Future Cruise Certificates only for credit card holders?

[rdler]

I recently had a wonderful cruise on the Valor. On the western Caribbean route we changed two destinations, but everybody seemed to have a good time.

 

Carnival runs a good operation, but sometimes it suprises me how they can run around biting their tail.

 

Did any of you know that the future cruise deal is limited to credit card holders only? I didn't. Most of the Carnival folks I've talked to based both on the ship and ashore didn't know that either. Anyway, I thought it was a good deal to pre-spend $100 for my next cruise and get a $50, $100 or $200 on-board credit. Our cruise director was advertising the future cruise desk "for everyone" constantly.

 

Well, I don't use a credit card. Many people think I am silly, but some think I am prudent. Generally, cash transactions are cheaper. Think about it. American Express for example makes a commission on every charge it processes.

 

I was surprised that Carnival would not accept my cash for a future cruise certificate. In fact, person at the desk was quite astounded and taken aback when I proffered currency. Subsequently I presented my Sail and Sign Card. (I had put cash which the purser's desk was happy to accept to back up my card.) I was told that the future cruise desk could not honor my Sail and Sign card. I was admonished that cash was not accepted on the ship (tell that to the casino or the purser) and that the currency aboard was the Sail and Sign, but not for this purpose.

 

I did ask if I could see in writing where this offer was limited to credit card holders only. I was asurred that I would get that information, but hours later both the future excursions desk and the purser's desk admitted that they could not find this information in printed form.

 

I understand that no business is required to take United States or any other currency. However, I am also aware that consumer laws require that the vendor post its payment policies prominently. I tried to contact the legal department at Carnival-- I don't want to sue or anything-- and was somewhat surprised to learn from the supervisor I was speaking with that there was no legal department (there really is) and no outside counsel (there is as well and it is a prominent Miami firm). I was also advised that Mr. Cahill did not have a phone number, which I find sad for the CEO of a major corporation.

 

Anyway, did anybody else know that the future cruise certificates were limited to credit cards only?

[*Mach*]

There are precious few transaction that can be made on board with cash... bingo cards come to mind but that's about it...

The way to work around it would have been to put the cash on your Sail & Sign account and charge the FCC to that.

:)

[okwriter]

I'm not sure (American) consumer laws would apply on board a ship.

[rdler]

Hi, Host. I did try to use my S&S card. It had plenty of money behind it, and I got a robust refund check at the end of the cruise. The future cruise desk was unable to accept a sail and sign card as payment. Really!

 

I love Carnival, but I admit being flummoxed by this one. As I said, our favorite cruise line surprises me in that it really does go around biting its tail sometimes.

[comeon530]

What about a debit card?

[firefly333]

There are precious few transaction that can be made on board with cash... bingo cards come to mind but that's about it...

 

The way to work around it would have been to put the cash on your Sail & Sign account and charge the FCC to that.

 

:)

 

 

Mach .. you cant charge them to your S&S account is the problem. I have seen a few manage it .. but the FCC reps tell you that you cannot do what you suggest.

 

If you could then of course you could put cash down.

 

OP actually even when I didnt use a credit card I had a debit card attached to my checking account. .. if you dont even have these safeguards .. I wouldnt travel out of the country. .. but thats me.

 

Iv always been told it will appear as a separate charge on my credit card bill.

[rdler]

Fire, you are quick, and you are entirely right. Everybody should have a back up when traveling out of the country. I actually did, both in the form of Traveler's Cheques and insurance, as well as a reatively large sum of real cash. I think I was okay.

 

Anyway, I admit I am a Firefly fan. I hope all is going well.

[firefly333]

Fire, you are quick, and you are entirely right. Everybody should have a back up when traveling out of the country. I actually did, both in the form of Traveler's Cheques and insurance, as well as a reatively large sum of real cash. I think I was okay.

 

Anyway, I admit I am a Firefly fan. I hope all is going well.

 

Iv been on bidz buying myself watches this weekend .. bad girl. I told myself better than spending even more onboard a ship .. we spent $120 on a eco drive citizens onboard and got me interested in looking ... darn Carnival ships.

 

Im doing too well for myself. I am also conservative financially, but finally decided on a RCL credit card .. so my spending goes toward RCL cruises. I have only about $200 off a cruise saved up so far .. Im like you and dont charge very much. .. but $200 is better than nothing if I had paid cash and gotten nothing. Im a cash person too, but think a debit or credit card is a good safeguard for cruisers.

 

That thead where someone wound up in the hospital in cozumel and couldnt get home until a church finally paid her way should scare some into bringing a source of credit. She was in intensive care, so had to be airlifted home. Glad you have insurance .. but some dont travel with any credit back up. scary.

