What should Carnival have done better?

[LorrieB]

[quote name='jessemon']This says it all. A person that was on this cruise and lets us know how they feel about what happened.
Cars are cars and carpet can be replaced.
I hope all will be well for you and yours.....
Great attitude.......:cool:[/quote]
[B][COLOR=red]Obviously this person wasn't on the Conquest. I don't know what happened on the Ecstacy. I only know what happened on the Conquest. We were told Saturday we were debarking in Galveston. We were told Saturday night at approximately 10:00 p.m. that we weren't debarking in Galveston and that they didn't really know where we were going. We were told Sunday morning that at 11:00 a.m. we would be going through the debarkation talk which was cancelled until Sunday evening at 11:00 p.m. We were then told we were going to New Orleans. And to the person who mentioned that we had access to CNN news... how absolutely ridiculous you are to think we could get any information about our cruise on this news station. We couldn't even get any information from Carnival. The only thing we got out of CNN was that there was a hurricane that went through Galveston causing devastating damage (Duh!!!!) and that Houston was also badly damaged (Again, Duh!!!!) If you were not on the Conquest, don't pretend to even begin to know what we did or didn't get told.[/COLOR][/B]

[firefly333]

[quote name='gemsm']At the risk of sounding "mean" here...I can not believe that passengers are even griping about this.[/quote]

Congrats on sounding mean then, you succeeding. I am so amazed at the lack of compassion on this message board and folks who were not there, but so willing to say Carnival was not at fault in any way for not communicating with us.

Hi Lorrie, thanks for adding your voice. I couldnt agree with you more. Isnt it odd how folks who were not on the ship can claim they heard this or that and decide Carnival did their part??

My car has very little mileage, bought brand new, so I know this cruise is probably going to be a huge loss for me too money wise. Carnival dumped us at the curb, no doubt about it. We left Monday, I got thru on the phone between 2:30 am and 3 am, couldnt sleep, so drove home on a couple of hours of sleep, which I admit probably made me more crazy about this. It was probably smart of you to stay the extra day.

Enjoyed meeting you. You were my one person I had to talk to when I really felt lost trying to figure out what to do and no one with me I could talk to, thanks for your help onboard.

[tximprov]

[quote name='LorrieB']I was on the Conquest cruise that left Galveston on September 7. We were not told anything until the last moment about anything. We were told right up until Saturday that we would be debarking in Galveston. We were then told that we would not be going to Galveston. Sunday evening at 11:00 p.m. we were told that we would be porting in New Orleans in the morning. We were told that we could either get off the ship in New Orleans or we could stay on the ship as it headed for Houston but that there was no idea of when we would be able to port. They hoped for Thursday but didn't expect it. We were given a day in New Orleans, and I must say it was a plus, but we were also given no help in acquiring transportation home. Thank God we had a laptop with us and had gotten the internet service or we would never have been able to get a rental car home. Carnival failed miserably in their endeavor to take care of their passengers. We were the ones who lost our vehicles in Galveston and were displaced. Carnival lost nothing but a one week cruise out of Galveston. We were not offered any compensation for our misfortune. Did I expect money? No. But Carnival should have offered discounts on a future cruise just to keep us cruising with them. Was Hurricane Ike their fault? Absolutely not!!!! But, it was also not our fault that we were dropped in New Orleans. Now we have the cost of a rental car, the cost of going to Houston to retrieve whatever items we can out of our vehicles, and the added cost of loss of work. Our vehicles can't just sit there. I imagine there will be a cost to us if we can't get out to Houston in a timely manner. So you see, we, the passenger, suffered much more than Carnival did. They may have lost their one week income from a cruise but we all know they will recoop that by just adding another surcharge. They can call it the Hurricane surcharge. That way we can all suffer as well.[/quote]


