Will4Reals

All I know is I can't wait to be back on a cruise ship again! I had an offer come through via email from Carnival Players Club for a comp offer on this cruise with $200.00 OBC and then I have $600.00 OBC from cruise last year that was canceled. 

It was a no brainer to not book a free 8 day cruise with $800.00 OBC and I have never been to any of the port of calls.

I asked a friend to join and they said it was to early to cruise with COVID and the uncertainty. While I respect theirs (and everyone else's) opinion, I have looked forward to cruising since the day my cruise last year got canceled! I am not going to sit here and chase people down or convince them to come so I have come to this board. 

I don't care your gender, ethnicity, relationship status etc. I just want to meet people on this cruise who are just as excited as I am to be on a boat again and maybe catch a show, grab dinner or do an excursion. 

Will you be (or will you join) this cruise? 

Hope to meet you all! 

Ha I didn't even realize that it does in fact say for November 2021! Still that's a steal for 14 days. @firefly333 unfortunately even if I gave you the offer code it wouldn't do you any good as Carnival when you call to book verifies it is under your VIFP offers. Trust me I have tried that route when I needed another room for a group of friends. @crzndeb @Joe817 I honestly don't keep track when I play so I can't give you a number. Typically I play blackjack and usually bet between $25 to $50 a hand depending on how the shoe is running :-D! I can assure you I haven't ever lost anywhere close to 5K! Maybe on a horrible trip a thousand or two but never have I lost more than that. Typically on these sailings I walk away break even or more money than I came on with. 

Has anyone checked their VIFP offers for some insane deals on cruises later this year? I found a 14 day cruise on Carnival Glory out of New Orleans departing November 28th with stops in Montego Bay, Aruba, Bonaire, Cartagena, Limon and Cozumel for $100 PP with a $200 OBC and free drinks while playing in the casino. Holy smokes what an offer! Anybody else have something similar and itineraries they are eyeing? 

39 minutes ago, jordanaire said:

Announcement made this morning says that all Carnival cruises have been canceled until Aug 1st. Then only 8 ships will be sailing.

Aug 1st:

Galveston:  Carnival Dream, Freedom and Vista

Miami: Carnival Horizon, Magic and Sensation

Port Canaveral:  Carnival Breeze and Elation

Not the news that we wanted to hear! I have a feeling that there will be more cancellations in the future.

 

Definitely not the news we all wanted to hear! I spoke with my PVP and confirmed that you don't get another $600 OBC if you had a previous cruise canceled and re-booked with that credit already applied. My PVP asked if I wanted to go ahead and lock down another cruise and I told him quite frankly I understand why this is being done but also tired of booking and looking forward to something just for it to be canceled. Playing it by ear and when I see Carnival actually moving forward with their sailing plans whenever that will be I will re-book. 

11 minutes ago, Viscus said:

Just booked a solo balcony for $650 with prepaid gratuities on the 6/27 Vista 7 day western out of Galveston. My PVP called, said that number out loud, I had paid within 10 minutes.

 

1) This will be the cleanest the Vista has ever been if this sailing occurs, and I'd imagine most folks on the ship will be hyper-vigilant hygiene wise.

2) For less than $100/day AFTER taxes and grat for a balcony for a 7 day sailing on one of their newer ships? Yes please.

3) I can work 100% remote, so if we get quarantined, already cleared working on a cruise ship balcony for 14 days post sailing.

4) My fiancee and I were supposed to be in France for 13 days mid-May, but that cancelled. If I don't have a vacation booked to look forward to, I will go insane.

5) Worst case, I just paid $650 for a future cruise with $600 OBC and I helped my PVP with some commission. 

6) If this cruise happens, I'll be self-quarantining for 14 days when I get back regardless.

Very similar situation! My PVP called and saw I hadn't re-booked from my last cruise that got canceled back in March. I looked at sailings and saw one on Carnival Breeze to San Juan, Amber Cove, St. Thomas and Grand Turk. 4 ports I have never been! Rare I am on a cruise and not stopping at a port which I have previously been. I paid $210.00 for a solo premium ocean view that has a full size bath in it. I will have a $600.00 OBC due to my previous cruise that was canceled plus the offer I booked came with $100.00 OBC. $210.00 for a week with $700.00 OBC was a no brainer! Just like you if it gets moved it gets moved, if I get quarantined I get quarantined! Let me set sail! 

