Carnival Liberty Evacuation

[dickinson]

MdChris -- sorry it didn't go as good for you. You mentioned something about Carnival not paying the Marriott. Was that in Orlando? Did you have to pay it?

[poz222]

Just curious.. did you purchase your airfare through them or on your own?

 

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[Sweet Dutch Girl]

Mdchris....

 

A couple of questions...

 

We understood that your flight home to Salt Lake was paid for and that you were being reimbursed for the airfare you would have otherwise used.

 

We also were led to believe that the initial paperwork you filled out gave you a choice of days to fly out and the possibility of flying to San Juan and staying there until your initially purchased cruise.

 

I am sure "this vacation" was ruined but you were fully reimbursed, received $150 in on-board credit, didn't have to pay gratuities, and that you get a 50% discount on another cruise....with the airfare reimbursement you aren't a dime out of pocket are you?

 

Just verifying some information we have received.

[Mdchris]

We waited until about one in the morning until Mariott finally got a hold of them and arranged payment- took about an hour after we arrived more than ready for a hot shower and bed before we left at 5 am for our next flight

[Kayloves]

We were on this cruise as a group of 8 - 4 connecting cabins. My husband and I got chartered off just hours before they set sail with the remainder of the family who was celebrating my husbands parents 50th wedding anniversary. Here are my thoughts:

 

1. I recognize that it could have been much worse.

 

2. I am grateful for the way carnival has worked hard to compensate and retain customers.

 

3. The crew was great.

 

4. BUT.....our cabins were booked together- connected to the same dinning table. They should have kept our group together.

 

5. There were problems at every turn no matter how hard we tried to stay positive. Our charter flight left 2 hours late. (They could have told us about the possibility of sailing before we left- it was that close.)

 

our baggage was two hours later to the plane than we were- another opportunity to at least give us a choice.

 

They sent us to the Marriot where they had failed to actually provide payment for the rooms we were promised.

 

 

And before the fire....

I requested chefs table any night but the 10th. There were three nights to chose from and we were put on the one night I asked them not to.

 

My FIL was promised that we could open all 4 of the balconies- he had been talking about it for MONTHS- it was the highlight of what he wanted for the trip. They placed us in an area where only two could be opened. Had we been a few cabins down- it would have worked.

 

I have tried so hard to be thankful and remain positive but the whole entire ordeal was not the sunshine and beaches it has been portrayed as. It was constantly being shuffled around and never knowing what the next few hour would bring- we had no control over a vacation that was a once in a lifetime celebration (50th wedding anniversary) I am so mentally and emotionally drained.

 

 

Sorry to hear. Yes, not pleasant. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[Mdchris]

Mdchris....

 

 

 

A couple of questions...

 

 

 

We understood that your flight home to Salt Lake was paid for and that you were being reimbursed for the airfare you would have otherwise used.

 

 

 

We also were led to believe that the initial paperwork you filled out gave you a choice of days to fly out and the possibility of flying to San Juan and staying there until your initially purchased cruise.

 

 

 

I am sure "this vacation" was ruined but you were fully reimbursed, received $150 in on-board credit, didn't have to pay gratuities, and that you get a 50% discount on another cruise....with the airfare reimbursement you aren't a dime out of pocket are you?

 

 

 

Just verifying some information we have received.

 

 

The airfare is being refunded to my understanding. I won't count on anything until I see it.

 

When the paper work was handed out there was not a place to indicate wishes or preferred plans. When they handed it to us - it was "in the rare event they needed to fly us home" at that time they still made it sound like we would be sailing Back to San Juan.

 

We spent plenty of money on the trip- not that I feel like I need to justify that to anyone. I used vacation that I won't have for this "do-over" vacation any time soon. Same with my husband who doesn't even receive paid vacation.

 

If you'll refer back to my first post- I have stated that I am thankful for what Carnival and its crew has done to try to right a wrong. Again- my chief complaint was that we were separated from our group even after I asked not to be.

