We are Carnival past pax and are traveling with first time friends. Out TA had to split up my husband and me to use our 2 past pax numbers to reserve 2 cabins to get 2 lower rates, one of us in each cabin. Now what?

Do we go to the front desk and get reassigned when we are on board? Or do we just not say anything to anybody and stay in the cabins with our mates.

Any advice or experience to share? Thanks.

quote:

We are Carnival past pax and are traveling with first time friends. Out TA had to split up my husband and me to use our 2 past pax numbers to reserve 2 cabins to get 2 lower rates, one of us in each cabin. Now what?

Do we go to the front desk and get reassigned when we are on board? Or do we just not say anything to anybody and stay in the cabins with our mates.

Any advice or experience to share? Thanks.

I really don't condone this practice, although it is common, and between you and your TA. You will have to go to the Info/Purser's Desk and get this straightened out. It is beyond the cabin assignments, the Sail & Sign cards will be messed up too.

I just hope I'm not the one waiting behind you in line.

Dwayne

No problem they fix it at check in...before you board.

quote:

No problem they fix it at check in...before you board.

I learn something new every day here. I would be afraid at check-in they would enforce the rate policy. In either case, I wouldn't want to be in that line either. I just do everything on the straight up and don't have to worry about these things. I don't want any bad Karma affecting my casino play.

Dwayne

We just had similar on last weeks Destiny cruise. The PVP set it up for sis and I in one cabin and hubby solo in cabin with military discount. Sis stayed solo and I just went to pursers desk and had my card re-keyed to hubby's cabin. They asked no questions at all and it took all of about 5 minutes. They had MUCH bigger problems on Destiny last Sunday night than me wanting my car re-keyed!

Well I've spoken with Carnival twice and gotten two answers: one is that we get reassigned at check-in; the other rep told us we have to wait until we're on board.

I wrote to Carnival, both by email and a formal letter sent by mail to request that they reassign our staterooms before we boarded. Email reply told us to call and talk to a rep!

They advertise their Vacation Interchange Privileges program that should extend past pax rate to all who have sailed on their associated lines, as our companions have on HAL and Costa! It is an absurd way to do business. We are not only returning customers but we are bringing new business with us. The method of splitting us up makes life difficult for us as well as the crew. I'm not happy about it, but here we are!

Thank you for your encouragement that it won't be big deal. We'll write our room numbers on our tags to get the bags delivered where they need to be; get beds reconfigured and get cards redone. I hate the idea of starting our FUN Vacation out in turmoil but your reqassurance that it will all work out is good to hear.

It's been several years since we sailed Carnival, using HAL, Princess and Norwegian instead. We loved Spirit and were excited to see a good deal for us on it again, and with the added fun of bringing others with us!

I'll keep my fingers crossed, but I really don't expect to hear back from CCL in reply to my letter. I'll let you know what happens.

Thanks again for sharing your experiences.

quote:

Well I've spoken with Carnival twice and gotten two answers: one is that we get reassigned at check-in; the other rep told us we have to wait until we're on board.

I wrote to Carnival, both by email and a formal letter sent by mail to request that they reassign our staterooms before we boarded. Email reply told us to call and talk to a rep!

They advertise their Vacation Interchange Privileges program that should extend past pax rate to all who have sailed on their associated lines, as our companions have on HAL and Costa! It is an absurd way to do business. We are not only returning customers but we are bringing new business with us. The method of splitting us up makes life difficult for us as well as the crew. I'm not happy about it, but here we are!

RMLincoln, you didn't mention that your friends were past guests of HAL and Costa in your original post. If I would have known that, I would have replied differently. You are absolutely right. This system is a mess. And they need to redefine what Vacation Interchange Privileges exactly are.

Apparently they have changed the criteria, and are now saying Past Guest rates are different for Carnival past guests than for the VIP participants from the other brands. Now that I know what the deal is, I'm ticked by it as well.

I took the time to call them tonight to get some Info for you. They said "They will have to fax in proof of their past sailings on the other brands" and then we will see what the available rates are if any for the Vacation Interchange Privileges on that sailing.

They need to make these rates known, and what the procedure is for requesting them in their advertising of this privilege. After getting this info, and your post explaining the situation, I have no problem giving you some additional advice on how to handle this.

