Our horror story!!

[gottaluvdis]

So sorry to hear about your missed flights! I'm new here and our first cruise is the 4/29 3-day Wonder. I always fly out of Manchester and was curious why you didn't book Southwest to Orlando? They have many flights per day, most of them non-stop. I've found them very reliable. Also, the 25 minute connection time in Atlanta doesn't sound like a "legal" connection time to me, meaning the TA shouldn't have booked it. My in-laws live only an hour from Orlando, so we're going down 3 days early to visit with them before driving to port. I hope you get some compensation from someone for your trouble.

Sorry - just re-read your post and realized that you weren't flying to Orlando after all. Southwest does fly to Ft. Lauderdale as well, but the flights are all connections so you could have ended up in the same situation. I guess flying in the day before (or more) is the lesson here.

 

[mickeyboat]

gottaluvdis - we flew from Manchester to Orlando. DCL arranged our air so I don't think Southwest was an option.

Live and learn!

Denae

 

[videogal1]

Originally posted by smjj


We spent this week just getting documnents together to try and get our money back. Wish us luck....smjj

I sure DO wish you luck and also wish you could just rewind back to the places where all those complacent people were verbally patting you on the head and telling you not to worry.... Grrr

Will anyone NOW ask which is better to do first on a land/sea cruise? If you do the land first...you're already there to catch the ship......

 

[crisi]

To those who are TAs...

I bet you can tell stories about advising people to fly in the day before, only to get an earful about trying to increase your commission through an extra night hotel stay!

We also flew in the night before. My husband is trying to talk me into day of next cruise - I'm trying to talk him into a late flight the evening before. I think I'll win.

 

[Worldtraveler777]

crisi said:

I bet you can tell stories about advising people to fly in the day before, only to get an earful about trying to increase your commission through an extra night hotel stay!

Actually, I have very few clients that fly in the day of a cruise. I explain to them the possible problems that may occur when booking flights the day of the cruise. Then I give them the option of flying or spending a restful night at a hotel the night before.

I had to laugh when you mentioned the 'increased' commission for a 1 night stay. I might get $5 or $6 off of the average 1 night stay. It's certainly better than nothing, but I'm certainly not padding my commission by booking a hotel stay.

 

[clh2]

Originally posted by buzz&woody'smom
On our 10/25/03 Magic cruise we were delayed and watched as they rushed a few families on board. They made announcement we would be delayed bc of the flights being delayed...I felt so sorry for those families but was glad to see they made it

Hi Buzz&Woody'sMom - Did you see us waving at you from Grills? I've been wondering why the Magic left so late that evening. Now I know!

 

[tkd lisa]

smjj: So sorry to hear about this snafu. I know you were looking forward to the trip. I sure hope that things work out with the insurance so you can get the money back.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

I have to take control of as much of my own travel arrangements as possible. I always book my own flights...it's cheaper for me to do it this way instead of a package plus I'm not at the mercy of a cruiseline or TA to book on a flight that I don't want. (Many times I've inquired and they've booked a connecting flight when there are many non-stops and/or the prices were not as good as what I could get going directly through the airline.) I'm perfectly capable, and actually love spending the time looking for the best flight and best prices. I'm lucky because I can take SW just about anywhere I want to go. Also, I religiously fly in the day before just in case there is something that goes wrong with the plane or weather. Thanks for sharing your story!

 

[gottaluvdis]

I'm the same way. I always book my own arrangements, particularly flights since I can also get just about anywhere on SW. Many people don't realize that Southwest actually prefers people book directly with them, which is why they don't appear on general web sites like Orbitz, etc. They offer their best deals via the internet on southwest.com. Travel agents can book SW for you if you ask them too, however. Also, they are the most liberal airline if you need to cancel a flight, even if it's non-refundable. You won't get your money back on a non-refundable flight (on any airline), but you'll get a credit toward any other flight for 1 year, and the credit is transferable to any person you want to give it to. None of the other airlines do this. Denae, DCL probably has deals with the other airlines, which is why they booked you a connecting flight out of Manchester rather than the non-stop SW flight.

 

[smjj]

Well folks we just heard back from Princess. They are not refunding our money. She said they booked our air as a courtsey to us and they feel they have no obligation to us to return any of our money. keep you posted but its not looking good..smjj

 

[CAMICKEY]

This is not good news. Hope you continue to pursue it. - Mike

 

[MickeyB426]

At this point, smjj, you go straight to the newspapers.

I'll bet with a little negative publicity, things might go your way.

Good luck.

 

[eye R.N.]

UGH!!

I'll happily wait at the dock (and have) while DCL holds the ship for late arrivals. I can't imagion putting out that kind of money and getting so little guest service.

 

[Skuba2]

My heart sank when I read your story--particularly your wife crying. We leave in 2 weeks and am just praying for good health. Can't imagine telling the kids we can't go because someone got sick.

Anyway, I did want to pass on a tidbit someone here mentioned on a thread a looooonnng time ago. I may be wrong and I am not a lawyer and don't play one on TV----although my mediation skills have been greatly enhanced with my 6 and 9 year old girls.
Someone mentioned that there is a statute of limitations for claims against cruise lines of 1 year. This has something to do with them not being registered in the US. Anyway, the rumored practice is for the cruise line to pretend they are trying to work something out until they can get past the dealine and then say See Ya.

I would think if you booked the airline thru them, then they are acting as a travel agent and are responsible. Isn't that why someone would buy from an airline?!

