Some cruise passengers seem to have a sense of entitlement, or maybe they like trying to get something for nothing as a sort of sport.
These are the people who demand a refund or onboard credit because it rained during their beach excursion. Never mind that the contract they signed makes clear that the cruise line can’t be held responsible for the weather. It rained and they want some free money.
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In most cases, cruise lines owe you nothing when plans change or something bad happens. If a port gets skipped, for example, your port fees and taxes, as well as any cruise-line-sponsored excursions, will be refunded.
Sometimes when that happens cruise lines might offer each cabin some on-board credit to make up for the missed stop. That’s something the cruise line chooses to do but is not obligated to do.
In the restaurants included in your fare, your waiter will generally bring you a replacement for a dish if you don’t like it. That’s also true in the added-fee restaurants.
If your steak is overcooked, or your fish isn’t cooked enough, take a bite or two, say something, and you will get a new one or something else to eat.
Many cruise ships offer added-fee steakhouses.
Image source: Dan Kline/ComeCruiseWith.com
Carnival won’t give steakhouse diner a refund
Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald rarely shows frustrations with his followers. That’s impressive given that people will often openly insult his appearance and they might get angry at his words.
In a Sept. 3 post, however, he seemed both frustrated and maybe a little angry at one passenger’s request.
“I wonder if anybody in a restaurant on land has eaten an entire meal and then refused to pay for it because it wasn’t any good? Going to the steakhouse, finishing the entire meal, and then saying they want to refund is I guess something that is Cruise specific?” he wrote.
Heald then made very clear what Carnival would be doing for the complaining passenger.
“No refund will be given and they are a little grumpy with me,” he said.
After letting off a little steam, however, he followed with a joke.
“I’m here to tell you, though that we will be opening a new restaurant on the new ship. It’s going to be fabulous. I hope you are looking forward to enjoying it. It’s an Elvis-themed steakhouse,'” he posted. “It will be for guests who love meat tender.”
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Carnival passengers support Heald
More than 3,300 people gave Heald’s post a “Thumbs Up” or a “Ha Ha” emoji and nearly 900 commented. Most were angry at the passenger expecting a free meal.
“Not only no, but I’d blacklist them from dining in the steakhouse in the future! Totally unacceptable,” wrote Rob Slentz.
Many people pointed out that the staff in the specialty restaurants will go out of their way to ensure passengers have a good meal.
“They will happily make a new steak if the cook is wrong,” posted River Correll.
“You have to let it be known so the staff knows and can correct it. Most reputable places will want you to be happy. And if no one ever told them they made a mistake they will continue. Just be polite about it,” Jennifer Hildreth Ragozzine wrote.
Some passengers shared their shipboard steakhouse experiences.
“EVERY time I’ve eaten at the steakhouse, the waiter has inquired if our steaks were cooked to our liking right as he served them and gave us a chance to cut into it and check. They really make every effort to make sure their patrons are happy. Always an excellent experience,” posted Debbie Roesler.
Many of the responses simply spoke to the audacity of the diner.
“That is absolutely ridiculous! How can someone complain about something if they ate the entire meal?” wrote Janice B VanWagoner.
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Tamilyn Folaron echoed a similar statement.
“I have only eaten at the steakhouse once and it was pretty good. And I have had to return a meal on land for several different reasons but didn’t eat it then complain. If you can eat it then you pay for it. They would have tried to make it right,” she added.
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