Departure port changed

[Nigel]

Carnival Triumph - out of New Orleans - 11 Nov 07.
Carnival have changed this cruise which will not now operate out of New Orleans. Because I am with a Zydeco dance group (normally about 500 people) the organisers are choosing Carnival Conquest out of Galveston (TX) instead.

We have already booked air flights to New Orleans plus we wanted to cruise out of that city. Flights cannot be changed at all. What normally happens about compensation in this situation?

Nigel

[Nigel]

Carnival Triumph - out of New Orleans - 11 Nov 07.
Carnival have changed this cruise which will not now operate out of New Orleans. Because I am with a Zydeco dance group (normally about 500 people) the organisers are choosing Carnival Conquest out of Galveston (TX) instead.

We have already booked air flights to New Orleans plus we wanted to cruise out of that city. Flights cannot be changed at all. What normally happens about compensation in this situation?

Nigel

[Dwayne]

Hi Nigel, and welcome to Cruise-Chat!

If you booked through Carnival for your air they will take care of it.

If not, and the Cruise is this far out from the Departure, just cancel your flight for a refund and re-book.

Carnival is not going to offer any compensation for your transportation if the group changes plans because of the change in port with this much notice.

[Nigel]

We cannot cancel the flight or change the route - not even for any amount of administration fee. I have this confirmed in writing. The ticket would simply have to be wasted. I actually booked the cruise in November 06. It has just been changed - not due to any operational reason but simply for commercial reasons.

[LHP]

quote:

Originally posted by Nigel:
We cannot cancel the flight or change the route - not even for any amount of administration fee. I have this confirmed in writing. The ticket would simply have to be wasted. I actually booked the cruise in November 06. It has just been changed - not due to any operational reason but simply for commercial reasons.

First of all, make certain that you document every conversation and maintain copies of all correspondence.

If there are 500 of your group, what are the others in your group doing? I can not imagine that all 500 people are eating their airline ticket. I have never heard of an airline ticket that far out that could not be altered for $100.00 or so. Any funds spent to change the ticket will be reimbursed by Carnival.

Check with your group leader for direction.

[Cruise Fanatic]

I also find the fact your air ticket can't be exchanged very strange. I don't believe Carnival will pay for your ticket. They have given plenty of notice and their contract states they can change the itinerary. That is why they offer their own air, and that is also why people should take out travel insurance.

[jroth31]

I too was booked on Triumph for Sept and we opted to do the Galveston Conquest instead.
I had booked our tickets through Orbitz. It was a hefty price to alter the tickets to Houston, and to cancel would have been a fee. Luckily for us, the airline changed the itinerary of the flight and rules say that anytime that happens, full price of the ticket is refunded and canceled.
Here is a tip...when calling, ask for a supervisor or a manager that has the authority to cancel a ticket at no charge. most will take this on as a challenge. Also...be nice! Politeness will go a long way and help with understanding. never hurts to try!

[Nigel]

I had thought the same so I wrote back after getting the first reply. It seems the airports cannot be changed on my ticket.

<<Please note that the travel date/time can be amended for an airline fee
of US $ 100.00 per passenger and a Travelocity administration fee of £ [GBP]
45.00 per passenger. However, the city pairs and passenger names in the
booking cannot be amended.

Further, since the tickets are non-refundable, there will be no refund
due in the event of cancellation.

Please write back to us at least 5 days prior to the scheduled departure date, advising on how you wish to proceed further.>>

[Scarlet]

quote:

Cr

Hi Nigel
Are you talking to the airline in the UK or USA. I'm a brit living in the US and find the airlines are more accomodating here then they are back in the UK. Find out which airline you are using and phone the USA branch. Or if you change the dates you might be able to get a cheap return flight from New Orleans to Galveston. At the moment about $350 with AA but you have to go via Dallas. Just means a few more days to add on to your vacation. Hope this helps.

[HeinBloed]

Hi Nigel,

if I would be you and I guess that you are not travelling alone:

why don't you just hire a car and drive the 6 hours to Galveston?

Alternatively:

Buy a ticket with Continental:

It's about 100 GBP roundtrip from New Orleans to Houston.

BUT I DO NOT THINK THAT YOU WILL FLY DIRECTY IN TO NEW ORLEANS.

There will be a US-Gateway you are arriving like Newark, Atlanta, Washington Dulles etc. -

Book a cheap flight from this US-Gateway to Houston - and all your problems are solved for the same expenses like the changes.

Regards,
HeinBloed