Carnival's passenger change policy...

[NavyCruiser]

After Carnival cancelled our fully paid for cruise 3 times over the past year & half, our scheduled Dec 2021 cruise should be a go.

However, our 80+ Mother's health is in heavy decline & now can not travel with us on this upcoming cruise.

Since our cruise has been fully paid for the past year & half, & has good OBC, we still wanted to go cruising, but just want to change the passenger.

Called Carnival & they said that since we added the heavily advertised Cheers package promo to the cruise fare, there's now a $150 per passenger to change to another passenger, or to change sailing, or to cancel.

The cruise has been fully paid for, Carnival has our $$$ for a year & half, so why are they making so difficult just to change out one passenger's name?  Does it really matter to them if adult Jane X is cruising or adult Julie X is cruising instead, 5 months from now?

Any sugg?

Thanks,

[Elaine5715]

1 hour ago, NavyCruiser said:

After Carnival cancelled our fully paid for cruise 3 times over the past year & half, our scheduled Dec 2021 cruise should be a go.

However, our 80+ Mother's health is in heavy decline & now can not travel with us on this upcoming cruise.

Since our cruise has been fully paid for the past year & half, & has good OBC, we still wanted to go cruising, but just want to change the passenger.

Called Carnival & they said that since we added the heavily advertised Cheers package promo to the cruise fare, there's now a $150 per passenger to change to another passenger, or to change sailing, or to cancel.

The cruise has been fully paid for, Carnival has our $$$ for a year & half, so why are they making so difficult just to change out one passenger's name?  Does it really matter to them if adult Jane X is cruising or adult Julie X is cruising instead, 5 months from now?

Any sugg?

Thanks,

Passenger name change fees are to prevent Travel agents from booking staterooms in their names and reselling them

[NavyCruiser]

2 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

Passenger name change fees are to prevent Travel agents from booking staterooms in their names and reselling them

 

So just convinced them that I'm not a travel agent, since I've booked directly with Carnival?

[cruisingguy007]

Change fees are usually stipulated in the cruise contract. Some are as low as $50, some are $150. I get that you don't like it, I felt the same when I tried to change a date of my cruise (booked the wrong week) and they wanted to charge me even though I was willing to upgrade cabin. It's stinks and is frustrating but it was clearly stated what the change fees would be. 

[Elaine5715]

11 hours ago, NavyCruiser said:

 

So just convinced them that I'm not a travel agent, since I've booked directly with Carnival?

Doesn't work that way...

[babygrljaz]

19 hours ago, NavyCruiser said:

After Carnival cancelled our fully paid for cruise 3 times over the past year & half, our scheduled Dec 2021 cruise should be a go.

However, our 80+ Mother's health is in heavy decline & now can not travel with us on this upcoming cruise.

Since our cruise has been fully paid for the past year & half, & has good OBC, we still wanted to go cruising, but just want to change the passenger.

Called Carnival & they said that since we added the heavily advertised Cheers package promo to the cruise fare, there's now a $150 per passenger to change to another passenger, or to change sailing, or to cancel.

The cruise has been fully paid for, Carnival has our $$$ for a year & half, so why are they making so difficult just to change out one passenger's name?  Does it really matter to them if adult Jane X is cruising or adult Julie X is cruising instead, 5 months from now?

Any sugg?

Thanks,

Have you tried to change it in the Cruise Manager yourself?  I as able to some years back.  I had trouble with the last name but only because it was the 2nd change i was making.  Had to get my pvp involved at that point.  But the 1st time it did let me change the full name without  any penalties

[Clairescurtains]

What does the cheers package have to do with anything?

I am dealing with a similar situation with a cruise for next summer. My DH is having health issues, we are going to try to do our December cruise sort of as a test to see how he manages before deciding on him going on the European one next July.

Edited July 15, 2021 by Clairescurtains

[mondello]

21 hours ago, NavyCruiser said:

After Carnival cancelled our fully paid for cruise 3 times over the past year & half, our scheduled Dec 2021 cruise should be a go.

However, our 80+ Mother's health is in heavy decline & now can not travel with us on this upcoming cruise.

Since our cruise has been fully paid for the past year & half, & has good OBC, we still wanted to go cruising, but just want to change the passenger.

Called Carnival & they said that since we added the heavily advertised Cheers package promo to the cruise fare, there's now a $150 per passenger to change to another passenger, or to change sailing, or to cancel.

