Am I Being Snowed???

[Pengawin3]

Okay, our TA called today to give me a heads up about a possible problem with our Alaska Group. This is a small (8 cabin) group of family and friends. Some of us have been on multiple cruises with Carnival, others are newbies.

 

One of our cabins may have to pull out of the trip due to a parent's terminal cancer. They, fortunately, have cancellation insurance they purchased with the cruise.

 

The TA is saying if they cancel we will be down to 7 cabins and would have to pay more due to our folding the discount into the cruise price. (this is a cruise that we have already made final payment on AND documents have been printed!!)

 

At first I saw her logic, but am now feeling I'm being snowed!

 

Am I crazy or isn't insurance suppossed to cover these things? Insurance is covering the claim, NOT CARNIVAL, right? Carnival has their money, or else it is in escrow for Carnival, SO, in essence the cabin is paid for regardless of if they travel or not. Any refund would be from the insurance company and NOT Carnival.

 

Besides, Carnival has the option of re-selling the cabin if the occupants cancel and making even more revenue. The cabin has been sold and paid for, so we would still have 8 cabins even if one is unused. Right?

 

Maybe the TA is concerned about commission? That would only be a problem if they cancel 14 days or less before the cruise with the insurance that was purchased.

 

Am I missing something here?

 

All help is greatly appreciated.

[jerseygirl3]

I see what you are saying, and I think you are absolutely right (although I don't know if your TA and/or Carnival would agree). Carnival has the money, they should not now say you don't have 8 cabins booked so you can't get the group rate. They've been paid. It's the insurance company that is out the money. I would take this to someone higher up and not give up until they see your logic.

[Litewait]

Go to someone higher! I have a group cruise booked thru Cruise Critic. I can't imagine it's much diiferent. My fine print says, if you drop below 8 you lose the "extras", wine, casino chips ect. However, you will keep the group rate. I just happened to reread that the other day. I would really fight it!:mad:

[jleq]

The cabin has been sold and paid for, so we would still have 8 cabins even if one is unused. Right?

 

I suspect [repeat, suspect] all the insurance company is paying is what Carnival is not paying. As such, Carnival no longer has "the money" [unless you're in "100% penalty"]. So there are seven cabins now. I'm not in the insurance business. As such, it's quite possible I'm wrong

[salty dingo]

The person who "pulls out" does not have to cancel... they can simply be a no-show, right? At this time they do not know they will have to skip the cruise because of the cancer in the family. They MAY still be able to go, correct? And the travel insurance does not require them to cancel in advance for the illness, correct?

 

I would ask the person with the family problem to defer a decision on cruising until the last minute. Maybe they can go, if the family member is in no danger of passing within the cruise week.

 

Either way, UNLESS the person cancelling expects and is entitled to a refund, their cabin is paid for and you DO still have the 8 cabin minimum.

 

On the other hand, if that party is officially cancelling the reservation, Carnival can re-sell the cabin, and your group will indeed have only 7 cabins, and you will be liable for higher fares.

 

I would not consider you being "snowed", but I would communicate with the party with the cancer in the family and let them know that they cannot cancel without causing the rest of the group additional costs. In that case, I think the people backing out should bear the same costs as everyone else, and that will probably not be covered under the insurance.

[pppiglet]

Go to someone higher! I have a group cruise booked thru Cruise Critic. I can't imagine it's much diiferent. My fine print says, if you drop below 8 you lose the "extras", wine, casino chips ect. However, you will keep the group rate. I just happened to reread that the other day. I would really fight it!:mad:

 

Same here...we were suppose to have 8 cabins in our group and only ended up with 4. Booked through a TA. They never changed our prices. Just said we wouldn't get all the "extra's".

[salty dingo]

You can always demand the TA to show you the Carnival policy on this in writing before you are charged anything.

 

If all they do is take away your perks, that is a pretty good deal, in my opinion.