I would go ahead at check-in and tell them your cabins are messed up. All of you that are changing cabins on each reservation/booking are going to have to be in line together and go up together.

I'm very disappointed that they have advertised this, and then made it such a difficult process for information and available rates. I'm going to request an exact and current policy with detailed instructions concerning this. If any of the TA's on the forum know the current details, please post them.

Dwayne

I think this matter is being turned into something much more than it need be. First of all I wouldn't start your cruise with an attitude and approach the pursers desk saying "My reservations are all messed up". That will only put the pursers desk on the defense. The bookings aren't Messed up. They were booked in the way they needed to be booked in order to get both you and your friends a Carnival past passenger rate that you requested. The fact that your friends traveled on HAL and Costa doesn't automatically give them the Carnival past passenger rate. On the back of the Carnival brochure it talks about the VIP (Vacation Interchange Priviledges). You must read the words very carefully. It says VIP entitles you to "certain" Carnival Past Guest priviledges. That doesn't mean they will be automatically offered a Carnival past guest promotion. The Carnival Past Guest promotion and VIP promotion are two different booking codes. In order for your friends to have gotten the VIP for sailing on HAL/Costa, there would have 1)had to be a VIP promotion offered on your sailing. 2) Your TA or Carnival would have to have past guest numbers from HAL/Costa, or find proof your friends sailed. Perhaps both, either/or, of the above was not provided, so your TA made the bookings to allow both couples to still get a Carnival Past Guest promotion.

While computers have made our lives easier in some ways, they can be frustrating in others. The cruise lines computers are programmed to looked for certain information. They will not allow the booking if that correct information isn't there. Which is why your TA would have booked your bookings the way she did. She had to provide a Carnival past guest number that matched the past guest name for each cabin. It is the same reason families needing two cabins with under age children have to be booked with an adult in each room. The computer is programmed to look at the ages. The cruise lines know swapping will take place and they are used to dealing with it onboard. Don't bother the agents at the pier check-in about this. Go to the pursers desk once onboard.

The important thing is to not obsess about this before your cruise. Think positive and have a Happy Cruise.

I meant to say Purser's desk instead of check-in. As I stated in my previous post on board is the best place to handle this.

In the future they will need their past guest number from the other cruise line. Or they will have to provide their first and last names, along with their date of birth. They have a portal to check and verify this information across all of the brands.

And Cruise Fanatic is right. Not all of the sailings that have Carnival past guest rates have VIP past guest rates. So it doesn't mean they are automatically entitled to Carnival past guest rates.

And I agree about not worrying about it. They can fix it on board without any problems. The important thing is to have a great attitude and enjoy every minute of your cruise.

Dwayne

Thank you Dwayne and Cruise Fanatic! You are very reassuring and I will relax about this and go with the flow. Yes we will all be boarding together so we should be able to fix it first thing at the pursers desk.

I do see that on the back of the brochure the VIP statement includes the word "certain" privileges, but it doesn't say that on p 118 where it states "...entitled to the same Past Guest savings currently being extended by any of our lines." It makes a little more sense to me now to understand that there are different promo codes for past guest vs VIP, but it's still irritating.... But no more reason to go there....

We're looking forward to a great vacation with folks who have come cross country from North Carolina to help us building our house in the mountains of New Mexico. They were here for 6 weeks and we're happy to give them a cruise vacation for their generous efforts. And my husband and I are definitely ready for a vacation!! And we got a good deal always helps!

Incidently, when we get off of Spirit we're boarding directly onto HAL's Oosterdam at the San Diego pier to extend our vacation time. We'll get 6 totally different ports between the 8-day Spirit and the 7-day Oosterdam. Our companions have never been to any of the Mexican ports so it will all be new to them. There's lots to be excited about and you've helped me feel much better about it.

Many thanks to you both!! And especially Dwayne for taking the time to talk to Carnival on our behave to help us understand. You guys are a wealth of knowledge and experience and just amazing!
Maureen--

Maureen, you are most welcome, and thank you for the compliments. So when are you leaving for this fantastic double cruise? It looks like a wonderful itinerary for both ships.

