Do you think Princess is being fair?

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veterancruiser39

Guest


Princess screwed up my booking to South America in 2006. Less than 30 days before embarkation, we did not have the required visa and had to cancel. We fought tooth and nail to prove Princess was at fault. They finally returned our money.

We gave them another try. The cruise is 12/03/07 from Rome on the Star Princess. Their reservations people screwed up again! We were promised a $200/pp onboard credit ($400). We asked for a simple upgrade. They said they'd try. Never heard from them. So, I contacted Princess. They say they never promised anything...enjoy your cruise.

Wrote to Jan Swartz who is the Sr.VP of Customer Service and Sales. She passed my documentation to an underling...same one who reiterated, "enjoy your cruise...sorry you are disappointed with our findings in this matter."

We've been on numerous Princess cruises since 1980...and 38 total prior cruises in 27 years.

Don't bother flaming me...I don't need any bread and cheese with my "whine." As an Elite member of Princess, I will make the best of a bad situation--anyone out there like to be lied to? Guess this is one step better on a garbage scow.

Will take my $ elsewhere after this cruise. Perhaps it is time to try Seabourn.

38 cruises and more on the way.
RCCL, NCL, HAL, Celebrity, Sitmar, Cunard, and others who no longer exist...unfortunately.
 
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CruiseAholic

Guest
Sorry to hear about that. $400 wouldn't make or break my cruise, if it isn't in writing, I don't anticipate anything.

Had a similar incident on Celebrity..

...2001 on the Millennium, people on the plane (charter flight by Celebrity for the ship from JFK) were shocked to learn that visas were needed for Turkey. I'd been there before and knew it and was prepared to stand in the line to get the visa. Many people had little cash and at that time, that was the only way to pay for the visa. However, another time on Princess (even without their air), the visa was included.

...2002 on the Mercury from Rio de Janiero to Santiago, we had to take care of our own Brazilian visas. Only thing that the paperwork from Celebrity said was 'make sure you have the proper documentation, shots and visas (if needed)' now wouldn't it have been nice for them to tell us what was needed.

Your itinerary sounds great, have a great time!
 
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Gary Wilson

Guest
Sorry to hear about your problems also but it is always the responsibility of the traveller to get visas. If you worked through a travel agent they should have checked for you and if you booked on your own, that is the danger of doing it yourself.
They said they would try on the upgrade so they didn't promise anything.
I really do think you are whining
 
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Cruise cutie

Guest
Sorry for your experiences, wished it had been made easier for your cruise by having specifics, and even then visas are tricky.. may all your future cruises be enjoyable ones, and Happy sailing..

as for $400.00 in cabin credit, it sure would be nice, after all.. but with a B/B as we do.. it's a mere drop in the bucket in the long run versus flights/hotels. sign and sail bill etc etc.. when you figure it's more than 7k involved..=shrug..and yes it's the principal of the equation.. but let's face it .. screw ups take place in land cruises too..we have been burned in land cruises stuff before .. ship happens in life .. we sure feel blessed to be *able* to vacation.. Happy research for other cruise lines to try!!..:)..Joanne
 
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Gayle V

Guest
Hello Veteran cruiser.

Glad you got your money back on the visa mess up. You are lucky to do so. A good TA would have kept you informed on thatso that you would have had them, but otherwise the Visas are the passenger's responsiblity.

As for the upcoming cruise, I agree, I'd be very upset to be promised a $400 onboard credit them, basically have them renege on that. That's what they're talking about when people say to get everything in writing. I don't suppose you have any paperwork, or maybe just an e-mail that mention's the promised credit? Without some paperwork, you are probably out of luck. I don't blame you for be upset about that.

But as for the upgrade, after all your cruises I'm sure you know that upgrades are never guaranteed. Either you book the cabin you want or you take your chances. And the chances always are, that you will end up with the cabin you booked.

Try to enjoy your cruise anyway.
 
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Mbandy

Guest
Sorry to hear about your bad experience. I am surprised that Princess didn't offer you some kind of upgrade as they usually bend over backwards for Elite Members. There's lots of availability on the ship so perhaps you'll get lucky.

=funsign on your cruise.
 
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