Balcony Cabin w/obstructed view!

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gidgettegoes

Guest
Here I am, first time cruiser. The cruise was nearly sold out and I was unable to get the more economic cabins with windows. I need two cabins as I am traveling with my family of five. I was hoping for an interior and a window cabin. All I was able to get was a more expensive 2 balcony cabins. Ater looking at the Carnival Pride's cabins and decks I now realize I was booked into two balcony cabins with obstructed views. I went through 1-800-cruises to book this Mexican Riviera cruise and I feel like I should have been informed that these cabins do not have an ocean view from inside the cabin. Perhaps I am being silly and over reacting? However I feel a bit duped, as I relunctantly paid top dollar for two balcony cabins and was expecting a nice view and the balcony. I did call both Carnival the booking agent they said there was nothing they could do. The cruise was paid for in full at the time of booking. Any thoughts or suggestions from you more seasoned cruisers? I am still very much looking forward to the cruise, but I just don't know if I have perhaps made an expensive mistake! ! Thanks in advance. Gidgette.
 
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bnyce83

Guest
Don't qoute me on this, but I am pretty sure part of the life boat is hangning in front of your balconey. I think I saw a picture of it in the photo gallery... maybe under carnival miracle? I'll try and find it for you. Also, in the back of the carnival catalog, it has stuff about cancelling, and I am pretty sure you can get out of it. They have limits on how many days in advance to get your money back. Hey, if worse comes to worse, just tell them there was a death in the family... then knock on some wood.
 
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ksbateau

Guest
Don't call Carnival but try going through a different travel agent. If the cruise still has available rooms, you can cancel the old bookings and at worst, you'll have to pay a $50 cancellation fee. Then get 2 cheaper rooms. Check the cancellation policies. I think if you cancel more than a month in advance it's just a $50 penalty. We had to cancel a cruise to book a different ship and it was well worth it.
 
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bnyce83

Guest
Another thing too, I know they have cruise insurance. It might be a 100 dollars or something around there, incase at the last minute you can't make it. Then you get a full refund. Even if it is too late to get your money back, you still will have a blast. We were worried about this and that about our room when we first took a cruise. But at the end of the week, besides sleeping, I don't think I was ever in the room.
 
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Gayle V

Guest
Hello everyone, Just to clarify a few things here:

Bynce83 is correct about the cancelation info being in the catalog (page 68 of Carnival's 2004-2005 catalog), but be aware those are percentages listed there, ei: 50%, 100% that you will pay. Not $50 or $100. If there is more than 71 days until a 7 day cruise you should pay nothing at all to cancel, UNLESS your travel agent charges their own additional fee. (I will never book with an agent that does so.) Shorter/longer cruises have comparatively shorter/longer limits.

Additionally, having a death in the immediate family will not get you a refund of your money from the cruise line after those dates. You will get it from the insurance company, providing you have:
(1) paid for the insurance. ( Insurance is an extra cost you have to have chosen. It is not automatically part of your cruise fare.) And:
(2)You are able to PROVE that the death occurred, probably requiring a copy of the official death certificate.

A new travel agent will do you no good unless there really are other cabins available to switch to so (since you've already called Carnival, and they have apparently said there are not, ) all you can do is ask around at other TA's. There is a slim chance that there is an agent who just happens to have some cabins from your cruise on hold. (Again you must be prior to the cruise line's cancelation fee time frames.) You will likely have to pay your current agent that additional fee to take the booking from them.

Gidggettequos, You didn't state what cabin number you have. Why not post the cabin number and ask if anyone has personal experience with those cabins. They may not be as bad as you think. A lot of the cabins, listed as obstructed, are really only partially so.

(BTW - Whenever you don't get the info you need here in one of the cruise-line-specific boards, you might want to try reposting on the Community Board, which has a much higher traffic level. Greater exposure for your question is likely to give you a better chance at finding specific information.)
 
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Cruisin Gal

Guest
Look at the bright side. If you have to go to the lifeboats...just go to your cabin and jump on!
 
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diverdiver

Guest
You will still be able to see the ocean, but will probably have part of a lifeboat in front of you, too. Your booking agent should have informed you of this at the time of booking. Gayle V had an EXCELLENT post about cancellation penalties and travel insurance. Any refund can only be gained through trip insurance, and must be for a COVERED reason (illness, injury, jury duty, death, etc.), and trust me....the trip insurance company will require all kinds of PROOF before paying you! My personal opinion is that you will have a lovely cabin with a balcony (and, yes....you can see the ocean). Most people do not spend a lot of time in their cabins, as there are so many things to do at port or while at sea. The cruise itself is the thing, and I think you'll have a much better time than you might be anticipating! Hope your cruise is wonderful, and please let us hear from you when you return!
 
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gidgettegoes

Guest
Thanks so much for all the info! I am going to just stick with what I have... No more worring about it, from the posts on this message board it sounds like no matter what cabin - we are in for a great time! I'll chalk it up to a lesson learned! This is such a nice, friendly and helpful message board - I am sure glad it exists.

Happy Sails to you!
Gidgette
 
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diverdiver

Guest
You have a great attitude, gidgettegoes, and I'm sure you'll have a blast! The Pride is a beautiful ship, and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with your balcony cabins! Enjoy!
 


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