Canceling casino offer booked cruise

[RoperDK]

I haven't had much luck with getting full refunds in the last couple of months.  I lost my deposit on one and was able to move another, but had a note on that booking that no more action would be allowed and I would lose my entire cruise amount if any further changes happened.  All of my recent cruises were casino rates and if I call the Carnival number they won't handle my booking, but transfer it to the casino dept.  Double wait times! I want to cancel a cruise for this fall.  Sorry, but we are just done with waiting on protocols and wondering what to do.  We booked these cruises long ago thinking that covid would be a distant memory. Going forward, we will only book last minute when we are sure about the covid numbers and protocols so we won't have any more surprises.  Well, I guess this has turned into a rant.  Sorry.  Here's my question.

 

Are casino booked cruises also allowing full refunds after "the letter" or are they holding out the deposits?  

[urbanhawk]

Since I/we don't know which casino offer you are booked under, can't say for sure. I have one which I booked, then rebooked. I do know that my deposit is nonrefundable. Hope it all works out for you.

[NutsAboutGolf]

I have no idea if the following is across the board or is offer-specific, sharing my experience.  Was told no refunds unless they make an exception such as earlier this month they were allowing refunds on Jan sailings.

 

You can move the deposit from one sailing to another yet at current pricing or on a current offer.  For example, if you booked a free balcony on an offer that expired last month, you can move that deposit to another sailing but cannot use your expired offer, sailing is subject to current pricing and current offers.  Check your offers and if you have any in 2023 or 2024 perhaps just move it now and figure out if you'll cruise on it later.

Edited January 23, 2022 by NutsAboutGolf

[WhaleTailFlCruiser]

Penalties are going to apply moving forward per JH as they should. Protocols ext have been around long enough for everyone to know what’s going on.

[BrianMD]

1 hour ago, RoperDK said:

I haven't had much luck with getting full refunds in the last couple of months.  I lost my deposit on one and was able to move another, but had a note on that booking that no more action would be allowed and I would lose my entire cruise amount if any further changes happened.  All of my recent cruises were casino rates and if I call the Carnival number they won't handle my booking, but transfer it to the casino dept.  Double wait times! I want to cancel a cruise for this fall.  Sorry, but we are just done with waiting on protocols and wondering what to do.  We booked these cruises long ago thinking that covid would be a distant memory. Going forward, we will only book last minute when we are sure about the covid numbers and protocols so we won't have any more surprises.  Well, I guess this has turned into a rant.  Sorry.  Here's my question.

 

Are casino booked cruises also allowing full refunds after "the letter" or are they holding out the deposits?  

I had a non-refundable casino offer for an August 2021 sailing that I canceled for full refund, no problem, no questions asked. My advice is just to call and cancel. If they won't cancel just hang up and call again to speak to someone else since it frequently depends on who you talk to. Good luck.

[RoperDK]

18 minutes ago, WhaleTailFlCruiser said:

Penalties are going to apply moving forward per JH as they should. Protocols ext have been around long enough for everyone to know what’s going on.

The "letter" states that you have until Feb. 15 to cancel for a refund on future cruises.  No exceptions were listed.  Recently, I have had to either move or get a penalty for deposits on casino rates.  Everyone else could cancel for refund or move without penalty. Maybe my timing is off. I will call early in the morning and see what they say.   

[BlerkOne]

1 hour ago, WhaleTailFlCruiser said:

Penalties are going to apply moving forward per JH as they should. Protocols ext have been around long enough for everyone to know what’s going on.

One of the protocols is that protocols are subject to change at any time.

[KansasinJune]

I had a cruise booked for mid Feb thru casino offer.  We were on the fence about going due to infections rising and some ships being denied ports.  I called early Jan to see what options were and it was either fcc or cancelation fees.  I waited a few weeks and finally decided to cancel online losing part of my fare but did get partial refund 2 days later.   That very day I received another "free" casino offer and found a cruise several months out.  I called carnival and asked since I had just canceled could I get my cancelation fees applied to the new cruise.  Took about 30 min on phone and they applied it to new cruise.  Agent was surprised I had received a second offer that was as good as the first.

