CRUISE NEWS - CRUISE CANCELLED BECAUSE THEY SOLD YOUR CABIN

[@pickypants9696]

Frankly I don't think any cruise line should be able to cancel a pre-purchased cabin in order to sell it to someone else for more money! Just unethical!

[@harlanabraham7772]

That is very unethical.

[@paulready8897]

From Don’s posts I can tell that Princess is a very poorly run company and their corporate management is not ethical at all. They simply do not care about their customers at all.

[@Reed-2big]

I just had it happen in a hotel that was confirmed!

[@harlanabraham7772]

@@paulready8897 In my experiences with Princess Cruise Line they have been pretty good about most things.

[@judydale9661]

Not good, Princess. !!!

[@deniselawrie3570]

That's absolutely horrible!!! Cruise lines should not be allowed to cancel your cruise under those circumstances. Shame on Princess... and the so called credit... it's a slap in the face.

[@samanthaaskey]

I have loved my cruises with Princess but now I wonder what has happened to their ethics….shameful..

[@piratepiffvideo]

I was already incensed at the idea of only being offered a $50 onboard credit but I gasped so hard when you clarified it wasn’t even per person but per state room!?

[@quailhunter9343]

It was simply gasp worthy👻

[@lindaparker1823]

So shameful of Princess. These cruise lines keep getting away with cheating their customers

[@tubtimhosking3696]

Thank you Don for being our eyes, ears and speak for us. I am agree with you.

[@gregdrivesdriver5104]

You always hope that companies will shock their customers by going above and beyond. Just think of the positive press. In this case, since they blew it, it's time for the customers from that cruise to file a class action lawsuit. HUGE amount of money!

[@delaineymacphearson6850]

Definitely

[@horsewithnoname12345]

Lawsuit for what? It’s in the contract that they’re allowed to cancel any sailing for any reason.

[@tpkyterooluebeck9224]

@@horsewithnoname12345 Except that even a Judge would throw the book at the cruise lines because if they did this every single time, then there won't be anyone ever cruising except the wealthier. Its called discrimination.

[@horsewithnoname12345]

@@tpkyterooluebeck9224 it is not. But I love the stretch.

[@judymorris8749]

This is wrong on so many levels.

[@cherylkavanagh3387]

This is enough to make me never book with Princess.

[@sandrawilkinson2557]

I think I would be changing cruise lines and letting them know that I am changing because of it.

[@dianemorrow9392]

CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. get your buddies and friends together and sue for “breach of contract” with them. More people should do this when their planned vacation is cancelled without cause.

[@BobTheTruth]

Perhaps should read the contract first: "Carrier may, for any reason, without prior notice, cancel the cruise"

[@susancook1448]

One-sided contract for sure!

[@horsewithnoname12345]

Did you read the contract?

[@ryanm4013]

What part of the contract was breached??? You either don’t know how to read or have no idea what the fine print says. Which is it?? An ability or a comprehension problem? 😂😂

[@arribaficationwineho32]

@@BobTheTruthso cruisers should have the same cancellation benefits! Right?

[@joandobrijevic7572]

This is disgusting. I am a Princess Elite member but have not been back with them since Covid. I have heard so many negative things over the past few years about how cruise lines are now treating their loyal customers, not to mention all the cutbacks along with ever increasing fares. Just unacceptable what Princess is doing and shame on the company/group who convinced Princess to allow them to charter the whole ship, undoubtedly for a huge financial incentive, knowing it would mean bumping off other customers. Such a group should have contacted Princess years in advance to schedule such a long cruise before Princess started opening up reservations to its customers. Shame on Princess for the pathetic “compensation” being offered to the bumped passengers. It’s all about corporate greed and the lack of consideration for their loyal customer base.

[@jimmylee4494]

Princess cancelled a lot of benefit for Elite members. No free WiFi anymore. No free room service. Ni more upgrade. At one cruise in April, I have counted over 30 balcony was empty and as a member with over 509 days, I got zip! The only benefit I can use is the free laundry. I am not going back until they chane the policy. I have 300 days on Royal Caribbean and I have free drinks and WiFi. I will cruise with them more often.

