Carnival Ruined My Birthday

Mon, 14 Aug 2006 07:58:33 -0700

Last year it was my birthday and I wanted to do something fun! I decided to take my boyfriend on a cruise from NYC (where we were living at the time) up to PEI, Canada on a Carnival Cruise. At the time we didn't have much money, so we got the budget deal at $1,244.44US which was fantastic!

I figured this was going to be the best birthday ever! Finally getting out of the office and getting to have a 4 day cruise!

We pack, prepair, I take the vacation days. Say our goodbyes, head for the port, go through luggage check, go through all of the lines until we are about 5 feet from the ramp onto the ship.

The woman looks down at Lucas' passport and back up at us. Then back down, then back up.

"How old are you?" she asks to Lucas.

"I'm 20." he replies.

"Unless you are 21 years old, then you must be accompanied by someone at least 25 years old" she says nicely.

"Ummm... no one told us that..." I replied.

"Its there on page 8 of your ticket."

So, I took the ticket stepped aside and read it. It did have that requirement. However, it also said "Unless you are travelling with your spouse or domestic partner.". SWEET! Finally, they would obviously let us on. The rule was made to keep hoodlums off the ship, but a romantic cruise is OK!

However, it was not ok. After a call to "headquarters" they decided that my proof-of-partnership (insurance papers) were not enough and that I must have a paper signed by a JUDGE. You got it. For us to go, we would have to have a JUDGE sign a document declaring us domestic partners. The odd part is that that is not domestic partners legally. The only thing you need legally is to live together and I was ready to prove that to them!

I broke down in tears. It was september 2nd... the day of my birthday. I was feet away from the ship and they would not allow us obviously nice kids on the ship.

Carnival applied a rule meant to keep partying-underage-kids off the ship and kept me and Luc from enjoying a romantic cruise. They absolutely ruined my birthday.

Not only that, they refused to provide a refund. I was out the 12 hundred dollars. I had to sit on the dock and watch the cruise ship leave dock with an EMPTY ROOM that I had paid for.

It hurts even more, because I know that if we were striaght they would have let us on. The woman obviously disapproved of our relationship and would not respect it.

I discussed persuing legal action, but decided against it. I may have had a decent case with NYC law, but I just didn't want to make it that dirty. If I was going to be snubbed that way, then I would make sure everyone I know votes with their dollars. I'm a capitalist and so Carnival will never see another dollar from me.

Will they see one from you?

Sutori - hampton's Recent Stories

Carnival Ruined My Birthday