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Several Royal Caribbean customers were reportedly denied boarding on cruises they paid for because the company overbooked the ship.
Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas ship departed Brisbane, Australia, on Tuesday without about a dozen groups of travelers preparing for an eight-night South Pacific cruise. told USA Today.
Jay Rayner, 23, said he was looking forward to sailing on his first cruise with his wife, Caitlin, to celebrate her graduation from college. But when he arrived at the port, he says he was told he could not board the ship.
The couple, who paid nearly $1,900 for the cruise, were given a letter stating that Royal Caribbean “cannot assign a stateroom number to your reservation,” Rayner told the publication.
He said he chose the “guaranteed cabin” when booking the cruise. This option, often at a cheaper price, allows customers to choose the type of room they want without having to choose a specific room.
Rayner and his wife decided to wait and try their luck with 13 more “families and groups” to see if more cabins became available, Rayner told USA Today. Ta. Eleven of them, including a young couple, were ultimately turned away.
“It was really shocking,” Rayner said.
A Royal Caribbean spokesperson told USA Today that demand for the cruise exceeded the number of rooms available.
“Unfortunately, our efforts to accommodate everyone who wanted to sail were insufficient and some guests were unable to sail as planned,” the spokesperson said.
Royal Caribbean added that it has given all affected customers a number of options, including receiving a full refund, receiving future cruise credits or rebooking their cruise for a different date.
After contacting the cruise line, Raynor received a full refund for the missed cruise, as well as a certificate for the full value of a future cruise ship and a free luxury drinks package, the magazine said.
Cruise industry expert Stewart Shillon, also known as “The Cruise Guy,” said the Rayners’ predicament is rare.
“This is one very special itinerary,” he told USA Today via email. “Passengers who booked a guarantee [and] There are no cabins where you can leave 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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