[@joandobrijevic7572]

@@jimmylee4494 I have not cruised with Princess since I did a 38 day voyage in the fall of 2019....and then Covid hit. I had no idea so many of the "elite perks" had been cancelled. This is pathetic of Princess - they are getting so cheap with everything [except their fares!]. Nickel and diming for everything now. They don't appreciate loyal customers any more from what you have stated. Also they appear to be one of the few cruise lines that do NOT offer solo traveler cabins - it's time they go caught up with current day trends! There are lots of solo travelers in the world today but instead we have to pay almost double the fare! I too will be trying other lines [I have cruised most of the other lines but stuck with Princess due to their loyalty perks which evidently exist no longer]. I decided to try river cruising and although quite costly, I enjoyed my first one last December for the Christmas Markets and have booked a 2-week Viking one this November. I still miss ocean cruising but until these mega ocean cruise lines get their act together and treat loyal customers as they should be treated, I won't be booking for a while.

[@delaineymacphearson6850]

Wow! Had I planned that as a once in a life cruise I would have been so mad and hurt that that company had no regard for my plans.

[@lindadawson5277]

Thank you Don for being Don and having an open mind about your favorite cruise line when they are wrong.

[@lesharona48]

I am with you on this one Don. I love Princess too, but this just isn't right. They need to throw a few more bones!

[@robertpendzick9250]

It shows that what Princess told us when we had multiple problems onboard an Alaskan cruise prior to Covid still holds true, simplified, "THERE ARE A LOT OF CRUISERS OUT THERE WE DON"T NEED YOU!"

[@arribaficationwineho32]

And we have our choice of cruise lines and luckily have options

[@louielyon3235]

I agree 100 percent with you. If this happened to me I would never return to Princess Cruise line.

[@horsewithnoname12345]

Other cruise lines do the same. It could happen to you on a different cruise line also.

[@pamlaminsky8905]

I’m booked on Princess for a 16 day TA. Ive been planning this trip for over a year. If they did that to me, they’d lose me as a customer.

[@larrythomas5588]

Next March?

[@alanshinosky2336]

Obviously Princess does not care.

[@live2skide1]

Oh I agree with you Don. WRONG way to treat customers who have booked. Makes me not want to pay off ANY cruise early

[@billyknock5011]

That is very poor goodwill for loyal customers. If I had been booked in that, I would never consider using Princess in the future. Shame on Princess.

[@sandygivens4748]

My only issue here is that a $50 credit is a spit in the ocean to them. should’ve been better compensation for those already booked.

[@berbabrinkley2206]

I think this is absolutely unthinkable! I cannot imagine the planning and advance that one makes for a long 19 day cruise to Japan and then being told that it’s canceled. This is horrific and I don’t think I would ever sail on Princess cruise again.

[@c.christman9649]

$50.00? What a joke! I would go to another cruise line and just select a different date. Thank you for letting us know what to expect from Princess!

[@auntiewombat]

Unfortunately these kinds of things will continue to happen until customers hit them in the wallet and take their business elsewhere. I've wanted to save up and take my husband on a great cruise for a long time since he's never been on one but I'm afraid things in the industry have changed to much for my tastes. There was a day when there was some kind of delicious buffet or offering on the ship just about all the time. There were no "restaurants" on board where you'd have to pay extra and exhorbitant prices to eat there. The list of diminished amenities goes on so I won't bore you but suffice it to say that I am surprised that so many of them are still in business considering the shenanigans they pull.

[@6360carolyn]

I would be livid if this happened to me. What a mean thing to do. Princess needs to step up to the plate treat their guests as valued customers.

[@carolynnowak3823]

Not nice Princess!

[@gisellemeneses7270]

I completely agree! Thanks Don for your honest feedback towards Princess. They need to do more to make it up to passengers!

[@susanr1306]

Travel agents must be livid too. Imagine the double work. Plus some guests like nurses have to pick vacation time a year ahead and can't change vacation days.

[@pb1963]

Carnival Corporation & PLC, parent of Princess Cruises, is really hurting financially. The financial picture is truly ruling their business decisions. The question is will decisions like this have a significant negative affect with their loyal cruisers in the long run. There are lots of cruise line choices out there.

[@peterasacker5948]

I hope that group books often, I feel those who had booked and then were kicked to the curb will look elsewhere for their future cruises....there are plenty of cruise lines to pick from.. Shame on Princess

[@ladyj9474]

wow, that is really bad, Princess should be ashamed. Thanks for calling them out Don.

