Adding a 4th Person to Our Cruise

[sunny227]

GRRR! Ok, I'm not a last minute person. BUT... sometimes things happen. ;)

 

Booked a last minute cruise through a TA in June for September 1, 2012 sailing for three people. My daughter's friend wants to go and finally convinced her parents to possibly let her go (today).

 

I call my travel agent who is out of the office until next week, but they took my information and said someone would call me back. :( In the meantime out of curiosity, I went to Carnival's website to see if there were any rooms available and there is/are a/an interior room(s) available.

 

My TA's office called me back and said that since we are booked in a triple, that they can't add a fourth passenger to the room. Fine. "Can we move passenger 3 to an interior room with the new guest?" No. If you don't have three people in your balcony room then they will move you to another room. And, there is not a room to move you to because there are not two double rooms left on the ship.

 

So, you can add a 4th passenger and we will move you to a grand suite for $1,100.00. Hmmm.... let me think about that (NOT) considering that we didn't pay much more than that to begin with for 3 people why would I pay that to add one person? I know I'm probably being petty but it made me mad!!

 

And, according to Carnival's website I can add a single passenger to an interior room for $700. That is cheaper than $1,100!!! It isn't the TA's fault but I felt that she didn't really try to help (maybe it was Carnival).

 

It just seems unfair that they would want to kick us out of our room (which includes two beds and one trundle) b/c we want to move passenger 3 and add another room to our booking.

 

Guess it wasn't meant to be.

[CarribeanDiva]

Is there a four person balcony available?

[sunny227]

Is there a four person balcony available?

 

No. Apparently they have suites and an interior.

 

What I don't understand is I have heard of people bringing in cots/roll away beds (not sure what to call it) in order to have more people in a room. I don't necessarily want a rollaway but would have considered that option had it been given to us.

 

Why do they do that in some rooms but not others?

 

And, might I add that the last time we cruised the Triumph we had a quad room. Two months before our sail date we added a new passenger so they moved passenger 4 into an interior room and left three of us in a quad. Peak sailing (June) and it wasn't an issue at all.

[serene56]

Not having any idea of what ship you are sailing as it canmake a difference.

 

 

Older ships can accomadate roll aways BUT if the ship is at capacity you can not get a cabin for an extra person for when there are not beds.

 

this means that all the roll aways are counted for. there is a limited amount of them available.

 

if there are no more balcony cabins for 4 people-- you could take one of your people and move them into the inside cabin with the added person-- even if the ship is showing only cabins that will hold 3-- I dont understand your agent stating you cant do this-- you can especially this close to sailing

[SadieN]

Only ships built before 2000(?) can have rollaways or trundles.

 

***

The trundle that you have now is it a sofabed or is Carnival bringing in a trundle. If so, be aware that the trundle sits low to the ground and is not good for anyone over 4'6". I do not think that you can have both a trundle and a rollaway in the same cabin. (Someone will correct me if I'm wrong.)

[sunny227]

Not having any idea of what ship you are sailing as it canmake a difference.

 

Triumph.

 

 

if there are no more balcony cabins for 4 people-- you could take one of your people and move them into the inside cabin with the added person-- even if the ship is showing only cabins that will hold 3-- I dont understand your agent stating you cant do this-- you can especially this close to sailing

 

This is what I wanted to do. I did a mock booking and saw that there are interior rooms to accommodate a single guest or double occupancy. BUT... the TA said Carnival would not allow this because the original booked room holds 3 people. If we move the 3rd person to a new room then they would not let 2 people stay in a room intended for 3.

[sunny227]

Only ships built before 2000(?) can have rollaways or trundles.

 

***

The trundle that you have now is it a sofabed or is Carnival bringing in a trundle. If so, be aware that the trundle sits low to the ground and is not good for anyone over 4'6". I do not think that you can have both a trundle and a rollaway in the same cabin. (Someone will correct me if I'm wrong.)

 

When I booked the room with my TA she didn't tell me anything about the bed types. Just that it would be a Balcony, mid ship on Lido. After I paid the confirmation came in and buried under IMPORTANT NOTES (a portion that I NEVER read) it said that the stateroom selected includes a trundle bed. Of course I went into panic mode!

 

I quickly emailed her and said this confirmation says it has a trundle bed. Her response, yes it has a trundle bed.

 

I immediately called her as I do not want a bed that sits low to the ground AND she assured me it is a couch. Hmmm..... well why don't they say a sleeper sofa??

 

My daughter is 5'7". She has always loved sleeping on the uppers so I assume she will be ok on whatever it is she is given to sleep on. I do hope it is a couch.

[firefly333]

Triumph.

 

 

 

 

This is what I wanted to do. I did a mock booking and saw that there are interior rooms to accommodate a single guest or double occupancy. BUT... the TA said Carnival would not allow this because the original booked room holds 3 people. If we move the 3rd person to a new room then they would not let 2 people stay in a room intended for 3.

