Carnival Management Screws up again!

[bugsokc]

I woke up this morning six days out from my cruise on Carnival Magic. I have a 7-year-old daughter who has been looking forward to the cruise and especially Camp Carnival. As I went through my emails (part of my normal morning routine), I see I got an email from Carnival. I'm expecting it is just some nonsense about the cruise (you know - buy your excursions, don't forget about our duty free shops, or something like that).

 

NOPE!

 

It was a notice that Camp Carnival will closed (the rooms - they say they will still have activities and supervision) and that the schedule will be "slightly modified". The notice was not detailed at all - VERY vague. (see notice below)

 

I have emailed my PVP and am waiting his reply. This is horrible customer service and management in my opinion. I think this will be my last Carnival Cruise.

 

Has anyone had similar experiences with Carnival or any other cruise line (i.e. last minute notifications of changes)?

 

Here is the notice (note that the email was completely blank - just had this attachment):

[Reader0108598]

They will still have activities for your daughter ,so I guess I am missing why you are upset. Does your daughter only like the camp when it is held in a particular area?

 

Reader

[Orison]

i gotta say, better to hear about it before the cruise. How far out? Not sure it's relevant.

 

But my kids have never been in a camp. They are always with us, and playing with other kids that are out and about.

[SadieN]

Dam**d if they do, dam**d if they don't. At least you got a warning.

What would have happened if you found this out onboard?

 

Sounds like they're moving the club to another location that's not used during the day, maybe the disco? Or combining it somehow with another club?

 

They're going thru a rebranding and probably want to do the work during a slow time for the kids club. October is slow as most kids are in school.

[Purvis1231]

You realize that this is an effort to improve the area, sure it will be a little different but I hope you and your child will adjust.

[WiCruiseDreamer]

At least they told you before your cruise and not as you were boarding.

Activities will still be happening, and while it may require going to various areas of the ship with your child as apposed to one location, Camp Carnival is still functioning.

Edited October 6, 2014 by WiCruiseDreamer

[YB Nrml]

Looks to me like the e-mail says Camp Carnival will still be in full force, just different locations. They have to do up-dates sometime and it's unfortunate but to me it doesn't look like the programs will be cut back. Hope you enjoy your cruise.

[FTLCruiseGal]

I am with the previous poster -- they will still continue to have Camp Carnival, it is just being relocated. So, what's your issue? How have they failed you? If they didn't let you know until you boarded, I have a feeling that you would be at Guest Services demanding some type of compensation as your trip was so terribly interrupted. Again, it's happening, just not where you expected it to be.

[Jamman54]

I think your daughter will be fine. She will be supervised, there will be activities, and she will be with other children in her age group. Enjoy your cruise!

[runner15km]

Go with the flow and have a great cruise, don't let this little hiccup ruin your cruise.

 

I have received letters in the past from CCL cancelling port stops or a alteration in the schedule. Ship Happens ! :)

[sparks1093]

Yes, I have seen other cruise lines give short notice for changes. Since they are still having a children's program I fail to see the issue.

[GottaLuvCruising]

I have to agree with the other posters; this just doesn't sound like a big deal. They are still offering Camp Carnival and you are reading between the lines with an assumption that you or your daughter will be disappointed. Go with the flow and have fun.

[KevInPitt]

This notice clearly will have a negative impact on your vacation experience. You should impress upon Customer Service (escalated as high as necessary) how such revision to the Camp Carnival program will impact you and your family and the program availability should fully reinstated for your sailing. Should the limitation not be reverted back to providing the full unaltered amenity during your itinerary, their agreement with you has been breached and you should be entitled to cancel without penalty. Should this not be permitted prior to departure, once on board you still have the recourse of invoking the “Great Vacation Guarantee” for the failure to provide the expected service. You will receive a refund 110% of your fare and Guest Services will get you back to your home, free of charge. With no hassles and no questions asked.

 

You are entitled to full disclosure of any change in service and to not be egregiously deceived in the details you feel have been withheld from you inappropriately. You should have been personally contacted (not via a “form email”) with an apology and explanation along with the promise that everything possible is being done to still provide the full camp Carnival experience to the high standard of the unmodified program.

 

I hope your efforts to get 100% satisfaction in this disappointing situation are successful. If not, your final recourse is to, as you contemplated, make this your last cruise with Carnival.

Edited October 6, 2014 by KevInPitt

[purplemusik]

I think my 3 little ones would be thrilled if they had the activities around the ship and modified then staying in that room all day! This would be a positive for me. I guess it just depends what you are expecting. I'd be concerned if my now one year old would be moving from place to place.

[NIATPAC29]

The op needs to know--------its o k !!!

[serene56]

 

NOPE!

 

It was a notice that Camp Carnival will closed (the rooms - they say they will still have activities and supervision) and that the schedule will be "slightly modified". The notice was not detailed at all - VERY vague. (see notice below)

 

I have emailed my PVP and am waiting his reply. This is horrible customer service and management in my opinion. I think this will be my last Carnival Cruise.

 

 

Camp will be running-- not just in the camp room. With this age group the kids will not be out and running around but will be in a set room with doors etc. (the disco- the library)

 

there will not be a ton of kids on your cruise so it will be easier to watch all the kids.

 

Camps are not opened all day. they open on sea days at 10am and close at 12:45 open at 2 and close at 5 and open again at 7 and becomes paid at 10pm.

