Tag Archives: cruise critic

Carnival introduces guarantee

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Carnival introduces guarantee

By Tom Stieghorst
Carnival CruisesCarnival Cruise Lines unveiled a guarantee, promising to refund 110% of the fare if guests cut short their cruise for any reason.

The offer includes complimentary return transportation and a $100 onboard spending credit for a future Carnival cruise.

To activate the guarantee, passengers must report to the guest services desk within the first 24 hours of a cruise.

The guarantee applies to U.S and Canadian residents only and is valid on three- to eight-day voyages to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Canada and New England departing through April 30, 2015.

“The ‘Great Vacation Guarantee’ is designed to provide an assurance to those consumers who may be considering a cruise that we stand behind our product,” said Carnival Cruise Lines CEO Gerry Cahill.

It is designed to give potential cruisers “complete peace of mind,” Carnival said.

Carnival will promote the guarantee with ads, through travel agents, and on a section of its website.

Norwegian Dawn overnights in Bermuda due to storm

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Norwegian Dawn overnights in Bermuda due to storm

By Gay Nagle Myers
The Norwegian Dawn spent the night on Tuesday in Bermuda due to Tropical Storm Gabrielle. The ship departed mid-morning Wednesday and is expected to arrive on schedule in Boston on Friday morning.

The Norwegian Breakaway is scheduled to arrive at King’s Wharf in Bermuda on Wednesday evening for a two-night stay as scheduled.

JetBlue and US Airways waived change fees for flights to/from Bermuda on Wednesday.

Rain and wind buffeted Bermuda during the storm, but no major damage was reported.
Gabrielle was well out to sea by Wednesday afternoon.

Humberto in the far eastern Atlantic became the eighth named storm of the year and the first hurricane of the season on Wednesday morning.

Humberto poses no threat to land at this stage, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Agents assess pros and cons of Royal Caribbean restructure

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Agents assess pros and cons of Royal Caribbean restructure

Agents assess pros and cons of Royal Caribbean restructureAgents are concerned that plans to move the Royal Caribbean International and Azamara Club Cruises trade and client call centre to Guatemala could impact service levels.

The move is part of a proposed restructure of RCL Cruises to create individual businesses for Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Azamara.

But agents welcomed the dedicated focus on each of the three brands and the proposed creation of a 50-strong Celebrity Cruises guest and trade services team to be set up in the UK.

Moving the Royal Caribbean and Azamara call centre to Guatemala could result in the loss of 100 jobs. A consultation period has begun.

The new structure is planned to take effect from January 1, 2014. Jo Rzymowska, associate vice-president and general manager, will become managing director for Celebrity Cruises. Separate managing directors will be appointed 
for Royal Caribbean and Azamara.

John Sullivan, head of commercial at Advantage, said: “I am concerned about the call centre being moved. When this has happened with other companies the service has suffered.

“But on the flip-side, splitting the three brands is good. Having separate teams should result in our members having enhanced service and support.”

Peter Ruck, of GoCruise with Peter Ruck, said: “This would appear to benefit those agents booking mainly Celebrity Cruises.

“I don’t know of any consumers who want to deal with foreign call centres.”

Speaking to Travel Weekly, Michael Bayley, Celebrity Cruise’s president and chief executive, said: “As the individual brands develop and grow, they have different strategies. At Celebrity Cruises our focus markets are the UK and Ireland, North America and Australia.

“Royal Caribbean has significant focus in the UK and Ireland, but it has significant global sourcing and therefore a greater need for a multilingual global contact centre operation.”