I am amazed at the sense of entitlement by passengers on these cruises. From what Im hearing, you jumped the gun when "thank goodness you ahd your laptop". They got the ship back to within 50 miles of your cars, which the local Government would not allow you to get to anyway. And they should pay for you loss of work? That is just rediculous. Maybe they should have paid your wages for the week or your vacation too. Yes, you were out to sea and concerned about the disruption. Bless your heart. You have no sympothy from me. People lost their lives, thier homes, their lively hoods in this storm, while you had the addes expense of a rental car that if you would have waited, you could have saved. You were given an option and made the wrong decision. We have troops in two wars and you are upset that the communication level was poor. Your mad they told you one thing then later told you another. Others on here are mad they didnt say enough or waited to long to say anything. Im sure they were trying to get the most correct information. I bet they ran out of your favorite salad dressing too. You were taken care of. YOu were given shelter, food, entertainment and you returned back to land safely. If you got off in New Orleans, that was your choice. As others have stated, Im sure carnival was not hight on the list of the communication channels. So dont sail on carnival again. Pay overpriced rates on another line. Im sure they will wipe your butt if you sail their line durring a hurricane. I HAD sympothy and concern for all the guests, but to here the moaning and groaning is sickening. They could have done things better Im sure, but hell, our government cant even get it right. And No I wanst on this cruise, so I dont know what it was like. But I have been through natural disasters and Terrorist attacks and know the confusion first hand. I am by no means defending carnival, But i am condoning the sense of entitlement you and others are advocating are due to you.

[mossboss]

Our cruise director,Goose,said several times at the info meetings.."WE will be runing shuttles today(Tues) and tomarrow to the airport".Quite a shock when those shuttles cost $30.00.Also,when they finally told us we going to the new Houston cruise terminal(which, by the way is in La Porte)Carnival never gave us any info about shuttles or buses to the airports or even if the airports were open.

[teefleur]

What an upsetting experience for the passengers on both ships. Please don't let it ruin your enjoyment of future cruises.

The law enforcement officer who posted earlier put his finger EXACTLY on the problem. Lack of communication. There was no way to contact either the Port of Galveston OR the Port of Houston. No electricity, no telephone service - surely not on Galveston, and as it turned out initially, no services or utilities at the Port of Houston.

There was no way for Carnival HDQ to get information from either port. No way to know for sure how extensive damages were. There were no workers at either port to take a phone call if it HAD been possible. It was Sunday, after the wind died down a bit and the rain let up, before the pictures began to come in on TV and we all saw the tragic wreckage left behind by Ike.

The loss suffered by the people who live in the path of this hurricane is immeasurable in some instances. Those of you who only lost automobiles and/or unanticipated car rental/shuttle/airfare from an inconvenient port should thank your lucky stars. The cruise line kept you safe, well fed, with electricity, hot showers and in air conditioning. There are folks in Texas and Louisiana - and other affected areas who still have NONE of those amenities.

[firefly333]

Those of you who only lost automobiles and/or unanticipated car rental/shuttle/airfare from an inconvenient port should thank your lucky stars. The cruise line kept you safe, well fed, with electricity, hot showers and in air conditioning. There are folks in Texas and Louisiana - and other affected areas who still have NONE of those amenities.

 

If I broke my foot, you would be right there saying I was lucky, someone else was dying of cancer I suppose. So little compassion and kindness.

[basser]

Phones were free, but very hard to get a line. Internet was free on Monday and Tuesday for several hours. There was an information sheet with airline and rental car phone numbers. I used the internet to book a rent car from New Orleans and got home (Dallas area) about 8:00 last night (wed). I think that about the only thing they might have mishandled was not cancelling the cruise, but when we got on board we knew that the hurricane was probably coming into Galveston and choose to get on board anyway. I knew that I was leaving my car in danger.

 

We were informed shortly after leaving Vera Cruz that we would probably be going to New Orleans and a couple of hours later they made it official. I felt sorry for Goose, but he did a great job of keeping his cool and explaining the situation as he knew it even when a very few of the passengers got angry.

 

Thank God I have only a car to worry about and not my home and everything I own like those poor people in the Galveston area.

[firefly333]

Our cruise director,Goose,said several times at the info meetings.."WE will be runing shuttles today(Tues) and tomarrow to the airport".Quite a shock when those shuttles cost $30.00.

 

lol, exactly what I thought, yikes. When they FINALLY did get a phone list to call, it said next to Hertz rental car "shuttle available", and someone whispered to me, it doesnt say its free, it says its available, its $35 to get to the airport location .... per person. Silly me for thinking it meant Carnival was providing the shuttle or Hertz.

