Missed Final Payment

[staceyglow]

3 hours ago, Island Dog said:

Man, people are insensitive and insulting.  She admitted it was her mistake..... but I'd be pretty upset if they took all that away from me by missing a deadline by a few days. Kind of a short sighted policy by Carnival to alienate a loyal customer like that. Wouldn't a late fee be in order (like every other industry)? I don't blame her one bit for moving on, there's other ships in da sea.

How long is Carnival supposed to wait? They had reserved that cabin for what may have been many months, and now they have to resell it in a relatively short period of time. The minute the final final payment deadline passes, that cabin needs to become available for someone else to book. 

[13cheermom]

2 hours ago, luv2trvlnow said:

I am a bit confused.  I thought a FCC was given when a cruise was cancelled by Carnival and you chose not to get a refund (of the money you had paid) in exchange for a FCC with an additional amount of money in OBC.  Or - they are given when you buy Carnival insurance and cancel for any reason (you get 75% back as an OBC).  So to me that was my original money.  MINE not theirs.  What other FCC is given that you didn"t already give them money for?  I know there could be something you might get a FCC for but I am not sure what that would be.

So just to clarify, the original cruise was booked in 2019 for the inaugural Mardi Gras.  It was delayed due to construction delays and our date was cancelled.  We received FCC credits if we rebooked with them instead of cancelling and taking back our deposit.  We did so, and received that amount (still Carnival's money).  Then there was another change with the scheduled bookings and we got changed to another date (also due to Carnival) could've been as a result of the COVID-19 complications.  To be honest that was like 3 years ago when this all started.  But we moved the booking again and received the OBC (Carnival's money) as well as they moved the FCC credit along with the booking.  This was when they were being more lenient with things.  So for us this was still all money from Carnival, and we only had our original deposit $500 invested in the booking so far.  Of course we had a nice balance to pay off for our balcony room.  But if re-instating this same booking we would have lost all of that money ($1,100) as well as ($440) increase in the room rate.  That's why I decided to cancel and the resolution specialist totally understood and said she didn't blame me.

[13cheermom]

1 hour ago, Badfinger said:

You say it is your fault, but your response going forward is to take your money to another cruise line?  Your admission of fault frankly seems disingenuous.    And I am not saying this is you (well,......) but it seems many are quick to say "never got that email" as an excuse when the reality is "I never read that email".  All that said, when we were booking our June 22 cruise back in early April, I received plenty of emails from Carnival reminding me about bookings that I put on hold, etc.  So for me, their email system was working pretty darn well.

 

Well as a 58 year old woman, I can guarantee I went back and looked through all spam and trash and had no emails from Carnival.  Same email I have had for last 15 years.  I have received all other kind of sale promotions from Carnival, just none concerning this booking.  I am glad it worked well for you, hope it continues to do so.  This was just a FYI.  (it can happen).

[csm5986142]

4 hours ago, Island Dog said:

Man, people are insensitive and insulting.

 

I am surprised at many of the reactions as well.  She clearly said, she recognized it was her own fault but was posting to let others know it could happen.

OP I really appreciate you taking the time to tell us what happened.  I would be so upset to lose the FCC and OBC.  I also have an email issue with Carnival (we can't figure out if it's on my end or theirs) - I rarely get their emails (occasionally a survey will get through).  I'm totally neurotic about payment dates, I always try to remember to make my final payment automatic, but still go in and review my bookings constantly to make sure everything looks okay. I'm paranoid something like this is going to happen to me.

 Thank you for posting - if it saves one person from experiencing what you did, it was worth it.  And so sorry this happened.

[ninjacat123]

1 minute ago, csm5986142 said:

 

I am surprised at many of the reactions as well.  She clearly said, she recognized it was her own fault but was posting to let others know it could happen.

OP I really appreciate you taking the time to tell us what happened.  I would be so upset to lose the FCC and OBC.  I also have an email issue with Carnival (we can't figure out if it's on my end or theirs) - I rarely get their emails (occasionally a survey will get through).  I'm totally neurotic about payment dates, I always try to remember to make my final payment automatic, but still go in and review my bookings constantly to make sure everything looks okay. I'm paranoid something like this is going to happen to me.

 Thank you for posting - if it saves one person from experiencing what you did, it was worth it.  And so sorry this happened.

I agree.  I never receive the surveys but I pay for the cruise!  I'm the contact but my mom gets the survey.  I filled it out so my crew peeps would get credit even if it's under Mom's name.

[BlerkOne]

1 hour ago, sanmarcosman said:

Not so. I received one final payment due reminder two weeks prior to the date and a second one, one week before the due date for my cruise this November. 

Sometimes I even receive reminders after I've cruised.

[sanmarcosman]

2 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

Sometimes I even receive reminders after I've cruised.