[mondello]

4 hours ago, WhaleTailFlCruiser said:

Penalties are going to apply moving forward per JH as they should. Protocols ext have been around long enough for everyone to know what’s going on.

Where have you been? Any cruises planned since your epic adventure on Mardi Gras?

We did the Horizon/Sunshine shuffle 12/26, booked Vista 3/26 and Valor 7/25-8/4. Great casino fares but the return airfare has doubled before I made final plans. These casino deals are too good to cancel.

[MagnoliaBlossom]

I recently cancelled three Carnival cruises, all casino offers.  2 had a NR deposit of 198 (for 2 people) and the third was $300.  The next day I received an email offering us a FCC of $148 x 2, and one $250.   So if we use that we have only lost 150 rather than almost 700.

 

they are really hurting and I think they are doing everything they can to fill those cabins.

 

BTW, the direct number to casino sales is 800-906-7603

Edited January 23, 2022 by MagnoliaBlossom

[RoperDK]

6 hours ago, MagnoliaBlossom said:

I recently cancelled three Carnival cruises, all casino offers.  2 had a NR deposit of 198 (for 2 people) and the third was $300.  The next day I received an email offering us a FCC of $148 x 2, and one $250.   So if we use that we have only lost 150 rather than almost 700.

 

they are really hurting and I think they are doing everything they can to fill those cabins.

 

BTW, the direct number to casino sales is 800-906-7603

Thanks for the direct number.  That should be a great time saver!

 

I called this morning to cancel an October casino offer cruise.  It was canceled for a full refund no questions asked.  I explained to her that I had incurred a penalty for canceling a cruise that a couple of days later would have been fully refunded.  I then asked if I could apply the remaining FCC to an already booked casino cruise as OBC.  The FCC was supposed to be only applied to a new booking. She put me on hold and came back and said they would reinstate the whole amount as OBC on my already booked cruise.  I was a happy camper.  I agree that Carnival is hurting and I still have one booking scheduled for next year.  The casino offers are so enticing, but we are putting on the brakes for now and will only book last minute if the virus spread is reduced.   

[MagnoliaBlossom]

Glad it helped.   I had not looked at any new bookings for CCL, as we are slammed with some got to use or big time lose on another line, but while on a road trip today, DH driving of course, I checked our base rate prices and was surprised how low they are.  Not as low as the $25 rates I’d seen during the worst of it, but I the $150 area.    Of course with Covid, I’m not booking anything but a balcony which is about 450 pp, but. Just shows to go ya how desperate the cruise lines are.   I take no pleasure in this at all.  I remember how bad it was for quite some time after 9/11 but this is worse.

[WhaleTailFlCruiser]

On 1/23/2022 at 12:27 AM, mondello said:

Where have you been? Any cruises planned since your epic adventure on Mardi Gras?

We did the Horizon/Sunshine shuffle 12/26, booked Vista 3/26 and Valor 7/25-8/4. Great casino fares but the return airfare has doubled before I made final plans. These casino deals are too good to cancel.

I was in a car wreck sadly and was dealing with some relationship troubles. I will be back on MG in March and then trying NCL for an Alaska cruise in September 

[hard_eight]

Booked for a Casino cruise in Oct. Been bouncing cruises and credit since last spring. Gonna call and push it...

 

Eventually this will pass. The fear is fading.

Edited January 25, 2022 by hard_eight

[mondello]

5 hours ago, WhaleTailFlCruiser said:

I was in a car wreck sadly and was dealing with some relationship troubles. I will be back on MG in March and then trying NCL for an Alaska cruise in September 

Sorry to hear of your troubles. Hope you bounce back better than ever! I only made it to Alaska once, on Legend in 2016. I splurged on first class flights, nice hotels pre- and post-cruise, and great excursions. It was awesome and definitely want to go back.

[bucfan2]

7 hours ago, hard_eight said:

Eventually this will pass. The fear is fading.

I hope you're right.  I believe the fun factor is fading.