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Carnival Cruise Lines

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To say that Carnival gets more than its share of complaints would be quite an understatement. We get more complaints about Carnival than about all other crise lines combined. We'd recommend reading this section carefully before you put down big bucks -- not after.

Here are just a few of the more recent complaints ...

Dacia of Hillside, NJ August 28, 2008

Dacia of Hillside NJ (08/28/08)
I booked a cruise with carnival departing San Juan on March 30th 2008. The Carnival rep I spoke with was great he even upgraded me to an ocean view(at least I could see 1/2 if the ocean). Myself and 3 other friends went to check in and they kept asking me if I was some other lady that was assigned my room, that was cleared up. Breakfast and lunch on the lido deck was a mess. The lines were ridiculous! The food was ok but not to die for. The omlet chefs t hrew the onlets at you with them half cooked and hanging off the plate especially if it's close to closing time for the line. Dinner was exceptional ONE night out of our 7 day cruise ONE night!

The rooms were old and needed renovations, shower curtainsd dingy, shower peeling. The ship I went on also needed new stabalizers it rocked way to much. All that didn't matter as much as the bad food and don't ask any of the staff for suggestions becasue the don't know! And they don't offer to help you find out either. I've traveled RC before so I expected the same GREAT service they provide but I guess I should have paid an extra 200 and went to RC. Carnival? Never again UNLESS they offer me a free cruise including excursion!

I id a survey for Carnival after the cruise but never heard back from them. However I didn't expect them to care or reply.

Dave of Shreveport, LA August 27, 2008

Dave of Shreveport, LA (08/27/08)
Carnival is about to sail on the Fantasy from Mobile tomorrow (Aug 29) right into a category 3/4 hurricane - Gustav. It plans to return to port in Mobile when the hurricane makes landfall - currently tracked to hit the disembarkation port.

I can't believe that the cruise is not cancelled and that Carnival will place people in harms way and potentially get everyone caught up in a mandatory evacuation. Safety is not taken as a serious priority. Not only will people potentially be in harms way, but for all of us parking at the port, there could be significant property damage to vehicles, etc. What are they thinking?

I want to cancel but Carnival will not refund my cruise but in the end i would rather lose my money than my life. This is just rediculous.

Gary of Mission Viejo, CA August 26, 2008

Gary of Mission Viejo CA (08/26/08)
We went on our first cruise in August/September 2005 on Carnival. We flew from California into New Orleans, which is where we were to embark on our adventure. My wife was about 6 months pregnant at the time, and we were taking our 2 year old daughter with us. They knew that we were bringing our daughter, because they charged us about 800 for her to cruise with us. The room they put us in was directly over a lounge with a live band playing till 2 to 3am every night. The entire room shook and vibrated, and felt and sounded like we were sitting right next to one of the speakers.

We complained repeatedly, but nothing was done. After 3 nights of complaining about the music they finally stopped answering the phone. Then they had the nerve to offer us a 15% discount on our next cruise. Needless to say by the time my daughter woke up every morning, after a long, late sleepless night, the daycare was already closed for lunch. By the time they opened after lunch, it was time for her afternoon nap. Ok, that was a couple of years ago. The thoughts not so fresh in our minds anymore, so we made the mistake of booking another Carnival cruise.

This time with about 45 people, in 13 cabins, for my in-laws 50th anniversary. They required we all put down a deposit, which was not refundable. We booked this in April/June 2008 with a cruise date in March 2009, almost a year in advance. In July we get a call from our travel agent who explained that the ship that we were booked on was going to be in dry dock during the week of our cruise, for maintenance. Didnt anyone at Carnival know that they were going to be performing maintenance on that ship? Why would they allow us to book and accept our deposits? We were allowed to reschedule at the same price with all of the agreed upon benefits, again for over 40 people, in February of 2009. What a hassle, we, along with our travel agent had to get in touch with everyone and coordinate the new dates.

We arranged the dates and thought everything was going well, until today, August 26, 2008. We get a call from our travel agent who now tells us that the cruise has been cancelled. She explained that she told her contact at Carnival to call us himself, but he refused. As far as we are concerned, after travelling the world, I have never been put through the hassle and aggravation that this company puts its customers through. I dont think I have ever had such bad customer service, and based on the reviews I have heard, it seems to be the way they run their business. I will never book on Carnival again, and anyone within earshot will hear what I think of them.

Judy of Venice, CA August 23, 2008

Judy of Venice CA (08/23/08)
This was not my first cruise, but the first cruise in which I traveled alone. On the first night, the dining situation was incredibly confusing, almost like a stampede. Since it was open seating, I thought I could sit wherever I liked, yet I was moved several times. I knew that if I were man, I would have been left to sit where I wished. I complained and was taken upstairs to find a table. This was humiliating. During the course of my cruise, I met other woman who had similar stories. While waiting to be seated, couples were seated before them. One woman stated she had just given up and ate in the Lido buffet.

I looked forward to having the use of the steam and sauna facilities. I was able to use it once. I am not sure why it wasnt working because I was told a different excuse depending on who was working there. The excuses ranged from Teen night to we are waiting for parts.

The last complaint and the most serious involved my health. I have severe asthma and I made this known when I made the reservation. For several days, I smelled cigarette smoke in my room and the corridors. I didnt know where it came from. My cabin steward was wonderful, I told him that something was making it difficult for me to breathe. I thought it was the feather pillows, so Carlos immediately changed the pillows to foam. I still smelled cigarette smoke daily.

One morning as I was sleeping, I thought I heard an announcement. Instead what I heard was voices coming from outside my French door windows. I went to the window and saw one workman sitting with his back to my window on the ledge smoking a cigarette. He and another man were having a loud conversation. I called the pursers desk spoke with someone who wasnt proficient in English and didnt understand what I was talking about. I was then passed to another person named Jen, I told her what was happening, she apologized and said someone would look into it. Almost an hour later, these men were still sitting talking and smoking. I called the purser again and complained. At that point, the smoke had irritated my breathing passage and I had difficulty breathing without coughing.

I made my way down to the medical office. I could not believe the lack of care exhibited by the nurse. She made me feel as though, I had inconvienced her by needing medical attention. I was coughing so heavily, but she had me sit and wait, then I was given a form to fill out. I was coughing so hard that I had wet my pants. Finally, I was put in a room and given a mask to breathe into filled with vapor to help ease my congestion. Not once did she check on me. Finally, she came in and said the treatment is finished and I was free to leave Later in the day, a person working in the jewelry store told me that the nurse acts like that to the staff too. There was a second nurse who was just as cold and impersonal.

My health was impaired.

Dorothy of Lancaster, SC August 19, 2008

Dorothy of Lancaster SC (08/19/08)
Good Afternoon I am writing you concerning a cruise that I have booked for October/25/2008 on The Carnival Glory out of Port Canveral Florida.My complaints are as follows on Saturday August/16/2008 I called to see if I could change my cruise until August/29/2009 because I have accepted a new job and you know how it is when you are going on a new job.I did not request any money back at all I wanted it to go on the same cruise that has alredy been paid for to be put on the cruise next year. Mildred told me if you transfer this to a different cruise date then you will forefit 1000 of your cruise to change these dates which was totally crazy to say the least.I was appauled at this.It would have been different if I had have wanted my money back I could have understood then.

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