Sunday, January 29, 2012

Vivian asked customers, Share stories to help remind cruisers to buy their Carnival Early Saver rate from an agent you can trust versus the internet !


Click Title to see "current" Carnival Early Saver Rates. Remember, buy from a travel specialist, not from the internet.

Vivian asked her own cruisers, What had they heard, that could help cruisers be more aware, that they'll want to purchase their Carnival Early Saver Promotion cruise, though an agent you can trust versus through the internet ?

I had so many responses to this question. 90% of the responses, came from the Lynchburg area. I chose only 10 to share.

We always choose to buy our cruises from Vivian, so that we know all the penalties, if we were forced to cancel our cruise before final payment. From viewing comments online, many cruisers are apparently not aware of all the rules that come with buying a Carnival Early Saver rate. Angela M, Lynchburg, VA

Friend from work, whom I suggested to call Vivian, didn’t take my suggestion. He soon discovered, they had bought a Carnival Early Saver rate, and could not just get a refund on their deposit. Kendall N, Madison Heights, VA

I tell my friends, over and over, don’t buy from the internet, if you ever decide to go on a cruise, call Vivian. A co-worker told me, her husband just bought from Carnival direct. I, myself, had just bought a Carnival Early Saver cruise from Vivian, so I purposely asked, if they too, had booked early enough, to get in on this savings ? She had no idea what I was talking of, so her husband called Carnival. Yes, they had, but just now learning of it’s rules, and not so happy they opted not to “hear” my advice. I so badly wanted to say, I told you so, but their anguish gave me hurt for them ! Vivian, I’m sure many of your customers tell their friends and family, to call you … And like you always say, it’s not till they have a problem, do they think they need someone. But like buying Trip Cancellation Insurance, why not do yourself a favor, and protect yourself upfront ! Alita G, Lynchburg, VA

We had already purchased our cruise with Vivian, when friends we invited (to call Vivian) to join us, didn‘t tell us, but bought our same cruise, on the internet. They had not confirmed with work, that they could have this time off, and was unaware that their deposit was non-refundable. Joseph K, Lovingston, VA

My co-workers know we buy our cruises from Vivian. So I was shocked to learn, when one of them told me they had just bought a cruise from the Internet. I was later shocked to learn, they got burnt on a Carnival Early Saver rate. It is stressful, for me, just to hear it. Lawrence T, Monroe, VA

I tell my friends all the time, to call Vivian to buy their cruise. I have one friend, who believes, no matter what I tell him, that he can get a better rate online. I keep telling him, one of these days, this concept is going to catch up with you. Sure enough, he bought a Carnival Early Saver rate, to quickly learn, he didn’t know the rules he needed to know, before making that purchase ! Sad thing is, he bought from Orbitz, when he could have gotten the same rate from Cruises Inc, since Vivian reminded me, they are a part of the company who Orbitz (and others) buy from. Jennifer K, Hurt, VA

A friend from work, told me they bought a Carnival cruise direct from Carnival’s website, but not till, they discovered they had a problem. They didn’t know, that you could not book your cruise with your nickname. Joseph R, Appomattox, VA

Some friends invited our son to join their family on a cruise. I was under the impression the wife was taking my suggestion, and purchasing this cruise from Vivian. Soon discovered, she felt she could just do this all by herself, by buying direct from Carnival‘s website. I did not know the wife was buying a Carnival Early Saver rate, nor that the wife was unaware of the rules, nor did she opt to buy any Trip Cancellation Insurance. Within a week, due to medical issues, we needed to cancel our son. It was then, we made all these discoveries. And even had she chosen to purchase Carnival’s insurance, it did not cover pre-existing medical, as Cruises Inc’s Trip Cancellation insurance would have, had it been purchased up front. Douglas L, Goode, VA

Though I understand Carnival Early Saver rates have rules that other cruise purchases might not, why would anyone take a chance in buying their cruise without an agent, with all the horror stories you hear. Cindy H, Amherst, VA.

I wish that the Internet co’s had to “tell” where they buy their cruises from (when they do not buy direct from the cruise line) ! This way, people might choose to seek out that agency, and discover, they can buy direct. It’s sad to hear all the horror stories, especially from small town cities, who just don’t seem to realize, the internet is not the way to go when buying a cruise ! Mike L, Altavista, VA

Thank you, for continuing to help your friends and family, and suggesting they also turn, to an agency they can trust for their travel needs.
I too, am sad, just listening to these stories.
More interesting, to me, is that the majority of responses I received on this topic, came from my cruisers of the Lynchburg area.
About all any of us can continue to do, is to continue to remind friends and family to turn to an agency for travel !
Vivian M Webb

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