[@lolal1026]

Obviously they don't care. My opinion is everyone of those passengers should protest, put it out there all over the news & social media. Hurt them where it counts. Perhaps they'll come up with a better solution & how to handle charters. Why not have one dedicated ship to do only charter cruises.

[@susancook1448]

I agree. Publicity would be the best route.

[@tonyvaninetti3429]

We recently sailed in Alaska on the Ruby Princess. It was full. Crowds and lines all the time, everywhere. Not a fun experience. We will avoid the larger Princess ships.

[@upstatefirewood]

Don't blame Princess, blame Carnival Cruise Lines (who owns Princess) for making this decision.

[@elouise5593]

It's a subsidiary and thus makes It's own decisions.

[@upstatefirewood]

@@elouise5593 So you really think that Corporate has nothing to do with such big decisions, that they have no say so in such matters. Yeah..

[@ajett5081]

This just tells you what they think of their customers. Tell the Company to take a long hike on a short pier.

[@lindakruger1784]

Totally agree with everything you said! Shame on all the cruiselines that do this!

[@elouise5593]

Any cruiseline that accepts charters shouldn't let the charters book a ship sooner than a year in advance! To do otherwise and bump the regular cruisers is horrible!

[@patriciazag9443]

I agree Don. That is pretty crappy on Princess' part. They did that to us once, except it was a $15 OBC they offered. We went with HAL instead.

[@elouise5593]

Only $15???!!! Cheap bastards!

[@williammiller5449]

We are also Princess fans, but I agree in this case they did the booked passengers dirty. In fact, I can't understand how selling someone's cruise out from under them is legal. I can imagine the howl if airlines tried to do something similar.

[@susancook1448]

Aren’t the ships charted with foreign countries? Probably no laws that cover this

[@barbaraauty9966]

It would not be legal in the UK

[@mMsbeezer]

Airlines do it all of the time.

[@bobcameron2566]

airlines so it every day. Just by overbooking.

[@isobelengel170]

On Feb 1, 2022, Princess cancelled our cruises B2B on April 28, 2022. Then Aug 4th, 2022, cruise got "postponed" to same date in 2023 ... fare would be the same, no OBC offered. So at least for May 2024, they have 10 months notice, in my first case it was 3 months!!! Just as well I had EZ Air.

[@terrilythe1208]

Shame on Princess!

[@theresagarcia4892]

Wow, shame, shame on princess! I hope social media blows them up until they finally get some sense and realize they are treating their customers like crap! And make it right!

[@lynnleipold2617]

In the last year I’ve been hearing more and more glitchy things about Princess. My first cruise was on Princess to Alaska. It was wonderful! Since then, we’ve gone mostly on Viking and Oceania and loved them. I have been brave recently and booked an eastern med. trip with Holland America for Oct. because I liked their itinerary best. But the more I hear about Princess the less likely I am to book with them.

[@yana1955]

I went Elite on my last Princess cruise but I am rapidly souring on them. And I suspect they don't care that other Princess loyalists are beginning to feel that way.

[@yc3613]

Exactly why we stopped sailing Princess almost 30 years ago. The compensation offered was what anyone could get just reading one of their ads. Never again, there are many other choices.

[@joanjohnston7639]

I would have to say, 'no cruising with Princess cruise lines'. Lets hope the clients discontinue going with Princess Cruises....

[@cruisegirl60]

Bad PR can be very expensive. I would think Princess would know this.

[@lynnrussell8301]

This is unconscionable! We’ve been cruising for many years and never heard of this type of problem till this year. I love Princess but am now Leary of booking a cruise on them. I understand that legally they can do this but ethically it’s just wrong.

[@cherylw445]

Well, adding Princess to the "dont cruise with them" list. Theyve not personally wronged me, but thats only by shear luck. The very fact that they did it at all has crossed my moral boundaries, and I wont ever reward that with a booking. Shame on you Princess. Thank you, Don, for making this known.

[@horsewithnoname12345]

Other cruise lines have done the same in the past and this can happen to you on another line too.

