caribbean princess - problem!

[sonypc100]

Hi


We booked a cruise on Caribbean Princess with www.icruise.com (http://www.icruise.com)

As we are in the UK and will take an 11 hour flight to get to Fort Lauderdale, we have back to backed the cruise as 1 week after such a long flight isnt enough.

We are going on the 5th June then staying on for the 12th June.

We made sure with our icruise agent that we had the same cabin for both weeks, we dont want to have to pack our bags after the first week to transfer to a different cabin on ship - we dont need the hassle!

So we asked twice to confirm the same cabin was available, we have it in writing from icruise and we also have 2 x confirmation emails from icruise with a confirmed cabin number and it is the same for both weeks.

However we have just checked our reservations on the princess website and we are showing a different cabin for week 2

It might not bother many people but for us after 11 hour flight, plus 6 hour drive for our house to London Heathrow to catch the flight, plus adjusting to a USA time zone etc - we just want to chill and re packing and then unpacking half way through our holiday will just spoil it 100%

Also for the second week, we have been put in a 'non converting twin'.

We have just called princess (icruise is closed) and they said that when we booked the cruise (which was 4 days ago) there were no cabins on BE deck that were available for the 2 weeks so icruise should not have offered this to us.

What do we do?

Princess say that cabins are availalbe for 2 weeks in higher catergory balconies. should icruise upgrade us and pay the difference - what if they refuse?

Any help would be great


This is starting to take the shine off our cruise http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif

thanks


rich and kirsty

[CruiseFever]

Well first of all you need to get icruise to explain what's going on Monday. They told you that you have the same cabins for both sailings, you have documentation proving this, they need to fix it.

I haven't sailed Princess a whole lot but recently booked three cruises with them and I DO know that the people on the weekend are not as knowledgable as the ones during the week. That might have something to do with it.

It really sounds like a mistake to me. Why would icruise do that to you? It's not like you wouldn't notice.

I'd start this whole thing over on Monday and I bet it gets fixed to your satisfaction without you having to pay any more money.

Let us know

Happy Cruising

Chris

www.LifeIsCruising.com (http://www.LifeIsCruising.com)

Next up:
Caribbean Princess 06/04
Star Princess 10/04
Carnival Spirit 12/04

[zurmolly]

Wow, all I have been hearing about icruise is bad news..If they have made that mistake they need to take of you..If not, cancell with them and book with someone better..See the thread below on KimsCruises...Good Luck http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[zurmolly]

And I know from looking at icruise website, you most likely did not get the lower price. You also want a TA who monitors the rates for a drop. Icruise will do nothing for you if the rates drop.

[mattinla]

well, they are probably past the point of being able to cancel the cruise.

But if you have it in writing, make them honor it. However, I have called Princess several times directly, and like every other cruise lines customer service people, they haven't got a clue. So it could be that everything is OK. icruise could have a number of BE cabins blocked, which is why Princess is showing no availablity. Wait and speak to icruise.

As for the mid trip pack and repack... if it comes to that, try not to let it ruin everything. You will not have to completely repack. They will have cabin attendants help you by taking all the stuff hanging so you don't have to rehang, etc.. I have done this when switching cabins after boarding.. and in hotels countless times when I had lots and lots of stuff. It's not as big of a hassle as it seems.

Good luck.

PAST: Queen of Bermuda '89 Tropicale '99, Explorer of the Seas '02, Radiance of the Seas '02, Vision of the Seas '03, Queen Elizabeth 2 '03, Infinity '03, Serenade of the Seas '03, Monarch of the Seas '03, Norwegian Star '03. Queen Mary 2 '04
FUTURE:
Diamond Princess, 5/1/04
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[pg.]

I agree that it is a bit of a hassle switching cabins , but not a huge deal, I mean the cabin steward will help you.
We have a 13 hour flight and we would LOVE to have the luxary of a back to back cruise (no matter what )so don't sweat the small stuff.

As for icruise, check to see what the penatlty is for cancelling( there may not be one) and cancel and rebook if you are able.If not , then don't let it ruin your holiday, you will be pampered for TWO weeks you are LUCKY!!!

[rance222]

When you finish the first week of your cruise will you not have to repack anyways to clear U.S customs and immigration?
I thought unless you are crew, everyone must leave the ship and clear customs with their bags and reboard.

I could be wrong though.

[Aquarian]

The "non-converting twin" is a computer glitch per Princess. When our TA inquired, it was corrected as a "Queen".

[sonypc100]

Hi

Firstly a big THANK YOU to everyone above who has offered advice, it really is appreciated.


This is what seems to have happened. We paid as soon as we made the reservation via icruise.com then Princess charged our amex card.

However it seems that instead of Princess taking $500 deposit for week 1 and then $500 deposit for week 2 they took $1000 from the amex card and put it towards the cost of week 1 only by mistake, which meant on the Princess system there was no deposit showing against the cabin for week 2 - so it was released again and picked up by another cruiser.

So the outcome is that we have now got a cabin for the whole 2 weeks so we are really happy and we have also had a little upgrade - from a BE to a BD grade.

I think the only difference between the cabins is we are now a deck higher, but its still an upgrade and we are more than happy!

Thanks once again


Regards

Rich and Kirsty

[Salty Dawg]

Glad it worked out for you - now you can relax & have a wonderful cruise!

Ken & Nancy http://www.ozpets.com.au/kids/media/animation/dogs/dog1.gif

[sue d. miller]

Congratulstions. Glad it's fixed. Have a great time. Sue

7 Days on The Star Princess OCTOBER,24,2004

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