Carnival has CANCELLED my cruise and wedding!!!!

[bridetobe15]

This is a warning to everyone thinking of cruising with Carnival.

 

I planned on cruising on Carnival Paradise, out of Tampa, on December 3rd and getting married in Cozumel on December 5th of this year. My wedding, photographer, and cruise (along with 56 guests ) has been booked since March.

 

We got notice yesterday morning that the entire cruise has been chartered and is now CANCELLED. After many phone calls, I came to the realization that someone or some company paid Carnival a large sum of money to rent the entire boat. What does Carnival do? Well they kick everyone off... even those who have paid. How unbelievable?!

 

The worst part is, my wedding is ruined! Myself and my travel agent spoke to Carnival several times and they didn't seem to care. The only compensation offer was to change my cruise and give me $25 on-board credit per person. That is like putting a bandaid on Niagara Falls (my travel agents exact workds).

 

I've been on the phone and emailing ever since in order to make my wedding happen. Bottom line is, I can NOT get on the ship as I had paid for and booked.

 

This is a heads up to anyone planning a vacation and/or wedding with this cruiseline.

 

*I have also posted this in the "Carnival" section.

[SadieN]

This can happen anywhere. At least you have warning.

[Nell2122]

Im so sorry to hear about your wedding. Charters are something that can happen on any cruise line. I recently almost experience something similar on the Norwegian cruise line. I thought that my cruise was going to be canceled but it was a false alarm.

 

About a month ago I noticed that my cruise was taken down off the NCL website ( not just my cruise but all the cruises to nowhere in 2016). At first I didn't think too much of it, I just thought it was maybe a computer glitch but the cruises still weren't listed a few days later. So at that point I decided to just call customer service just to see what's up. Customer Service had no idea why there were no more rooms available and they end up saying that the cruises must be sold out. I just found that really odd that 3 different cruises would all get sold out the same day. So I double checked with the group specialist I'm working with that was holding my rooms for my wedding guests. She said that she received word that the cruise were on a "stop sell" but she had no idea why and that there was a good possibly that the cruise may be CANCELED!!! And that was all the information she had at the time and I would have to wait to see what happens. At first I was freaking out! I came up with so many theories of what could be going on with the cruise. I thought that the cruises could have been chartered!

 

So to make a long story short. After 4 painful weeks of waiting , I finally got a call from the group specialist and she stated that the cruise was NOT going to be canceled. So my situation worked out but I can definitely understand your frustration and panic. I spend four weeks of wondering what's going to happen with my wedding. And the messed up part is that the cruise lines could really care less about our weddings, they make so much money from these charters that nothing else matters.

 

Did they give you the option to pick another date/cruise?

[cherylandtk]

I understand your massive disappointment and frustration. This is a more common occurrence with cruise weddings than you might think. Once you have vented a bit, if you show Carnival your non-refundable costs, such as the contracts and bills showing those costs, they are usually very willing to refund such costs to you in addition to the items they have already offered. When you contact them, stick to the facts,being sure to leave the emotion, disappointment, inconvenience, etc. out of that discussion.

 

Then, reconsider where and when you do want your wedding to occur. I know you've seen the suggestions on the other thread. There is zero guarantee that a cruise wedding will make it to the port intended, or that your wedding will be on the date you thought and booked. With that in mind, consider going on one of the two lines that can actually marry you on the ship. (Takes the port worry away completely). Or have the legal wedding back in Tampa and the ceremonial wedding elsewhere (Europeans have to do this all the time; legal wedding at city hall, church wedding later).

 

Good luck at finding a suitable alternative, try to look at this as a half-full glass and not half-empty. You have six months to regroup instead of six hours, you know more about the pitfalls of cruise weddings than you did a week or so ago, you do have options.

[MsFox]

Oh wow. I was aware that it was a possibility if I chose a cruise wedding, but yikes. I can't imagine it actually happening.

 

I agree with previous suggestions saying to focus on getting back some of the money for things you already paid for. It is beyond frustrating and anger inducing, but it may sting just a bit less with some of the funds back in your pocket.

Edited June 7, 2015 by MsFox

[spazzy216]

Im so disappointed for you! Ive been following your posts and I can only imagine how frustrated you are. I have no clue what I would do..keep us posted..i Hope you end up with a better alternative at the end of all this!

[OhioGirl]

NCL sails from Tampa, you might be able to book the exact dates you were planning with Carnival, and still make your wedding happen as you had planned...Best of luck!

[Carnival_Brides]

I wish the OP had come back and updated this like she did the CCL thread. I think it was taken down because it became pretty hostile. Carnival took care of her and her party. They moved her to the Victory (possibly upgrading their cabins) with the same ports and they are paying for the flight changes so her guests can change to Miami.

[MsFox]

You're right! I glanced over the part where she said that she posted this elsewhere. I just went to look and while the forum is gone, there's talk about it in other people's posts who were affected, and understandably, upset, but it appears the thread got very heated. I'm not sure what was said.

 

http://www.myfoxorlando.com/story/29254066/bride-to-be-bumped-from-cruise-on-wedding-weekend

She made it to the news, and got some attention. Good for her. $25 on board credit per person is a slap in the face to a person who has been planning a wedding, and basically putting large chunks of money into an event. I think this particular section of these forums knows that well.

Edited June 11, 2015 by MsFox

[Carnival_Brides]

You're right! I glanced over the part where she said that she posted this elsewhere. I just went to look and while the forum is gone, there's talk about it in other people's posts who were affected, and understandably, upset, but it appears the thread got very heated. I'm not sure what was said.

 

http://www.myfoxorlando.com/story/29254066/bride-to-be-bumped-from-cruise-on-wedding-weekend

She made it to the news, and got some attention. Good for her. $25 on board credit per person is a slap in the face to a person who has been planning a wedding, and basically putting large chunks of money into an event. I think this particular section of these forums knows that well.

 

Honestly though, Carnival cancelled her cruise, not her wedding. Her wedding was through a third party company in Cozumel. As far as Carnival knew, she was just cruising with a group. Regardless, I'm glad they were able to work it out so she could still cruise. I hope she and her partner purchase wedding insurance or checks her venues refund policy if the ship can't dock in Cozumel. When we were there at Thanksgiving the water was choppy and there were high winds due to a storm--several ships couldn't call on the island.

Edited June 11, 2015 by Carnival_Brides

[bridetobe15]

Thanks for all the support.

Sorry I haven't updated sooner. I'm still in the works of finalizing our wedding plans. I have accepted Carnivals option of moving my group to the Victory cruising out of Miami on the same day. Once the news got involved, Carnival offered us flight reimbursements and room upgrades. They are truly trying to work with my group.

The only wedding problem is,

The Miami ship arrives into Mexico much later which means i can no longer get married at 10am at the designated location.

Ive neen scrambling and talking to Carnival about our wedding options.

 

Overall- the hassle is not worth it. But we're sticking with Carnival so they won't screw us over again. Just think twice before anyone plans a wedding, event, or cruise vacation.

 

Thanks