[@cherylw445]

@@horsewithnoname12345 it certainly can, and as soon as it does that line is off my list. Iv not heard of an entire passenger list being canceled to accommodate a large group who booked the entire ship, thats just wrong. Cancelations happen all the time, for many reasons, but this is a new one for me.

[@horsewithnoname12345]

@@cherylw445 I have heard of it happening on a handful of lines. Cruise lines are in the business of making money and they’re struggling financially so when they can sell out an entire ship they’ll jump on it.

[@mistygibbs2122]

I will never sail on Carnival again. Six years ago I decided to celebrate my 80th birthday on a cruise out of New Orleans with a week in NOLA. I scheduled the Chef's Table 🍽 dinner for four on my birthday. I did this well in advance. I confirmed when I boarded the ship. They cancelled my reservations the night before! That was sick! None of us and none of our friends will ever sail that disgusting line again. They absolutely ruined my 80th birthday. We thought dinner at the Chef's Table would be a real treat. Instead Carnival gave me a real kick in the butt as though my life had no value. In the future I sticking with RCCL and Celebrity. I am cruising with RCCL in September 2023 and Celebrity 2023. Their food and the experience is so much better but they weren't sailing out of New Orleans so I settled for the boisterous Carnival.

[@stevejohnson810]

That stinks......If they did that to me I,d definitely be approaching the management....Absolutely disgusting...

[@kendram2664]

Don, thanks for letting us know what Princess has done. I am "black card" with Princess and this would make me not want to cruise with them again. Just shameful!

[@drivingmissdisney4322]

Rant approved! If it was me it would be the last time I would book a cruise with them and make sure anyone I knew also knew about this possibility. What’s to stop them from doing it again?! I would not trust them with a once in a lifetime vacation going forward ever again!!! 😤

[@travelcrazyguy9082]

Way to go Princess!!! That's some fine customer service.

[@sarahphillips295]

Wow did Princess drop the ball on this one. A $50 onboard credit per stateroom when they inconvenience people who gave them thousands like this is insane. People might already have flights and hotels booked. Which like you said aren’t cheap at all. If they keep doing this word is going to get out and it won’t end well for them.

[@michaeltoma1023]

That obc doesn't even get you dinner at Sabatinis... ugh!

[@sandyharris3578]

And, you’re not even telling what a headache it is for a travel agent to have to try to fix this disappointment for their client. Clients lose their confidence in the agent when an agent is unable to fix things. Also, not only do we lose the time we’ve spent booking them but, we lose the all of our commission as well. And, the time and commission from all of the other accommodations that go along with a cruise (air, hotel, transfers, travel insurance, etc.) We likely have already spent a significant amount of time doing all of these other things also. 🙁

[@karenrobinsononline3914]

Thanks for calling it out Don - keep doing what you're doing!

[@bdwoloshen5364]

I do it believe this, there has to be another truth to this !

[@user-ts5ek7zo5f]

This should not be allowed to happen. I was about to book up for a Mediterranean cruise next year but don't want to risk being cancelled, coming from NZ we would be spending quite a lot before and after, just don't want to risk it, hopefully others will feel the same and book with one of the other lines, there are plenty to choose from

[@harlanabraham7772]

Yes, such a trip one could spend a lot of time in the casino. Also, go to the gym before breakfast. I get a larger onboard credit because I am a veteran. And that's on a seven day cruise. I can't believe that Princess Cruise Line is doing this. A cruise line should not sell a stateroom that is already booked. I wonder if Princess Cruise Line will suffer a falloff because passengers may not want to book with them. Already subscribed and hit the like button.

[@LetsGoTravelTips]

Thank you for always taking us with you. Sending you both hugs.

[@mlynncannon4188]

Money talks nobody walks- happened to us also- South Pacific cruise “ cancelled “ no alternative offered,no “ sorry” just refunded a lot of money!!!😢

[@yaowsers77]

That's ridiculous. I'm disgusted with their greed.

[@normantkachenko9994]

Thanks Don for letting us know how Princess is handling there issues. Maybe its time to stop cruising princess.

[@davidjames6879]

Audacity of corporate America. Thanks Don, hope someone from Princess this and rethinks the compensation or pulling rug out from under customers. Good way to lose some permantenly.

[@larrythomas5588]

I think what Princess did was shameful but they are not Corporate America

[@jenbrooks5872]

​@larrythomas5588 I was going to say the same thing lol.

