Some Royal Caribbean customers have been denied entry to cruises they paid for after the company reportedly overbooked the ship.
The Royal Caribbean ship Quantum of the Seas left Brisbane, Australia Tuesday without about a dozen groups of travelers who had prepared for an eight-night South Pacific cruise, one of the unfortunate customers told USA Today.
Jai Raynor, 23, said he was looking forward to sailing on his first cruise with his wife Kaitlyn to celebrate her university graduation. But when they arrived at the port, they were told they could not board the ship, according to the outlet.
The couple — who paid nearly $1,900 for the cruise — were handed a letter stating Royal Caribbean was “unable to allocate a stateroom number for your reservation,” Raynor told the publication.
He said they had selected a “guarantee cabin” when booking the cruise. Choice — often at a lower price — allows customers to choose the type of room they want without choosing a specific room.
He and his wife decided to try their luck while waiting to set up with 13 other “families or groups” to see if more cabins would become available, Raynor told USA Today. Eleven of them – along with the young couple – were eventually rejected.
Raynor said 11 other groups were turned away from Royal Caribbean after they were told there were no more rooms available on the ship. AFP via Getty Images
“It was absolutely devastating,” Raynor said.
Demand for the cruise is greater than the number of rooms available, a Royal Caribbean spokeswoman told USA Today.
“Unfortunately, efforts to accommodate all those wishing to sail failed for a number of our guests, and some were unable to sail as planned,” the spokesperson said.
All affected customers are being given several options by Royal Caribbean including taking a full refund and future cruise credit or rebooking the cruise on a different date, they added.
Raynor was eventually reimbursed but said being turned away at the port after planning to celebrate his wife’s graduation was “absolutely devastating.” Getty Images
Raynors can get a full refund for the cruise they missed as well as a certificate for a future cruise worth their full fare and a free luxury beverage package after contacting the cruise line, according to the outlet.
Cruise industry expert Stewart Chiron, aka “The Cruise Guy,” says Raynors’ predicament is rare.
“This is one of those very specific itineraries,” he told USA Today in an email. “Passengers who booked a guarantee [and] no particular cabin can be left without a chair when the music stops.”
Royal Caribbean did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Post.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/