Carnival ectasy made us to cruise on sep 11 , the day before hurrican ike hit galveston,legal advise please!!?

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Tivogal

I' m sorry for your experience with Carnival.
In the carnival contract, Carnival says they are not responsible for problems due to weather conditions. Here's their contract.
http://www.carnival.com/CMS/Static_Templates/ticket_contract.aspx
cruisecritic.com
has info on cruises.

Jay

You won't get very far on most of your issues. Weather issues (including hurricanes) are well traveled (excuse the pun) in the travel industry.

However, the fact that you were not provided with a return to Galveston may be a problem. While have an emergency return to a different city (like New Orleans) happens, it's common to hire a bus or at least provide compensation for other means of return. You should write a letter to Carnival, leaving out all the other issues, and focus only on the issue of not being provided a return to Galveston. Enclose a copy of bills from whatever mode of travel you used to get back (rental car fees, bus ticket, train ticket, whatever) and ask for compensation for that expense.

They won't compensate you for lost days of work or your car.

The fact that you're still alive, ironically, will hurt you case for your other complaints. So, as horrible as they may have been, you're best just dropping it and moving on with life.

Kevin L

It was your choice to go. Carnival did not drag you on the ship kicking and screaming I am sure. You also knew that you were cruising during hurricane season and did not purchase travel insurance.

Even though it wasn't perfectly calm on your cruise, I am sure at no time was the safety of the passengers and crew ever jeopardized.

I've been on cruises with 40 foot seas, where the splash from the waves was reaching Deck 12. I am sure it wasn't near as bad as that.

If you had bothered to read your cruise contract, which was provided to you:

The Guest acknowledges that the cruise may be booked in a location that is susceptible to severe weather systems, including but not limited to, hurricanes, tropical storms and depressions, and that Carnival reserves the right to alter the shipâ€™s course, ports of call, itinerary, activity and shore excursions to avoid such weather systems and insure the comfort and safety of the Guest and crew.

(c) The Vessel shall be entitled to leave and enter ports with or without pilots or tugs, to tow and assist other vessels in any circumstances, to return to or enter any port at the Masterâ€™s discretion and for any purpose and to deviate in any direction or for any purpose from the direct or usual course, and to omit or change any or all port calls, arrival or departure times, with or without notice, for any reason whatsoever, including but not limited to safety, security, adverse weather, strikes, tides, hostilities, emergency debarkations of Guests or crew, or late air, sea, car or motor coach departures or arrivals, all such deviations being considered as forming part of and included in the proposed voyage. Carnival shall have no liability for any compensation or other damages in such circumstances.

Everything is clearly spelled out in the contract. You have no case. Period.

If you want to read more:

http://www.carnival.com/CMS/Static_Templates/ticket_contract.aspx

paintedhorse30

I think they should pay for your transportation from New Orleans to Houston but that is all. You decided to take a cruise in the south during hurricane season. That is a huge risk. We have 6 months of hurricane season every year. Every single year. Every year one or more cruise ships have to reroute their trips because of them. Next time take your cruise at a different time of year.

Time travler

I'm so sorry you had such a terrible cruise and Carnival is wrong to not have gotten you transportation from New Orleans to Texas. That, I believe may be your only recourse. As far as your car goes, I'm sure your car insurance will cover that. Carnival does have the right to change ports of call. This is written in your cruise contract. With that said, I'm still upset that Carnival even chooses to cruise out of the gulf states during hurricane season. Princess only leaves from NYC to the caribbean during the hurricane season. This is a much safer port and gives them far more options to divert the ship. So, I say, contact Carnival directly. Tell them how upset you are, but don't scream or be mean. If they want to keep potential customers, they should at least give you something for all your anxiety you suffered, plus the cost of transportation back to Galveston.

emily_irish129

I Very much agree with the girl who said go on Royal Caribbean! Even if the water is too rough, they wont dock at a port. Royal Caribbean is safe and easy. Again I am agreeing with the other girl by saying to talk to your lawyer about some legal advise. Good Luck!

Chris L

I am a travel agent and travel agency owner. I have seen this happen before, but typically they do provide transportation if they have to alter the return port.

First, write a formal complaint letter to Carnival. Make sure to include every bad experience you had, but emphasize the items they would likely give you any type of compensation(or future cruise credit) for. The major items being the transfers not being available from New Orleans, and also that your cruise ended early. The cruise line does reserve the right to change ports if there are storms etc...Also, it takes a hurricane a while to travel 75 miles. Rest assured that Carnival would not put their multi mullion dollar ships and passengers in harms way for any reason.

If you get an unsatisfactory response from Carnival, you can try to dispute their resolution.

Hopefully, your car insurance will pay for the car? As for work, they won't do anything there likely, other than maybe offer you a future cruise credit so you can travel with them again at a reduced rate. These storms are an unfortunate thing for everyone impacted.

Maybe not what you wanted to hear, but feel free to call me if you have any other questions.

Chris Lounder
Cruise Adventure Travel, LLC
www.CruiseAdventureTravel.com
866 570 3391 ext 101

karkee07

This isn't the first time that Carnival has done this. Several times captions of Carnival will go though a storm...when you do get home talk to a local lawyer for legal advice.

Also if you do cruise again, go with Royal Caribbean. If there is just a little thunderstorm they will reroute the travel path.

I am really sorry to hear about this.

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