[poz222]

Ignore the ones that bug you. .. it's thd Internet after all.. but curious, did you purchase your airfare through CCL or independently? This might have something to do with the first out charter situation? In any case, your situation was mishandled and it is a learning situation for everyone to see what did and did not work. Please be sure to contact them to let them know. Not necessarily for additional compensation but for their learning purposes. It could help them better coordinate issues in the future.

 

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[Mdchris]

Ignore the ones that bug you. .. it's thd Internet after all.. but curious, did you purchase your airfare through CCL or independently? This might have something to do with the first out charter situation? In any case, your situation was mishandled and it is a learning situation for everyone to see what did and did not work. Please be sure to contact them to let them know. Not necessarily for additional compensation but for their learning purposes. It could help them better coordinate issues in the future.

 

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Our whole group had the same flights originally. We purchased Independantly through Jet Blue

[Mdchris]

I'm sorry if I posted in a wrong thread- thanks for the insight. I'm just trying to chin up and wait until we can pick up celebrating where we left off

[Giffer]

While I understand the disappointment that most experienced by not getting a full cruise, I think some are unable to see the logics nightmare this was for Carnival. They hoped to get the ship sailing again.but had no assurance that they would get USCG approval. They needed to have a contingency plan for getting 3000 passengers back home. In the corporate world this is called a "fluid" situation. There were no definite right answers. MdChris didn't say if all there party was going to the same final destination? They had to figure how many people were going where and charter and route flights based on that. Maybe I see things different because I deal with contingency and disaster planning and know, no matter how well you plan, things can and will still go astray. I am sure that Carnival first choice was to keep passengers onboard, but that would of been suicidal had they waited to Friday or Saturday to start flying people of St. Thomas. Unfortunately this was not about mbchris's party or any other single party, it was about 3000+ people.

[ScottsSweetie]

I would have been VERY upset to be separated from the rest of the party that I had traveled with. :(

[poz222]

I totally see Mdchris's point... Definetly not "bashing" CCL and they seem to understand that in some respects the crew did a great job with some aspects, but failed on other regards. And it is also perfectly understandable that although compensation was fair, they are disappointed to not get the family vacation they expected. Especially when you plan for a large group or for a special occasion and it does not happen, there is a sadness that it was not as you worked so hard and expected. I do wedding planning and I see it all the time. After all the planning, family and friends flying in and the weather is terrible... Even if everyone does everything possible to make it wonderful, there is an element of disappointment... Some things you can't recreate regardless of the compensation... Many here think "wow, I would LOVE for that to happen to me" EXCEPT when it actually happens to you... Easy to see the benefits and not what is given up. Yes, you can "make the best of things" but it is not the way you imagined it... Good luck with your future vacations and I hope they go more according to your plans...

[belkin]

The airfare is being refunded to my understanding. I won't count on anything until I see it.

 

When the paper work was handed out there was not a place to indicate wishes or preferred plans. When they handed it to us - it was "in the rare event they needed to fly us home" at that time they still made it sound like we would be sailing Back to San Juan.

 

We spent plenty of money on the trip- not that I feel like I need to justify that to anyone. I used vacation that I won't have for this "do-over" vacation any time soon. Same with my husband who doesn't even receive paid vacation.

 

If you'll refer back to my first post- I have stated that I am thankful for what Carnival and its crew has done to try to right a wrong. Again- my chief complaint was that we were separated from our group even after I asked not to be.

 

Make sure you keep all of the documentation you have on your airfare and any documentation that you may have where Carnival states that they will refund your air.

I would definitely call them and find out how you can go about getting a refund for it. You may have to call them a few times but hopefully they will refund you.

 

I was booked to be on the Splendor and she caught on fire about 2 weeks before our cruise. Carnival did refund my air but if I remember correctly it took a few phone calls and I had to relinquish our tickets to Carnival. Maybe they got something out of them from the airlines.

 

Good luck :)

[GMCOLT]

While I have not cruised Carnival in years, I am impressed with the positive comments regarding the crew. I have been behind the scenes many times on another cruise line. Clearly Carnival takes the crisis management part seriously. Good for carnival.

