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Carnival Cruises Cancellation Options and Compensation

Written by T.I. Cruiser on April 30, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Passengers who don’t want to sail on a modified itinerary are eligible to receive a refund in the form of a future cruise credit which will be equal to the amount paid for the modified cruise. This credit can be applied to a different cruise departing through the end of 2010. Passengers on the four and five-day cruises which leave from Galveston and New Orleans which are being changed over to seven-day cruises, have the option to receive their refund in the form of a either a future cruise credit or money back. Those guests who want to exercise this option can call 1-888-CARNIVAL to make their requests known. There may be compensation for missed altered itineraries depending on the itinerary. Guests with questions should call 1-888-CARNIVAL.

Royal Caribbean Softens Stance On Past Guest Perks

Written by T.I. Cruiser on April 18, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Last month thousands of Diamond members of Royal Caribbean’s customer loyalty program were outraged to find out the perks they would receive on certain cruises were to be butchered. Diamond cruisers are those passengers who have accumulated between 10 and 24 Royal Caribbean cruises under their belts, in short some of their most loyal customers. This week Royal Caribbean has decided to give in (a little) due to the outrage which was generated.

Previously Diamond and Diamond+ (25 or more cruises) passengers had access to the concierge lounge but as part of a reworking of their loyalty program access is now restricted to only Diamond+ passengers as well as suite guests (even if it is their first cruise). Those of you familiar with the Concierge lounge know that its where all the good stuff goes down. Every night there is a happy hour with free booze as well as a concierge available to booking shore excursions, spa treatments and specialty dining reservations. In other words this is an extremely desirable perk, one that should never have been taken away from those already able to enjoy the lounge.

Now it looks like Royal Caribbean is softening its stance a bit on what Diamond members will receive as perks on their ships.

Starting on September 1st, Diamond members will be able to enjoy a private party every night between the hours of 5 and 8pm in a designated lounge. Complimentary Champagne and wine will be served at the party and a 25 percent happy hour discount will be available on all other beverages.
There will be a special continental breakfast available from 8 to 10am in a room next to the main dining room. A crewmember will be present to assist passengers in a sort of, “Concierge Lite” role.

These new perks are great news for those Diamond passengers that have lost their perks, but it is my opinion that those who already enjoyed those perks should have been grandfathered in. I understand that there was a problem with overcrowding in the Concierge Lounges due to people sneaking in their friends. I also understand there is a significant expense to operating these lounges, but blatantly disregarding a significant portion of your most loyal customers is a poor answer, enforcing your own rules regarding access to the Concierge Lounge is the right answer. Instead what happened is Royal Caribbean made a poorly thought out decision which ended up being a public relations nightmare.

While this is far from a victory for those Diamond Passengers who wanted full reinstatement of the perks they have grown accustomed to, it is a step in the right direction. I applaud those who contacted Royal Caribbean to let them know how they felt about the situation, I also applaud Royal Caribbean for responding to the voices of their customers.

Shedding Light on Royal Caribbean’s New Room Service Fee

Written by T.I. Cruiser on January 6, 2009 · Leave a Comment

One of the stories from this past weekend that evoked the ire of thousands of cruisers was Royal Caribbean’s decision to add a surcharge to room service. There was a rumor going around about a week ago that this change was coming and this past week Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines made it official.

The New Policy

Sometime between the dates of January 13th and January 23rd, Royal Caribbean will begin charging a $3.95 fee for room service ordered between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m. This surcharge will be charged per order if you choose something from the “Light Snacks” room service menu, between those hours. Beverage only orders will not incur a surcharge and room service ordered between 5 a.m. and midnight will still be free of any charge.

What does “ordered between the hours of 5 a.m. and Midnight mean?

Well, if you place an order between the late-night hours (midnight to 5 a.m.) you will be charged a $3.95 fee. Many cruisers are worried about what happens if you order breakfast for the next morning between the “forbidden hours” (queue scary music).
Rest assured, Royal Caribbean has said that in-room breakfast served between 7 and 10 a.m. will not be subject to the charge no matter when you order. Therefore, you can still put your breakfast tag out when you get back to your room after a long night of dancing.

There will be a 5-minute grace period to account for difference in clocks or watches. Also, this fee only applies if you choose something from the “light snacks” menu. Those ordering beverages will not have to pay a fee. This fee is per (order not per person), so if you are having a family get together in your suite the charge will still be $3.95 no matter how many people are present.

Is This Considered the Tip?

The answer to this question is both yes and no. As far as the fee goes it breaks down like this. Although the fee is $3.95 only $1.50 serves as the gratuity the remaining $2.45 goes to Royal Caribbean. If you usually tip more than the $3.95, you are more than welcome to add additional gratuity on the receipt. This eliminates the need to carry cash.

Alternatives to Paying for Room Service

Royal Caribbean is at least somewhat sensitive to the idea that some people will not want to pay for a service that is free (for now) throughout the industry. They are making sure that all of their ships will have food available 24 hours a day. On ships featuring a Royal Promenade, you will be able to enjoy pizza, cookies and sandwiches in Café Promenade. Passengers on ships lacking a Royal Promenade will have the option of either Sorrento’s Pizza or the Solarium Café.