Carnival can't get it together...

[SAPMAN]

Suggestion for all.

 

If you have small items (keys, flashcards, etc.) either keep them in a larger bag or a Zip Lock bag WITH you info written on a paper inside. best to put email, phone, and maybe address. I have some business type cards with that info and put them into any bags I may take with me.

 

I also leave a sticky note on door or mirror to remind me to check the safe or other "hiding" places before I depart.

[AXiDMonica]

If its in the "bullet", then it is going to HQ in Miami. Contact them (305-599-2600) and see how their lost and found in the MIAMI offices, not the port, works.

 

Good luck! I know what thats like so I really hope you get your photos back.

[halos]

My wife and I were on the 11.26 sailing of the Liberty. Took about 1500 pictures across 2 SD cards on a nice DSLR. One of the cards I mistakenly left in the safe in our room (you know that little lip that the safe door fits into?) My bad.

 

Anyway, Sunday after docking, we realized what we had done, we called the ship (at $9.50 per minute) and talked to "Guest Services"...and we had all but lost hope after talking to them. No help at all. "Nothing we can do...yada, yada, yada...".

 

However, I remembered I had the email address of the steakhouse manager in my inbox. Calling the ship didn't help, but Monica (manager of the steakhouse) took matters into her own hands, got management to go to our old room, ask the guests to open the safe and they FOUND OUR SD CARD! We were ecstatic at the news!

 

She forwarded us the email chain and told us that when the ship got back into port on 12/10 they would transfer it to Lost and Found and we would be contacted. They gave us a tag number to reference that they put on our SD Card. We were so excited that they had found it...there were priceless memories on that card.

 

10 days later, after 5 calls to Carnival, they called us back and said sorry...they can't find it. Don't know what happened.

 

But...we have a tag number that we got from the ship. Sorry..that tag number is from the ship and not from CCL. There's nothing they can do. Tough luck.

 

There is such a thing as being too big as to not be able to service simple requests. Monica in the Steakhouse was wonderful - she cared and took matters into her own hands to give personal service. The manager of housekeeping did their job as expected and we are very thankful for that. However, I fear that's as far as it went. Management, or whomever took it from there completely failed, simple as that.

 

This experience has made it crystal clear to us that CCL as a corporation does not care about individuals. Sure, it was my fault I left the card in the safe. I was prepared to pay whatever I needed to get it back, and I offered it to them. If they can't do something as simple as return tagged property what good is "lost and found", honestly? This was a clear cut case of not trying because it doesn't get any easier than our property.

 

Even tried JH a couple times both blog and FB, but he just ignores me.

 

We have lost all hope of getting our card back. We are so frustrated I honestly don't know what we are going to do.

 

:( That sucks.

[bigboatrider]

I did the same thing on my 1st cruise onboard the Ecstasy. I had taken out one of the cards and replaced it with another and put the used card in the safe - well I didnt realize that I left it until I got back home. I called Carnival mulitple times and was told we have looked and cant find the card. I was so heart broken. Every photo I had taken was on that card. The new card only had about 10 photos. I will never put my SD cards in the safe again. I leave them in my camera bag...

 

 

 

Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner!!! THE CAMERA BAG, what a novel concept!

While I sympathize with the OP for losing his SD card, as a photographer, I can't fathom placing my cards anywhere except my camera bag. Hopefully someone will find the card and return it.

[pyroguy]

Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner!!! THE CAMERA BAG, what a novel concept!

 

We've already established the fact that I screwed up. There was a reason I did what I did, but you apparently didn't read my prior posts.

 

The topic was about CCL finding something and losing it again.

 

Thank you though, for letting everyone know how smart you are and how I'm an idiot.

[BettyPC]

Its a good reminder (camera bag) to those of us who are not genius.... I hope you get it back!

[19snapshot]

Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner!!! THE CAMERA BAG, what a novel concept!

While I sympathize with the OP for losing his SD card, as a photographer, I can't fathom placing my cards anywhere except my camera bag. Hopefully someone will find the card and return it.

 

I am a professional photographer and it breaks my heart every time I hear a story of a memory card lost, stolen or damaged. Things get stolen out of camera bags. The bags themselves get lost and stolen. A camera bag is by no means a safe haven for equipment. I carry a memory card case.

 

I think you may have misunderstood the context of the conversation here. The OP clearly took ownership of the mistake that was made and doesn't need to beaten up about it. The conversation here is what CCL did to help a guest and what could have been done better.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

We have sailed with Monica a couple of times, she is super!