As a safety professional I see they manage the initial problem very well, get people out of harm's way.

That being said a couple observations :

Their senior cruise director is well spoken and should be recognized for his efforts to keep everyone informed.

Posters on the cruise. A job well done.

Years ago my fire junior cadets toured the Triumph and learned about emergency procedures. Carnival has state of the art procedures in place to manage fires and other issues.

My only comment to Carnival -why are these fires happening.

Most people have a great attitude regarding this misadventure. Howevrr, to some this is a vacation buzz kill and we need to understand that piece of it.

Kudos to Carnival on the overall handling of this issue.

[motleyfan]

Good morning. This mornings announcement is happening right now. Today will be a port day in St Thomas. All guests must be back on board by 4:00 pm. A $150.00 on board credit will be posted to each passengers sail and sign card as reimbursement for any meals purchased in port yesterday. At 4:00 pm, the captain will update all guests as to how the cruise will proceed in the future. Guests that embarked in Barbados are asked to meet in the Victoria Lounge at 9:30 for further information. The cruise director is in the process of finalizing the fun times today and the shore excursion team is putting together tours for any guest that would like to go on one. Since 7:00 am, the engines have been on and off intermittently but have not been running since the announcement.

 

Hopefully you got to enjoy some nightlife on the island

[motleyfan]

Here is the update...we will return to San Juan once clearance is granted. Guests are welcome to stay on the ship in San Juan until Sunday. All guests will receive a full refund of the cruise, all pre paid shore excursions and gratuities will also be refunded. Guests will also receive 50% off a future 2 to 7 day cruise. If we do not receive clearance from the coast guard by 9:00 pm, Carnival will arrange travel from St Thomas to our homes.

 

Wow I got to give props, carnival definition through for y'all. Hope that happens on my next Cruise lol.

[cruising maniac]

Dh and I are preparing to sail on the Breeze in 10 weeks and I have spent many, many hours planning, scheduling, and researching our cruise. I can not begin to imagine the disappointment that all of these folks must feel. Not only the travelers who vacations were altered but also Carnival. It seems as if nobody got exactly what they wanted. Sometimes you just have to take chicken poop and make chicken soup. I would never tell someone that cruising is not for them simply because they had a bad experience on a cruise. I feel for everyone on that ship had their vacation changed from what they had dreamed. Thanks to all who have shared their experiences as I am interested in knowing how Carnival handled each situation. I, for one, can't begin to imagine the logistics involved in moving 3000 individuals with individual needs around the globe in an efficient, safe manner. Travel safe, everyone and thanks for sharing your stories. Ignore the haters.

[Tad510]

I am interested in everyones experience , the good , the bad and the ugly.

[lizardhowson]

My FIL was promised that we could open all 4 of the balconies- he had been talking about it for MONTHS- it was the highlight of what he wanted for the trip. They placed us in an area where only two could be opened. Had we been a few cabins down- it would have worked.

 

When I read "they placed us" ....Did you book a guarantee rate ?

 

Thinking that if opening all the balcony dividers was a high priority to some, to make sure you could do so, your cabins should have been hand selected.

[aloha<3]

I just don't understand the people that say that they would have loved to have been on this "free" cruise. Being stuck in St. Thomas for 4 days was no dream come true. When we evacuated the first day, we were out in the hot sun all day and not allowed back on board for 12 hours. Carnival staff was coming around with water but also spreading germs by directly pouring water into people's used water bottles as they didn't have many cups. After about 4 hours some food was brought over, Pizza and Subway, and you had to stand out in the sun to wait for it while people who just ate took 4 portions even though others had no money on them and weren't able to get their own food. If you were lucky enough to get to the Marriott you experienced some AC but also people shoving 20 bags of chips and granola bars into their bags and every pocket they had like the world was going to end and this was the last of the food. In the days that followed we had short windows of time to go into port however we had to wait to see if letters containing travel plans would be slipped under your cabin door with instructions to leave later that day.

