We sailed the "Fantasy" from New Orleans to Mexico November 4th. We were in cabin E106. I booked a Deep Sea Fishing trip for $149 per person.
The description in the excursion book made the 4 1/2 hours seem great. Yes it left right from "a" pier... 6 blocks away.
Yes, they provided snacks for 6 people... A 12 oz bag of salted peanuts and 1/2 eaten bag of Lay's potatoe chips... FOR ALL 6 OF US TO SHARE!!! Beverages were supplied... 8 beer (another passenger found 4 hidden in the head and brought them out-"captain was VERY ticked off"), now 12 beer. 12 soda and 6 waters. There were 4 large men and 2 women on this charter. This was not enough.
There was no depth finder/fish finder on board. It's nice to have a local go where his grandfather taught him is good fishing... BUT INSTINCT DOESN'T CUT IT AT $149 PER PERSON! Common sense also says, if you see a SEA BIRD circling an area... There might be a reason... He/she sees something you don't... Namely fish! Where there's fish, there are bigger fish. But no, we trolled away without even a glace back.
The other passengers asked me to pursue this for a refund and be their "spokesperson" so to speak, since I was going directly to the ship after the excursion. I made our complaint and was told there was nothing they could do, since the excursion was not Carnival. (side note-I booked it thru Carnival, I paid Carnival for it). I told the young lady that the others would be there later to submit their complaints.
Since I knew what was going to happen once I got to the ship (pussyfooting around, denial, "how can you be sure..."), I brought the empty bag of peanuts and empty potato chips. I also took 2 different pictures of the bridge to prove there is no equipement (which they tried to say "are you sure there was no depth finder? -HA).
Eventually I dealt with Albert Brockman, the shore excursion manager. He gave me a 25% refund and said that is the best HE can do, and the number of guest services in Miami. I asked him point blank will they take care of the rest of the refund? He said "they'll take care of everything". I said "I really wanted this taken care of before I disembark" (instinct), and he told me that "he did everything he could and guest services would take care of the rest".
I accepted this, then found out ALBERT BROCKMAN IS A LIAR! I called guest services the next day and spoke with Conrad a 9:45 am EST. He told me that "since we (guest services) were not on the ship and could not verify anything, it's completely up to the shore excursion manager as to any refunds and the amounts. I asked Conrad to what percentage Albert could authorize and was told up to 100%. I also asked Conrad what his report said and he told me (in a nut shell) I was the trouble maker "dragging other passengers into this". He didn't offer a credit on my next cruise, money back, teddy bear, roll of toilet paper... NOTHING!
I have a free cruise in January on the same ship, and ALBERT is scheduled to work it. I am planning on spending every single moment of this cruise informing other passengers about the lies, deception and hopefully educate some as to the accuracy of the shore excursion description. And if it happens to be infront of the Shore Excursion desk... So be it.
I have contacted my credit card company to dispute the charge, after I had contacted Carnival. Next is the press in the second largest city in Georgia. They want to portray me as a troublemaker? Well, I don't want to disappoint them! I've also pasted this on the Carnival web site. I doubt anybody read it, but hey, gotta warn people. And for those of you reading this on Carnival, it's also posted on usacomplaints.com
Dorothy
aiken, South Carolina
U.S.A.
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