How to complain about cruise changes?

asacarter

We're going on a cruise in December.

We always use the same cruise company and book directly. This is the second time the itinerary has been changed and islands have been taken off and replaced with a day at sea. This time it's because the port was double booked and we lost out.

On our last cruise, we spoke to people that complained and they were offered onboard credit or other benefits as compensation.

I want to email and complain but not sure how to ask for compensation. How should I ask?

loobs40

I find a reasonably written email or preferably a phone call to contact centre with no accusatory tones, or threats works best. Emphasise how disappointed you are to miss this island, the places you were going to visit etc etc and is there any chance of some extra onboard credit or free dinner at one of the paying restaurants, or whatever floats your boat (geddit ???)

If you call , use the agents first name (if they give it) as though you were pals, You want them to be on your side.

It has worked reasonably successfully for me in the past, the last time got me moved to Row A at a gig with the best view of a certain Alfie Boe ;-) (I know, whatever floats your boat.....)

Nick_C

I would suggest also posting this on a dedicated cruising forum such as https://www.cruise.co.uk/forum/

They are a friendly lot over there, and I'm sure you'll get some more good advice.

daveyjp

Considering cruses are planned three years in advance and all details confirmed 12 months in advance I call BS to the double booked berth story.

loobs40

If the cruise is the Caribbean, it could be that berths are still not available now after the Hurricane last year. We missed a number of islands in February 2018 for that reason