[bubbles1209]

Or............we can change the name for $50 bucks, and I'll go with ya:p

Seriously, have you thought of someone else going in there place? Then no-one loses anything

[serene56]

Usually you book with a group rate. Not all agents will offer the discount if you dont have 8 cabins booked. (cruise critic waives that--gives us the price jsut not the ameniteis)

 

now on the side of Carnival-- imagine all the people wanting to book with a group rate-- get a few people to book- deposit -- then cancel close to the payment date just to keep the price low.

 

What amenities did the agent give you??

 

(you could try asking the agent to have a three way conversation with you and the group department at carnival.)

[rain_bowbrite]

Okay, our TA called today to give me a heads up about a possible problem with our Alaska Group. This is a small (8 cabin) group of family and friends. Some of us have been on multiple cruises with Carnival, others are newbies.

 

One of our cabins may have to pull out of the trip due to a parent's terminal cancer. They, fortunately, have cancellation insurance they purchased with the cruise.

 

The TA is saying if they cancel we will be down to 7 cabins and would have to pay more due to our folding the discount into the cruise price. (this is a cruise that we have already made final payment on AND documents have been printed!!)

 

At first I saw her logic, but am now feeling I'm being snowed!

 

Am I crazy or isn't insurance suppossed to cover these things? Insurance is covering the claim, NOT CARNIVAL, right? Carnival has their money, or else it is in escrow for Carnival, SO, in essence the cabin is paid for regardless of if they travel or not. Any refund would be from the insurance company and NOT Carnival.

 

Besides, Carnival has the option of re-selling the cabin if the occupants cancel and making even more revenue. The cabin has been sold and paid for, so we would still have 8 cabins even if one is unused. Right?

 

Maybe the TA is concerned about commission? That would only be a problem if they cancel 14 days or less before the cruise with the insurance that was purchased.

 

Am I missing something here?

 

All help is greatly appreciated.

 

I would call your TA tomorrow and explain this, I don't feel there is a need yet to go above your TA's head or anything like that. Call and explain your thoughts and request that she/he check into it and explain that you know other companies/groups have had this happen and that they just lost their amenities, although I just reviewed a group contract for a group I have sailing on the Elation in Feb. and it says that you need only 5 cabins to keep your amenities.

[serene56]

and it says that you need only 5 cabins to keep your amenities.

ii thought it depends on the sailing date/ship etc on what you need for group space.

[Snowball]

Actually I think your t/a is right. Group bookings earn their free berths based upon the number of cabins that actually sail with the group - early cancellations and no shows do not count towards earning a free berth. So if you have less than 8 cabins that actually sail with the group then you do not earn a free berth. Even though Carnival is already paid for the one cabin that may no be able to go, they still will not count it as having sailed with the group unless the occupants actually show up for the cruise.

 

Your free berth rebate is being used to lower the price among all eight cabins instead of being rebated back to the group leader after the cruise. I believe when the rebate is used this way, the t/a actuall puts up the $$ to cover the discount for each cabin and recoups their money when Carnival issues the free berth reimbursement a few weeks after the cruise. I could be wrong, but that is my understanding of how it works.

 

So if someone cancels before the cruise, the t/a will have to adjust everyone else's price and remove the discount because the t/a will no longer be reimbursed for the discount after the cruise is over.

[jcanino]

Actually I think your t/a is right. Group bookings earn their free berths based upon the number of cabins that actually sail with the group - early cancellations and no shows do not count towards earning a free berth. So if you have less than 8 cabins that actually sail with the group then you do not earn a free berth.

 

I could be wrong, but that is my understanding of how it works.

 

So if someone cancels before the cruise, the t/a will have to adjust everyone else's price and remove the discount because the t/a will no longer be reimbursed for the discount after the cruise is over.

 

That is exactly how it works. The OP's price would be increased because the TC (earned berth) has already been divided up between the cabins. If someone pulls out, there is no longer a TC and everyone owes the shared amount of the TC. It is also possible, depending on how payments were made by each person, that the cost of the TC may have been absorved by the travel agency until they receive it with their commission weeks after the cruise sails.

