I booked a cruise on the Carnival Fantasy for some friends who needed help booking and did not want to go through a travel agent. I used an online agency I hadn't used before because they had the lowest price (I know, but price was my friends' top priority.)
There are four of them - two couples - and they would like to be seated together at a table for four at dinner. I called the agency I used and they said, "we don't make dining arrangements, you'll have to have your friends talk to the maitre d' when they board." I think this is ridiculous. I've always been able to at least request a certain table size when I've booked before, even with online agencies.
It goes without saying that I won't use that agency again. I'll tell my friends to talk to the maitre d', of course, but do you think I will be able to make dining arrangements for them through Carnival's 1-800 number?
Cheers,
Michelle B.
Carnival Fantasy
Land Cruise, Britain and Belgium
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Now posting as MichelleP.
Seeing you booked through an agent Carnival may tell you that the agent must make the request for the dining arrangements. I would think they do this because anyone could call up and change someones arrangements otherwise. I imagine it would not hurt to try to call Carnival but don't be surprised if they do say the agent must make the request.
Michelle...
Sounds as if you may have just found an inexperienced agent. Call them back and tell them to cross reference your friends dining assignments. Also be sure to tell the TA to specify whether your friends want early or late seating.
This is pretty basic TA work. If the TA for some reason refuses to carry out your directions, "request"<G> to speak with a supervisor.
I made my booking straight through Princess, I have called them a number of times and they have done everything I have asked and more I have not even had one bad phone call, I don't see why Carnival wouldn't do the same. Wouldn' they want repeat customers.
Yes Michelle, listen to Kuki. I think you have an inexperienced TA. I had booked Fantasy 3 weeks prior to departure and then 3 days prior my parents decided to join and they told the TA (we even had different TA's) of our info and that we wanted to be seated together for the dining room. There was no problem at all with that and we did not have to go thru the MD.
call your TA back. I have never heard of a TA who couldn't make dinner arrangement for a cruise. I would be very leary of using a TA who wouldn't fullfill this very, very basic cruise request.
Thanks guys. They are actually a reputable TA company who has advertised in the past on CruiseMates. I, too, was flabbergasted to hear their response. There are other reasons why my friends and I are not happy with this TA. Well, live and learn.
Will be calling them today.
Cheers,
Michelle B.
Carnival Fantasy
Land Cruise, Britain and Belgium
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Now posting as MichelleP.
We have booked our cruise through different agencies and one of the TA's took it upon herself to arrange our dinner seating together despite the fact not all booked the cruise through her. All she asked for was our confirmation numbers and she did the rest.
Another reason not to use this TA. The people I booked for were Mark's parents and his aunt and uncle. Despite the fact that I made two different bookings, with different addresses, different phone numbers, and different credit card numbers for each couple, they seem to have put everything under Mark's mom's information.
They sent an invoice to her through regular snail mail with an itemization that they have taken a deposit out and need her signature and credit card number, and if she doesn't send it back immediately, there is a $50 penalty. This sounds like a contrived way to generate late fees. I've booked three cruises online and they've all been like any other online transaction, nothing sent through the mail except docs.
From the looks of it they are trying to charge both deposits to Mark's mom's credit card.
Mark called and tried to speak with their TA in charge of internet sales. The lady he talked to said he was too busy to talk to him, but took Mark's cell phone number and said she'd have him call him back. We'll see. Mark asked the woman about the forms being sent through the mail and she said "that's just the way we do things." She tried to tell him that all internet TAs do this, but he knows better and told her so.
I'll update you when/IF we hear from this TA guy. I told Mark that if he calls back and gives you the runaround, or if he doesn't call back, to ask for a supervisor.
I am very frustrated. I had been planning on booking my May cruise with them because their prices are so low, but now I will never use them or recommend them to anyone. I will write them a letter when it's all over telling them that, and why.
Cheers,
Michelle B.
Carnival Fantasy
Land Cruise, Britain and Belgium
__________________
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Now posting as MichelleP.
Michelle, i hope all works out for you. Just for future reference, most travel agents worth their weight will either meet or beat most internet prices, they know that the internet is hurting business so they will do what it takes to make it work for you.
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