when they 1st booked using the reduced deposit offer.

[Winterstale]

As did I....still got canceled through no fault of mine....seems like there was some kind of a CCL glitch with the reduced deposit....agree they should do something but I still wouldn't give up the cruise....maybe an OBC??

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app