 

I have not had the "opportunity" to deal with the Lost and Found department at Carnival. That said, I did recently have the chance to deal with that same department over at NCL.

 

Here (LINK to thread) is my experience with them:

 

(My apologies in advance, as I am somewhat long winded...!)

 

We were on the 11/26/11 sailing of the Epic. Usually it's just the two of us, but this time we brought along our sons (19 and 24) along with a girlfriend and another friend of theirs who was visiting from Canada.

 

The two of us have a routine we've developed over 60+ cruises, and it extends to debark and luggage pick-up. Typically we will have the porter haul out our suitcases (we travel somewhat heavy) to the parking garage and right to our vehicle. This trip was a bit different...

 

I had booked a few extra cabins for my office staff so that they could enjoy this FANTASTIC ship that we had sailed on earlier this year. Since it was basically 6 of us (immediate party) we enjoyed many dinners and activities together - right up to debarkation (well, who really enjoys that... ;) )! All 6 of us came down in my vehicle which left no space for our 9 suitcases. For that I "employed" one of my employees to drop by our house (2.5 hours from the port) to shuttle our luggage down there for us. The same would occur for the trip back. Therefore, during debarkation, we had the porter take our suitcases outside of the terminal, and to the curb - and waited for her to come around and load up...

 

Well, the place was a ZOO. Perhaps that is always the case, but being that we always bypass that area and go straight to the parking garage, I had never really witnessed it firsthand. I soon realized that where we were waiting was ground zero for cabs and shuttles. Private vehicles who parked there were sternly corrected by the cops in the area. I did not want to be part of that "fun", so I decided to have everyone help move our luggage and carry off stuff across the road - in front of a warehouse that was not a hectic area, and we could easily load up there without drawing the wrath of those in uniform -- though I fully understand why they do what they do, or else the place would end up with fist fights!!

 

Fast forward 10+ minutes: the pick-up pulls around the corner, and we get all the stuff loaded. Wait, perhaps it is not ALL the stuff. Cheryl notes that her two carry on/off bags are not there. With that I quickly headed back over to the area where we had been dropped off and started to search in vain for our personal items. Had this included more mundane things such as dirty laundry, I would not have been as concerned. Instead it included everything you would put in a safe in your cabin (cash/jewelry) along with electronics (Kindle Fire, Laptop, Canon Camera...) and designer shoes/boots, medications... you get the idea. Basically the "value" of those missing bags was significantly more than the cost of the cruise, and we were in a Haven Villa. :eek:

 

Cheryl, now feeling as if she was going to be sick, and I realized that the most likely scenario was that we failed to move over those items when we relocated for pick-up and that either someone took advantage of that oversight OR, with all the chaos, it was grabbed by a taxi or shuttle driver and mistakenly loaded up and was on its way to the airport or someplace. It had been one of our sons who was pulling along these two bags (it should have been one of us) off the ship and through customs. I asked him if he was sure he had them when we passed customs and out of the building. He indicated that he was sure. Now, IF someone had taken advantage of that chaos out there, we could pretty much kiss our stuff goodbye. So, we were hoping that someone picked it up in error, and would realize this soon enough.

 

We had the local police come and started filling out a report. Things like this apparently happen with some frequency (not sure how often) and the vibe I was getting was not a positive one. Needless to say, our trip back home was WAY different than the one on the way down. I mean, debarkation is never a "happy" event. Even after having a great cruise, there was a MAJOR dark cloud over us.

 

I could not contact NCL Lost & Found or the customer service people at the port until Monday morning - so that period from Saturday morning until Monday was filled with the realization of what errors we had made, where our priorities were, and where they shouldn't be. Aware that these were only material items which were misplaced, and that none of us had been injured. It was not like a loss from a natural disaster or fire. We were framing things correctly, and counting our lucky stars. The main sadness was from the loss of a couple of rings which I had given to Cheryl over the last 25+ years. Not the loss of the value, but the sentimental component.

 

The customer service # for the port was first on my list at 8 AM. I called to speak to the manager, who was not in yet. NCL Lost & Found was not open until 9 AM. I went ahead and drafted a letter (email) to the manager at the port along with attached images of the missing luggage. 9 AM rolls around and I called NCL. They were attentive and understanding - I think that they would have been equally helpful had it been a suitcase of clothes or our items, though I made them aware of what was in those bags and the approximate value. She put in a call while I was on hold over to their warehouse. No word yet, but she promised they would get back to me. This was a long morning...