[VolzCruiser]

What an upsetting experience for the passengers on both ships. Please don't let it ruin your enjoyment of future cruises.

 

The law enforcement officer who posted earlier put his finger EXACTLY on the problem. Lack of communication. There was no way to contact either the Port of Galveston OR the Port of Houston. No electricity, no telephone service - surely not on Galveston, and as it turned out initially, no services or utilities at the Port of Houston.

 

There was no way for Carnival HDQ to get information from either port. No way to know for sure how extensive damages were. There were no workers at either port to take a phone call if it HAD been possible. It was Sunday, after the wind died down a bit and the rain let up, before the pictures began to come in on TV and we all saw the tragic wreckage left behind by Ike.

 

The loss suffered by the people who live in the path of this hurricane is immeasurable in some instances. Those of you who only lost automobiles and/or unanticipated car rental/shuttle/airfare from an inconvenient port should thank your lucky stars. The cruise line kept you safe, well fed, with electricity, hot showers and in air conditioning. There are folks in Texas and Louisiana - and other affected areas who still have NONE of those amenities.

 

Agreed,

 

Pot meet Kettle

[LHP]

A comment from someone else who was there....(not my friend by the way)...

 

Karen ________________

September 18th, 2008 at 5:52 pm

 

 

I am one of the “lucky” guests on the Carnival Conquest that left 9/7 and returned to New Orleans on 9/15. The itinerary was fantastic- with all the changes that hurricane Ike caused- the staff was wonderful. The crew’s smiles never wavered one day or one moment. I spent 2 extra days aboard and Carnival/travel agency made new flight plans for the guests needing to get back home. The excellent service never changed and and stewards worked worked worked. Jen the cruise director was wonderful- she had to have been extremely stressed but she kept the smiles coming and informed us as often as she could. My confidence in Carnival was reinforced on this cruise( #7)- we were never in harm’s way and I think I speak for most of the 2900 guests, we were always safe! John I hope you forward my note to Jen/staff on Carnival Conquest because they really should know how wonderful they all were during this difficult time.

[LHP]

If I broke my foot, you would be right there saying I was lucky, someone else was dying of cancer I suppose. So little compassion and kindness.

 

Compassion and kindness is abundant on these boards...to the people who deserve it.

[Kurbanfan]

Compassion and kindness is abundant on these boards...to the people who deserve it.

 

Ouch..............

[firefly333]

Compassion and kindness is abundant on these boards...to the people who deserve it.

 

Any you have obviously set yourself up as judge and jury.

[VolzCruiser]

Any you have obviously set yourself up as judge and jury.

 

 

Haven't you been doing the same thing

 

Pot meet Kettle

[Mekamax]

I think they did a great job keeping people safe. That is their job. When you make your own travel arrangements for a cruise (which I frequently do) you have to try your best to cover the contingencies and then get travel insurance. In a situation like this there is no winners... Everyone was effected and I'm not sure you all realize the logistics of what Carnival did do to get the new terminal to open for them (would like to know what they had to shell out for that and or what kind of contract they had to sign) and to get all the trucks to come there to load the ship back up for the next cruise which I will be happy to be on... they did an incredible job being able to get the cruise ships back to Houston (I am very thankful for) and getting the cruise to stay on schedule which my whole rollcall (which many of us weather the storm in Houston) is very happy to be sailing - can't wait! Thank you Carnival for not leaving the ships in New Orleans! Hope to be on board very soon!! Debbie

[Kurbanfan]

Any you have obviously set yourself up as judge and jury.

 

Firefly I have to tell you it really has been quite comical on this side. (not in no way making fun of your ordeal) By comical I mean I could see it coming. When Debe7ing posted her live on the Conquest from Cozumel, before everything went south, everyone was behind her 100%. Then when you and her came back to tell of your experience..........that's when I knew it was just a matter of time before some would start their unbelievable defense for Carnival........

I mean look at Rockportgirl and the ordeal her family went thru........and yet you still have people bashing her:rolleyes: Unbelievable..........

I believe in the bigger picture..... which is the majority here are grateful that you guys took time to tell us of your ordeal and how it was handled or not handled........

Remember there are more viewers then posters, and those are the ones you are getting thru to.

