Travel Agent is MIA

[mysticks1]

I booked our cruise through a travel agent in New Orleans. As you can imagine they aren't there now. I have a group booking and every time I call Carnival I am referred back to my TA. I am so tired of telling them that I have no one to call. I have spent hours on hold with them trying to get answers.

Is anyone else having a similiar problem now or had one in the past? I guess you can just call me FRUSTRATED.

PS: Anyone every received an upgrade when you have a group booking and an assigned cabin? ( Sorry if this is a stupid question but I am new to this. ) :undecided:

[GottaCruz]

mysticks1, I'm so sorry to hear about the problem you're having. I would think , that in a situation like that, Carnival would be able to understand and help you out. Maybe one of our very knowledgeable members will respond soon and offer some suggestions.

I just want to let you know that there is no such thing as a stupid question, mysticks1. Please know that everyone here is very friendly and helpful and very eager to answer anyone's questions. After all, that's what we're here for. Please feel free to ask as many questions as you'd like. Also, Welcome aboard, mysticks. We're very glad that you found us. We hope to see you posting often and we hope to get to know you.

[TheSkipper]

I would suggest you email Carnival. Go to their website and email from there and label it EMERGENCY.

Your chance of an upgrade on a group booking with an assigned cabin is slim to none. I have turned down upgrades simply because it usually means moving up one deck and going all the way forward or all the way aft. That is not an upgrade in my book.

My advise to new cruisers (and I get this question a lot) is book the cabin you really want and relax. But then I'm from Las Vegas and truly understand "the luck of the draw." :grin:

[JoeyandDavid]

Hi mysticks1,

May I suggest that you call Carnival, Request to speak to a supervisor, explain the situation, as I see it you have two options, ask Carnival to put you in charge of your booking in essence you want to fire your TA, or you could cancel the existing booking and rebook yourself.

Most importantly stand up, don’t take NO<] for an answer, and if the person your talking to can’t help you then you are talking to the wrong person.

I hope it works out!

[mysticks1]

Thanks for all of the comments. I have talked to Carnival approximately 5-6 hours (or should I say have been on hold) over the last 2 weeks or so. The group dept tells me that they can't see the details of my booking - refers me to my TA so I have to go through the whole story each time. I have asked to be transferred to a direct booking with Carnival and was told that a $250 cancellation fee per person would be charged to do that. ($750 for the 3 of us.)This was just because I didn't ask before the 9/22 deadline for cancellation due to port change which I was unaware of due to no travel agent to advise me. The only call I got was from Carnival which advised of the port change and full refund if you wanted to cancel but no deadline to do that because I asked specifically for one. I don't really understand a penalty for cancellation when I only asked for a transfer from one department to another. :huh:

I am going to chalk this up as a learning experience and will probably book directly with the cruise line next time. This is my first cruise so I thought it would be to my advantage to use one. I must say they were most helpful to me before the disaster and I considered them to have done a great job up to that point.

Counting the days to my "first" cruise experience. :grin:

[DaCruzNut]

Times have really changed.

In August, 1992, I had a cruise booked, with my TA, with Dolphin Cruise Lines. Andrew hit South Dade, with a vengance, and destroyed my home and my TA's office. A few days after the storm, and only a couple of days to sailing, I called Dolphin to see if I could change the date. The operator who answered mt call asked for my name, sailing date and zip code. Before I was able to tell her why I was calling, she said, "Yes, sir, what date would you like to change your cruise to?" Amazed, I asked how she knew why I was calling, and she replied, "By your zip code. We have a list..."

[kapeka]

mysticks-

first off, I feel bad for you. Even with all the "it could be worse" stuff that's going on- you've most likely been looking forward to this and now--??

by any chance- do you have a consumer advocate television show or newspaper writer in your area? The last thing anyone wants is bad press. It seems to me you've been put between the proverbial "rock and hard place" and need someone to be an advocate for you. And the media is a powerful force.

I know we have a local news station that goes to bat for people having consumer issues- any hope for that there?

Only other option I can think of is contacting CLIA (Cruise Line Industry Association -- or something like that--) most travel agents belong to CLIA and have to be certified etc to sell cruises. It's a long shot- but maybe they could help you? Do a google for CLIA and see what pops up. You may want to see if you can find the website for your now MIA agency and find out if they are CLIA members first.

good luck-- my advice is DO NOT TURN IN THE TOWEL! Keep trying!

[mysticks1]

***UPDATE***

I have once again contacted Carnival (only a 50 minute call this time :smiley: ) I finally got a supervisor in the group department that understood my problem and frustration at not having a direct contact to speak to. They were unable to transfer me out of their group department but I was told that I will not be receiving cruise doc's (no doc dance for me) but that I would have no problem boarding with the fun pass. They are processing luggage tags for me that I should have in the mail soon.

:grin: I am determined not to let this ruin my first cruise. :grin:

Thanks for all of the suggestions and comments. I am so glad that I found this board. If I had found it before booking I probably would have felt comfortable booking my own cruise without the help of the TA. <]

[jacketwatch]

What a horrible first experience! I do hope your cruise makes up forit. Maybe you'll win the loot back at the casino! :grin: I would say that this was an unavoidable act of God so to speak. What if you had booked with CCI directly and for some reason, say a fire they ost your records? If could have happened with them as well. My suggestion is to get the best price you can which often is not from direct booking wit the cruise line. Bon Voyage. When you are on board this will be a distant memory. Cheers, Larry :smiley: :kiss: :cool: :wink:

[JoeyandDavid]

Hey Donna,

So glad you got some sort of resoultion! Also glad we were able to provide a bit of assistance.

When you get back we expect to hear all about your first cruise! :grin: