Additional cancellation for Horizon, Substituting Carnival Liberty on 1/8 and 1/16.

[bluesea4me]

1 minute ago, bluesea4me said:

I found tons of contact numbers (some direct lines) l and emails during the night.  NO, I couldn't sleep.   I took them as screen shots on my phone but will try to post them when I get to work in about an hour.  I dont get off work until 305.    I know I added up my losses per person and its more than 599 each! But overall, it'll be a 2600 loss.  Now, I have about 10hours8minutes09seconds until I get off work to try to figure out I I cancel before Sunday, or ask for an Extension take care of this mess!

  cduffy  at the fun ship and the others who got millions in bonuses last year can do better!

 

I know the customer experience head guy (Bill)  WBrand  at Carnival might be busy today, too!  Those poor phone reps!  I think I've called like 64982 times!    I"ll be trying all day.   Sigh  

[lesleyswimcoach]

I’m curious if they are telling you if you are on Sunshine or Liberty? The Sunshine is a way better ship. Although not Horizon. I have done Glory and it is not even close to Horizon but Sunshine at least has a great serenity area. I definitely agree the havana people are getting screwed. If they are dividing between the 2 ships the havana people deserve a suite? 

[mondello]

5 minutes ago, lesleyswimcoach said:

I’m curious if they are telling you if you are on Sunshine or Liberty? 

Says they'll email by 12/16 with cabin confirmation for our 12/26 cruise.

[lesleyswimcoach]

I also think it is a gamble for a location you booked? I specifically chose cabins in a certain location because of noise and such. I also book my kids in an interior across the hall. I think it is a gamble to put these things into Carnivals hands. 

[bluesea4me]

1 hour ago, lesleyswimcoach said:

I’m curious if they are telling you if you are on Sunshine or Liberty? The Sunshine is a way better ship. Although not Horizon. I have done Glory and it is not even close to Horizon but Sunshine at least has a great serenity area. I definitely agree the havana people are getting screwed. If they are dividing between the 2 ships the havana people deserve a suite? 

They said they would let us know and we could cancel by the 14th fir my 19th sailing.  But yet it also says I have to cancel by the 5th.   I want a bigger ship with new amenities.  There’s a reason why I chose that ship!

[bluesea4me]

50 minutes ago, lesleyswimcoach said:

I also think it is a gamble for a location you booked? I specifically chose cabins in a certain location because of noise and such. I also book my kids in an interior across the hall. I think it is a gamble to put these things into Carnivals hands. 

I do as well!   I look for number possible in cabin next door, stairs, hallways, laundry, above/below…you know the drill!

[K&RCurt]

1 hour ago, lesleyswimcoach said:

I’m curious if they are telling you if you are on Sunshine or Liberty? The Sunshine is a way better ship. Although not Horizon. I have done Glory and it is not even close to Horizon but Sunshine at least has a great serenity area. I definitely agree the havana people are getting screwed. If they are dividing between the 2 ships the havana people deserve a suite? 

The letter I received for the 1/8 & 1/16 sailings specifically stated Liberty.  Not sure what dates had the two listed.

[kaybeebee]

I am booked on the Horizon Dec. 31, and have not received any cancelation correspondence. Can anyone from this cruise post their email? TIA

[khewston]

8 hours ago, pogoism9 said:

 

Liberty is 110,000 gross tons, Sunshine is 103,000. That's almost not even noticeable. Its not like its a Fantasy class, or even a Spirit...

We have been on the Conquest and loved her.  I would not mind cruising on the Liberty, except food venues are not that great.  The Sunshine was probably the worst cruise we have taken.  The public spaces are so small. No way would I consider cruising on her again!

[CruiserLucas]

1 hour ago, kaybeebee said:

I am booked on the Horizon Dec. 31, and have not received any cancelation correspondence. Can anyone from this cruise post their email? TIA

It's weird you didn't get a correspondence (check your junk/spam?). My sailing is the 26th and the email I received mentions the 19th, 26th, and 31st sailings.

[kaybeebee]

Thanks for posting this. I reached out to my travel agent and she just forwarded me the email. Now I have to make a decision by Sunday, which is also when her office is closed. UGHHH

[bluesea4me]

15 hours ago, poz222 said:

Sadly, it seems that is what they think people will accept. For Havana folks it would be a NO WAY as well as insulting. We are a balcony cabin and weighing our options. If we cancel we just get refund and lose the OBC as well as any casino or other offers we had, no FCC like the last folks... I am kinda bitter they are offering so little for a messed up Christmas, but the family is in tears and afraid we will not find another vacation for Christmas. So the choice is, accept an older inferior ship that does not have the activities or dining we wanted r cancel and pay substantially more for a lesser cabin, or cancel cruising for Christmas and find another trip last minute? Long restless night for sure.

And I bet this IS what they are banking on!

[Jenal2]

For the December Horizon cruises, is the thinking that both the Liberty and Sunshine will do the same itinerary and half of the Horizon cruisers will go on and half on the other?  So in other words, let's say the Horizon cruise was booked at 80% capacity with around 4,000 passengers, then the Liberty and Sunshine would each sail with 2,000 passengers?   

[bluesea4me]

2 minutes ago, Jenal2 said:

For the December Horizon cruises, is the thinking that both the Liberty and Sunshine will do the same itinerary and half of the Horizon cruisers will go on and half on the other?  So in other words, let's say the Horizon cruise was booked at 80% capacity with around 4,000 passengers, then the Liberty and Sunshine would each sail with 2,000 passengers?   

Must be.  BUT how can you compare the ships?

[Jenal2]

3 hours ago, bluesea4me said:

Must be.  BUT how can you compare the ships?

I’m with you, there is no comparison.   I’m just trying to find a sliver of silver lining.  If I have to sail one of those older, smaller ships it would be cool if it was not so crowded.  

[hayesktrm]

I still haven't received an email and I'm on the 12/31.  I have checked my email.  How can they ask me to make a decision when I haven't even received the email?  I'm not the only one.  I have a cove balcony.  I sure hope they put us in a balcony (please Sunshine!).  

[DSimpson14]

1 hour ago, hayesktrm said:

I still haven't received an email and I'm on the 12/31.  I have checked my email.  How can they ask me to make a decision when I haven't even received the email?  I'm not the only one.  I have a cove balcony.  I sure hope they put us in a balcony (please Sunshine!).  

 

[DSimpson14]

On rge 1/16 & still have not received email. Has anyone else not received anything. Sent email to my PVP, have not heard back, We had the Aft Balcony Family Hatbor room. Which I know Liberty does not, Suppose to cruise 1/16

[SeaMeCruisin]

We were on the 12/31 departure sailing and had Havana rooms. An extra $50 in OBC is a joke! Our rate for the Havana rooms was nearly $1k more than a balcony room. We canceled and have booked the same sailing dates on the RC Symphony of the Seas. We have been loyal to Carnival for years and years and are high status VIFP, but we're just about over it with them. We also invest in Carnival but I'll probably pull our money out when the market swings back up a bit. Carnival's customer service has declined so much over the years - unfortunately a sign of a declining company in most cases.

[bluesea4me]

2 hours ago, SeaMeCruisin said:

We were on the 12/31 departure sailing and had Havana rooms. An extra $50 in OBC is a joke! Our rate for the Havana rooms was nearly $1k more than a balcony room. We canceled and have booked the same sailing dates on the RC Symphony of the Seas. We have been loyal to Carnival for years and years and are high status VIFP, but we're just about over it with them. We also invest in Carnival but I'll probably pull our money out when the market swings back up a bit. Carnival's customer service has declined so much over the years - unfortunately a sign of a declining company in most cases.

