Carnival Cruise Lines Dishonest employee stole 500.00 from my onboard account and Carnival wanted me to put it back. Miami Florida
A couple of years ago, my kids and I went on a dream cruise to the carribean. I am a single mom and we had just gotten over the death of my mother, which my kids took pretty hard. We hadn't had a vacation in years, and I wanted to distract the kids. On top of everything, I work hard and I just wanted to rest. I saved up enough money for this trip and it was difficult.
What happened absolutely ruined my vacation, had me in tears, and made me extremely angry. I will never forgive Carnival and most certainly will never get on another of their ships.
I entered the ship on the day of the cruise in good spirits, and proceeded to the purser's desk to put money in my account. If you have ever cruised before, you would know that you put money in there and from that account, you may buy drinks, buy tours, etc.
I put in 500.00 cash into my account and went to unpack in my room.
We bought a tour in Jamaica and got on a bus. The bus driver drove like a maniac. I am not kidding. I was afraid some poor native would get hit. He tore around corners like a man possessed. I begged him to please slow down and that noone can enjoy the scenery if it was just a blur. He asked me, "Who is driving the bus, you or me?" I did get angry and told him, "maybe I'd better, at least we would get there alive."
The next tour was okay but then we went on another tour, I cant remember which port. We were going on a bike ride. I was not allowed to go because I had on flip flops. I went back in the ship and looked at the tour requirements. It did not say anything about flip-flops not being allowed on this particular tour. We had to get a taxi and walk downtown instead.
The final icing on the cake is when I got back to my room on the last day, I saw a bill for 450.00. I went to the purser's office and asked him to apply my 500.00 dollars to it. He told me that there wasn't any money in my account. I told him there was. I angrily demanded to see the manager.
The manager told me that he was sorry but I should'nt have given them cash. I told him that I trusted Carnival Cruise Lines to hire the right people. He told me to call the Executive Offices. In the meantime, he told me to pay the bill.
I would have confronted the guy who did it, but two of them looked alike. They were both South Americans and could have been brothers. I did not know which one to acuse.
The executive office did nothing of course. I was threatened with collection. Since I was trying to buy a house, I couldn't afford to screw up my credit, so I paid it. What a nightmare!!!
Janis
Pembroke Pines, Florida
U.S.A.
8 Updates & Rebuttals
Victory
Taguig,Florida,
Philippines
surveillance camera to prove your side
#9UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, July 10, 2009
i worked in carnival cruise lines for many years and i know they have a lot of surveillance camera especially at purser's desk, why don't you try to contact the CCL main office for an investigation of the certain voyage and date you were aboard (you didn't mention which ship it was), they will do send the staff home(the one at the purser). try your luck.
victory
Victory
Taguig,Florida,
Philippines
surveillance camera to prove your side
#9UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, July 10, 2009
i worked in carnival cruise lines for many years and i know they have a lot of surveillance camera especially at purser's desk, why don't you try to contact the CCL main office for an investigation of the certain voyage and date you were aboard (you didn't mention which ship it was), they will do send the staff home(the one at the purser). try your luck.
victory
Victory
Taguig,Florida,
Philippines
surveillance camera to prove your side
#9UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, July 10, 2009
i worked in carnival cruise lines for many years and i know they have a lot of surveillance camera especially at purser's desk, why don't you try to contact the CCL main office for an investigation of the certain voyage and date you were aboard (you didn't mention which ship it was), they will do send the staff home(the one at the purser). try your luck.
victory
Victory
Taguig,Florida,
Philippines
surveillance camera to prove your side
#9UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, July 10, 2009
i worked in carnival cruise lines for many years and i know they have a lot of surveillance camera especially at purser's desk, why don't you try to contact the CCL main office for an investigation of the certain voyage and date you were aboard (you didn't mention which ship it was), they will do send the staff home(the one at the purser). try your luck.
victory
Steven
Jacksonville,Florida,
U.S.A.
Try to go on a cruise without a cash deposit first
#9Consumer Suggestion
Sun, July 06, 2008
Like the rest of you I find this story hard to swallow. For one thing the OP would have had to provide a cash deposit (or check/or credit card) just to get on the ship. I have only seen people pay additional funds into the sail/sign account after boarding (but this is not required only optional so you don't die from sticker shock the day before the cruise ends when they give you the semi-final bill).
The money that may have been there already may have gone towards tips and such which are taken out from the sail/sign account.
You are semi correct though Peter. The cruise is cash-free while on the ship. You can give an additional tip in cash to the bar staff or wait staff or spend cash in the casino. Other than those general exceptions everything is put on your "sink or swim" card to be paid when you leave the ship. If you don't give them a credit card upon check-in they will ask for cash or check while you are going thru the ticket and boarding areas. This is only meant as an initial deposit though. Last I saw they would like about 300 dollars or so (Depending on the length or your cruise to cover the housekeeping and wait staff tips).
Robert
Irvine,California,
U.S.A.
Questions...
#9Consumer Comment
Mon, June 16, 2008
This post seems to have some holes in it.
Why are you posting this now when it happened a "couple of years ago" ?
Do you make it a standard operating procedure to always just hand over $500 in CASH and not request a receipt?
Peter
Pony,Alabama,
U.S.A.
This story certainly sounds fishy ..
#9Consumer Comment
Mon, June 16, 2008
First of all, ALL Carnival ships are CASH-FREE. This is stated in your itinerary, on your tickets, and on-board the ship. This means you can attach a credit card to your sign and sail card, or you can wait until your final day on board at which point you are given a bill (just like the one you received) so you can pay at that time with another method. I agree with the previous commentator who asked, if you did indeed pay $500 in cash, didn't you get a receipt? Wouldn't you demand a receipt for such an amount of money?
Secondly, it sounds like you spent your entire cruise nitpicking over every little thing rather than enjoying yourself. Flip flops on a bike ride? Common sense dictates that this is UNSAFE. It is not Carnival's job to teach you common sense. Are you also upset that they didn't tell you: "Warning: The swimming pool contains water."
Thirdly, you owe an apology to the poor Jamaican man who you so rudely insulted while he was giving you a tour of his homeland. What did you expect, a leisurely drive in a Rolls Royce with a bottle of Dom? Jamaica is a poor, third-world country. Perhaps you should have asked about the country and the tour before planning your trip.
Cory
San Antonio,Texas,
U.S.A.
I Guarantee
#9Consumer Comment
Mon, June 16, 2008
I guarantee IF you put cash money in an account they would have given you a receipt for the deposit. Now, I don't think you can even use cash. I think you have to use either a credit card or a debit card.