(just be aware)

I do not think I would cancel a cruise based on kids clubs being opened or not. Grand daughter has been on three cruises and booked for the 4th and has only been to the clubs on three different occasions

[irishnyc]

This notice clearly will have a negative impact on your vacation experience. You should impress upon Customer Service (escalated as high as necessary) how such revision to the Camp Carnival program will impact you and your family and the program availability should fully reinstated for your sailing. Should the limitation not be reverted back to providing the full unaltered amenity during your itinerary, their agreement with you has been breached and you should be entitled to cancel without penalty. No it hasn't. Carnival has the right to change anything, right down to the cabin you're booked in, at their discretion. Should this not be permitted prior to departure, once on board you still have the recourse of invoking the “Great Vacation Guarantee” for the failure to provide the expected service. You will receive a refund 110% of your fare and Guest Services will get you back to your home, free of charge. With no hassles and no questions asked.

 

You are entitled to full disclosure of any change in service and to not be egregiously deceived in the details you feel have been withheld from you inappropriately. It was disclosed. He got an email. You should have been personally contacted (not via a “form email”) with an apology and explanation along with the promise that everything possible is being done to still provide the full camp Carnival experience to the high standard of the unmodified program. A personal note and apology. You've got to be kidding.

 

I hope your efforts to get 100% satisfaction in this disappointing situation are successful. If not, your final recourse is to, as you contemplated, make this your last cruise with Carnival.

 

You must be a lawyer.

 

OP, I'm sure your kids will have a great time, no matter where Camp Carnival is held.

[mzloolue]

I understand that the op wants to know where the children's activities will be held and what kind of security will be in place.

 

Will it be in an area in which it would be obvious that there were adults hanging about who should not be?

Where will the children be using the bathroom?

Will bathroom visits be supervised or will children be allowed to come and go on their own?

Will the "teachers" be able to tell immediately if a child is missing?

How often do they do a head count?

 

I was a teacher and a mom, so I totally understand where this is coming from.

 

If op gets onboard and the set up for the kids is sketchy, in his opinion, then he is basically stuck with an upset kid that he will need to keep entertained.

Or he can send her to camp and feel uneasy about her security the whole time.

Not good either way.

 

I wonder if there is a way to talk directly with the camp director?

Edited October 6, 2014 by mzloolue

[mzloolue]

splintz, the way I understood the op is that he knew that they were changing to Camp Ocean and would be redoing the Camp Carnival area at some time.

 

It was announced that the Camp Carnival areas would be redone in various blues to make them go with the new ocean theme.

 

So he has been asking when the redo would be occurring hoping that it would not be during his cruise.

Edited October 6, 2014 by mzloolue

[splintz]

OK i see. i read most of the posts but breezed through some of them.

[WiCruiseDreamer]

Another reason they may have waited until 6 days before the cruise is to be sure that any last minute bookings would be included in the mass email to notify guests of the remodeling.

Edited October 6, 2014 by WiCruiseDreamer

[KatieCharlotte]

I understand why you're upset. Carnival is not the best in communicating information ahead of time. But I also think you and your daughter are going to have a great time. The Magic is my kids' favorite ship, and not because of Camp Carnival. Yes, they went occasionally so we could have time to ourselves, but mostly the kids had an amazing time on the sports deck and in the waterpark area.

 

When we cruised on the Victory, much of the time the 9-11 group (and I believe the 6-8 group, but I don't have kids that age) met in a regular room away from Camp Carnival. The Camp Carnival rooms were not under renovation, and we did not receive any notification. I don't know if it was because of the high number of kids on board for spring break.

 

I know they maintained security at the door of the room. It was closed off to adults, and kids were signed in and out. My DD was old enough to check herself out so I did not pay close attention to the level of security, but I'm certain they take it very seriously. My daughter had no complaints. She enjoyed the social games and art. With the types of activities enjoyed by the ages 6 to 11 kids, the room does not really matter much. They aren't playing with the toys, they don't care so much about what the walls look like, and I'd rather they aren't glued to video games.

[GTO-Girl]

I woke up this morning six days out from my cruise on Carnival Magic. I have a 7-year-old daughter who has been looking forward to the cruise and especially Camp Carnival. As I went through my emails (part of my normal morning routine), I see I got an email from Carnival. I'm expecting it is just some nonsense about the cruise (you know - buy your excursions, don't forget about our duty free shops, or something like that).

 

NOPE!

 

It was a notice that Camp Carnival will closed (the rooms - they say they will still have activities and supervision) and that the schedule will be "slightly modified". The notice was not detailed at all - VERY vague. (see notice below)

 

I have emailed my PVP and am waiting his reply. This is horrible customer service and management in my opinion. I think this will be my last Carnival Cruise.

 

Has anyone had similar experiences with Carnival or any other cruise line (i.e. last minute notifications of changes)?

 

Here is the notice (note that the email was completely blank - just had this attachment):

 

Wow...if something like this throws you into such a tailspin then how in the world do you handle real problems?

 

Sorry, but what kind of example are you setting for your children that the mere mention of still having FULL activities, but moving them to another area of the ship is enough for you to go off the deep end?

 

Trust me......there are much bigger problems in this world. Chill out, you are going on a cruise that you can either make it wonderful for your family or not......it's your choice.

 

Have a great cruise....(if you can).....

[nchikk]

Wow...if something like this throws you into such a tailspin then how in the world do you handle real problems?

 

Sorry, but what kind of example are you setting for your children that the mere mention of still having FULL activities, but moving them to another area of the ship is enough for you to go off the deep end?

 

Trust me......there are much bigger problems in this world. Chill out, you are going on a cruise that you can either make it wonderful for your family or not......it's your choice.

 

Have a great cruise....(if you can).....

 

 

What she said...

[gtalum]

Relax. By "slightly modified", I strongly suspect that they mean that the venues will change. Carnival wants you drinking in their bars and playing in the casino. They don't want you babysitting your kids. :D