[@susancook1448]

Well the good thing is with only $50 at state book with another cruise line. Maybe a different itinerary. Cruise lines should not offer cabins so far ahead. It’s a gamble that all the stars align-ports allow them in, ships not reassigned all those factors. Maybe a year ahead is as far as they should book. I know they like getting your deposits so early but a gamble that it will come off as promised.

[@pileofstuff]

@@larrythomas5588 Their corporate headquarters is in California. How are the *not* part of "corporate America"?

[@larrythomas5588]

You are correct that their headquarters are in California, just like most of the cruise lines headquarters are in the u.s. But by sailing under a foreign flag, meaning the ships are registered in other countries means the cruise companies are in "legal terms" foreign companies. But I have a feeling that won't matter to you? But what they did is still crappy and they should fork up more compensation. Oh foreign companies who don't have their corporate headquarters in the US do the same kind of crappy s*** I'm rooting for the passengers to get more compensation and have a good day

[@donnahelpin9770]

Totally agree with you Don! I too too prefer to be on Princess for my cruises. However, that's an insult to any passenger who was supposedly going on that cruise.

[@jackredmond6023]

I’m a Princess fan as well. And I’m very disappointed with them as well for this decision. Hopefully they will do better going forward or people will start jumping ship.

[@debbierauska7010]

Hi Don, we’re doing my bucket list cruise ,coming up in September 23 ! 27 days from Vancouver to Sidney Australia! We booked July 2022, hoping they would not cancel the cruise! As you said, it takes a lot of planning,expense ,and arrangements to make this dream come true! So far ,only a few rescheduling,flights,and 2 canceled ports ! I hope there will be no more rescheduling,but as long as we make it to Sidney,Australia I’m a happy ! Hope to meet you one day on a cruise!

[@kayeb2141]

Sydney, not Sidney.

[@joannecrynock3208]

That happened to us on NCL. Our Alaskan cruise out of Vancouver was sold out to a group. They gave us 50% our Alaskan cruise if we sailed in 2023. Sounded good but it was 50% off the second passenger that was 70% off already. It actually cost us more to go because we were a last minute booking.

[@TheCosmicgal]

You are totally right. It happened to us too last summer and it was very disappointing.

[@mikeshaw4610]

Agree, they need to give at least 50% additional. If that. Eans they can resell the cruise so be it.

[@lynniec]

If a cruiseline did that to me, I would never sail with them again.

[@Lilaceyes231]

You’re absolutely right! It’s outrageous 😡

[@suerobinson844]

Hi Don, this news is both unbelievable and unacceptable. So sorry for you. Today I was told the taxi from the airport in Japan to the cruise terminal is $250 to $300 Australian. If you booked through a travel agent I'd be contacting them. Hope you can get a cruise to Japan as it's amazing. We went on Princess from Australia and back years ago. We only travel with Princess so this new comes as a shock. I am having a great day. Sending you all the best from Queensland Australia 🐨💖

[@chaos770]

Take the train it will cost you less than 10 dollars

[@scheidtmann13]

Beyond shameful of Princess!!!!! $50 per stateroom what a joke!

[@rickjunior6478]

I think Princess just lost their crown.

[@Reed-2big]

For how far out they are booking cruises a charter would always displace passengers. But when the sailing isn’t something that repeats much, if at all, it’s harder just to move to another day, but that should be at least an option.

[@pbaker1941]

Absolutely not right to cancel a booking. Wow! We were on a Princess ship to Hawaii in December of 2023, got hurt during rough seas and we were pretty much ignored when needing help and food service. We like Princess but each ship is different.

[@pbaker1941]

That should be 2022.

[@josieann5031]

Time traveler?

[@jenbrooks5872]

That is dirty... Shame on Princess. Shouldn't they charter only cruises that are not yet / sold to the public already? Sold to the highest bidder now?? SMH

[@didididi4613]

That's called breach of contract, in my book.

[@markdasilva247]

I agree with you Don. Princess should be offering more and feel very bad treating paying customers that way.

[@ruthbickerstaffe1915]

Don I am in Customer Service ( not involved with Cruising at all) but this is not good Practice. I feel this will cost them loyalty in the long run.