[5waldos]

I had mine put on my S&S but it was backed up with a credit card. Wonder what the reasoning is behind this?

[FlaGrl4Evr]

We had our s&s card backed up with an AMX. The morning we debarked, we went to the Guest Services desk and paid the balance off in cash as we didn't spend quite as much as we anticipated. When we bought our FCC during the cruise, we just showed our s&s card however it was not on the billed charges at the end. It was actually charged to the AMX and showed up within 48 hours. We just called AMX and paid the chage off right away.

 

In this day and age it is really hard to get by without a charge card. You need one to rent a car, secure hotel reservations and purchase most airline tickets, not to mention those unexpected emergencies.

 

OP, check out American Express Card, they have several different card optioins and some come without an annual fee. The clear card does not have an annual fee and for every $2500 charged to the card, they send you a $25 AMX gift card. This is nice if you don't want to deal with the points reward system. If you pay your charges off prior to the next billing cycle, there is no interest added. Also, if you are in a younger age group, they offer a very nice card for college students and recent grads, there is a limit and they do increase this based upon your payment history with them.

 

Gook luck to you. :)

[cruiserNC]

My mother was denied a FCC this past April because her S&S card was backed by cash. I thought it was quite silly since she had more than enough cash on her card to pay for the future certificate. When I questioned them about they claimed if she wanted a refund they would have no way of paying her back. Which made me think if that is true how would I get a refund if I didn't have the same card I had when I purchased the FCC. From my point of view the rule is silly.

[YB Nrml]

We tried to purchase FCC with cash or S & S on our Legend cruise a couple of weeks ago. No go, they wouldn't do it :(. Yes, they'll take a debit card but I really don't understand why you can't use S & S :confused: We ended up not buying one, were kind of turned off the whole deal to be honest.

[DGP1111]

Hai, the corporate trainer for the Future Carnival Vacation program, is currently onboard Carnival Dream.

 

He explains they are able to charge the certificates to the card on file for S&S charges (the Loyalty Specialists have easy access to that info), but that it has to be a separate charge to the credit card.

 

He had to handle that same situation last week for a couple who'd picked out everything they wanted, and were ready to book with deposit while onboard. Their S&S charges had been backed up by a large amount of cash (their personal preference for finances). They were delivered the unfortunate news of not being able to complete the transaction without a credit card on file.

[firefly333]

We had our s&s card backed up with an AMX. The morning we debarked, we went to the Guest Services desk and paid the balance off in cash as we didn't spend quite as much as we anticipated. When we bought our FCC during the cruise, we just showed our s&s card however it was not on the billed charges at the end. It was actually charged to the AMX and showed up within 48 hours. We just called AMX and paid the chage off right away. :)

 

Exactly how its always worked for me too .. as above. It is billed to the credit card that you have given them to back up your S&S account .. but does not appear on your S&S account, but as a separate charge.

 

FCC folks are not equipped to deal in cash transactions. You fill out a form and the charge goes to whichever debit or credit card you used to board.

 

Sounds simple .. but it would be a mess if now FCC agents had to now take in cash and deal with payments. They simply are not set up for this. Get a debit card .. its not that hard even for cash people like myself.

[rdler]

I guess my main point is that if it is an offer for credit card (or debit card) holders only, Carnival should say it as so. Similarly, if Carnival only honors its Sail and Sign for specified on board transactions they should advise passengers appropriately.

 

I really, really like Carnival. Of course, I did not get my future cruise certificate. Will that make me less loyal to Carnival? Sure. Am I disappointed? Of course.

 

Carnival has an obligation to disclose the terms of the offers that it makes to its customers. It really does, and please don't give me the "at sea, USA laws don't apply" argument. They were selling and offering the future cruise certificates

even when we were in port in Miami.

 

Again, I love Carnival, but they are just off base on this one and I'm not sure they know it.

 

I do wish they'd give Mr. Cahill's office a phone, however.

[firefly333]

I guess my main point is that if it is an offer for credit card (or debit card) holders only, Carnival should say it as so. Similarly, if Carnival only honors its Sail and Sign for specified on board transactions they should advise passengers appropriately.

 

I really, really like Carnival. Of course, I did not get my future cruise certificate. Will that make me less loyal to Carnival? Sure. Am I disappointed? Of course.

 

Carnival has an obligation to disclose the terms of the offers that it makes to its customers. It really does, and please don't give me the "at sea, USA laws don't apply" argument. They were selling and offering the future cruise certificates

even when we were in port in Miami.

