Comped Cruise Warning

[FilledeCroisiere]

I am scheduled to cruise on the Beyond in 19 days on a casino cruise comped through an outside organization. (I don’t think I’m allowed to mention their name on this site.) But, today, I went into my reservation to check something and everything was fine and then I clicked a button and I got a red banner that said that if I didn’t pay my balance, my cruise was going to be canceled. Well, I had a zero balance before today but, today, it showed that I had a balance of $10,990, due immediately.  I spent a pretty panicky hour on the phone with Celebrity trying to figure out what was going on. For the first 45 minutes, they told me that I did not have a comp cruise and that I owed $11,000. Eventually, they figured out that the system had recoded my cruise to “standard“ rather than “comped.”  They fixed it but it was seriously nervous-making for a while.  I was thinking that I was going to lose the money I paid for my airfare and prepaid for hotels and things like that .  I recommend that anyone with a comped cruise keep a close eye on things. It could’ve been a whole different story if I hadn’t noticed it.

[Lastdance]

I just got charged 60 cents for no reason on my credit card.  This just shows the extremes that can happen on Celebrity for no apparent reason. I do not believe Celebrity has anything for 60 cents!  Citi wanted me to cancel my card based on this transaction...really?  Just think of the number of people who would need to be charged this to really make money.

 

I am glad that everything worked out the way it did!

[mayleeman]

27 minutes ago, Lastdance said:

Citi wanted me to cancel my card based on this transaction...really?

 

That is because card fraudsters will often put a miniscule charge in first just to make sure a card number is valid. When the cardholder disregards it because it isn't worth the trouble, lots of bigger charges are made in close order and they get all their stuff before it is shut down. Citi just being cautious.

[Lastdance]

1 hour ago, mayleeman said:

 

That is because card fraudsters will often put a miniscule charge in first just to make sure a card number is valid. When the cardholder disregards it because it isn't worth the trouble, lots of bigger charges are made in close order and they get all their stuff before it is shut down. Citi just being cautious.

My TA is looking into this for me, but this isn’t the first time Celebrity has added a charge like this either.  Celebrity stated the charge was there, but they have no idea why. However, thanks for the heads-up on a possible fraud testing.  I check my app all the time, so if anything else happens, I’ll be on it, but I will not cancel my card unless it becomes an issue, or I have no other choice due to more charges.  Charges are always pending at first, but I do not have to make a payment for a month.  Again, thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Edited September 8, 2023 by Lastdance

[Treasure Hunter]

We did a Greek cruise on the Connie in June. Six of us in three cabins on my dime. My stateroom was comped. A month before we left I check the reservations and changed the bed configurations. That’s all it took to have Celebrity drop the comp! ( we had six flights, hotels , excursions with private guides. I was on the phone for two hours with the casino ( thru Celebrity). I was told never to touch the reservation on line. If you want to change/add anything you must call.

[FilledeCroisiere]

Treasure Hunter, that’s crazy. We’re always adding, changing, moving things in the reservation. It’s part of the anticipation and preparation. 

[Treasure Hunter]

On a comp? Good luck! I’m never doing it again! I nearly had a heart attack. 

[evandbob]

We've had 10 to 12  seven day mid ship mid deck balconies fully comped during COVID thru Blue Chip on Equinox, Reflection, Silhouette Edge and Apex.

 

Now our offers are for less than a week inside or ocean view cabins - it was a nice run while it lasted!

Edited September 9, 2023 by evandbob