36 minutes ago, rwdtgb said:

I booked the July 4 sailing on the Breeze. Not living in fear either when my number is up it's up that is something none of us control.

Very well said! People can live their life like hermits if they choose to do so. That's what makes this country great is FREEDOM and you get to make that choice. Personally however I agree with you 100%! When my number is up it's up and I can at least say I went out with no regrets and did everything I wanted to do while I had the chance to do it! 

25 minutes ago, cougarrick said:

I think Carnival is playing the odds as well. I would think the best odds of getting most of their money back would be to giving that cash out at the cage and letting me/us walk past those tables and machines for a week without dropping a good portion of that back. I bet those slots tighten up a notch or two as well. I'm booked for the 27th out of Galveston and although I doubt this cruise sails if it does it's going to be a blast.

I completely agree with this 100%! While I said I would go to the cage and get the cash from the OBC, I have the casino offers in my account because Carnival (and myself) know there is no way I wouldn't be betting that money plus additional money out of my own pocket on the tables 😂. People think it's great you get these casino cruise offers and while they are fantastic there is a reason you are getting them. Carnival is getting their money one way or the other for the stateroom 😂. I just prefer to play and receive significantly discounted or free cruises than to pay outright price for them. The reason being is if I see an offer for a free cruise I take it every time! Paying regular cruise fare I seem to come up with an excuse why not to do it but by playing and receiving offers I justify my losses to getting future travel discounted or free 😁. At least that's my logic 😂. 

45 minutes ago, Nic6318 said:

hi Will

 

So, you do understand, there is nothing that is sure. I too had many appealing offers and don't have any constraints on my time, but without even knowing if I would be allowed to travel out of my country, what would be the point of booking anything. My concern (not including medical questions) is for those that see a really well priced cruise (and this may be their first) who put out money and may not get what they had hoped for.

 

In regards to your last point with your casino plans. Again, might I suggest you have a plan B. You likely aren't the only one in that type of situation and it is always a possibility to find the casino changing rules on you. Don't forget, they have lost a lot of money and if they see an open tap that they can close, I would think they might do so.

 

Either way, good luck. Hope you all have a great cruise.

Of course I understand nothing is sure. As far as what's the point of booking as the increase inventory becomes limited and you see offers disappear. Casino offers are based off available inventory so I jump on them immediately when I see them. I have seen a casino offer in my account and when I log on the next day it is gone. My plan B would be to use the OBC in the spa, excursions, specialty dining, internet package, drink package I mean to be honest there are countless other things I could spend it on. If they change the rules it is what it is! $1,100 OBC is a ton for a solo traveler and I would put it to good use one way or the other 😂. 

14 minutes ago, Nic6318 said:

Hi Will and others

 

We are all happy that the cruise lines are still trying to do business. 

 

I am sure that I speak for many others. We are all hoping that things can rebound to some for of normalcy that we recognize. Medical issues aside, the question hasn't been the one of will things start up again (not just cruising), but when. So, now you have booked. You have put yourself in the same position that many others were in before things shut down. The difference is you did it with eyes wide open. For instance, a booking for Jun27., what if that cruise is cancelled? It might not, but it can happen. What do you do? Do you book for the following week, or the next? Or do you now try to play it safe and book for later in the summer.

 

Think back, at the best of times, cruises were cancelled, ports were skipped, itineraries changed. At best, it was just a nuisance. Look at all the threads now with people complaining about how long it is taking for them to get their refunds, or they are not happy with the idea of having FCC to be used within a certain time, with a company that could be insolvent by this time next year.

 

The point is, no matter what you booked today, there is no company that will guarantee that your trip will go as planned (I am not talking about issues after you sail). I was making the point on another thread, that another company which had a cruise scheduled for May 15th. also had an included cancellation policy which said if the cruise line cancelled the cruise, they would give a 125% FCC. My thought was that if you booked, it was almost a certainty that you would not sail and you would have that extra 25% to use at your discretion. As a plan, that to me would make more sense than thinking that I might go on a cruise in mid May. Booking for a sailing a month later, is just pushing the time frame a little further down the road. A bookie might give odds, but it is just that, a gamble on whether you will sail when you have planned on sailing. A lot of us just don't like paying for something that might not be what we paid for.