[@rogersargent7232]

Don, I agree with you. $50 is nothing especially if someone payed with their credit card. This wouldn't even cover one month of interest.

[@user-ki4pt9tj7o]

We once were within a few months of going on a cruise and some Chinese company bought the entire cruise out and they kicked us off even though we had paid for it already. They offered us the cruise a week or two later, but due to 4 people planning the certain week off, we could not rearrange our vacation to a different week. We were so mad. My husband said he would never book something with that cruise line again. After two years, he cooled down and we did that cruise, but some things had changed and didn’t stay as long in one port as the prior trip.

[@jerrydavis1519]

This is outrageous; however, I'll do you one better. My family and I were booked, and fully paid on Emerald Cruise Line Christmas Markets cruise for November 2023. We had in fact already purchased airfares AND fully paid off our cruises, and they charted the ship, and then had the audacity to take 6 months to refund our cruise fares AND gave us ZERO compensation for our non-refundable airfares AND offered no incentive whatsoever for a future booking. Needless to say, it would be a cold day in hell before I'd ever book with them again.

[@cynthiaporitz1459]

I would be talking to an attorney about that. You might even be able to take them to small claims court for your airfare, interest, lost vacation time from work, etc.

[@peterlutz7939]

Don, we’d love to see you on a Virgin cruise and get your take. We’re heading out on our first cruise in decades, 4 day Virgin. Your experience and guidance on this “different and new” type of cruise would be most appreciated!

[@sportsMike87]

Yeah that really sucks. At the very least I guess they gave advanced notice

[@Bill_N_ATX]

There is one thing to break a contract for something beyond the control of the company. It’s an entirely different one to do it simply because it makes you more money. These means that a contract means nothing to Princess. I wouldn’t risk sailing on them again. If your word isn’t any good, it isn’t any good.

[@petermckinnon7102]

That’s disgusting.

[@jillmiller9212]

Their offer of $50 per cabin is insulting.

[@4kboodle]

No way will I book Princess again! This is absolutely disgusting!

[@larryfinkel4102]

I love Princess and cruise it all the time. But in this case you are absolutely right

[@hazelmckay5510]

In the UK this kind of thing is called Gazumping even if you have paid the deposit. You can still be out priced. Welcome to life.

[@nathanhollis7584]

Fully chartered cruises are very common place. If a cruise ship is not at least 30% sold 6-7 months before sailing date, there’s a chance that it can be chartered. I take them all the time for specific type music cruises such as rock, country, and jazz. A regularly scheduled cruise ship is bought out by the company sponsoring the cruise who buys every bed on the ship, which runs into the multi millions of dollars. They then set their own price for the accommodations to recoup their money and make a profit. The cruise company then notifies the passengers who had pre-booked the ship that their cruise is canceled and offers them significant compensation. That’s the normal way it works. Too bad you had to deal with the cheapskates.

[@russellbenton2987]

Yeah not good enough . Makes you question booking with Princess a long way in advance , especially if you have to organise flights .

[@amandagreen4332]

Hotels will cancel pre-booked/pre-paid rooms if a major event comes up. Max profit always seems to take precedent.

[@colleengarland8977]

Yup…Celebrity did it to us! Happening way too often!

[@scottlewisparsons9551]

Yes. You are right Don. Very bad behaviour by the bean counters. It’s tarnished the company reputation for me.

[@gmcwalker7821]

A Princess Hawaii cruise I was on last year had to miss Hilo and head back to LA a day early because of a major winter storm. I'm talking big waves. We were offered an onboard credit of $100 per stateroom and a full refund of excursions.

[@Keep-on-ok]

Airlines do this too. Just expect it and you won’t be so disappointed. There are no guarantees.

[@bradh3139]

Disappointing, Princess. Offering an 18-day cruise instead of 19? For $50 credit off overpriced everything? At least they gave ten months warning (still disappointing). Oceania took a ship out of service for dry dock. We lost a dream vacation to the Baltics. Offered $1,000 FCC. Thanks, Don. Hope you’re doing well.

[@nickpacaccio8540]

It's all about many lines not only nickeling and dimeing their passengers for the bottom line but now they're saying....sorry...thanks for booking at our published rate but we got a better offer, try us again later and oh....also sorry bout ya flights if ya booked them !!!