We won a cruise!....but...

[June Bug]

Okay...

My husband and I NEVER go to those silly time share things we always seem to get in the mail, but a friend of his really wanted us to go because A) he was already a member and was getting something out of it and B) We were guaranteed a FREE cruise out of it. Well, after visiting, we indeed did receive a FREE cruise...however we had to pay port fees and taxes, BUT, it was a 4 night cruise and that was all we had to pay. HOWEVER...here the downer:

 

The FREE cruise came with the lowest cabin option, an interior AND it has bunk beds....We are talking category 1A here....I haven't even seen those cabins let alone do, I, as a women with arthritis (and my hubby as well) want to even THINK about trying to climb up onto a bunk bed every night of our FIRST cruise ALONE without the kids. SOOO...thinking I could just "Upgrade" and pay a difference, I called the dreaded "Spirit Incentives" who the FREE cruise was thru. AFter speaking with them at length and TRYING to pay for my upgrade...I was told that I had to have requested an upgrade in the ONE AND ONLY phone call they would allow me to have with them, back when they also (after me requesting 3 sailing dates as requested) told me that I couldn't have any of the sailing dates I requested. They did NOT tell me that I couldnt' ever upgrade or make any changes to my trip!! What kind of "travel Agency" is this place....I am using that term very loosely for them. So thinking I wasn't out of the woods yet, I called Carnival, knowing that I have sailed on them for years and that they surely could help me. Got the specialist on the phone...told them my whole sorted story and "Melissa's" response was "I'm sorry, but you are using a travel agent...any changes you need done will have to be done thru them." WHAT!!?? I just want to pay for a STINKIN upgrade...can NO ONE help me??? :eek:

 

Soooo...I called my brother who is my "normal travel agent" :D and he has called some of his friends with Carnival who are regional reps...and believe it or not, they have never come across this problem before... They said they will try and see what they can do for me, but aren't sure anything can be done. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT??!! I mean, I am willing to PAY for an upgrade and there is LOTS of room on the cruise that is only in a couple of months and no one can help me!!

 

Pray for me :) I know I will be visiting that ship's Dr. with a broken ankle if I have to climb up there each night. (I am the most logical choice for the top bunk since my hubby is 6'3 and weighs 250 lbs):eek:

 

What would you all do??

 

June

[CC Help Michell]

Um. I'd say that whatever you have "won" isn't a good fit for you, so keep looking for something that does suit you?

 

(Unless I missed the practical joke behind this entire post (always possible with me! :D) in which case, "move along, nothing to see here!)"

 

PS If this a true inquiry, please search here for 1As -- tons of great info here on CCL's 1As, which has helped me tremendously.

[June Bug]

Just hoping that Carnival is wrong and that someone, somewhere has dealt with this before....so asking for advice on maybe the next step.

 

Or if someone wants to trade my bunkbeds for their suite...that would be a real act of Charity....;)

 

so if you aren't offering your suite, then I guess you can "move along" hee hee:D

[shipty2]

I would learn from this experience that there is no such thing as a free lunch. Period.

 

Your only option now is to try to pay for an upgrade at the pier. The ships always seem to be full though.

 

Good luck though!

[momofzeke]

Sorry about this. I'm not sure there is much you can do. I'm surprised your travel agent friends had not heard of this, because I've seen posts here about folks who couldn't get upgrades from the 1A that they "won", or couldn't get the dates they wanted on the "free" cruise. Best of luck to you.

 

MichellP, I think the OP has already paid the port taxes and fees, so she is kind of stuck with the cruise. I doubt they will give her a refund.

[June Bug]

Thanks...I didn't think about at the pier...guessing they allow that? I'm sure you are right though, they always seem to be full. Here's to keeping the hope alive that my brother's friends with Carnival can come thru for us!

[June Bug]

The Dates are fine for us...we were really open to anything...just didn't expect the bunkbed issue...as I said, I didn't even know there were cabins like that. I assumed if it was for two, then it would be side/side beds. I guess it is fine for two traveling who aren't wanting to sleep together. Oh well, we will see how it all turns out!

