bigjay

I'll make this short. I called my TA to see if an up grade was available and its cost. After waiting a week I finally called back to find out my orginal room with a balcony(out $1007 deposit) was gone and I had a new room at TWICE the charge. This is not acceptable. Now I'm on a wait list for my room back. My TA tells me I can have all my money back. How can things go anymore wrong? What are my options?

triathlete

Jay:

Your first step should be to call the cruise line directly and tell them what happened--they may be able to help you.

If they can't help you, you might check around some other agencies and see if they have blocks reserved.

Let us know how it turns out.

lyynnee

Hi bigjay,
To funny, I posted on your last message and seen this. When were you suppose to go on the Conquest? and was your original room an 8a(room w/balcony)? I can check into it for you. I can't believe your ta switched your room before contacting you with the new price to see if you wanted it.
Lynn

juliae

Hello,

I am a travel consultant, specializing in cruises, and I am happy to make a few suggestions. I am very sorry to hear that you have had some problems.

I would take the agent up on the offer to refund the deposit. Keep an eye on the cruise line's website to see if your cruise happens to go on sale and then, re-book. Unfortunately, and this isn't much comfort, the cruise prices are not guaranteed until the payment is made. It is different from many of the other purchases that we make.

The agent would not have found out about the specific upgrade until your cruise documents arrived. If you booked a guarantee, then, the chances are pretty good that you would get an upgrade, but you don't have too much say in which stateroom you get. Often, a travel agent can see if complimentary upgrades or guarantees are available and should let you know when they quote prices.

Consider if your travel dates are flexible - prices might be better a week or two prior or after your preferred dates.

Have a great day!

lyynnee

Wow, is the above post just out there, or is it just me,lol.

BeachBoi

It's not just you--it's there! Julia is a frequent poster on Fodors.She has been hassled of late by Peter for commercialization as she always appended her "signature" which included the name and addy of her agency.But in all fairness, Peter was(and is) correct....no advertising...period....Peter, how is the pumpkin patch?

lyynnee

wow, I just read paul bowed out of this board. I've been reading his posts for years. I use to be just a person that knew alot about cruises(planned group cruises for years) and after my friends kept telling me to be a ta and constantly planning my friends vacation I went over to the other side,lol. Thats a bummer, I liked paul.

juliae

Hello,

By the way, I am not certain where the advertising is in my post above? Nowhere in my post above is there any advertising or commercialism. No name, no e-mail address - nothing! I just thought you might like some friendly, accurate advice from an expert. Oh, well, I guess not.... No problem, I did not mean to offend.

Have a great day!

Patty

lyynnee,
I was scratching my head a bit too after reading the response from juliae. From the initial post, it sounds like the TA made a change in the stateroom category without ever checking with the client to see if the new price was acceptable and now the original stateroom category is waitlisted.

bigjay,
I would follow triathlete's advice and let us know if you're able to work this out.

bigjay

Patty and all,
Still steaming and I am still on the wait list to get the cat. 8b room back. In the mean time I'm working on the above suggestions. Bottom line is...so far I get my money back and no vacation. I made the reservation for this Thanksgiving in Oct of last year.(13 months) I'll get back with ya later this weekend. This has helped...just venting. Yes, Patty that is the way it went down. Uggghhhh.

BeachBoi

Julia.......I apolgize for not being clearer.......I did not AT ALL mean to imply that your post HERE is advertising,etc...I was just attempting to point out your posts in the past and how vehemently Peter objected....(Would Peter have been so aggravated had you been on the Europe forum?NO!!) No one else seemed to mind, as there are many TA's on these boards.And I for one appreciate your info.Please forgive me.......S

lyynnee

Hi Bigjay,
I don't know if some one is pulling your chain or what, but the first place I looked I found 9 8b rooms, if you are interested you can email me at [email protected]. That is the Nov. 23rd sailing right?
Lynn

JJason

That's why I don't use TAs.

bigjay

lynn,
I'm on the list for an 8b for (3)& balcony. I had room 7337 which is now gone.
Next question....if my TA gets my room back will it be at the cheap fare of $3274.80 including insurance or will it be at the going rate? Would I be living in La La Land to think they would make up the difference? Can I say my who travel company is whitout getting in trouble on this forum?

BeachBoi

bigjay.....i cannot imagine that a TA would make up the diff....what are mess they have made however of a situation that could have been seamless if they had done their job....all it would have taken was a fone call, not an assumption.But on the other hand all they can tell you is "no" so ask...

lyynnee

Hi Bigjay,
I'm not sure if the agent will still give you the same rate, if she/he were a good agent they would make up the difference, if there was one. As of friday I could get you into an 8b. We could put you in a guarantee, so you may be upgraded. Worse case scenario would be that you would have a roll away in your room. I've planned many group trips with 3 in a balcony room with a rollaway because we like to be at the back of the ship and the couches didn't convert. The rollaway stays in your room and they fold it up in the morning, then put it back down while your at dinner. It does take a little space up in your room, but really no one seems to mind. I'm assuming that you have 3 people in your cabin. Thats what is seems like. I came up with a price on friday for 2 people in the 8b which was $2464 cruise only rate including port charges. I'm not sure(I would have to check) but I think the 3rd person rate was $599 plus $172.10 with port charges. You can contact me by email [email protected], or by phone at 1-866-979-3786(toll free).
Hope this helps.
Lynn

lyynnee

Oh Yeah,
The price was for the Conquest Leaving Nov. 23rd.
Lynn

Trvlingal

I'm a TA as well. No one here has mentionned the most obvious....why didn't the agent call her/his sales rep to get the cabin back. If CARNIVAL screwed up, that should be an easy matter for a rep. If the agent blew it, the rep can sometimes still make it right. I'm not sure I understand exactly what happened here. But that is okay. What I wanted to say was, if you are still dealing with that TA TELL HER to call her sales rep!

lyynnee

Hi Trvlingal,
The cabin is gone. Bigjay had one that held 3 people with a pull out couch. They have none of those available in that cat.(8b)anymore. I think they may be putting him in a suite now. It sounds like the ta screwed up, Carnival would not have switched him if the ta didn't tell them to. The ta should have called for a price on his upgrade(he called to see how much it would be to upgrade), she/he could of held the cabin for that day without deposit. Called bigjay(which he said she/he didn't) and if she/he couldn't have gotten a hold of him, I would have just left things the way they were. It doesn't sound like the agency wants to pay for their mistake either. Thats the take I got.
lynn

bigjay

Update....Yep Lynn had it right. I got my credit and I've booked the cruise for spring break.
Lynn, I will call you or e-mail you in the future. I do appreciate you letting me vent. I went back to a TA, who helped me with a Australia trip a few years back, to get me booked next spring.
Maybe we can put this nightmare behind us and just eat turkey on T-day.