 

After all that, I really wish you and all your other cruise mates the best. As was said, someone has to be first, and after many thousand of other people have had fun cruises without incident or complications, I will happily book a cruise again. 

 

happy sailing

You make some valid points! While I understand for many it requires vacation time off work, significant amount of planning etc for me if it gets canceled it is as simple as re-booking for when it's scheduled to go out again! I was on Royal Caribbeans Majesty of the Seas back in March and when we returned to port I had an incredible email offer from Carnival to set sail the next day! I booked it and later that evening was when things were shut down. I paid next to nothing for the cruise fare as it was a last minute casino offer and figured if it got canceled Carnival would compensate somehow. That's exactly what happened as I received a future cruise credit and a $600.00 OBC for future sailing. Luckily this cruise I had the same casino offer in my account so I didn't have to come out of pocket at all the only difference is this casino offer was better as it comes with a $500.00 on board credit. I was able to stack the $600.00 OBC for the previous sailing cancellation and the $500.00 OBC for my casino offer which leaves me with $1,100 OBC. You are able to use OBC in the casino so my plan is simple. I am going to convert all that OBC to chips and might play a little in the casino but most of that will be given to the cage so I can be handed cash 😁. 

I don't know about the rest of you but I truly miss cruising! This virus has changed our way of life and those who have loved ones that have been diagnosed or know someone who has lost their life due to this pandemic, all of you are in my continued thoughts and prayers. 

With that being said I am not the least bit worried about setting sail again and have booked the first cruise out of Port Canaveral on June 27th on Carnival Breeze. 

If you are elderly or have preexisting conditions I can completely understand the cause for concern when it comes to cruising! However for everyone else who is overall healthy and no known preexisting medical conditions I hope you don't miss out on things in life moving forward because of fear. 

I told some family members earlier that I booked one of the first cruises out in June and they couldn't believe I could be so reckless. I was shocked and couldn't disagree more! I am an overall healthy 31 year old and I refuse to live my life now or in the future in fear. God as my witness I hope we get this virus under control and a vaccine becomes available. The lives that have been lost is a terrible tragedy but if in the future my life is taken because of this virus I contracted from a cruise ship, I know that I lived my best life to the absolute fullest and my life was taken doing something I have such a strong passion for and love which is cruising. 

I am counting down the days until the end of June and I can hopefully hear the sound of that horn from the ship blaring as we set sail! 

Stay safe my cruise family! 

9 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

Looks like that’s a better deal than RCL. I just happened to see someone posted RCL’s on Instagram and they are offering 100% refund or 125% FCC and you must sail by 12/31/21.

In my opinion Carnival is offering the best deal of all the major cruise lines. I booked my cruise as a last minute casino offer and paid $140.00 for a balcony room on a 7 night Eastern Caribbean itinerary. Sure I most likely won't be able to get that same rate/offer but I do believe there will be deals to be had when ships begin sailing and that's exactly when I plan to book! A few friends don't think it's fair I was able to book a last minute deal like that and still get a full $600.00 OBC due to the cancellation. I completely disagree as seeings when everyone was cancelling I had my bags packed and a pocket full of cash ready to play in the casino on board! I think it's completely fair I am getting the future cruise credit and full $600.00 OBC. 

23 minutes ago, babyyougottaloveit said:

So all the major cruise lines except for CARNIVAL have done the right thing by their customers.

Carnival will give you 11 months to sail  if you don't want to risk your life and your families life and not cruise as the CDC now recommends. Well tough luck to us customers if we needed 12 or more months to sail again. On top of that Carnival has now offered cash cabin credits not to cancel your cruise.  That seems like blood money to me at this point of the declared NATIONAL EMERGENCY!  People will not forget this companies response.  I as a Carnival frequent cruiser can only hope they correct their policy before it suffers irreparable damage to its corporate brand name.

 

Not sure what Carnival sent or told you about having to sail within the next 11 months? Mine clearly says that if I choose the future cruise credit and $600.00 on board credit over refund that I just needed to book by 12/31/20 for sailing by 12/31/22. 

