Carnival wouldn't honor price on their web page

[briarjumper]

November 9th cruise on the Carnival Breeze was listed at $706.00 for a balcony room for three people. Carnival wouldn't honor that price when I tried to book. I was told by a Carnival rep that that rate was for a lower cost balcony that was no longer available. Looking at Carnival available Cove Balconies there was plenty of them in all areas of the ship available. Those are the cheapest balconies they have so I call BS on that. They tried to convince me that the price was for a balcony room that was no longer available. If it wasn't available why did they still have the price listed on their web site when I tried to book.

They even tried to convince me that that price didn't have the taxes and fees in it like I was stupid. This isn't my first Cruise I realize that the taxes and fees are extra. the problem they wanted me to pay for $883.00 for the cabin and charge me the fees again during the booking process. I have decided to end my relationship with Carnival.

I have been on several Carnival cruises and have always booked between two and four rooms. I have recommended Carnival to several friends and and co workers over the last few years. I have personally booked sixteen rooms on Carnival ships and all have been balconies for my friends and I.

I am a Stock Holder with Carnival and I own allot more that the One Hundred shares that most people use to get on board credit. I will sell my shares ASAP! I will never recommend Carnival to anyone ever again. I can't for the life of me understand how it can be good business to alienate a repeat customer over roughly $300.00 which is a relativity small amount of money. I would have wasted that the first day buying Beverage cards and other beverages. Not to mention what I would have lost in the Casino and shore excursions. I did save the web page views for this price and for the two person to a room price.

In conclusion I have had several great cruises with Carnival but now I'm weighing my option of booking with RCCL or Holland America. I have sailed on RCCL and really enjoyed it allot. The Mariner of Seas was my first Cruise and I have sailed Carnival ever since.

[irishnyc]

If you saw the rate online why didn't you either just book it yourself online since they couldn't find that rate for you on the phone, or just hang up and try someone else that could find it for you?

[briarjumper]

If you saw the rate online why didn't you either just book it yourself online since they couldn't find that rate for you on the phone, or just hang up and try someone else that could find it for you?

 

I tried both ways to book It wouldn't go through. My Carnival rep tried to tell me they only had two rooms for that price and the price went up. Heck they tried to tell me anything that they thought I was stupid enough to believe. I asked her and her supervisor how they would like it if they saw a sign for gas at $1.00 a gallon but whey they started to pump gas the amount was $3.50 a gallon. Gas stations don't raise the pump price until they change the price on their signs.

[irishnyc]

Unfortunately when you shop online if 2 people have a limited item in their cart at the same time, whoever checks out first gets it. It sounds like that's what happened in your situation. It's unfortunate, but it happens. It's like two people in a retail store grabbing the last item on the shelf at the same time. The store advertised they have it, but they can't sell one item to two people.

[deedle7544]

nevermind not relevant

[briarjumper]

I'm confused, are you booking two or three?

I was trying to book a cabin for three people. I saved screen shots of both the two and three people prices so I could argue my case with Carnival. All I did was waste TWO HOURS of my life talking to the PVP and her Supervisor that I will never get back. I emailed them the screen shots as they requested that I do. I'll not have to worry about that anymore. I'm through with Carnival.

[cccer]

Just curious, but if the same thing happened to you while trying to book RCCL or Holland, do you think you would have been treated any differently?

 

If people stopped using services or products because of bad customer service, our choices would quickly become very limited.

[firefly333]

Are you sure it was not a guarantee rate?? that was my first thought when you were saying you have a cove balcony, the cheapest.. well no, actually it is not the cheapest balcony category.

 

You do say you are experienced with booking, so maybe you are right.. we cant see what you saw.

 

Maybe start up the ladder if you are sure you are correct.. I would if I was sure the rate was lower.

[briarjumper]

Just curious, but if the same thing happened to you while trying to book RCCL or Holland, do you think you would have been treated any differently?

 

If people stopped using services or products because of bad customer service, our choices would quickly become very limited.

 

That's a hypothetical question I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get to It. I'm not sold on the fact that RCCL would do that. The only time I have cruised with RCCL they went way above and beyond what was expected by me. I'm not your normal complainer or Carnival critic. I don't post on here very often but when I do it's usually positive toward Carnival.

[briarjumper]

Are you sure it was not a guarantee rate?? that was my first thought when you were saying you have a cove balcony, the cheapest.. well no, actually it is not the cheapest balcony category.

 

Just because you could book 3 into the lower rate.. are you sure it was for the exact same category you have.. not just the lowest rate as you say.