[klfrodo]

Just wait until you get the 1099 form from the company you won the "free" cruise from.

 

Yes, you will have to report this as "earned income" even if you don't receive a 1099

 

Also understand the cruiselines perspective. Once a TA has your booking, by law the cruiseline can only speak with your legal representitive who is the TA.

[shipty2]

June Bug they almost always have signs that say no upgrades when you check in because the ship is full.

 

However I have a friend who went on a cruise (this was on Royal though) anyway she went with a male friend she had known forever and only thought of as a friend. Well on the first night he brought out this gigantic diamond ring and proposed. She said no and he told her it was ok they would still be friends and she could keep the ring. Then the next night he left a note with he ring box telling her to put the ring back in the box as the friendship was over.So she went to the pursers desk where she was told the ship was full. She begged to get her own cabin and they did put her in another cabin.

So the moral of the story is maybe if you grovel at the pier they will let you but it'll probably cost you.

 

One more thing Junebug some 1A cabins are not bunks did you check that.?What class of ship is this? Or what cabin. Some of those have been put into new categories already so would not be 1A's

[Boozebabe]

I hope you havent given anyone any money yet. Sounds like you've been scammed. I'll bet if you check around you can probably book a legit cruise on your own and at a much lower price than they are asking for ports & taxes.

 

It doesnt sound like you are a kid if you have Arthritis. Havent you learned anything about "if it sounds too good to be true"?

[cuyahoga11]

Just hoping that Carnival is wrong and that someone, somewhere has dealt with this before....so asking for advice on maybe the next step.

 

Or if someone wants to trade my bunkbeds for their suite...that would be a real act of Charity....;)

 

so if you aren't offering your suite, then I guess you can "move along" hee hee:D

 

Ask your steward to bring in a roll-away (it might work) or take the matress off the top bunk and put it on the floor

[dan40]

Okay...

My husband and I NEVER go to those silly time share things we always seem to get in the mail, but a friend of his really wanted us to go because A) he was already a member and was getting something out of it and B) We were guaranteed a FREE cruise out of it. Well, after visiting, we indeed did receive a FREE cruise...however we had to pay port fees and taxes, BUT, it was a 4 night cruise and that was all we had to pay. HOWEVER...here the downer:

 

The FREE cruise came with the lowest cabin option, an interior AND it has bunk beds....We are talking category 1A here....I haven't even seen those cabins let alone do, I, as a women with arthritis (and my hubby as well) want to even THINK about trying to climb up onto a bunk bed every night of our FIRST cruise ALONE without the kids. SOOO...thinking I could just "Upgrade" and pay a difference, I called the dreaded "Spirit Incentives" who the FREE cruise was thru. AFter speaking with them at length and TRYING to pay for my upgrade...I was told that I had to have requested an upgrade in the ONE AND ONLY phone call they would allow me to have with them, back when they also (after me requesting 3 sailing dates as requested) told me that I couldn't have any of the sailing dates I requested. They did NOT tell me that I couldnt' ever upgrade or make any changes to my trip!! What kind of "travel Agency" is this place....I am using that term very loosely for them. So thinking I wasn't out of the woods yet, I called Carnival, knowing that I have sailed on them for years and that they surely could help me. Got the specialist on the phone...told them my whole sorted story and "Melissa's" response was "I'm sorry, but you are using a travel agent...any changes you need done will have to be done thru them." WHAT!!?? I just want to pay for a STINKIN upgrade...can NO ONE help me??? :eek:

 

Soooo...I called my brother who is my "normal travel agent" :D and he has called some of his friends with Carnival who are regional reps...and believe it or not, they have never come across this problem before... They said they will try and see what they can do for me, but aren't sure anything can be done. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT??!! I mean, I am willing to PAY for an upgrade and there is LOTS of room on the cruise that is only in a couple of months and no one can help me!!

 

Pray for me :) I know I will be visiting that ship's Dr. with a broken ankle if I have to climb up there each night. (I am the most logical choice for the top bunk since my hubby is 6'3 and weighs 250 lbs):eek:

 

What would you all do??

 

June

 

First you did not WIN a free cruise. You accepted a sales promotion from a time share marketing company.