Write your letters and do what you think is right. Good Luck!

[MSEm]

I live on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. CCL's planning for a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico is very similar to FEMA preparing for Hurricane Katrine. If they have a TV with the weather channel they knew the hurricane was going to hit. There was no excuse for CCL Reservations to tell people that the ships were leaving out of Galveston on schedule the day of or the day after the Hurricane hit.

Every one with a working TV in American could see the damage. How do you operate a passenger port with no electricity, running water, or sewage.

Also everyone working at the port has be ordered to evacuate. If you evacuate the area for the hurricane, you probably will not be able to be back the day after the hurricane hits.

We can know when a hurricane is coming. The last thing a state or city wants is 2-3 thousand people trying to get to a ship just before a hurricane hits.

 

In fact CCL had the opportunity to practice for Hurricane Ike during Hurricane Katrina. CCL boarded people in Mobile 1 day before Hurricane Katrina, it just left port early. They wanted to get the ship out to sea.

We know that when the Navy sents the ships to sea and the casinos are closing, its time to finish Hurricane preparations and soon be on the road out or ready to stay put with no electricity, running water, AC, etc.

 

When a port is under Hurricane warnings, you should have your alternative plans ready.

 

 

3 Days out we were still watching Hurricane Ike, but we did not even put up our storm shutters. The time for CCL and other cruise lines to prepare for a direct hit from a hurricane is before the storm hits.

 

MSEm

from the Mississippi Gulf Coast

[Debe7ing]

Firefly I have to tell you it really has been quite comical on this side. (not in no way making fun of your ordeal) By comical I mean I could see it coming. When Debe7ing posted her live on the Conquest from Cozumel, before everything went south, everyone was behind her 100%. Then when you and her came back to tell of your experience..........that's when I knew it was just a matter of time before some would start their unbelievable defense for Carnival........

I mean look at Rockportgirl and the ordeal her family went thru........and yet you still have people bashing her:rolleyes: Unbelievable..........

I believe in the bigger picture..... which is the majority here are grateful that you guys took time to tell us of your ordeal and how it was handled or not handled........

Remember there are more viewers then posters, and those are the ones you are getting thru to.

Write your letters and do what you think is right. Good Luck!

 

Thank you for understanding that we tried hard to keep a good attitude about a situation that was beyond Carnivals control...I can honestly say that right up until we left Coz and the info door slammed shut on us, everyone tried to keep a good attitude for sure.

 

I am proud that we, as pax on this ship, pulled together, did what we could to help each other, and never lost sight of the "we are in this together" attitude vs the "after me you come first".

 

I am glad that some of you get it...that the only reason we posted this was so YOU would not suffer the same fate without KNOWING that this might happen to you.

 

God Forbid that you get in a situation where you are wondering if you are getting the info you need during an emergency type of situation...then you might understand our feelings of betrayal.

[Debe7ing]

A comment from someone else who was there....(not my friend by the way)...

 

Karen ________________

September 18th, 2008 at 5:52 pm

 

 

I am one of the “lucky” guests on the Carnival Conquest that left 9/7 and returned to New Orleans on 9/15. The itinerary was fantastic- with all the changes that hurricane Ike caused- the staff was wonderful. The crew’s smiles never wavered one day or one moment. I spent 2 extra days aboard and Carnival/travel agency made new flight plans for the guests needing to get back home. The excellent service never changed and and stewards worked worked worked. Jen the cruise director was wonderful- she had to have been extremely stressed but she kept the smiles coming and informed us as often as she could. My confidence in Carnival was reinforced on this cruise( #7)- we were never in harm’s way and I think I speak for most of the 2900 guests, we were always safe! John I hope you forward my note to Jen/staff on Carnival Conquest because they really should know how wonderful they all were during this difficult time.

 

 

And let me guess...she happened to be one of those folks that Carnival used the additional time booking OUT of NOLA while withholding information from the rest of us pax NOT booked with Carnival Flight arrangements so they would NOT have to pay additional expenses while THEY waited to get a flight out....

[hockeygal54]

Phones were free, but very hard to get a line. Internet was free on Monday and Tuesday for several hours. There was an information sheet with airline and rental car phone numbers. I used the internet to book a rent car from New Orleans and got home (Dallas area) about 8:00 last night (wed). I think that about the only thing they might have mishandled was not cancelling the cruise, but when we got on board we knew that the hurricane was probably coming into Galveston and choose to get on board anyway. I knew that I was leaving my car in danger.

 

We were informed shortly after leaving Vera Cruz that we would probably be going to New Orleans and a couple of hours later they made it official. I felt sorry for Goose, but he did a great job of keeping his cool and explaining the situation as he knew it even when a very few of the passengers got angry.

 

 

Thank God someone finally put this whole thing in perspective and did so in good taste and form. My only two cents worth to add is that I think CCL should have put the option out there for both the Ectasy and Conquest passengers to cancel without penalties during Ike week. My DD and I were booked on a CCL cruise the Sat. after T'giving and even tho it was fully insured, the possibility of too many uncertainties on the horizon did not seem right to me. Thus we opted to cancel before any penalties would be assessed and we will go another time.

 

Again (and I say this with the utmost compassion and kindness possbible!!) buy travel insurance and don't take the brand new car to a cruise port during hurricaine season. If you plan to do this, get some gap insurance!

 

Thank God I have only a car to worry about and not my home and everything I own like those poor people in the Galveston area.

[BIGDADDYRICH]

Why Is It That Some People, Just Because They Are On A Cruise, Feel That It Is Necessary To Have Their Asses Kissed By The Cruiselines Whenever Something Happens During A Cruise?

Its Too Bad That Our Nations Economy Does Not Have The Technical Advances That These People Think Cruiselines And Weather Forcasters Have.

 

Gee!

 

I Wish The Arrival And Impact Of Hurricane Ike Would Have Been Shared A Lot Sooner, It Would Have Made Their Cruise More Relaxing.

[LHP]

And let me guess...she happened to be one of those folks that Carnival used the additional time booking OUT of NOLA while withholding information from the rest of us pax NOT booked with Carnival Flight arrangements so they would NOT have to pay additional expenses while THEY waited to get a flight out....

 

I don't know ...you will have to ask her.

 

But my friend Lisa also had no problems with the information received and when it was received...so perhaps it has more to do with the individual than Carnival.

 

She did not have a flight booked with Carnival. She simply used her travel insurance and rented a car and drove home. And yes, she lost a car in the surge...oddly enough...she is not blaming Carnival or whining about it...go figure.

[LHP]

Haven't you been doing the same thing

 

Pot meet Kettle

 

THANK YOU~!~!~

 

Of course, firefly has...but do you think you will ever get them to admit it!!

:rolleyes:

[LHP]

Any you have obviously set yourself up as judge and jury.

 

Not judge or jury...just wondering why you keep posting all over these threads about how isolated you felt on the ship with NO INFORMATON.

 

That is a bunch of gargage, when I spent an entire afternoon researching:

1.about Galveston not being a viable alternative and why....

2.about the Bayport Cruise terminal having little or no damage AND the employees being called into work and that is where Carnival would probably be going within the week...

3. taxi company names and phone numbers for when they returned to Bayport...

4. a map of Houston showing current road conditions (68 segments of flooding at the time) and subsequent updates and power outages, so that people like YOURSELF who were posting on here during the cruise BEFORE you got to New Orleans.... would have all the info they needed.

 

So if "being so isolated with no information" is not "exactly the truth"...pardon me for not believing you about the rest of it!

[Kurbanfan]

Thank you for understanding that we tried hard to keep a good attitude about a situation that was beyond Carnivals control...I can honestly say that right up until we left Coz and the info door slammed shut on us, everyone tried to keep a good attitude for sure.

 

I am proud that we, as pax on this ship, pulled together, did what we could to help each other, and never lost sight of the "we are in this together" attitude vs the "after me you come first".

 

I am glad that some of you get it...that the only reason we posted this was so YOU would not suffer the same fate without KNOWING that this might happen to you.

 

God Forbid that you get in a situation where you are wondering if you are getting the info you need during an emergency type of situation...then you might understand our feelings of betrayal.

 

Hey no problem. Over 4,000 views on here I know you are getting your experience across and that is all that matters.:) And I'm positive many appreciate it.........