[salty dingo]

... but if the eighth cabin does not cancel (just is a no-show) and does not get any money back (uses travel insurance) then it seems like that empty cabin would count and the original price would stand.

 

I think the key to the OP's dilemma is to convince the eighth cabin to not cancel due to the consequences for everyone. Just let them wait until the last minute to decide, as I said before. Maybe their situation will allow them to go. If not, they can just be a no-show.

[Snowball]

... but if the eighth cabin does not cancel (just is a no-show) and does not get any money back (uses travel insurance) then it seems like that empty cabin would count and the original price would stand.

 

I think the key to the OP's dilemma is to convince the eighth cabin to not cancel due to the consequences for everyone. Just let them wait until the last minute to decide, as I said before. Maybe their situation will allow them to go. If not, they can just be a no-show.

Again, a no show does not count towards the free berth, despite having their reservation as paid in full. The number of cabins that actually sail on the cruise is what counts.

[EJ'S MOM-MOM]

I have a question about "PERKS". I am looking to book 5 cabins next year using the "Military Friends & Family" discount. I was wondering since there will be 5 cabins would we be entitled to receive any perks in addition to the military discount ? I am just waiting for the "promo" for this & have been assured by a Carnival PVP that it will come out sometime this year again. He already has all our military papers & 2 of the men in our group qualify therefore we will be eligible to get 6 cabins at the military rate. And if need be we have another military person in the group we can use. So we are still looking for some other people to book with us. So my next question would be if we get 8 cabins which would be cheaper the military discount or the 8 cabin discount ? And if the military discount is cheaper would we still be eligible for "perks" with either 5 or 8 cabins ? :confused:

 

P.S. I ask here because I do not know how to start a new thread . Any help in that dept. would be appreciated also.

[rain_bowbrite]

ii thought it depends on the sailing date/ship etc on what you need for group space.

 

Serene that may be, this is the first group I have done with Carnival so I am not very familiar with their group policies. I know the number of points vary per ship/sailing date but I thought that the cabin requirements stay the same. Could be wrong though.

 

At any rate I think the OP should call their TA and speak with them about, no need to get in a tizzy:D.

[salty dingo]

Again, a no show does not count towards the free berth, despite having their reservation as paid in full. The number of cabins that actually sail on the cruise is what counts.

 

Ok, so someone is going to have to check in to that empty cabin! It's paid for, might as well use it! I'll volunteer!

[rain_bowbrite]

I have a question about "PERKS". I am looking to book 5 cabins next year using the "Military Friends & Family" discount. I was wondering since there will be 5 cabins would we be entitled to receive any perks in addition to the military discount ? I am just waiting for the "promo" for this & have been assured by a Carnival PVP that it will come out sometime this year again. He already has all our military papers & 2 of the men in our group qualify therefore we will be eligible to get 6 cabins at the military rate. And if need be we have another military person in the group we can use. So we are still looking for some other people to book with us. So my next question would be if we get 8 cabins which would be cheaper the military discount or the 8 cabin discount ? And if the military discount is cheaper would we still be eligible for "perks" with either 5 or 8 cabins ? :confused:

 

P.S. I ask here because I do not know how to start a new thread . Any help in that dept. would be appreciated also.

 

It depends on how many amenity points your ship/sailing date/cruise length has to determine the perks you might get. Some have less pts or maybe no pts whereas some have alot. The best time to get lots of amenities is during off peak times. 1 pt may equal a cocktail party for your group or a group photo, 2 pts may equal a bottle of wine per cabin, etc. Best bet is to call Carnival's group department of your TA and ask how many amenity pts your sailing has.