 

I then received a call from the manager of the (customer service dept) at the port. He was calling from his cell phone, and the call was breaking up. He stated that he was told that our bags may have been located. I asked him to repeat what he had said - party because I could not fully understand him, and partly out of disbelief! He stated again that they found two bags matching the description of ours. I inquired about contents. He stated that he was not entirely sure, but that cash was mentioned as being in there. Not yet knowing for sure that these were our bags, and not sure about the rest of the contents, I was still VERY much hopeful now - something I had not felt for a couple of days. I let Cheryl know, who was equally moved by the news.

 

About 30 minutes later I received a call from Michelle at NCL (Lost & Found) who stated that they had our bags at their corporate headquarters in a secure area. An inventory had not been taken, but after listing a few items which were located, I felt pretty sure that all was well. If someone was going to take something, the first thing that would have been gone would be a (bank bound) stack of 100's!

 

We made arrangements to be back in Miami the next morning (I need some frequent driver miles here...). We arrived at their HQ right at 8:30 and checked in with security. Shortly thereafter Michelle came down with our two missing carry on pieces. We were VERY thrilled. I had asked Michelle the day prior about how/where they were found - specifically asking if it was another guest or shuttle driver or someone who turned the items back in. If it was someone outside the company or port, I wanted to thank them personally. I was not able to determine if they were actually turned in by someone, or found on location. Nonetheless, we were happy campers! I had hoped to see Kevin Sheehan walk by, as I wanted to commend him on the noticeable improvement with the wings in "his" restaurant (O'Sheehan's) since our sailing in February, but he was nowhere to be seen! ;) On that note, I was pleased to see that they changed from what appeared to be a BAKED BBQ style wing previously to a more traditional FRIED BUFFALO wing on this trip!! :D

 

We realize that this was a close call. A "warning shot" if you will. We have already made changes to our packing protocols and with regard to cash and valuables. Some things are much better left in secure locations (safe and/or safety deposit box), rather than following us around!

 

LESSON LEARNED

 

Much thanks to those at the port and NCL for helping us reunite with our lost stuff so quickly! We have only "discovered" NCL in the last year or so, but continue to be impressed! Our next cruise is on the Eclipse next month (REALLY looking forward to the SMOKE FREE casino), but then back on NCL for our first Alaska trip next summer!

 

Tom

 

cc:Kevin Sheehan !

 

BTW - in the 9th reply on that thread, Kevin Sheehan (NCL CEO) posted a personal reply!!

 

Perhaps it would have worked out well with Carnival, or any other line - though I hope I never have the chance to find out! ;)

 

Good luck getting your SD card back - perhaps it will "magically" show up!

 

Tom

[smitty89]

Pyro, I'm so sorry that you don't have your card back yet! I am keeping my fingers crossed that you get some results from some of the great posts here. We had such a great time on this cruise, but I know a lost memory card would have certainly put a damper on the outcome. Tell your DW I, and the kiddos :), said hi and Merry Christmas!

[shootr]

We're keeping a positive energy stream headed in your direction! Hang tough man and don't let the bozo's get you down. Karma will pay off your diligence, and pay back the you-know-who's.

 

If it's any consolation - all your grief has taught me an Eye-Fi card will auto download to my iPad. (Never knew that - may get one now) Good comes out of bad in one way or another. Now it's your turn, it'll happen, I got a good feeling.

[vikkster]

I wish you the best in getting your SD card back.

I agree Monica in the steakhouse is a wonderful young ladyand I am not suprised she would do her best to help.

[pyroguy]

Pyro, I'm so sorry that you don't have your card back yet! I am keeping my fingers crossed that you get some results from some of the great posts here. We had such a great time on this cruise, but I know a lost memory card would have certainly put a damper on the outcome. Tell your DW I, and the kiddos :), said hi and Merry Christmas!

 

Thanks Gwen! Merry Christmas to you too!

 

BTW, I have pictures of Chris and the Kids at HMC on that card...was hoping to get you guys them, so keep your fingers crossed!

[pitbulLover]

Just read through your post and I really hope you get your card back! I have lost so many cameras in my life (I'm just forgetful :o ) so I know how much it sucks to not have the pictures that youve taken. I can't believe Carnival has acted like this. Good luck!!