My Legend Nightmare - Bet You Haven't Heard This One Before! (LONG)

[daiseee]

I just returned from my Thanksgiving Legend cruise. I am a solo cruiser. I had booked a GUAR 1A three months prior, and had fully paid in advance. Solo travellers are charged 150% in this category (as opposed to DOUBLE in any other category.) I booked through a TA, and this was my 5th cruise in just over a year with Carnival. I am extremely loyal to Carnival, and I have never sailed another cruise line.

 

My docs arrived about a month prior, and I had discovered by looking on the sign and sail page of my docs, that I was booked in an inside cabin on the very bottom, very back of the ship (1263.) This cabin is officially considered a 4A, but it is grouped with a bunch of other 1A’s so I believe the only reason for that is because 2 upper beds folded out of either side of the cabin, and it slept 4 people total. I immediately called my TA, and asked her to confirm with Carnival that it was indeed my assigned cabin, because I would like to upgrade (at my own expense) to a 6A outside. Carnival told her that it was NOT my assigned cabin. My TA reminded them that I was a loyal repeat past guest, and they told her that they would most definitately consider that when making the final cabin assignment. They even suggested that I might end up in a balcony cabin. So I chose to keep the 1A reservation. Now I know that I booked and paid for a 1A, so I had no high hopes.

 

I took a very full red eye flight from Los Angeles the night before sailing, arriving at the Ft. Lauderdale Aiport at around 8am. I perused the airport shops for about an hour, bought a couple of books, and caught a taxi to the pier. I arrived at the port just after 10am, thinking I would be first on board, catch a quick nap, and be refreshed and ready for sail away. I immediately checked with a porter to see what my final cabin assignment was. It was indeed 1263, the one that Carnival had assured my TA it most definitely was NOT. Whatever, I would make the most of it.

 

People were sill getting off the boat when I arrived, but I was able to check in early, and get a seat in a nice waiting room. I was first in line to get on the ship. At about noon, they let us in to get our sail and sign cards, and we were then instructed to wait in a much larger waiting room until they cleared us to embark. I was first on the ship at about 12:30. I immediately went to my assigned cabin to quickly drop off my things. Key didn’t work, so I figured it was just too early (we were instructed that we couldn’t occupy the cabins until 1:30) So even thought I was completely exhausted at this point, I decided to wander around the ship for a while. I had been on the Carnival Spirit two other times, and the Legend is the exact same ship layout, only decorated differently. This is my favorite class of ship. Easy to navigate, lots of deck space.

 

After wandering around for an hour or so, I went back to my assigned cabin to drop off my things. It was now past 1:30. Again my key didn’t work. No problem. Back to the pursurs desk to get that rectified. When I explained to the woman at the desk that my key wasn’t working, she looked surprised. She took it to the back office, and didn’t return for a good 10 minutes. I was starting to wonder what was up. When she finally emerged, she told me that the ship was oversold and that I hadnt been assigned a cabin yet. Well, that wasn’t true. I most certainly had. It was 1263. She informed me that it was a mistake and that I should go wait over by the bar for someone to come talk to me. Well, I was a bit shocked, and a lot worried, but figured it would be fixed in a couple of minutes. Before leaving the desk, I asked the woman (half jokingly) if she could please find me an outside cabin. She look at me and replied “You’ll be lucky to get ANY cabin.” That was a bit sobering.

 

After about 5 minutes, an older woman in a Carnival uniform appeared. She came over to me and told me to follow her. I asked where we were going and she said she was instructed to escort me OFF the ship, and that I needed to surrender my cabin keys. Ok now I’m upset. When I asked her to please tell me what was going on, she said she didn’t know anything and that her supervisor would help me once I was off the ship. Once we were off the ship, she passed me off to her supervisor, who was juggling other ‘emergencies’ and really didn’t have time to explain anything to me. He told me to take a seat and he would be right with me. After settling next to the xray machine / security, I spent the next hour watching security confiscate bottles and bottles of alcohol. Thank goodness I had something to keep me amused. The supervisor came over a couple of times and told me that it would be just a few more minutes. At about 3:45, the embarkation terminal was just about empty. They were starting to pack things up, and I was angst ridden thinking the ship was going to sail without me. Finally after being in that horrible bright, loud terminal for 2 hours, I was informed that it was my ‘lucky day’ that they had found me a cabin! I’m hopeful that for all my trouble, patience, and loyalty, it was at least a decent cabin. Think again. I am assigned inside cabin 1118 at the front of the ship, bottom floor, directly under Satchmos night club. Mind you, at this point, I have now been awake for over 34 hours, have not eaten, and I am completely exhausted and traumatized by the whole experience. So I say thanks and ask what my onboard credit will be – you know, for my trouble and all. He looked at me and said “I’ve arranged to have a nice fruit basket delivered to your cabin. Thank you for your patience.”

