EwanRGR

You need to find out what rate you booked under. If it's Early Saver, you won't be getting a refund, you'll be getting a Future Cruise Credit. Since you are out a $250 admin fee, that sounds like what happened. I would call Carnival and ask.

They gave me a Future Cruise Credit for the $250 fee, but I understood that I would be getting the remainder back. Unfortunately the folks manning their phones seem to have no idea what their policy for that actually is. So no idea what (if anything) I will be getting. Didn't go through an agent because I thought (silly me) that I'd have less trouble if something like this happened if I went direct. Guess that's a $1000 lesson on why you shouldn't book with Carnival...

My SO's leave policy recently changed, and so had to cancel our trip scheduled for next March. Given the lengthy advanced notice I was hoping not to see quite so much of a cancellation fee ($250 for the both of us), but since I had already paid in over $1100 I figured those were just the breaks. While Carnival has acknowledged the cancellation, I have not yet seen a refund for the difference. All arrangements were made directly through Carnival.

Any idea how long it usually takes them to issue the refund?

Thanks for the suggestions!

I know the Colorado is probably too "thin" to carry anything but rafts, but would love to find something Southwest or California oriented if there is anything. Or if there's a package vacation with some overland and some river that would be fine too.

Thanks!