I agree with the OP and you, Carnival IT leaves a lot to be desired. It started going downhill when they closed the IT department in Miami and outsourced the operation overseas. The irony of the overseas aspect isn't lost on me. 

[mondello]

3 hours ago, luv2trvlnow said:

I am a bit confused.  I thought a FCC was given when a cruise was cancelled by Carnival and you chose not to get a refund (of the money you had paid) in exchange for a FCC with an additional amount of money in OBC.  Or - they are given when you buy Carnival insurance and cancel for any reason (you get 75% back as an OBC).  So to me that was my original money.  MINE not theirs.  What other FCC is given that you didn"t already give them money for?  I know there could be something you might get a FCC for but I am not sure what that would be.

Some FCC is given as an apology in excess of any fare paid such as missed ports or whatever. We were cancelled from Horizon last Christmas and moved to Sunshine. Carnival issued FCC, 25% of fare paid.

 

Shame that this happened. Although I've always gotten reminders before I'll admit I'm not the best at keeping track of every bill I have.

[luv2trvlnow]

7 minutes ago, mondello said:

Some FCC is given as an apology in excess of any fare paid such as missed ports or whatever. We were cancelled from Horizon last Christmas and moved to Sunshine. Carnival issued FCC, 25% of fare paid.

 

Shame that this happened. Although I've always gotten reminders before I'll admit I'm not the best at keeping track of every bill I have.

Thank you for answering my question.

 

But I still am wondering about the following.  It sounds like she did not take their deposit back, but received FCC.  Yes that money is now Carnival's but it did orginally come from her.  It appears she paid money and received nothing but a FCC, which is now gone.  I don't know if I am reading this right.  Or did she receive their deposit back and also receive a FCC. But the highlighted part seems to say she got a FCC instead of cancelling and taking back their deposit back.

 

1 hour ago, 13cheermom said:

So just to clarify, the original cruise was booked in 2019 for the inaugural Mardi Gras.  It was delayed due to construction delays and our date was cancelled.  We received FCC credits if we rebooked with them instead of cancelling and taking back our deposit.  We did so, and received that amount (still Carnival's money).

 

[2wheelin]

6 hours ago, mz-s said:

 

They never send out emails about due dates. At least I have never received one. And I've been cruising Carnival for almost a decade. The only time I get any kind of reminder email at all from Carnival is when I have a cruise on a complimentary hold and the hold is about to expire.

 

I don't get emails when my light bill is almost due either. And back to my example of my water bill, I had no idea I'd forgotten to pay it until I saw my next month's bill with a late fee on it. No emails or letters or calls or anything for a month. Some glitch huh! lol

So why did you call and ask for special consideration and waiver of late fee if it was your mistake? 

A monthly bill is also quite a bit different than an one time payment months away.

[UPNYGuy]

Doesnt the initial email you get from Carnival tell you when the final payment is due? I know it tells you when you log in and view the booking.

 

I know the email from my TA tells me in black bold font the final payment date.

 

[Lee Cruiser]

8 hours ago, mz-s said:

They never send out emails about due dates. At least I have never received one. And I've been cruising Carnival for almost a decade.

We get reminder emails for every cruise.  We always pay a deposit and then wait until a few days before final payment due date to pay the balance. We get two reminder emails every time, one about three weeks out and then another about a week out.

 

 

Here is one from one from last year with my information deleted:

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION http://image.carnivalcruiselineemail.com/lib/fe9513727761047c7c/m/1/wave_fin_pay.jpg

PAYMENT REMINDER     ATTN:       RE:   Ship/ Sail Date: Carnival Breeze Booking #: Balance Due: $ 1691.92   Hi there! Thanks for choosing Carnival for your cruise! We're really looking forward to welcoming you on board. There's just one thing — your final payment due date is fast approaching. If payment is already on its way, then simply delete this email! Payment needs to be in our office by 06/21 or unfortunately, the booking will be automatically cancelled. And, because the sailing date is around the corner, customary penalties will be assessed. So, don't miss the ship! To lock in some fun, complete your payment today.   • To make a payment, please visit https://www.carnival.com   ›   First, select "Manage my Cruise"   ›   Login or click "Access Your Booking Now," and enter any required information.   ›   Then, on the Cruise Manager page, click your booking number to view your reservation.   ›   Finally, click "Make a Payment" button.   For bookings made in non-USD currency, please call 1-800-CARNIVAL to complete your payment. Thanks for taking care of this important detail. We can't wait to have you aboard for a fun and memorable cruise vacation! Sincerely, Sailing Support – Guest Services CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE

[13cheermom]

18 minutes ago, Lee Cruiser said:

We get reminder emails for every cruise.  We always pay a deposit and then wait until a few days before final payment due date to pay the balance. We get two reminder emails every time, one about three weeks out and then another about a week out.