 

After getting my cabin assignment, I immediately collapsed in bed. Only to be awaken by the muster drill. After, I ordered room service, and finally went to sleep after a very long ordeal. I missed the sail away, and my first nights dinner. Oh but lucky me! I was awoken at 10pm by the live music and clanking of liquor bottles when Satchmos opened up above me!

 

Now some of you might be thinking, you got a cabin, Carnival made it right. You paid for a 1A. Yes that is true. But I really did not expect to be treated so poorly. I truly believe that my original cabin was given away because it held four people – and four people bring in more revenue that a solo traveller. They could have at least let me wait in the boat where it was more comfortable, and where I might have been able to have lunch instead of yanking me off the boat with no idea of whether I was going to sail or not.

 

BTW, I tried to make to best of a poor situation. The next night at dinner, I discovered I had been assigned to a booth with 3 other women – who only spoke Farsi. I don’t speak Farsi. But the Maitre’d was excellent and moved me to a large table with lots of fun people who I ended up spending the rest of the rainy week with. I ended up most nights with them in Satchmos waiting for the live band to stop playing so I could finally get some sleep! :)

[finoky]

Carnival really dropped the ball on this one. I can say that you handled this with much more class than I would have. I really hope that Carnival will do the right thing and give you a discount on a future cruise. It is too late to give you a shipboard credit which they should have done immediately. Hope you enjoyed the cruise nonetheless.

[sea_u_onboard]

While it is true that you booked a 1A if they didn't have a cabin for you they should have never let you on the ship. Which by the way - I'm not saying is right - you paid for a cabin and you were already on board.

I agree that they should have set you up with a beeper or something so you could have wandered the ship, gotten something to eat and waited them out. With all the inconvenience they offered you nothing (I count a fruit basket as nothing since you can get all the fruit you want at the buffet) - which was wrong. Write that letter today.

[cruisingator2]

My patience would have been tested if that happened to me. Carnival screwed up big time and I would not stop until they give you some type of discount off of a future cruise. It is their fault that they oversold the ship. I hate the fact that airlines and cruies lines are allowed to do this without being forced to pay some type of penalty. I would sit down and write a letter and send it in to Guest Relations. Also have your TA get involved in this. This is what they are paid for. Sorry that this happened. Not a good way to start a vacation.

[Esmerelda]

I would definitely follow up with a letter to Carnival and my TA sent CERTIFIED so I would know who received it. I would be very distraught as to WHY I was almost escorted off the cruise ship? Unless they had a very GOOD reason why I was treated this way....I would be extremely pissed and thats wording it nicely because I'm on a public board :) I am glad you did get a cabin in the end. To be honest, if I were treated this way, I doubt I would ever travel Carnival again.

 

Personally....Carnival and my TA had better have some answers and fast.

 

hoping your next experience goes much better,

Esmerelda :)

[Laurab23]

That is horrible. I can't imagine what you went through. I would have been first worried because I might not have a cabin and then Livid. Unreal what you had to go through. That was totally Carnivals fault and they should have made it right. Why should you have been the one to suffer,why not someone that booked at the last minute. You should have gotten a huge onboard credit!

Even when you write to Carnival you'll be lucky to get anything better than 15% discount. I think they should give you at least 50% off your next cruise and a free upgrade. That is terrible the way you were treated!

Laura

[sgriff17]

Sounds like you handled that A LOT better than I would have! Other than that fiasco, I'm glad to hear you had a good trip.

 

You mean you don't speak Farsi??

[MrPete]

You're right. My heart was pounding as I read this, not knowing the outcome.

 

I'd have been damned if I would have been escorted off the ship. You paid passage, and held a room key. I would not have been so patient.

 

Just for the wait and grief, I hope they offer you descent compensation. Keep us informed!

 

You can probably just cut and paste your story exactly as it is.

[BrendaB1]

What a horrible thing to happen. I agree....write that letter & also get your TA to write them a letter. Be persistent and do not give up. Write & send as many times as it takes. Good luck! I would still be there arguing with them....good thing others like you are more patient than me. :)

[staylor]

Oh my Gosh....what next?:confused: How awful!:mad: I would have been freaking out!:mad:

[Lauri32]

I'm so sorry you had to go through this. We're going on the Legend in Jan. Hope we don't encounter this problem. If you choose to follow up with Carnival on this issue, let us know what kind of response you get.

[doegirl]

This was a single mistake. They aren't perfect.

I heard this lady complain throughtout the cruise.