12 minutes ago, LMaxwell said:

 

 if I was running into an erupting volcano and my guide kept waving me closer at some point I'd probably run out of trust for that guide.  

 

It wasn't intended to be snarky.  Trusting these cruise lines to put people first is not a smart bet.  They can SAY it over and over and over, but they don't walk it until absolutely forced to.  I understand OP's frustration.  Maybe I am cynical; years ago I stopped taking customer reps at their word (worthless) and have accepted that companies view me as a number in a data base with a wallet; nothing more. 

 

The $200 OBC offer was borderline criminal, IMO.  

 

 

LMaxwell I get what you were trying to say on your original post! Love the "if I was running into an erupting volcano and my guide kept waving me closer at some point I'd probably run out of trust for that guide." That is to funny! 

14 minutes ago, 4jaynki said:

This will NOT be a perfect, or even near perfect process. If you think Carnival and every other business being absolutely ripped to shreds because of this virus, aren't doing everything they can to ensure that everyone effected is notified as quickly as possible, then you are every much mistaken.  We live in a world of instant gratification, and right now that is not reality, uncertainty, frustration, delays, etc. are. Be grateful that in actuality you will come out on top based on this unfortunate situation.

Carnival had the time to put together an announcement and post to Twitter but didn't have the time to communicate via email, texts, automated call ANYTHING to their customers FIRST who were about to embark what was going on and just hoped they have their face buried in social media to come across that before receiving an official notification from them?

Couldn't of updated their website homepage until getting an official announcement out? 

We can agree to disagree on this one..

3 minutes ago, ULCajunCruiser said:

Find this to be a little snarky and unnecessary.   OP has a (several) valid concerns and criticisms.   Carnival IS responsible for keeping their customers informed and up to date in a timely manner.   No one should be traveling to get to their cruise only to find out that it has been cancelled because Carnival neglected to provide information.   Facebook, Twitter, and yes (gasp) even Cruise Critic should not be final sources of information.   Am I glad that they are there, sure, lots of good stuff to be found.   But woe to the traveler who  depends on these platforms as sole provider of information.   Carnival .com, or an email and/or text from them should be the sole source for decision making!!!

 

Couldn't agree with this more! Thank you ULCajunCruiser! 

3 minutes ago, loohoo1 said:

This in unacceptable. I have been reading that no one STILL has been notified of their cancelled cruises. We were debating whether to take our Valor cruise out of NOLA 5/8 but now that there is a confirmed positive case of a traveler on the 2/29 Valor sailing, I am definitely cancelling. I know this must be a logistical nightmare for Carnival and all of the cruise lines, but it is not OK to have people travelling to their supposed cruise when Carnival knows full well that it is cancelled! 

My sailing was set to take place out of New Orleans on Sunday, March 15th. I received my email from Carnival after midnight this morning a day before the sailing.

6 minutes ago, Joe817 said:

I totally agree Chatt! Well put! 👍

To require us to subscribe to Facebook, or Twitter, or Snapchat, etc, etc, etc ad nauseum is unconscionable. When in fact the simplest, most reliable form of  communicating between Carnival, and its guests, is via email, OR posting on their website.

THIS! 

1 minute ago, bury me at sea said:

Will4, play poker?  I will see your criticism and raise you one:

 

Someone posted a copy of a document from J Heald's facebook giving 2 options stating you had to rebook by a date certain.  The e-mail I got from Carnival sometime last night has a different date.

 

I want to rely on official Carnival communications.  I don't access Facebook or Twitter or any other social media or official looking documents from someone's facebook page.

Believe it or not I play poker for a living! Was looking to take time off and enjoy being on the water with these insane deals before heading to Vegas and the WSOP. However that looks like it most likely isn't happening either..

Anyways I paid pennies on the dollar for my balcony room so I wasn't interested in a refund as I booked a last minute casino offer. Per the official email I received from Carnival last night I could choose a full refund or a 100% future cruise credit and a $600.00 OBC. It must be booked by 12/31/20 for sailing by 12/31/22. Obviously I chose the 100% future cruse credit since I didn't pay hardly anything for the room and wanted the $600.00 OBC for a future sailing. 