 

Your TA is being extremely un-cooperative. Of course they can do this.. they might not do it.. but they might.

 

At worst you could book the inside cabin and pay 200% (solos do pay 200%, but since you paid a discounted rate for pax #3 in your balcony.. your daughter could sleep in whichever cabin she wanted to.

 

There are all sorts of way she COULD book this.. she is not trying to help. I wish you booked thru my PVP she could do it much cheaper and get it done.

 

Sometimes if your TA has some pull they will even move a person from a 3 person to a double.

 

As far as her saying you cant keep the triple.. again .. she is saying what MIGHT happen... since your ship is almost full carnival is not going to move you if balconys are sold out.. that is not true what she is saying, that they will move you for sure.

 

hearing some stories lately of really bad TAs, like this..

[sunny227]

Since my TA won't be back until Monday I think this person just flat out doesn't want to deal with it. That, or she is just not sure how to make it work. I mean, I assume she called Carnival and told them please what about this option, this option, etc.?

 

When the TA gave me her "spill" I wasn't at all happy. She was just eager to sell me a grand suite. NOT HAPPENING! And, she commented "sorry I couldn't be of more help"; well, you were no help. And I hung up. Not nice I know and I didn't mean it BUT even I know (as inexperienced as I am) that we could book a solo for 200% but yet she didn't even give me that option. It was simply, if you want to add a passenger you book a grand suite or nothing.

 

I don't know what her problem is. Bottom line is my daughter and her friend (both 16) just returned from the MAgic 3 weeks ago. It was pricey obviously. Her parents (and I) just incurred a big expense on that trip so booking her as a solo isn't cost effective. I booked this cruise because it was so cheap. Had we added her at the time of the original booking it would've been around $200. As bad as she wants to go now it just doesn't make sense to pay $700+ for a solo interior or $1,100 for a grand suite. HECK... we could've booked the Magic (again).

 

Firefly you are always so helpful and knowledgeable. I know we can't discuss who we book with, etc. but I would love to know who your PVP is. :) You always find awesome deals!

[CarribeanDiva]

There are balconies for two and insides for two still available. If you really want to do this, call back and ask them exactly what is available and work from there. You could split two in each balcony, or two in one balcony and two in an inside, but you will probably have to switch cabins.

[sunny227]

Thanks Caribbeandiva :)

[S.S.Oceanlover]

The ta probably feels she is not getting the commission so doesn't want to deal with it.

 

Bill

 

 

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[jdyer09]

My honest suggestion. Switch your reservation from ta to a PvP. She will loose her commission but clearly shes not doing her job anyway to earn it.

 

Then deal directly with carnival. They will do what they can to get you on board. Now granted they will try to sell you that suite too, they do work.on commission, but st least you get info directly from carnival not a TA that could have misunderstood or left out a few options to enhance her payout.

 

Good luck. And if they are telling you it is a trundle bed, it.is a true trundle. For example when we booked our upcoming cruise.on the Magic, for four, we had the option of a trundle or sleeper sofa and a Pullman. We of course took the sleeper sofa. They are different despite what she is telling you.

 

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[Ascott318]

I would call back and speak to someone else.even a supervisor will do. I made final pmt on my cruise and my daughter-in-law decided she wanted to go. This would also include my 10 month old grandaughter. My cabin will only hold 2. I could move to a cabin for 4 but was going to cost me more for mine as I booked a casino rate that ended the day before. So my pvp took my DH out of my cabin ,put him in an inside with grandaughter ,and daughter-in-law with me.It only cost me $20 more than what I would have paid to have them in cabin with us.

When we get on ship I will change at the pursers desk or maybe leave him :p in an inside with grandaughter.

[firefly333]

My honest suggestion. Switch your reservation from ta to a PvP. She will loose her commission but clearly shes not doing her job anyway to earn it. 2

 

OP is past final payment.. you cant just switch to Carnival unless the TA AGREES and signs off.. not likely at this point in time.

 

Unless the OP cancels and pays all the cancel fees .. I think you can cross this idea off your list. Why would the OP agree to give up her commission voluntarily?

[luvmy2redheads]

We just did this on the Magic! My parents had a balcony for 3 and and now my sisters friends are going so they booked a inside cabin for them and moved my sister to it. And my parents still have a balcony cabin for 3! We had to put my mother in the cabin with girls and my sister in the cabin with my dad "on paper"

Back a few years ago when I was a active TA you could call Carnival and do a "agent take over" where the Carnival agent takes over your reservation it means the TA loses the commission which doesn't make for a great TA relationship :rolleyes: Anyway not sure if you can still do that or not as it's been a few years and policies change all the time!

I hope it works out for you since I know your daughter will have a blast if her friends gets to tag along :)

[firefly333]

We just did this on the Magic! My parents had a balcony for 3 and and now my sisters friends are going so they booked a inside cabin for them and moved my sister to it. And my parents still have a balcony cabin for 3! We had to put my mother in the cabin with girls and my sister in the cabin with my dad "on paper"

Back a few years ago when I was a active TA you could call Carnival and do a "agent take over" where the Carnival agent takes over your reservation it means the TA loses the commission which doesn't make for a great TA relationship :rolleyes: Anyway not sure if you can still do that or not as it's been a few years and policies change all the time!

I hope it works out for you since I know your daughter will have a blast if her friends gets to tag along :)

 

you can still do it.. but you cant just say I want to do this... and Carnival will agree. I know I once tried.. and believe me its not as simple as just asking. All I could get Carnival to do was place a call to the phone number they had on file and they got a answering machine same as I was getting. (which was why I wanted to get rid of the TA, they didnt answer or return calls).

 

anyone else actually try doing this?? Believe me its not as simple as saying I want to make my TA give up her commission because Im not happy.

[helicopter]

As close as you are to sailing I bet they will allow 2/pp in a triple. Usually that rule applies when bookings are further out. I have moved a person out of triple into another double (with someone who decided to go) and kept my triple.

 

This is why I use PVP and not travel agents, much easier to deal with it yourself and PVP:)

[S.S.Oceanlover]

My honest suggestion. Switch your reservation from ta to a PvP. She will loose her commission but clearly shes not doing her job anyway to earn it.

 

Then deal directly with carnival. They will do what they can to get you on board. Now granted they will try to sell you that suite too, they do work.on commission, but st least you get info directly from carnival not a TA that could have misunderstood or left out a few options to enhance her payout.

 

Good luck. And if they are telling you it is a trundle bed, it.is a true trundle. For example when we booked our upcoming cruise.on the Magic, for four, we had the option of a trundle or sleeper sofa and a Pullman. We of course took the sleeper sofa. They are different despite what she is telling you.

 

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Carnivals agents do not make commission. They get a flat fee per booking does not matter if you book inside or a suite they make the same.

 

I didn't think they could have trundles on the magic since it is a new ship?

 

Bill

[firefly333]

Carnivals agents do not make commission. They get a flat fee per booking does not matter if you book inside or a suite they make the same.

 

I didn't think they could have trundles on the magic since it is a new ship?

 

Bill

 

I agree on both counts. No trundle beds on Magic that I have ever heard of.

 

And my PVP does not make a true commission, but receives credit for each booking, plus bonuses.

[luvmy2redheads]

I had never had it happen to me but I knew of some other TA's that it had happened to. But I don't recall them having to give permission to do it. I do remember Carnival doing a 3 way call with the customer, TA and them letting the TA know they were taking it over and the customer had a chance to air their grief but by that time the TA was glad for Carnival to take over:rolleyes: But that has been years ago so i'm sure things have changed in how they handle these things!

I hope you get it figured out!!

[sunny227]

OP is past final payment.. you cant just switch to Carnival unless the TA AGREES and signs off.. not likely at this point in time.

 

Unless the OP cancels and pays all the cancel fees .. I think you can cross this idea off your list. Why would the OP agree to give up her commission voluntarily?

 

Right. Well, my TA is an acquaintance. So, I wouldn't do this to her if I could. I'm the type that would just suffer rather than create "waves". I normally do a mock booking when I'm ready to cruise and find out the prices then call her. Why do I use her? Just trying to be nice, I guess. :(

 

I will be LIVID if we show up next Saturday to a true "trundle" bed and rest assured, I will be raising cane to HER b/c she assured me if was a sofa sleeper. If that is not the case we could have switched to another room immediately.

 

She won't be back in the office until Monday. I may or may not call her. I'm not pleased with the service yesterday and although it may be that had I booked my own room and called Carnival with the scenario that Carnival would have given me the same response. Always a possibility, but I DO NOT believe that would be the case. So, it angers me that the TA who contacted me yesterday didn't try to offer different suggestions. I didn't want to get into a power struggle with her by suggesting a solo (or other options). I know she is wrong that Carnival won't ALWAYS move you from a room if you go from 3 to 2. We've done it before with no problem. Especially considering the ship is essentially full.

 

She's either lazy or not smart and either way, I don't appreciate it.

 

But it is what it is and as this moment we are taking the "it wasn't meant to be" attitude. But a part of me is mad.

[QTPieRye]

We had a last minute passenger add-on to our 2011 cruise ~ I still find it weird that the "triple cabin" on the CCL website, ended up being a quad anyway!?!?

 

We had originally booked 2 cabins~ 1 balcony for 2 and 1 interior for 3. Last minute we wanted to add on a 4th person to the interior. CCL and TA both said not gonna happen, but that we could add a 3rd person to our balcony (at a higher rate of course). To our surprise the inside cabin had 4 beds! So our cabin steward simply made the bed in the inside cabin.... WooHOoo