[zeroni]

WOW! You handled that horrible situation amazingly well. Carnival owes big time for that screw up and the disgusting way they handled the situation. There's no excuse for pushing you aside when they are responsible for that mistake in the first place. You should've been treated a lot better and with dignity - what a shame that Carnival showed absolutely no respect to you. I, too, would write a letter, certified, to Carnival, your T.A., the BBB, and let them all know how horribly you were treated by the Legend staff. It's normal to expect some embarkation problems, but this is shameful.

 

What a class-act you are to have handled things so well. Carnival should consider themselves extremely lucky to have a passenger like you. I hope they learn from their mistake and compensate you accordingly for an incredible inconvenience they caused you.

[MrPete]

I heard this lady complain throughtout the cruise.

Can you blame her? How would you have acted had this happened to you?

[judyf]

You sure handled that better then I would have. I have a 4A gty booked for March I hope this doesn't happen to us!

 

Write that letter ASAP

[cruisingator2]

This was a single mistake. They aren't perfect.

I heard this lady complain throughtout the cruise.

Your right they aren't perfect but this should not have happened. Put yourself in her place. May have been a single mistake but it was a "big" mistake. I doubt that you would have been happy either.

 

Another cruise line apologist!:rolleyes:

[prudon]

I'm sorry you went through such an ordeal. You handled it with class! If you don't get compensated try Royal Caribbean. They are my favorite!

[chuleta]

This was a single mistake. They aren't perfect.

I heard this lady complain throughtout the cruise.

 

What an insensitive thing to say! I'm sure you wouldn't have any problem with being treated that way doegirl and would have made lemonade.

 

Daisee, anxious to hear a follow-up on your response from Carnival.

[torpeedo]

OK now I'm worried! We sail the Legend on Sunday! We too have a guarantee but a balcony guarantee. The back of the sail and sign has us assigned a nice 8A cabin and the book modify, which had no cabin, now has the same cabin that is on the back of the sail and sign. Given your situation, that might not fly! Gulp! I would not have been as patient as you were. That was a disgrace in every aspect. Write that letter ASAP and keep us posted..

We are sailing with my sister and brother in law who booked a specific cabin. Let's hope we aren't waving goodbye from the dock!!!:eek:

[Cactuscruise]

While I sympathize will you and I agree that the matter could have been handled differently, I wouldn't call your treatment "horrible". I cruised on the Legend in October and had my cabin changed twice before I was actually able to settle in just minutes before we set sail. My luggage went to the wrong room but it wasn't the end of the world. I had to make several trips to the other cabin to retrieve it, big deal. When you dealing with two to three thousand people at a time there are bound to be problems. Things are not always going to be handled the best way possible. You just have to deal with it as you did and keep your cool.

[GoinCruisin]

I would say having your cabin changed is quite different from actually being given a cabin, then ESCORTED off the ship and made to wait for several hours without anyone telling you what was going on... I would take changing cabins any day!!!! This was absolutely the worst way they could have handled this situation.... I personally would have been livid. You had paid for the cruise, they could have allowed you to wait ON the ship somewhere... ridiculous. I'm sorry you had this happen, and glad it turned out well... you handled it better than I would have...

[Gingee]

Gad, we are due to the Legend in May. I think you need to cut and paste everyone's replies on this board. Tell Carnival that you write on this web site and there are quite a few people who think you have been mistreated.

Sounds like they treated you like a criminal.

Please keep us informed.

[MrPete]

I wouldn't call your treatment "horrible".

My GOD. My take on this was that this cruise was booked SOLID, and they screwed up, and the OP was not going to go on a cruise. This is why she was escorted off. Apparently, one cabin was freed up either for a late no show, or a newly discovered vacant cabin (boy, were they lucky).

 

All speculation, of course, but a most likely scenario.

 

My trip would have been ruined.

[Z'Loth]

It's bad enough that the cruise lines treat solo cruisers like steerage class citizens. But, at least they could have treated you a bit more professionally.

 

Unfortunately, I have to side with Carnival for escorting you off the ship. While I believe you to be a honest person, unfortunately, there are too many people who aren't. It's real easy to "disappear" until the ship disembarks, and it's entirely possible that disembarkation would be delayed until the missing person is found.

 

However, I do agree that Carnival should have taken better care of you while you were stuck in a holding pattern. Heck, I would have been on the phone with my travel agent and Carnival to find out what was going on (and, if necessary, the credit card company).

[kjunea]

You are a wonderful patient person! My husband and I have booked a 4A guarantee for May on the Miracle and if this happens to us, he will blow several gaskets at the pier!! You are a good person! Carnival did screw up and they should have given you at least SOME shipboard credit!

 

I also believe they had oversold the ship and they were waiting until everyone had showed, moved people around (bumping some up, which I'm sure made them happy!) and found the smallest, lowest room to put you as a single in.

 

Write Carnival and tell them!!!