 

Again, I love Carnival, but they are just off base on this one and I'm not sure they know it.

 

I do wish they'd give Mr. Cahill's office a phone, however.

 

... there are so many loopholes in their public disclaimers .. I went up to VP level on one just recently.

 

My biggest gripe is the word "deposit" on the FCC advertising onboard .. when buying a future FCC to bring home or booking onboard .. the FCC is not your cruise deposit .. no one cares that Carnival is using this word "deposit" misleadingly... people think it will be their deposit on a cruise, which isnt true.. its a deposit on a cruise that you might not even be able to book for years, they claim its a 4 year deposit .. but since its not holding a specific cruise .. to me they are deliberately misleading folks.

 

Iv been on the bandwagon fighting carnival on their rules .. I could use all the help I can get, if we band together, they might listen.

 

Carnival is deliberately misleading people on a lot of things.

[shof515]

Since the certificate is refundable, i think it it is easier to process credit card refunds then processing a refund with a check. Plus if you do lose the certificate, i think they can look up the number using your credit card number too.

[firefly333]

OP as I said the problem is the FCC agents dont process the charges and are not equipped to handle cash themselves.

 

But by all means start contacting people. use their first initial and last name at carnival.com and you will hit some people. I hit a VP with my email when I couldnt get anyone's attention that mattered.

 

That is the only way to get changes thru .. keep pushing.

[Angileyze1]

I used my debit card and it was a lot less hassle.

[sharecruises]

No Mach...you can not buy the future cruise certs with your sign and sail even if you put cash on it

 

you must use a credit card OR a debit card

 

for those who don't want a real credit card you can purchase prepaid cards at drugs stores, grocery stores , convenience stores

 

they will not take cash or money from sign sail

 

*and no I don't think they make this clear

[DGP1111]

.

 

Firefly speaks the truth. :)

 

[firefly333]

Option 2 .. yes thats one place, says $100 deposit. .... so people assume that what it says is that you can book a cruise with the $100 deposit and use the money toward your deposit ..when in fact it is not set up that way at all.

 

The big cardboard signs also scream with the word DEPOSIT ..

 

If I could influence Carnival .. it would be toward truthfullness in their disclosures and posted rules so people know what they mean .. instead of mumbo jumbo that legal says covers it.

[gacat93]

We purchased two FCC on the Legend on Saturday and it was in writing at the desk that you had to pay with credit or debit card. We showed our S&S card because it was backed up with a credit card but the charges went directly to it. Prior to speaking with the rep I thought it would go to our online account which we always pay off with cash prior to debarking.

[rdler]

Gacat, was your credit card backing up your sail and sign card charged directly for the future cruise certificate? If so, then when you went to pay off your sail and sign card you wouldn't have paid off the future cruise certificates and they would remain on your credit card. If not, and you actually paid for the certificates when you paid off your sail and sign at the end of the cruise with cash, then Carnival accepted cash for your FCC's contrary to what you say were written instructions to the contrary. Anyway, upon inquiry now of the future cruise desk, the purser's desk and Carnival's Guest Care and Special Programs and Promotions departments, in my case, nobody was able to produce anything in writing that said that the future cruise offer was only for credit card holders. Then again, I was also told that Carnival has no legal department and that Mr. Cahill's office has no telephone, so who knows?

 

Fire, they do imply that the FCC is a deposit on another cruise. You are exactly right. I am not mad at Carnival and I don't want a free cruise or a rebate or anything else from them. I am, however, writing to the Florida Attorney General's Office as I believe that with their promotion of the FCCs Carnival is engaging in deceptive marketing. Perhaps not, and it that case I and the rest of the people I talked with at Carnival are wrong. If we are right it is an omission that is easily correctable by Carnival's (reportedly non-existent) legal department.

[firefly333]

Fire, they do imply that the FCC is a deposit on another cruise. You are exactly right. I am not mad at Carnival and I don't want a free cruise or a rebate or anything else from them. I am, however, writing to the Florida Attorney General's Office as I believe that with their promotion of the FCCs Carnival is engaging in deceptive marketing. Perhaps not, and it that case I and the rest of the people I talked with at Carnival are wrong. If we are right it is an omission that is easily correctable by Carnival's (reportedly non-existent) legal department.

 

There is a thread on the carnival hub forum, carnival assistance required. You might post your thoughts there and see where you get... I would take some steps before contacting the FL AG?? Your call. Its a moderated thead, so your post will not appear until it gets read by someone at Carnival. ..at least you will get a reply from someone from Carnival. (but please dont say I told you to do it ..its your call)

 

http://www.carnival.com/Funville/forums/