cruise cancellation

[dodgercruiser]

We booked a cruise with air through Priceline 4 days before departure. We had a confirmed reservation but the next day Carnival called and said they couldn't get the air. They said we could get air on our own or cancel the reservation without charge. I thought a confirmed reservation meant something. Has anyone else had problems with Priceline or Carnival? I am reluctant to deal with either in the future.

[Sonny V]

Wow! Never heard of anything like that before. I use priceline for hotels and I know if I cancel I lose my money. If you have a confirmation you should have some kind of legal recourse, I would think. Good luck!

[mooneydiva]

I have not heard of anything like that cruise-related, but I have had friends book hotel rooms through Priceline and then show up to the hotel to find out there is no room at the inn. () In both instances, Priceline moved them to a different hotel. And, in both instances, the hotels were supposedly not as good as what they had originally booked. I don't know if they really had any recourse since they did get a room for the same price.

You mentioned that you were leary of dealing with Priceline or Carnival again. I would be leary of the Priceline thing, but not Carnival. The cruise was a service being offered by a 3rd party, not by the cruiseline, so I wouldn't really blame Carnival in this instance. . . .

Chris

[dodgercruiser]

It was Carnival air/sea that cancelled it.

[Karen Knowlton]

Air reservations booked through the cruise line are often on a "request" basis until confirmed by the airline, which usually happens about a month before the sailing, but only for those passengers who have booked by that time. Considering your booking was last-minute, I'm not surprised that Carnival was unable to get approval from the airline for your seats. You were, however, confirmed on the ship. Carnival has been fair with you, offering to allow you to cancel (with full refund, if I read your message right) if you are unable to book your own flights. Sorry you missed out on your cruise; perhaps next time you can consider booking at least several months in advance.

[Cruise Fanatic]

Also a good reason to use a Travel Agent. A Travel Agent probably would have told you at time of booking that seats had to be confirmed. Especially booking so late.