I talked to the highest level of Executive Relations.  Pretty much told me take it or leave it.   I’m VERY upset.  They are splitting 12/19 into Sunshine and Liberty, and said I was an HE and I said there are no HE on the 2 are you putting me into a suite?   They repeated the same comment again. I have high hopes, but I’m expecting they’ll put me in a balcony…definitely not worth the $$$ I paid for Havana.  I know there has to be many of us upset.  It’s a shame.  I’m happy for the other people that aren’t getting the shaft so there Christmas isn’t ruined like mine.  

[Jamman54]

1 minute ago, wkucrprez said:

My family is booked on Back2Back's Dec 19 and 26 and we've decided to go with flow and sail as planned. We're booked in suites and will be very disappointed if we are downgraded rooms but what can we do??? It's too much hassle to try to rebook a Christmas vacation for our family.

 

If we get sent to Nassau or Freeport I'll do what I always do when I have an itinerary with that port on the sailing... simply stay on the ship and relax. Again, what can we do? 

 

I've sailed on Sunshine a few times... my first time being her third sailing in the Mediterranean as a "brand new" vessel. Fell in love with her then and would be perfectly content sailing on her this Christmas.  Don't know anything about the Liberty, but I know there is a Serenity Deck and bar that probably serves Coconut Mojoitos... I assume it has a casino as well :p. I can make that work.

 

No, it won't be Horizon which is my favorite ship Guest service will be probably helter shelter as these employees haven't served guests in two years. The ship may not be decorated for Christmas. Food options will be quite limited compared to the alternative. 

 

But you know what... my family is going to be together for Christmas. That's all that matters to me. We could be in a tent, in the middle of a desert and still have a good time. This is going to be an adventure. It will have it's bumps, but that's how memories are made.

 

Great attitude! That's half the battle! 

[jhnsn4]

such a let down to be switched off the Horizon.

Ive got two weeks to come to grips with it, and once on a ship will work very hard to not say Horizon.

I will be super bummed if it is not decorated, and I am somewhat concerned about the staff not having worked in a year and a half.

[mondello]

2 hours ago, wkucrprez said:

My family is booked on Back2Back's Dec 19 and 26 and we've decided to go with flow and sail as planned. We're booked in suites and will be very disappointed if we are downgraded rooms but what can we do??? 

Sure hope their computer algorithm recognizes B2B bookings. You could be the lucky guest that gets to enjoy both ships. One leg on each ship and hope you don't get kicked in the middle!

[bigrednole]

13 hours ago, SeaMeCruisin said:

Carnival's customer service has declined so much over the years - unfortunately a sign of a declining company in most cases.

You are talking about a company that had to shutdown for 15+ months. The company is no going anywhere and cruising will be back to normal in a year or two. 

 

I do agree and sympathize for those that are being offered something extremely less than what you paid for. I know those Havana rooms are 2-3x the price of the balcony room I had. There needs to be something far more substantial by losing it rather than just a refund. You should be able to take a 50% refund and be moved to a balcony of your choosing. I don't know what you spent, but comparables have to be much different. I can only guess they probably don't have enough suites to go around and amenities are much different on ships that are 13 years different.

[richfret]

After I got the notice I checked for other cruises.  Although not the same ports, I checked 8 day Freedom cruises and was shocked by some of the pricing.  They had a sale going for veterans and the price with a better cabin location was over $1,000 less than for my Horizon pricing for a solo cruiser.  Once I get on the ship, I really don't care where it is going.  The final purchase date was Monday, December 6.  My TA office was closed so I was going to wait until Monday.  Then it happened.  All the special pricing disappeared.  I bet they were getting so many veteran purchases because of our cancellation that they discontinued the sale.  Darn it!  As usual, he who hesitates is lost.

 

So after considerable deliberation, I am going with the flow and staying with the January 8 cruise.  I got a $600 credit for 2 cancelled Carnival cruises and probably another $200 for the cancelled Horizon cruise.  With the $800, I can wander around the ship looking for ways to spend $800.  That makes it just a bit easier to take but when I get back I will complain to every one.  That's just human nature.