We won't go back there, but you are absolutely correct it does say that on page 118.

Well I'm glad you're feeling better because this sounds like an awesome vacation.

Dwayne

We sail out of San Diego on Spirit on Nov 28, the day ater Thanksgiving, for 8 days to the 3 more southern ports, then again out of San Diego on Dec 6 on Oosterdam to the 3 more northern ports. We've done back to back before but on the same ship . . this will be a bit different but I'm confident it will work out. Otherwise it will become one of those funny stories for the telling!

We haven't sailed Carnival since 2003 which was an Alaska cruise, and I'm looking forward to their relaxed upbeat culture. We're ready for some FUN time. Fall is in full swing here. We heat by wood now and we cranked up the woodstove for the first time this season last night. Thought we might wake up to snow this morning - we're at 8700 feet, but it drizzled a bit. That spiral water slide is sounding better with every drop of the thermometer here!

I'll keep in touch, though sometimes it's difficult...I'm on a phone line and this morning the phones were out, as often happens. Never a dull moment in the mountains...

And again thank you for your generous sharing
m--

We went on the Carnival spirit in Feb of 2007. My Aunt and Uncle wanted to go also. we were Past Cruiser they weren't. My TA called Carnival and asked them to extend the past cruiser rate to the other cabin, so we would not have to "split the cabins". Carnival was more than willing to do this. Has anyone tried just being up front with carnival and telling them what and why you want to do it?
BTW you will enjoy that cruise it is one of my favorite. Just the right amount of sea days and ports.

Gary, that would be the best way to do it if they will. This wasn't RMLincoln's fault though. And you are right the agent would have to call Carnival to do this. The agent can't do it on their own. I would like to try this cruise sometime, but it would be a long and expensive flight for me. Time sure is clicking down fast for our cruises.

Dwayne

I've read this with interest. My husband and I are past Carnival guests, and last year, I booked a cruise for us and two other couples, both new to cruising and Carnival. Our PVP gave our friends the past guest rate since they were on the same cruise with us. . . .They even got upgraded two decks. We got upgraded three decks. That was the only difference.

Well, I must say I am glad it was posted. I've learned a few new things too. Especially about how the VIP rates work. And getting to know Maureen has been a pleasure.

Dwayne

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Originally posted by IslandCruz:
Gary, that would be the best way to do it if they will. This wasn't RMLincoln's fault though. And you are right the agent would have to call Carnival to do this. The agent can't do it on their own. I would like to try this cruise sometime, but it would be a long and expensive flight for me. Time sure is clicking down fast for our cruises.

Dwayne

It is a great cruise. We end up sailing the from San Diego/Long Beach for the same reason.. it just cost to much to fly across the states.

Well we still haven't heard back from my letter to Carnival and I don't expect to at this point.

Our TA was aware of our situation and said he couldn't get a past pax rate until he put in a past pax number, so that is how the split reservation got started.

I'm sure it will all work out and we'll have a good time. My motto is that it's hard to have a bad day on a cruise ship!!! You all have helped me see beyond this hurdle. Thanks again.

I've seen the prices drop more since we booked but that's what happens when we make plans with others and have to lock in earlier than we'd usually if it's just the two of us. Then we can really find some last minute deals.
But this is where we're at now and it'll be great, I'm confident.

I'm now looking ahead to taking grandkids to Alaska next August and I'm not seeing Carnival ships on that route then. This may turn out to be our last Carnival cruise for a long time. There's still a house to finish building here in the mountains so the Alaska cruise will probably be our only one for next year. It'll be an expensive but memorable undertaking and unless the economy improves suddenly we may be like a lot of folks and watching for the very best sales.

I'll let you know if I hear back from Carnival.
m--

Would anyone be familiar with how Princess handles this type of situation? We are past paxs and would like to book a trip with my sister/husband who are not past paxs.

I'm not going to profess to be an expert on this issue and I'm learning that differnt peole have different experiences. But,

Last year when we were interested in booking Hawaii on Princess for us and this same other couple discussed above, we were told that Princess has a Share the Wealth program that will extend the discounted past pax rate to first time Princess cruisers IF the reservations are made for both couples/parties at the same time.

I'd be interested to know how this works out for you.