Document everything and get it in writing!

[summersigh]

I agree. The website not working correctly is not our problem. If they can't get it to work properly, then they shouldn't allow online booking. Not to mention, she did also call and was told the same thing. First time cruisers would surely not know any better and what a bad taste this would put in their mouths. The OP is giving a warning to help others and should not be chastised for that. Did nothing wrong.

 

I totally agree with you about the online bookings. With the big dividends CCL just paid shareholders they could well have afforded to invest in their online booking system to be sure it works correctly ... for them AND their customers.

 

As to the disdain some showed the OP about how they should know spa benefits can't/won't be attached to any cabin except a spa cabin is certainly misplaced. Cruise lines have sales all the time offering all sorts of things as perks that are normally paid for. If you read the various CC boards cruise shoppers, in many cases, are shopping exactly for those unexpected perks.

 

Carnival is a large, money-making corporation - it's their responsibility to have a booking site that both they and the customer can trust.

[fuddrules]

If you read the various CC boards cruise shoppers, in many cases, are shopping exactly for those unexpected perks.

 

Any chance you'd would be able to find a post where a person was granted Spa benefits upon booking without being in a Spa cabin?

 

I've don't recall ever seeing that with Carnival but maybe they do offer that benefit??

[lucymorgan]

Interesting discussion -

 

The laws seem to be different in different countries. As far as I know, in Australia, if a website gives an assurance that the consumer will receive something, it has to be honored, glitch or not. This would apply to the cruise companies operating in Australia as well.

Edited April 5, 2016 by jenibor

[Mary Ellen1]

OP that really stinks. And I can't believe the attitude you're getting from some responders here that it's somehow your fault. No -- you saw something on their website AND you called Carnival, where the rep confirmed it. I think they should give you a spa pass.

 

I hope you have a great cruise.

[TerReuv]

Interesting discussion -

 

The laws seem to be different in different countries. As far as I know, in Australia, if a website gives an assurance that the consumer will receive something, it has to be honored, glitch or not. This would apply to the cruise companies operating in Australia as well.

 

Except there is usually a disclaimer on the site stating that if there is a glitch then they don't have to honor it. It is on many large company's websites. Glitches happen. Carnival is not alone with these issues or with the disclaimer. As for the rep, for all we know the glitch could have happened when they accessed the site also. Who knows?

 

However, anyone not new to Carnival should know that only Spa cabins have free Spa access. If they aren't happy cancel and re-book a Spa cabin.

[gh1088]

Are you talking about the Vista? When I booked a Havana inside early on, the same window popped up.

 

I think I even printed the screen. But as time went on, and I did mock bookings, the window didn't come up anymore.

 

I just assume it was a glitch. Havana rooms have their amenities; spa rooms have theirs so I don't feel the need to pursue it.

[bobsfamily]

 

However, anyone not new to Carnival should know that only Spa cabins have free Spa access. If they aren't happy cancel and re-book a Spa cabin.

 

You can get the "free Spa access" without being in one of those cabins, ask someone who's had it comped by the Casino... and you can pay for it as well - lot less that booking one of the Spa cabins in most cases - usually 100 available per cruise.

Edited April 5, 2016 by bobsfamily

[bobsfamily]

double post

Edited April 5, 2016 by bobsfamily

[fin]

How truly sad is it that as a society we are so willing to excuse the behavior of a company when they hide behind some excuse or other when they are caught false advertising.

 

I might have thought, once, that a company the size of this one could have an IT department (if not a single person) whose SOLE responsibility would be making sure their website was ALWAYS current and correct, ESPECIALLY as it is often the entry point for younger people who may become lifetime customers..

 

It would not seem to me to be an unreasonably far fetched goal.

 

But then, our own dear gummint couldn't get a single website to work properly for years. So, Sayonara to honesty, quality, good workmanship, pride in service and so much more.

Edited April 5, 2016 by fin

[NWACruiser]

Dream class ships have Spa cabins on the Lido deck. Cabins 11201 through 11246 are Spa cabins with full amenities to the spa included for the first two passengers in the room. The third and fourth passengers do not have access to the spa.

 

I suspect other ships in the Carnival line also have these available. Go to the Carnival web site and look at your ship's deck plans. There you can verify your cabin is or is not a spa cabin.

[meatloafsfan]

I'm a little confused - did you think you were booking a spa cabin or did you know you were booking a regular cabin?

 

When doing an early saver price adjustment, they deleted the OBC for one of my on board bookings, when I called to have it corrected, the person said, "okay, so now you have $100 PER PERSON onboard credit." I explained that that was an error and they corrected it.

 

If you knew you were booking a regular cabin, then you shouldn't be disappointed when it turns out that the spa access pop up was in error.

 

If you thought you were booking a spa room, then I can understand your disappointment.

[loxley]

How truly sad is it that as a society we are so willing to excuse the behavior of a company when they hide behind some excuse or other when they are caught false advertising.