The cruise has been fully paid for, Carnival has our $$$ for a year & half, so why are they making so difficult just to change out one passenger's name?  Does it really matter to them if adult Jane X is cruising or adult Julie X is cruising instead, 5 months from now?

Any sugg?

Thanks,

You were given the "good OBC" for rebooking when cancelled. Others that have since chosen to cancel/change again have rebooked at new terms but lose the OBC. Can't have everything. 

[NavyCruiser]

Jeez, Chill Out.  We don't want everything, just ask that our Mom is in her mid 80's & her health is in rapid decline since year & half ago when we first booked & fully paid for. Now, just wanted a simple name change on reservation without $150 fee.

Don't really understand how by adding the Cheers promo to the reservation has anything to do with it, but that's what the Carnival rep said.

[hurricane0226]

42 minutes ago, NavyCruiser said:

Jeez, Chill Out.  We don't want everything, just ask that our Mom is in her mid 80's & her health is in rapid decline since year & half ago when we first booked & fully paid for. Now, just wanted a simple name change on reservation without $150 fee.

Don't really understand how by adding the Cheers promo to the reservation has anything to do with it, but that's what the Carnival rep said.

Hi Navy cruiser, I am like you a Navy cruiser also.

[mondello]

6 hours ago, NavyCruiser said:

Jeez, Chill Out.  We don't want everything, just ask that our Mom is in her mid 80's & her health is in rapid decline since year & half ago when we first booked & fully paid for. Now, just wanted a simple name change on reservation without $150 fee.

Don't really understand how by adding the Cheers promo to the reservation has anything to do with it, but that's what the Carnival rep said.

Sorry your mother can't go. Some bookings were breezing through, some were hit with $50 change fee, now your request was even higher at $150. Seems they're clamping down now that the restart is under way and all that OBC is outstanding. $150 might be better than if they made you rebook under the new, higher prices.

[NavyCruiser]

Hmmm.  Extremely disappointed with this "forum", as I get more grief from fellow travelers than sympathetic suggestions to help out.  Was looking forward to constructive comments like "try this..." "call here..." or "do this...".  But I get instead, similar to military justice: "Suck it up, Cupcake, & pay the dang penalty fee..." 

[klfrodo]

1 hour ago, NavyCruiser said:

 But I get instead, similar to military justice: "Suck it up, Cupcake, & pay the dang penalty fee..." 

Yep, pretty much. You want cute puppies and playful kittens, go to the Humane Society.

 

You want a straight forward correct answer, come here.

[cmichael1221]

On 7/14/2021 at 8:03 PM, NavyCruiser said:

After Carnival cancelled our fully paid for cruise 3 times over the past year & half, our scheduled Dec 2021 cruise should be a go.

However, our 80+ Mother's health is in heavy decline & now can not travel with us on this upcoming cruise.

Since our cruise has been fully paid for the past year & half, & has good OBC, we still wanted to go cruising, but just want to change the passenger.

Called Carnival & they said that since we added the heavily advertised Cheers package promo to the cruise fare, there's now a $150 per passenger to change to another passenger, or to change sailing, or to cancel.

The cruise has been fully paid for, Carnival has our $$$ for a year & half, so why are they making so difficult just to change out one passenger's name?  Does it really matter to them if adult Jane X is cruising or adult Julie X is cruising instead, 5 months from now?

Any sugg?

Thanks,

Is your mother able to use any the current COVID protocols as a reason??  On oxygen, needs dialysis, can't get vaccinated, etc.?  That might get some traction with Carnival to make a change for free.

[NavyCruiser]

Yes, she recovered from Covid in good shape, but still much weaker than she was yr & half ago.  In process of getting her a letter from her Doctor.  Was hoping someone on here gracious enough to give a good contact to forward letter to...

[mondello]

1 hour ago, NavyCruiser said:

Hmmm.  Extremely disappointed with this "forum", as I get more grief from fellow travelers than sympathetic suggestions to help out.  Was looking forward to constructive comments like "try this..." "call here..." or "do this...".  But I get instead, similar to military justice: "Suck it up, Cupcake, & pay the dang penalty fee..." 

