What an awful trip!
Let me warn you of some of the pitfalls of cruising with this cruise line.
Number one, check with your cruise line to make sure that they have alternate itineraries in the event of bad weather and get it in writing if you can.
Our long awaited dream vacation was ruined by hurricane Michelle and Carnival Cruise Lines lack of preparation for Alternate plans in case of bad weather.
We Sailed to Jamaica first, enduring sometimes 20 ft seas, then to Grand Caymen (for a couple hours) then high tailed it back out to sea
Where we spent the equivalent next 3 days at sea. Even the Hired Help was Confused as to why the captain did not have an alternate port of call for the cruisers.
We spent an equivalent of 6 "fun" days at sea on a 7 day cruise playing stupid games like " blankety blank" and reverse karaoke. (I felt like I was in a horrific Sesame Street episode.
We found out after the cruise was over that Florida had been getting rough weather before our trip began, (depressions in the area) and that they had to have known that they were taking a chance of running into bad weather by sticking to the planned itinerary.
They could have made an alternate route at the beginning to avoid the bad weather, but NOOOOOOO... Then we find out, by reading the fine print, that there are discretionary alternate ports of call in the event of bad weather. Our Captain apparently didn't have one.
E were very disappointed (oh yeah, Carnival graciously gave all aboard a 20.00 credit to their sign and sail account for loss incurred)
This, by the way didnt even cover our port of call charges that we paid for in advance! I find out that A REFUND OF SOMETHING YOU PAID FOR IN ADVANCE BUT DID NOT USE NOR RECEIVE also, is discretionary, as well as any alternate ports of call.
Our Captain put us out to sea to out-run the storm, then slowed down so that we could enjoy our "fun" days at sea. (translates into spend money at the bars and casino) instead of taking us to another port of call. (he could have hurried and made it back at least to New Orleans so we could do something FUN! (like party on a saturday night on Bourbon Street) (the most fun we had the entire trip) WAS in Jamaica but DO NOT rent snorkel equipment on the shipfor the wet and wild tours, as they are provided by the wet and wild boats in Jamaica. Another 15.00 rip off. (conveniently the front desk did not inform us that snorkeling equipment would be supplied before we rented them, and we wont believe that they didnt know that)
Our 10:15 stingray / sandbar tour in Grand Caymen was cancelled & little did we know that it was cancelled, until the time came for us to catch the " tender" to the Island (I guess carnival hasn't heard of a telephone before, even though there are red ones in the room, I guess a courtesy call would be asking too much.
We were not notified in time to change our plans, so, we wound up doing NOTHING GRAND CAYMEN.!
We Consequently called Carnival immediately after debarking and getting back to our room In New Orleans to Voice our Displeasure with the way this cruise turned out.
We were sure a Big Corporation Like Carnival would like to Keep good faith in her potential customers and offer us a substantial compensory gesture for what we felt was our loss of Good money for a terrible vacation. (we Spent over 5,000.00)=8 hours in jamaica and 6 days at sea.
They Offered us 10 % off our Next cruise. That's it.
Whoopteedoo! We are still waiting for Carnival to make it right with us, but I think we will be waiting a long, long time.
My Husband is Middle management in a Very large and Powerful Corporation, Unfortunately, we have to relate this sad story to others when asked how our trip went., and I'm afraid the word is getting out to hundreds of people, about the way Carnival treated us.
Now it will be thousands. Our story has thwarted many from booking with Carnival. And justifiably so. People have a right to hear about the experiences of others so that they may make informed decisions. Its called " word of mouth" the best kind of advertising.
At this rate I guarantee there will never be a next cruise on Carnival unless they come forth with an offer to compensate, that rises above insulting!
We felt like prisoners on this ship. We could have flown somewhere nice for a week and PLANNED our OWN ITINERARY for the money we spent on this trip, and saw what we paid to see... EXOTIC PORTS OF CALL!
Signed.
First and last time cruisers.
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