Carnival has no part of that marketing company.

Second that time share company bought space on a Carnival ship and they resold [promoted it] it to you.

This is not a normal Carnival to TA to customer relationship.

 

When they do set you down and pitch the time share sale to you, you will wish you had paid for the cruise and never heard of the "free cruise!"

 

Dan

[trock]

Okay...

My husband and I NEVER go to those silly time share things we always seem to get in the mail, but a friend of his really wanted us to go because A) he was already a member and was getting something out of it and B) We were guaranteed a FREE cruise out of it. Well, after visiting, we indeed did receive a FREE cruise...however we had to pay port fees and taxes, BUT, it was a 4 night cruise and that was all we had to pay. HOWEVER...here the downer:

 

The FREE cruise came with the lowest cabin option, an interior AND it has bunk beds....We are talking category 1A here....I haven't even seen those cabins let alone do, I, as a women with arthritis (and my hubby as well) want to even THINK about trying to climb up onto a bunk bed every night of our FIRST cruise ALONE without the kids. SOOO...thinking I could just "Upgrade" and pay a difference, I called the dreaded "Spirit Incentives" who the FREE cruise was thru. AFter speaking with them at length and TRYING to pay for my upgrade...I was told that I had to have requested an upgrade in the ONE AND ONLY phone call they would allow me to have with them, back when they also (after me requesting 3 sailing dates as requested) told me that I couldn't have any of the sailing dates I requested. They did NOT tell me that I couldnt' ever upgrade or make any changes to my trip!! What kind of "travel Agency" is this place....I am using that term very loosely for them. So thinking I wasn't out of the woods yet, I called Carnival, knowing that I have sailed on them for years and that they surely could help me. Got the specialist on the phone...told them my whole sorted story and "Melissa's" response was "I'm sorry, but you are using a travel agent...any changes you need done will have to be done thru them." WHAT!!?? I just want to pay for a STINKIN upgrade...can NO ONE help me??? :eek:

 

Soooo...I called my brother who is my "normal travel agent" :D and he has called some of his friends with Carnival who are regional reps...and believe it or not, they have never come across this problem before... They said they will try and see what they can do for me, but aren't sure anything can be done. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT??!! I mean, I am willing to PAY for an upgrade and there is LOTS of room on the cruise that is only in a couple of months and no one can help me!!

 

Pray for me :) I know I will be visiting that ship's Dr. with a broken ankle if I have to climb up there each night. (I am the most logical choice for the top bunk since my hubby is 6'3 and weighs 250 lbs):eek:

 

What would you all do??

 

June

 

 

Can you put the mattress' on the floor??

[CC Help Michell]

Sorry about this. I'm not sure there is much you can do. I'm surprised your travel agent friends had not heard of this, because I've seen posts here about folks who couldn't get upgrades from the 1A that they "won", or couldn't get the dates they wanted on the "free" cruise. Best of luck to you.

 

MichellP, I think the OP has already paid the port taxes and fees, so she is kind of stuck with the cruise. I doubt they will give her a refund.

 

Oh goodness, I missed that part. :( A "free" cruise/prize, etc. doesn't require any expenditure on your part (until, as another poster notes, the IRS gets involved). If someone says you "won" something and only have to "pay" X amount to collect -- well, basically -- you didn't "win" anything.

 

Hope the OP is able to resolve this and have a good time, even in bunk beds. I also have seen photos here where passengers have taken the mattresses from the floor and bunk beds and put them together on the floor, so maybe that would work?

[jessemon]

First you did not WIN a free cruise. You accepted a sales promotion from a time share marketing company.

Carnival has no part of that marketing company.

Second that time share company bought space on a Carnival ship and they resold [promoted it] it to you.

This is not a normal Carnival to TA to customer relationship.

 

When they do set you down and pitch the time share sale to you, you will wish you had paid for the cruise and never heard of the "free cruise!"

 

Dan

Yep......

[zqvol]

Just wait until you get the 1099 form from the company you won the "free" cruise from.

 

Yes, you will have to report this as "earned income" even if you don't receive a 1099

 

Also understand the cruiselines perspective. Once a TA has your booking, by law the cruiseline can only speak with your legal representitive who is the TA.