I am truly sorry that I caused grief. But yes, you should call Carnival, even more than once, because someone there may be more helpful than others. I know the casino desk has gone above and beyond to rebook and change with no penalty. And no, I have no idea why Cheers would cause a higher change fee, yours is the first I've seen. Inquire if is because the cost of Cheers has gone up and maybe the new guest is not getting the same Cheers price as before?

[mondello]

Tell them you are considering cancelling the entire trip and maybe they'll waive the change fee. I know Early Saver has a $50 name change fee, possible the Cheers offer expired/increased.

[Knights on the Beach]

I would be disappointed too.  Do you have a PVP?  If not, ask to have one assigned to you and then see if they can help out with this, especially when you get the doctor's note.

[DGNewton]

Look in the mirror....whats the contract say....rall all the fine print and move on....sorry this is so painful.....but we are in a n era of the COVID pandemic....

[Wanna_Cruize]

I agree, if you don't have one already, get a PVP. I have one now, after booking on my own for several years, and he has already been able to help me out more than once. I have several cruises booked, and different family members joining in. We recently had to switch one person out on our November cruise, and he handled it all for me on the phone, no change fee at all. However, as other people pointed out, some is controlled by the cruise fare. That being said, a good PVP can work with the supervisors to get fees waived in some situations. Never hurts to ask again, nicely. 

[SNJCruisers]

If you booked through Carnival directly and you don't have a PVP, then request one.  In the meantime, I would escalate  it up the food chain and see what can be done.  They are letting cruisers that have unvaccinated kids push their cruise into 2022 without a change fee so why should they bang you with one, especially since they have had your money for 18 months.  I would rant and rave.  The worst that can happen is that you have to suck it up and hopefully the name change can go through for free.  Good luck.

Edited July 26, 2021 by SNJCruisers

[wemjam]

5 hours ago, Wanna_Cruize said:

I agree, if you don't have one already, get a PVP. I have one now, after booking on my own for several years, and he has already been able to help me out more than once. I have several cruises booked, and different family members joining in. We recently had to switch one person out on our November cruise, and he handled it all for me on the phone, no change fee at all. However, as other people pointed out, some is controlled by the cruise fare. That being said, a good PVP can work with the supervisors to get fees waived in some situations. Never hurts to ask again, nicely. 

THIS!  Get a Good PVP, they are invaluable to have especially with just such instances.  Ours has no problem going to a supervisor to get such fees waived if need be.  

[NavyCruiser]

Seriously?

It can't be this easy!

I've just logged into Carnival website, went to change passenger's name & info, clicked "Save".  Went back & rechecked, it updated to new passenger's name.

It can't be that easy, is it...?

[Yellowjacket1799]

On 7/14/2021 at 9:03 PM, NavyCruiser said:

After Carnival cancelled our fully paid for cruise 3 times over the past year & half, our scheduled Dec 2021 cruise should be a go.

However, our 80+ Mother's health is in heavy decline & now can not travel with us on this upcoming cruise.

Since our cruise has been fully paid for the past year & half, & has good OBC, we still wanted to go cruising, but just want to change the passenger.

Called Carnival & they said that since we added the heavily advertised Cheers package promo to the cruise fare, there's now a $150 per passenger to change to another passenger, or to change sailing, or to cancel.

The cruise has been fully paid for, Carnival has our $$$ for a year & half, so why are they making so difficult just to change out one passenger's name?  Does it really matter to them if adult Jane X is cruising or adult Julie X is cruising instead, 5 months from now?

Any sugg?

Thanks,

I don’t intend for this to come across as rude, but the truth is because they really don’t care. Carnival will always do everything in their power to to protect their bottom line.

 

I own a small business so I realize the bottom line is important, but taking care of the customer is always important too and sometimes you have to do things in good faith. I’m my experience Carnival will jump on every opportunity to do something that looks like they are taking care of the customers as long as it has the smallest impact to the bottom line. Any other actions that most companies would do out of a true north is off the table for Carnival. 
 

 

[mondello]

59 minutes ago, NavyCruiser said:

Seriously?

It can't be this easy!

I've just logged into Carnival website, went to change passenger's name & info, clicked "Save".  Went back & rechecked, it updated to new passenger's name.

It can't be that easy, is it...?

Sounds great. I was a little surprised when I booked they allowed me to leave the other guests info to be completed later. Maybe you were allowed to switch because you're not past final payment? I would be worried about making any changes because they can make you rebook at current, higher rates.