Name change penalty increase

[tree.critter]

I just learned that the penalty for name change has increased to $200. Had a change for Journey cruise next year when DH said he could go. Ouch, don’t know when it changed but I’ll be a lot more careful when I book way ahead in the future and just do TBA.

 

[vwrestler171]

The joys of not really reading the terms and conditions of the rate code you booked under.

[carohs]

Ouch you almost wanna see if the deposit is refundable and cancel/rebook. 

[n6uqqq]

5 hours ago, tree.critter said:

I just learned that the penalty for name change has increased to $200. Had a change for Journey cruise next year when DH said he could go. Ouch, don’t know when it changed but I’ll be a lot more careful when I book way ahead in the future and just do TBA.

 

The only way to pull that off is book directly through Carnival dot com. 

[n6uqqq]

34 minutes ago, carohs said:

Ouch you almost wanna see if the deposit is refundable and cancel/rebook. 

Any of the best rates are non refundable deposit. The past guest rate has gone the way of the dodo.

[icft]

2 hours ago, vwrestler171 said:

The joys of not really reading the terms and conditions of the rate code you booked under.

They can set any terms and conditions they want but I am curious if anyone knows why they charge for changing the name of non-booking guest. I can see if the person under whose VIFP number the cabin was booked changed - essentially that is a cancellation - but others? Is it "just because we can?"

[tree.critter]

I always book ES rates and usually at least 18-14 months ahead knowing that there is a penalty to change names. Have done it more times than I should admit but the penalty was always $100 until fairly recently. I’m ok with the increase, the price of the cruise has gone up over $900 since booking and we got a nice room so was worth changing. 

 

[vwrestler171]

27 minutes ago, icft said:

They can set any terms and conditions they want but I am curious if anyone knows why they charge for changing the name of non-booking guest. I can see if the person under whose VIFP number the cabin was booked changed - essentially that is a cancellation - but others? Is it "just because we can?"

Because you are canceling one person and booking another.  The deposits clearly say non-refundable.  It doesn't say non-refundable unless you want to change a person out.

[icft]

27 minutes ago, vwrestler171 said:

Because you are canceling one person and booking another.  The deposits clearly say non-refundable.  It doesn't say non-refundable unless you want to change a person out.

I understand those are their terms and I have no problem with it because they state those terms. I'm just trying to find out if there is any reason, besides "because we can" for the charge. What costs do they incur if the name is changed prior to on-line check in? It just seems like a trap for those who don't know to leave the other names TBA until check-in.

[RD64]

1 hour ago, icft said:

I understand those are their terms and I have no problem with it because they state those terms. I'm just trying to find out if there is any reason, besides "because we can" for the charge. What costs do they incur if the name is changed prior to on-line check in? It just seems like a trap for those who don't know to leave the other names TBA until check-in.

Their company - their rules - you know that going in. Not for you to question.

[icft]

Judging from the responses I guess they do it just because they can. That is perfectly legal and they don't hide it. But I do feel differently about companies that set easily avoidable traps for the unwary just because they can than I do about companies that don't set traps.

 

TBA till on-line check-in should be a CC sticky post as a community service.

[iria64]

3 hours ago, RD64 said:

Their company - their rules - you know that going in. Not for you to question.

As the customer it is for us to question.  Yes, they set the terms and if I, as the customer, do not like the terms, I can take my business elsewhere.  If all other cruise lines have the same or similar terms then your choices are to suck it up and deal with the terms or not cruise.  There are plenty of vacation options to choose from.  All have their pluses and minuses but since the terms are non negotiable out only choice is to vote with our wallet.

[Haljo1935]

HAL, part of the CCL family, charges $50 for a name change. Just did one this week.

Of course, it cannot be pax 1, as that is who the rate is tied to.

And yes, they charge the fee just because they can. Other than the hourly wage paid to the person who physically changes it in the system (3 min or less?) they do not incur an expense they're recouping.

[icft]

3 hours ago, RD64 said:

Their company - their rules - you know that going in. Not for you to question.

I question most companies I do business with for many reasons. One is to get a feel for a companies level of ethics. If something doesn't make sense I think most people would ask questions. That is how you learn.

 

In this case naming a travel companion then changing that travel companion before check-in incurring a $200 charge when just waiting until check-in to name a travel companion incurs no charge doesn't make sense to me. So I asked

[icft]

5 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said:

HAL, part of the CCL family, charges $50 for a name change. Just did one this week.

Of course, it cannot be pax 1, as that is who the rate is tied to.

And yes, they charge the fee just because they can. Other than the hourly wage paid to the person who physically changes it in the system (3 min or less?) they do not incur an expense they're recouping.

But I would note that when booking through the Carnival site there would be no need for anyone to physically put changes into the system as the customer puts the change in.

 

I expect all cruise lines do this as a carry over from the days before computers when people had to manually make changes on paper. It's free money for the cruise lines. Just another reason I rank the ethics of cruise lines a bit below used car dealers. You have to know what kind of people you are dealing with. Knowing that you can still do business with them with proper precautions. In this situation you know to not name guests until check-in.

[nascartim]

I've learned over the past few years to wait as long as possible until I put my second guest info in for this very reason. It's their system, but I now have a work around.

[ray98]

18 hours ago, icft said:

They can set any terms and conditions they want but I am curious if anyone knows why they charge for changing the name of non-booking guest. I can see if the person under whose VIFP number the cabin was booked changed - essentially that is a cancellation - but others? Is it "just because we can?"

$$$$$$.  If someone needs to cancel a guest they are obviously in bind and it is easy to extract money from them.

[n6uqqq]

1 hour ago, nascartim said:

I've learned over the past few years to wait as long as possible until I put my second guest info in for this very reason. It's their system, but I now have a work around.

I do this also on most of my bookings. For those who use a PVP I don't think they are allowed to make a booking with a TBA as the second name. Also I don't think this can be done with a travel agent. If you call with any questions about a booking that has a TBA they will tell you that a name must be added. I book cruises a couple years out sometimes and don't have a clue who I will drag along 😉

[carohs]

My TA was able to make a tbd for the 2nd passenger booking, I just had to call and ask. They also advised me that I had to correct the name prior to so many days before sailing or there would be a fee. As of 6 days ago, my terms still said $50 within 60 days. OP, when you changed the name were you within the 60 day window? 

[lazydayz]

4 hours ago, carohs said:

My TA was able to make a tbd for the 2nd passenger booking, I just had to call and ask. They also advised me that I had to correct the name prior to so many days before sailing or there would be a fee. As of 6 days ago, my terms still said $50 within 60 days. OP, when you changed the name were you within the 60 day window? 

I think OP booked under Early Savers, which has always had very strict rules.  Under the old ES rules, fairly certain it was $100 to change a passenger, but the cancelled cruiser got the remaining deposit back as a Future Cruise Credit.  Not sure what the ES rules are now since I usually book with a casino code.  

[tree.critter]

22 minutes ago, lazydayz said:

I think OP booked under Early Savers, which has always had very strict rules.  Under the old ES rules, fairly certain it was $100 to change a passenger, but the cancelled cruiser got the remaining deposit back as a Future Cruise Credit.  Not sure what the ES rules are now since I usually book with a casino code.  

Yes, this is exactly what happened. I was expecting the $100 fee, just surprised it has raised to $200. Good news though was they just added to balance due rather than having to come up with payment right away.