 

That really isn't so. The cruise line can always speak directly with the principal, the real question is who is the principal and the cruise lines take the position that the TAs are the principals that they own the booking and not the customer. They won't talk to you because as far as they are concerned you have no connection to the booking until you appear at the port.

[popsec]

We went to the same type time share presentation but when we saw how high the taxes and fees were and that you couldn't even get a guaranteed date before you mailed in your money, we decided we could live without a "free cruise" from Spirit

[ahoys]

We also "won" a "free" cruise with Spirit incentives. It took almost a year to get our deposit money back when we kept sending in dates and they kept turning the dates down. We spent lots of money talking to those people long distance, because we were "on hold" forever every time we called. If you do get your 1A cabin, I'd say take it and be happy that you got it!

I agree that the mattresses on the floor is a good idea. That way, neither one of you has to try to climb in the upper bunk.

[jetskier]

Carnival does not do upgrades at the pier so that option is out. Like others have said, the TA "owns" your booking not you. That is why Carnival cannot talk to you about the booking.

 

You can ask the TA put you on a three-way call with the Carnival so that the issue can be resolved.

Dave

[~Jo~]

On our first cruise we met a couple who was also on their honeymoon and they were shocked to find bunk beds in their cabin. They couldn't get another cabin so they ended up putting the mattresses on the floor.

[jayesouthworth]

Been there and done that, and it's an anchor around your neck. Even though you won the cruise, if you didn't take the cruise, I wonder if you still have to pay the income taxes on it?

[kyrisong1]

Carnival does not do upgrades at the pier so that option is out. Like others have said, the TA "owns" your booking not you. That is why Carnival cannot talk to you about the booking.

 

You can ask the TA put you on a three-way call with the Carnival so that the issue can be resolved.

Dave

Dave you are absolutely correct, we took the advice from a friend when we went on our first cruise to ask for upgrade at the port, according to her they will give great upgrades because the rooms they have sitting empty would be a good upsell for them.

Well it sounds good in theory but they absolutely don't do it, according to Carnival reps in port canaveral.

Darn!!!

Trock I think the mattress on the floor is a very good idea

The steward would probably even reinforce it with those nice comfort beds to make it feel like a nice comfy little spot.

Hope you have a nice cruise for what it's worth June.

Carole

[MaryL_Trvls]

OK so i went o a free crusie i got when i bought a new car. It isnt really free . I paid for the port fee and taxes and then changes the date and upgraded to ocean view.

 

SOO my advice is if you know the final price, compare it to a promotion That way you can see if your reallly gettin a deal .Maybe you can get the room you would like.

 

Good luck.

[kidless]

My mother always said "If something sounds to good to be true, it probably isn't true" ..... why we never go to those time share things........

[LizaMM]

June Bug - OK....it sounds to me like you have already paid for your portion and are "in" for this cruise....As other posters have said, Carnival can't work with you, only your TA and it sounds like the TA is not willing to do much for you....

 

Here is what I would do....first, don't get down on yourself for the situation..it is what it is....this is what we call LIFE! Chalk it up to experience. Lets face it people, these coompanies would not be in business if people did not take them up on it so June Bug....know that you are not alone.

 

Now...I would try and make the best of it....make the call and see if you can get TA to conf with Carnival so you can pay for the upgrade....

 

You could also check with the Pursers Desk when you boad to see if there are any other cabins. Although they do not sell upgrades at the pier there are times when they do have empty cabins for various reasons (without telling a long and sordid family story I will simply say that i have had to take advantage of this for a family member once).

 

 

 

If that falls short, plan to have fun anyway! As others have said, put a mattress on the floor or ask for a Roll A Way. You mention that it is a 4 day cruise...most of those are on older ships which do allow for a roll away to be brought into the cabin.

 

Have fun, enjoy the cruise, get a taste for Carnival. Any day at sea is better than a day at home and you can probably earn two things from this trip...1 - Not to go the time share info route again and 2 - that cruises are wonderful and you can bring home enough great memories to make up for the problems.