[Mikel1733]

I am on the opposite of this thread in that we booked a cruise on the Imagination for Oct 19 in May. Two weeks ago my mother was diagnosed with inoperable cancer. Although the Dr. hasn't said, when I google his diagnosis the life expectancy is 2-6 months. I bought insurance thru Insuremytrip.com but in reading the info I can't really tell if I would be covered or not. I don't know whether to cancel the cruise and be assured of getting that money back and eat the airline tickets ($605) or chance it on either being able to take the cruise or chance it that the insurance would actually pay. I initally bought the insurance more for the hurricane aspect. Sorry for the thread drift.......I just don't know what to do.

[cruiseco]

The TA is correct in that the group members will have to re-pay their portion of the credit that was given to them.

 

This is exactly why I would never divvy up the TC credit to the group members prior to sailing. It open up a whole can of worms if the total group number falls below the amount needed to get the TC credit. Carnival and every other cruise line is very specific in the group contract that was issued at the time the group was booked what will have to happen in order for the group to be eligible for the TC credit. In this case the group has failed to meet those requirements. The fare quoted by CCL is safe -- all they'll lose is the TC credit and any other perks that were based on the minimum number of sailed passengers.

 

What the TA has done is divide the ANTICIPATED credit among the group members assumiong that the credit will in fact be available. The group fare established in the group contract from CCL has not changed -- the TA cannot unilaterally change that by quoting something else to the clients. What was quoted to the group members was CCL's group fare less their share of the TC credit (if earned). Since the TC credit was not earned they have to revert to the CCL fare.

 

What the TA should have done is collect the full contracted group fare at the time of final payment and then once the credit has been locked in send checks out to the group members or apply it as an onboard credit. Or, explain to everyone in writing and in very clear language what would have to happen if the TC credit is not earned. Basically, quote a fare with and without the earned credit.

 

The person cancelling does not have the option of just being a no-show. That person's insurance will only pay for the losses imposed by the cruise line at the time he/she was notified by the doctor not to travel. If he/she waits and the penalty goes up from 50% of the cruise fare to 100% of the cruise fare that person will have to eat the difference.

[cruiseco]

I am on the opposite of this thread in that we booked a cruise on the Imagination for Oct 19 in May. Two weeks ago my mother was diagnosed with inoperable cancer. Although the Dr. hasn't said, when I google his diagnosis the life expectancy is 2-6 months. I bought insurance thru Insuremytrip.com but in reading the info I can't really tell if I would be covered or not. I don't know whether to cancel the cruise and be assured of getting that money back and eat the airline tickets ($605) or chance it on either being able to take the cruise or chance it that the insurance would actually pay. I initally bought the insurance more for the hurricane aspect. Sorry for the thread drift.......I just don't know what to do.

 

 

What plan did you buy? They really vary on this point and you'll have to call the pla's office to find out. Basically, with an illness with a non-traveling family member there has to be a reason for you to cancel -- that reason being that you have to provide care for the family member.

 

It tends to be on a case-by-case basis. If the family member is given , say, 12 months to live and is not currently hospitalized they probably would not let you cancel and be covered. But a diagnosis of only a couple of months probably would. But the sooner you call them the sooner you'll know.

[serene56]

when did you book and when did you buy the insurance- compared to when your mom was diagnosed?

the biggie== pre exisiting condition.

---

[Mikel1733]

The diagnosis came about a month after buying the insurance. I had bought the insurance for hurricane protection.

[arabrab]

The diagnosis came about a month after buying the insurance. I had bought the insurance for hurricane protection.

 

We had exactly the same problem with a cruise this past April. I called the insurance company, they confirmed that, if my father's doctor documented that he was seriously ill or close to death, that the insurance would pay. I then asked about when I needed to make a go/no go decision, and found out that I was covered no matter when I made the decision, and that the insurance that we'd purchased would even pay for us to get back home during the cruise if his condition suddenly worsened. I documented the representative's name and contact information and brought that (and the printout of the policy) along on the cruise. We were able to take our cruise, and it was good to have some time and relaxation together then because my father's condition worsened suddenly a few weeks after we got back and he passed away a few weeks later.

 

I'd strongly suggest you call and get the information now.