 

 

Here is one from one from last year with my information deleted:

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION http://image.carnivalcruiselineemail.com/lib/fe9513727761047c7c/m/1/wave_fin_pay.jpg

PAYMENT REMINDER     ATTN:       RE:   Ship/ Sail Date: Carnival Breeze Booking #: Balance Due: $ 1691.92   Hi there! Thanks for choosing Carnival for your cruise! We're really looking forward to welcoming you on board. There's just one thing — your final payment due date is fast approaching. If payment is already on its way, then simply delete this email! Payment needs to be in our office by 06/21 or unfortunately, the booking will be automatically cancelled. And, because the sailing date is around the corner, customary penalties will be assessed. So, don't miss the ship! To lock in some fun, complete your payment today.   • To make a payment, please visit https://www.carnival.com   ›   First, select "Manage my Cruise"   ›   Login or click "Access Your Booking Now," and enter any required information.   ›   Then, on the Cruise Manager page, click your booking number to view your reservation.   ›   Finally, click "Make a Payment" button.   For bookings made in non-USD currency, please call 1-800-CARNIVAL to complete your payment. Thanks for taking care of this important detail. We can't wait to have you aboard for a fun and memorable cruise vacation! Sincerely, Sailing Support – Guest Services CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE

Yes this is the one email I would loved to have received, lol.  Since the last change that was done on the booking was 1/19/21, some time had lapsed since I had received any correspondence from Carnival concerning this booking.  Nothing since then other than Carnival promotions.  And also where I had used OBC to purchase reservations at 3 of the specialty restaurants and purchased wi-fi ahead of time.  I received those acknowledgements but only because I initiated the sale to begin with.  Thanks for posting this copy as some have stated they never receive them, we however have always in the last 20 some years of cruising always received something similar to the above.

[13cheermom]

3 hours ago, luv2trvlnow said:

Thank you for answering my question.

 

But I still am wondering about the following.  It sounds like she did not take their deposit back, but received FCC.  Yes that money is now Carnival's but it did orginally come from her.  It appears she paid money and received nothing but a FCC, which is now gone.  I don't know if I am reading this right.  Or did she receive their deposit back and also receive a FCC. But the highlighted part seems to say she got a FCC instead of cancelling and taking back their deposit back.

 

 

So like Mondello stated above it was like a 25% credit given for re-booking as well as leaving the deposit in place.  It was sort of like an apology for the cancellation and delay of the Mardi Gras ship back in 2019. Sorry if I didn't explain it very well, it's been awhile and then we were in a pandemic for 2 years.🤣  I think Mondello explained it more accurately.

[luv2trvlnow]

9 minutes ago, 13cheermom said:

So like Mondello stated above it was like a 25% credit given for re-booking as well as leaving the deposit in place.  It was sort of like an apology for the cancellation and delay of the Mardi Gras ship back in 2019. Sorry if I didn't explain it very well, it's been awhile and then we were in a pandemic for 2 years.🤣  I think Mondello explained it more accurately.

OK.  So the FCC was a 25% credit, not any part of your deposit.  You left your deposit with them and now they have refunded that deposit.  That would mean you are not out any money.  Do I have that straight? 

[Mira28]

16 hours ago, 13cheermom said:

Yes that has been the normal routine for us also to receive emails, of course this was pre-pandemic.  We have been cruising for over 25 years and never had this happen before.  My intent was not to stir up all the "pot stirrers" out there, but to let everyone know what to expect if this situation occurs, or hopefully help someone not to make the same mistake I did.  I should have known better than to post on this site and what would develop.🤣

Yes, it’s unfortunate that you can’t post your thoughts or experiences on this site without the critics piling on. (Guess they think that’s what Cruise “Critic” stands for.) I actually appreciate your post because it’s easy to make a mistake like this, and your post is a heads up. Thank you.

 

I’m sorry you lost that deal and hope you find another good one.

[Drazil65]

OP, tough lesson for sure!  Moving forward you could just set a reminder for 7 days ahead of final payment date on your phone.  Or, if old school then actually write it on your calendar, sometimes its the only way to stay on top of things when life gets in the way! 

 

Hopefully you will find another trip that meets your needs, good luck!