 

I might have thought, once, that a company the size of this one could have an IT department (if not a single person) whose SOLE responsibility would be making sure their website was ALWAYS current and correct, ESPECIALLY as it is often the entry point for younger people who may become lifetime customers..

 

It would not seem to me to be an unreasonably far fetched goal.

 

But then, our own dear gummint couldn't get a single website to work properly for years. So, Sayonara to honesty, quality, good workmanship, pride in service and so much more.

Yeah, it is unreasonable to expect a site on the internet as complex as the carnival site is to work perfectly every time.

 

Your statement shows you do not have an understanding of what goes into such a site.

 

In tvland, the site would always work perfectly, but in the real world, I am frankly amazed it works as well as it does.

 

Added to the fact the op clearly knew that was not a part of what she was buying. If she wanted a spa cabin, then book a spa cabin.

 

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

[fuddrules]

I might have thought, once, that a company the size of this one could have an IT department (if not a single person) whose SOLE responsibility would be making sure their website was ALWAYS current and correct,

 

Carnival tried. However after 52 straight hours of staring at the screen that person fell asleep and let this error slip past.:rolleyes:

[sfaaa]

OP that really stinks. And I can't believe the attitude you're getting from some responders here that it's somehow your fault. No -- you saw something on their website AND you called Carnival, where the rep confirmed it. I think they should give you a spa pass.

.

 

Nope, no proof. It didn't happen. Sorry.

[cruizinisthebest]

Yeah, it is unreasonable to expect a site on the internet as complex as the carnival site is to work perfectly every time.

 

Your statement shows you do not have an understanding of what goes into such a site.

 

In tvland, the site would always work perfectly, but in the real world, I am frankly amazed it works as well as it does.

 

Added to the fact the op clearly knew that was not a part of what she was buying. If she wanted a spa cabin, then book a spa cabin.

 

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

Exactly.

 

I go on that site all of the time. At least once a day. Very rarely does it have a glitch. Expecting any website to work perfectly 100% of the time makes zero sense.

 

This was never a spa cabin booking. They can buy a pass. Lido cabins are great!

 

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[summersigh]

Not sure it really matters what kind of cabin the OP was trying to book - the Carnival website popped up a box telling her that she was going to be able to have spa privileges. She did the right thing and called CCL for confirmation.

 

To listen to some of the posters on this thread she as good as sneaked into the "CCL reservation room" and was stealing those privileges.

No so - CCL screwed up.

 

Go back and read all the hundreds of posts on this CCL section of CC (and those of the other mainstream lines) and read how many, many, many errors are made on the cruise line's site and how angry it makes people. Shoot, on a thread about water going up by $1 a 12 pack there were 110 replies (most angry) and 6,507 views.

 

I'd guess that if most of those on this thread that thought the OP was wrong to believe what she read on the CCL site had something taken away from them they felt entitled to was they'd be raising the roof with complaints.

[fuddrules]

Go back and read all the hundreds of posts on this CCL section of CC (and those of the other mainstream lines) and read how many, many, many errors are made on the cruise line's site and how angry it makes people. Shoot, on a thread about water going up by $1 a 12 pack there were 110 replies (most angry) and 6,507 views.

 

This is part of my point. How many people lose their mind over this $1? Seems like quite a few based on what you posted.

 

If that's the case, how are they not going to lose their mind over something they think is more meaningful than $1? They aren't. Something goes wrong in what they perceive to be their reality, they lose their mind, and then blame Carnival. They never understand what the real problem is as it's just easier to blame Carnival.

 

In this case, who knows? Maybe a tickler did pop up? I do know it's not common for that to happen. It seems odd but...maybe. But getting a benefit because of an IT glitch isn't something Carnival seems to honor very often that I'm aware of.

Edited April 5, 2016 by fuddrules

[Ready 2 Go]

Any room can be qualified for spa access as long as the room is on the ship...lol...being "qualified" isn't the same as being "free access". Technically what the rep said was correct. The room is qualified.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

[cruizinisthebest]

Screen shots have no bearing on this, because if it was a website glitch, then Carnival takes no responsibility for those type of errors. If the OP booked a spa cabin as categorized on the deck plan, that's all he or she needs. Asking if a room is "qualified" for spa access is not the same as asking if it's a spa cabin. I can book a room anywhere on the ship and buy a spa pass.

 

Same point I made before. I see someone else got it.

 

Any room can be qualified for spa access as long as the room is on the ship...lol...being "qualified" isn't the same as being "free access". Technically what the rep said was correct. The room is qualified.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

[soontobeemptynesters]

There was a glitch on the website last week. I was looking to see balcony rooms still available for my sailing, on the Conquest.

 

When I clicked on Lido deck the right deck plan came up, but the room numbers on the picture and in the box to the right were Panorama deck numbers.

 

So when I chose one of the available cabins the mock booking put me on deck 10 instead of deck 9.

 

I guess it could have happened to the OP also, picture of Lido deck and Spa deck cabin numbers on her ship?

 

Don't have a dog in this fight, but do not see the need to jump on the OP