 

Carnival tried their best with contingency plans and compensation but this trip was no relaxed extended stay in St. Thomas.

Edited September 12, 2015 by aloha<3

[Mdchris]

When I read "they placed us" ....Did you book a guarantee rate ?

 

 

 

Thinking that if opening all the balcony dividers was a high priority to some, to make sure you could do so, your cabins should have been hand selected.

 

 

No- a carnival vacation planner told us we would be able to do so in the cabins we booked. He wasn't educated enough in the deck layout to know that wasn't the case.

[bktich]

On this thread, every time someone said "I'd trade places with you!" or "stranded in St. Thomas, with full refund and 50% off a different cruise, what's to complain about?" I thought to myself, "will you people please stop making this out to seem like it was a vacation dream come true". It's a little like telling people that when thier wedding got ruined because the kitchen caught fire they shouldn't be upset since they got a full refund and they happened to be in a beautiful location already. Human emotions don't really work like that when it comes to things we plan for ages and don't get to do very often at all.

 

 

 

If I had to get stranded or have my vacation siderailed, this would be the way I'd want it to happen. 100%. I'd have made the best of a bad situation and tried to enjoy as much as I could. But I would be very disappointed, frustrated, and sad that my well planned vacation went wrong.

 

 

 

For one, I cruise for sea days, as I'm sure a lot of people do. If I wanted to spend a week in St. Thomas I'd fly there and plan that. I can have a port day any day I want. For another, the likely hood of being able to reschedule another vacation any time soon would be slim. And finally, a vacation is meant to be relaxing and time to unwind. The opposite was probably the case for most people.

 

 

 

Carnival did everything they could. They were great, went above and beyond, and all those things were out of their control. But one can acknowledge that and still be disappointed that their vacations didn't go as planned and not be "happy" about the outcome. I'd especially be upset if I flew home and then the cruise continued after I'd done so. I hate flying and adding an extra plane ride to a trip would be adding a lot of stress and anxiety for me.

 

 

 

So mdchris, I really feel with you and the others on this ship. I'm sorry your vacation was so rough. I'd be really mentally and physically drained too.

 

 

My husband was not happy about not getting any sea time. Missed watching the emptiness if the sea from our aft vista balcony. We made the best if it but it was not our dream trip. Very disappointed in bit getting to ST. Lucia.

 

The people I really felt bad for was the couple who was supposed to be renewing there vows on Monday. In the middle of getting her hair done the evacuation started. She walked around all day with a vail in her hair. Then the couple who was supposed to get married in Barbados. And I am sure so many more just like these.

 

We all made the best if it and Carnival did do there best. I can't imagine having to coordinate all this. But just know that it was depressing for a lot

[RuthlessBoss]

When I read "they placed us" ....Did you book a guarantee rate ?

 

Thinking that if opening all the balcony dividers was a high priority to some, to make sure you could do so, your cabins should have been hand selected.

 

I picked up on that too and wondered:)

 

My other thing had to do with having to leave with no option. What was on that questionnaire sent to the cabins about flights if you wanted to fly out? Pauley got a result that didn't fit, he went to the care specialist in the Victoria lounge and got it fixed. He stayed on the ship .

[Mdchris]

 

When the paper work was handed out there was not a place to indicate wishes or preferred plans. When they handed it to us - it was "in the rare event they needed to fly us home" at that time they still made it sound like we would be sailing Back to San Juan.

 

 

 

 

In addition to what I've already said- once I received my paper work , I went to Guest services and asked that out group not be sent and even mentioned I'd rather stay. They told me not to worry that everyone had to leave, and that the family would be shortly behind me

[Mdchris]

In addition to what I've already said- once I received my paper work , I went to Guest services and asked that out group not be sent and even mentioned I'd rather stay. They told me not to worry that everyone had to leave, and that the family would be shortly behind me

 

 

ETA- maybe Paul talked to the right person and I didn't. Maybe it was at different times of day when they were being instructed to answer questions differently. But I most certainly let them know id prefer to keep the family together and I'd prefer to stay as long as possible.