[tonit964]

21 hours ago, 13cheermom said:

So just got off the phone with Carnival after an hour with a resolution specialist.  Final payment was on 8/7/22, had lots of issues going on, and forgot to check on the actual date until today 8/12/22.  Long story short I missed my final payment, never have before, and we're long -time Carnival cruisers.  Just a heads up, I received no email stating "your final payment is near" prior to the date.  Never received an email on the date "hey you forgot your payment, hurry and pay now".  Never received a cancellation from Carnival saying "your cruise was cancelled for non-payment".  So don't rely on them for any heads-up from now on.  I know it's my responsibility, and I assume that, however, it was nice to get those little reminders when we get caught up in everyday life.  When we used to cruise all the time it was like second nature, but we just started back this year, well we were trying to, lol.  Anyway, as a result I lost $600 OBC, $434 FCC, and the rate went up by $440.  So I just cancelled the booking, and decided it's not worth it.  The rep. refunded my deposit because of all the trouble, however she said they have cracked down since end of June and aren't allowing any exceptions in these situations.  It's kind of disheartening, I'm not trying to cash in on anything, just trying to get back to cruising.  Guess I will just take my money to another cruise line for now.There are some major glitches in their system right now as far as communication goes, hopefully they figure it out and work out the kinks.  Hope this can help others avoid this situation, we all fall short sometime. 🥲

Sorry this happened and glad you got most of your money back. Hope you have an amazing time on whatever cruise you choose and thanks for the warning to check final payment dates. It's always nice to explore other cruise lines. I'm never loyal to just one brand.

[13cheermom]

11 hours ago, luv2trvlnow said:

OK.  So the FCC was a 25% credit, not any part of your deposit.  You left your deposit with them and now they have refunded that deposit.  That would mean you are not out any money.  Do I have that straight? 

Yes you are correct, hence why I decided to take back the deposit and use it somewhere else for this particular timeframe.  It's not feasible to lose that much credit and pay more for the cruise. But this OP was just to let others know that sometimes you don't receive these reminder emails anymore that used to be automatic.  

[Colorado Cruzer]

Such a bummer to have a cruise cancelled for any reason. I always put a reminder in my calendar on my phone to alert me to final payment 2 weeks out and then the day before final payment - this has kept me on track.  Good luck with next cruise.

[luv2trvlnow]

13 minutes ago, 13cheermom said:

Yes you are correct, hence why I decided to take back the deposit and use it somewhere else for this particular timeframe.  It's not feasible to lose that much credit and pay more for the cruise. But this OP was just to let others know that sometimes you don't receive these reminder emails anymore that used to be automatic.  

I would take a different cruise also, especially when you are locked into a specific timeframe.  That is what we did with our cruise on Celebrity in 2015.  We were supposed to be on a Carnival cruise out of San Juan.  We had already purchased our airfare.  They changed it for variety of ships.  At least that was what our letter said.  They gave a Fantasy class ship instead of a Conquest class ship.  They offered nothing for the cancellation.  In fact at first they said they wouldn't help with airfare change fees.  So we found the Celebrity cruise out of San Juan that fit our timeframe there and we booked it.  Two weeks later they offered to give us our change fee as an onboard credit, but only when we furnished proof of the charge after getting onboard, not before.  Py the fee and then hope they give it back to you once onboard.  Not helpful.  A few others on our roll call joined us and several others went with RC that was leaving on the same day as our Carnival cruise was supposed to start.

 

I was glad we were going in 2 days early and staying 3 days after.  With the change of ships we had 3 days before and 2 days after.  I was able to change our hotels with no extra charge.  And the cruise on Celebrity was $20 cheaper.  I hope you find something that will work for you.  And maybe even be better like it was for us.

[13cheermom]

6 hours ago, Colorado Cruzer said:

Such a bummer to have a cruise cancelled for any reason. I always put a reminder in my calendar on my phone to alert me to final payment 2 weeks out and then the day before final payment - this has kept me on track.  Good luck with next cruise.

I am usually on top of things, however have elderly parents with medical issues, so my mind has been elsewhere.  Not an excuse, but rather a reason as to how this slipped up on me. It was only 5 days, so it was in the back of my mind just not front and center.  Lesson was learned and going forward I will be on track again.  Thanks!

[cruisinqt]

Have you checked your offers? Carnival has had some amazing offers lately that are really hard to pass up. I cruise with several other lines but the others just don’t give the great offers carnival does. You will likely spend more elsewhere. You could possibly have an offer that’s even better than the one you had booked. You should check it out. 

[ninjacat123]

5 minutes ago, 13cheermom said:

I am usually on top of things, however have elderly parents with medical issues, so my mind has been elsewhere.  Not an excuse, but rather a reason as to how this slipped up on me. It was only 5 days, so it was in the back of my mind just not front and center.  Lesson was learned and going forward I will be on track again.  Thanks!

I have similar issues with my parents.  Totally understand!

[notscb]

On 8/12/2022 at 1:40 PM, jsglow said:

And your solution is to go over to a competitor's line?

 

I think you missed the part where they said  "I lost $600 OBC, $434 FCC, and the rate went up by $440." I can see where losing that much in addition to the rate increase would have me shopping around to a different line for a better price if I could find one.