 

I'll cut to the chase they agreed the price was there but they would not honor it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[firefly333]

Just curious, but if the same thing happened to you while trying to book RCCL or Holland, do you think you would have been treated any differently?

 

If people stopped using services or products because of bad customer service, our choices would quickly become very limited.

 

tomorrow I would start contacting someone who could help me.. customer care, whatever .. I would not take no for a answer if I was sure I was right.

[Cruizinman]

November 9th cruise on the Carnival Breeze was listed at $706.00 for a balcony room for three people. Carnival wouldn't honor that price when I tried to book. I was told by a Carnival rep that that rate was for a lower cost balcony that was no longer available. Looking at Carnival available Cove Balconies there was plenty of them in all areas of the ship available. Those are the cheapest balconies they have so I call BS on that. They tried to convince me that the price was for a balcony room that was no longer available. If it wasn't available why did they still have the price listed on their web site when I tried to book.

They even tried to convince me that that price didn't have the taxes and fees in it like I was stupid. This isn't my first Cruise I realize that the taxes and fees are extra. the problem they wanted me to pay for $883.00 for the cabin and charge me the fees again during the booking process. I have decided to end my relationship with Carnival.

I have been on several Carnival cruises and have always booked between two and four rooms. I have recommended Carnival to several friends and and co workers over the last few years. I have personally booked sixteen rooms on Carnival ships and all have been balconies for my friends and I.

I am a Stock Holder with Carnival and I own allot more that the One Hundred shares that most people use to get on board credit. I will sell my shares ASAP! I will never recommend Carnival to anyone ever again. I can't for the life of me understand how it can be good business to alienate a repeat customer over roughly $300.00 which is a relativity small amount of money. I would have wasted that the first day buying Beverage cards and other beverages. Not to mention what I would have lost in the Casino and shore excursions. I did save the web page views for this price and for the two person to a room price.

In conclusion I have had several great cruises with Carnival but now I'm weighing my option of booking with RCCL or Holland America. I have sailed on RCCL and really enjoyed it allot. The Mariner of Seas was my first Cruise and I have sailed Carnival ever since.

 

There's your answer , Do so quickly and never look back. Loyalty is no longer a priory with Carnival. Lesson learned .

[keith75]

I tried both ways to book It wouldn't go through. My Carnival rep tried to tell me they only had two rooms for that price and the price went up. Heck they tried to tell me anything that they thought I was stupid enough to believe. I asked her and her supervisor how they would like it if they saw a sign for gas at $1.00 a gallon but whey they started to pump gas the amount was $3.50 a gallon. Gas stations don't raise the pump price until they change the price on their signs.

 

If you and the rep both couldn't get it to go through sounds like they all got booked before the website corrected the rate. I understand why you are upset but the regular rate is probably still better than some of the other lines you mentioned. I guess it's the principle! I bet if you raise enough hell someone will give you that rate.....that normally works me.

 

Good luck!

[xitappers2bx]

I was trying to book a cabin for three people. I saved screen shots of both the two and three people prices so I could argue my case with Carnival. All I did was waste TWO HOURS of my life talking to the PVP and her Supervisor that I will never get back. I emailed them the screen shots as they requested that I do. I'll not have to worry about that anymore. I'm through with Carnival.

 

besides the fact its obvious you have absolutely no understanding of how booking anything works... this is why you should have a travel agent and not use carnival... my travel agent would deal with it, and most likely get me the rate that i was able to prove to her was shown on the website.

 

with that said, if i were a carnival employee if you came at me with the same anger you seem to have in that message i'd have not returned your calls either. rates aren't guaranteed until you pay the deposit, and its pretty clear on the website... if there are 20 cove balconies available, but only 2 hold 3 people, and four people are trying to book a cove balcony that sleeps 3, whoever checks out first gets it, and then the price goes up when you have to go up a level to another balcony.

 

its really sad that instead of understanding why things work the way they do you found that you had to complain and scream and shout because someone wouldn't break the way things work for you. i'm sure anyone you spoke to would have been happy to explain that to you if you'd have given them the chance.

[cruise_girl2002]

That's a hypothetical question I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get to It. I'm not sold on the fact that RCCL would do that. The only time I have cruised with RCCL they went way above and beyond what was expected by me. I'm not your normal complainer or Carnival critic. I don't post on here very often but when I do it's usually positive toward Carnival.