Just now, ChattTenn said:

Carnival SHOULD POST any update / every update on their OFFICIAL site.   We have to depend on this site or Facebook about out upcoming cruise THEIR BAD.  

THANK YOU ChatTenn! That is all I am trying to say and where my frustration lies in this situation. 

1 minute ago, Elaine5715 said:

Were you subscribed to the text alert for your cruise?  

Yes! I just went through my texts and on March 11th just after booking I received a text from Carnival confirming alerts for my sailing. This is another way I didn't even think about that could of been a way of communication! Did you get a text alert and if so when did you receive because I sure didn't? 

6 minutes ago, LMaxwell said:

People have been told for a week not to travel; did you really anticipate this to go off without a hitch?  You make some valid points but what happened to personal responsibility?  

Absolutely not which again is why I am not upset whatsoever the cruise was cancelled. It was a complete risk on my part booking a last minute casino offer which I got for pennies on the dollar. Of course there will be snags and hiccups with this ever changing situation but the way it was communicated (Twitter) and how long it took to officially hear from Carnival after "tweeting" is what I find unacceptable. 

As we all know Covid-19 is a rapidly changing situation. I completely understand the number one priority is to protect the health of crew, passengers and the reasoning for ships coming to a halt. My frustration is the fact that had it not been for my sister sending me a snapshot of a "tweet" on Twitter from President Trump or the letter Carnival posted to their Twitter page I would of ended up at the port yesterday! Luckily I had this information sent to me at the half way point to the port and turned around to head back home. 

My life doesn't revolve around social media and I don't even have Twitter! I shouldn't be finding out from a "tweet" that my cruise wasn't happening. Carnival should of sent an email IMMEDIATELY when they knew this was happening to all guests who were to soon embark and said something along the lines of due to the ever changing situation of Covid-19 we are halting ships within our fleet, please do not head to port etc we will send an official follow up email/announcement soon with more information. No Carnival didn't do this!

It wasn't until a significant amount of time had passed after Twitter posts from President Trump and Carnival that I was contacted by Carnival via email after midnight CST with the announcement.

I feel for those who would of saved financially from the required cost of travel and most importantly TIME had Carnival communicated this information to soon embarking guests via email, automated call or anything in a much more timely manner from when they knew this action would be occurring and not relying on the hopes everyone has their eyes constantly starting at a social media platform for any updates is where my frustration lies with Carnival! 

10 minutes ago, TakeMeAway1001 said:

Not my find, but this was from a FB page I am on

 

With the OBC of $200.00 this a free cruise for them! Only have to pay taxes, fees and port expenses and gratuities. What an absolute steal for a 15 day Hawaii cruise! 

23 minutes ago, grandmarnnurse said:

This was a casino offer? Because I never get those kind of offers. Sounds super! Have fun! We just sailed the Glory in February and had a great time! 

Yes it was a last minute exclusive casino offer! The last time I sailed with Carnival was April of 2018 on the Ecstacy. I have read great things about the Glory and looking forward to setting sail in a few days! While I understand cruising is for everyone including families, the one thing I will say about Carnival is I thoroughly enjoy the Serenity Deck. While on RCL Majesty of the Seas the hot tubs were always full of kids. 

13 minutes ago, 4133raw said:

I have a lot of cheap cruises in my VIFP area on Carnival website. Go to Carnival... click on today's deals on top of page..put in VIFP # and it gives you your deals. EXCLUSIVE LAST MINUTE OFFER: lots of cruises FROM $10pp/w $100obc. March and April from many different ports. I have only cruises once with Carnival in 2016 and played slots. Got drinks on us card on 5th or 6th night. I posted on another topic but it was closed. They said the offer had expired? but my offer still shows up and says I have until March 31st to book. I had to use Crome because IE won't work. Also there are over 30 free inside rooms comped cruises in my offers from urcomped and I have never even used them before. You might look on there! 

Cool Cruiser that was my best the EXCLUSIVE LAST MINUTE OFFER. I also had a HOT STREAK BONUS offer for the same cruise that gave me a $500.00 OBC instead of the $100 OBC but the price was absurdly higher. Made more sense to me to book the EXCLUSIVE LAST MINUTE and pay pennies on the dollar for the balcony room 🤑