Carnival’s vacation guarantee renewed

By Tom Stieghorst
Carnival Cruise Lines is renewing its Great Vacation Guarantee for another year, after guests used it 47 times to get refunds since its debut in September 2013.

Since then, about 4.5 million people have cruised with Carnival. Jim Berra, Carnival’s chief marketing officer, said someone is statistically more likely to date a supermodel than to ask for a refund, based on those figures.

The guarantee provides for a 110% refund, complimentary transportation home and a $100 shipboard credit on a future cruise if guests are dissatisfied with their vacation for any reason.

The guarantee must be invoked within the first 24 hours of the cruise. The program applies to U.S. and Canadian passengers only and those using it must have a valid passport to return to their countries by air.

Carnival introduces guarantee

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.