 

no, RCCL just tells you, yes, you can book the room for 1 person then add the 2nd person later. You just have to pay double the amount since its booking as a single cruiser. (me-ok no problem). RCCL-all you would have to pay is the port taxes and fees for the second person when you find out who you are cruising with. (me-ok thanks!). 1 week later...I would like to put my mom in the room with me. Rccl-Ok. to do that it would cost an extra $1500. me-WHAT!!!!!??? rcl fed me some line that it was port chargest, taxes and fees (which I knew I had to pay for) plus I had to pay a difference in fare! (this is NOT what they told me) they told me I was locked in for that rate..period. done! Good luck with RCL...they will screw you

[BeachChik]

besides the fact its obvious you have absolutely no understanding of how booking anything works... this is why you should have a travel agent and not use carnival... my travel agent would deal with it, and most likely get me the rate that i was able to prove to her was shown on the website.

 

with that said, if i were a carnival employee if you came at me with the same anger you seem to have in that message i'd have not returned your calls either. rates aren't guaranteed until you pay the deposit, and its pretty clear on the website... if there are 20 cove balconies available, but only 2 hold 3 people, and four people are trying to book a cove balcony that sleeps 3, whoever checks out first gets it, and then the price goes up when you have to go up a level to another balcony.

 

its really sad that instead of understanding why things work the way they do you found that you had to complain and scream and shout because someone wouldn't break the way things work for you. i'm sure anyone you spoke to would have been happy to explain that to you if you'd have given them the chance.

 

If I see a price online and the company tells me they also see that price but won't honor it, I consider that bad customer service regardless of the reason.

 

My hubby works for a travel company that utilizes outside booking engines like Expedia types. There was some type of glitch and the price went down lower than it was supposed to. Of course someone booked it at a really good deal. And you know what? His company honored that price even though it was incorrect because that is good service. And it isn't the customers fault that an online system isn't showing accurate information. Just my two cents.

[irishnyc]

If I see a price online and the company tells me they also see that price but won't honor it, I consider that bad customer service regardless of the reason.

 

My hubby works for a travel company that utilizes outside booking engines like Expedia types. There was some type of glitch and the price went down lower than it was supposed to. Of course someone booked it at a really good deal. And you know what? His company honored that price even though it was incorrect because that is good service. And it isn't the customers fault that an online system isn't showing accurate information. Just my two cents.

 

That's a completely different situation than what OP describes. You describe a mistake, OP describes something that was sold out. A company can't sell something that doesn't exist.

[Not_Done_Living]

that cruise is $896 per person for a cove balcony --

$886 for a guarantee --

 

you should go the week before this - its only $500 per person.

[cruise30]

Just a note to you; be aware that Carnival owns Holland America also.

[Holders3]

This statement confused me..."Looking at Carnival available Cove Balconies there was plenty of them in all areas of the ship available"

 

Cove Balconies are only on one lower floor aren't they? Or do different ship classes have them on other areas of the ships?

[alreadypacked]

Cruise rates fluctuate constantly--based on supply and demand.

 

The website might say, "balconies starting at $706" ...

 

But sometimes in a very short amount of time, the cabins for sale at that price sell out before the website is updated. By the time you try to book it (which could be only minutes or hours later), the cabins at that price point are sold out. You basically have to be lucky enough to catch it at the right time to get that price.

[MadManOfBethesda]

I'll cut to the chase they agreed the price was there but they would not honor it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Ooooohhhh, over 40 exclamation points!

 

You must be really irritated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

If you'd only used 35 or so, I wouldn't have been sure!

 

But since you used over 40....................................

[geesherry]

I'll put in my two cents and ask a question...

 

How far into the booking process did you go online?

 

Is it possible that you, yourself, put a temporary hold on the cabins you were interested in, thus blocking them off for booking by the PVP?

 

If that's the case, the temporary hold should clear soon, and you can then get the cabins you want.

 

I'll agree with the poster above who said if you spoke wthi the same amount of emotion that you show here, no rep would go out of their way to help. Try to remain calm, and polite.

 

Good luck!

[AmberTeka]

Are you sure it was not a guarantee rate?? that was my first thought when you were saying you have a cove balcony, the cheapest.. well no, actually it is not the cheapest balcony category.

 

You do say you are experienced with booking, so maybe you are right.. we cant see what you saw.

 

Maybe start up the ladder if you are sure you are correct.. I would if I was sure the rate was lower.

 

What is the cheapest? Obstructed on Legend and Miracle...but no where else..or....I didn't mind obstructed at all..TELL WHAT YOU KNOW..NO TEASERS....THANKS.

[happy cruzer]

OP, have you booked airfare lately? The same thing happens there. The prices change quickly booking online; when a seat is gone that rate is gone. I know you are mad but the online world is very different. It's convenient but it does not wait for you to call in a purchase.