Anyway, Good luck!

DG

 

[smjj]

The lady we talked to at Princess said they offer to book the air as a 'courtsey' to the passengers. I mentioned they offer this as a package and in a way act as the airlines agent. She quoted the company phrase again that it was not their fault and they were not refunding our money. All I know is when we got out CC bill it did not show USAirways as a credit, it showed Princess as a credit. They booked our flight, not us or the TA. Our TA was so upset she and my wife both consoled each other. She said she was stunned Princess was taking such a hard line and said in all her years as a TA has never had this problem with anhy other cruise line . We are seeking the advise of an attorney and have already sent a request to out local "Call for Help" TV station her in Indy. I also mentioned the bad PR they would be getting from me. I post on several websites and have been recieving many replies as stunned about this as we are. Again, the Princess person just did not seem to care, I was once again given the company line. I will keep you posted....smjj

 

[tecdavidt]

Wow, I hope you get a good attorney and give Princess a lot of bad PR. If you booked through Princess then they are responsible, period. Was the travel insurance not what they offered? Did you buy that on your own? I know we always book through the line, and we get their insurance which means they get you to and from the port or else a full refund is given if you can't make it to the cruise because of weather or airline problems or medical emergencies or death in the family.

Our 3/20 cruise we were placed on Delta out of Des Moines. We get to the airport and were told, sorry no seats!!! With it being Spring Break they were telling us that they couldn't get us to Orlando. Well, we call our TA who called Disney and guess what, we ended up with seats. The Delta rep in Des Moines was rude to work with and her co-worker nice but she insisted no seats. What ever Disney did worked. Coming back we heard our name paged as we got on the shuttle to our gate. Again no seats but they were in the process of working on a solution getting us home. We were suppose to fly out at 1:05 and we fly out at 10:55 am-- to Miami then to Cinn. OH-- in first class on a large plane --then we met up with our original flight to Des Moines. DCL's insurance made sure we made it home.

Our first cruise was on Carnival for a three day. No cruise insurance and we arrived in St. Louis in a blizzard! We took off in St. Louis when we should of landed in Orlando. We we finally arrived in Orlando it was the time the ship left. Carnival knew they had 7 people on that flight headed to the ship. We were the only ones with out cruise insurance. They asked the insured people, do you want to go home and get your money back? rebook for another time or spend the night at Carnival's expense and they would fly them to the next port, Nassau. They decided to do that last choice, Carnival then decided to put us up in the hotel, feed us, made flight arrangements but we had to pay for our short flight. They were so nice and easy to work with, I will never bash Carnival. They did not have to pay for a hotel or food but they did. That is great customer service. I can't see DCL doing that.

Our lesson, ever since we fly in the day ahead and we buy the cruislines insurance. We are double insured. Kathy

 

[lbgraves]

smjj, after chatting with you Friday I was really hoping that you would be getting some good news. Sorry this has turned into such a battle with you. (((HUGS))) to you & your wife.

 

[buzz&woody'smom]

Hey CLH sorry did not see you waving on 10/25/03 Magic I was too busy trying to find our missing garment bag with all of our dinner clothes and Halloween costumes in it We checked in early because my DM is handicapp and uses a wheelchair and a scooter. For my cabin we received all luggage before the life boat drill but I knew something was wrong when that garment bag did not show......Thank goodness I had tipped our room steward before hand bc he was essential in finding it. No one would help and I wanted to make sure it had not been left behind in the terminal loading area. I missed the sail away party and such and like I posted we were late departing bc of late arriving passengers so I stood in the service elevator area for over 2 hours while they brought up bag after bag.......I finally walked deck 1-6 looking and still could not find it. My room steward by this point since it was dinner time and we had nothing to wear and we had our other bags for several hours knew I was about to cry so he went on a hunt. He showed up later with the garment bag and said it was on Deck 4 in a closet .........our cabin was on Deck 5.......anyway was upsetting but missing the cruise would be much worse. My DS and her Partner were planning to drive down for this cruise since a group of us were going. My DS Partner was on a business trip and was due to get back the evening before departure. Turns out security was very tight and secure in DC so she missed her flight. No other flight could get her to MCO by the next day on stand by so she made it back to SC late on the 24th and then they drove all night bc they were so upset and scared about missing the departure. Luckily they made it with plenty of time to spare but were pretty tired that first day

smjj I hope you get some respect, decent customer service and a refund. I do not blame you for being upset and I am so sorry this ruined your cruise and vacation I know how we all look forward to our vacations and then for something like to happen is just wrong! I also always fly or drive in the day before but things happen, work, school, things so you did your part. Keep the topic alive and don't give up!!!

 

[smjj]

Here are some lessons we have learned.
1. fly or drive in the day before.
2. if you take out insurance, don't buy from the cruise line and make sure it covers machanical problems. We have learned that you can get this coverage if you do not have a layover under 1 hour. Princess booked us with a 25 min. layover in Charlette.
3. Realize you are dealing with a BIG impersonal company that looks only at the bottom line and looks at you as just one disgruntled former passenger, no matter what their brocures,commericals and internet sites state.
4. Put everything on a charge card. This affords you extra protection. We are trying to pursue this avenue now as we await an appointment with an attorney. Our bank said it could take weeks and there was no gurantee at that...
Hope this helps.....smjj

 

[crisi]

If it makes you feel better, Princess has been crossed off the list of possible future cruise lines to use.