Complaint Review: Carnival Cruise Lines Capt. Candeloro Donato - New Orleans Louisiana

Not a Carnival Employee but an NCLA employee. Here is why the ship did not return, or let you go on the pilot boat. 1. If the ship returns, they are charged harbor fees again. It is anywhere from $15-$50 a head depending on the port. That is a lot of money to pick up two people (if it is 2000 passengers on board the ship would be out an estimated $30-$100000 just to pick you two up. 2. The pilot boat cannot take you to the ship. How would you have gotten onto the ship? Open the side door you got off of? No way. That is a major danger to a sailing ship, and a huge violation of international safety rules. Ships are also very tall, you couldn't very well have climbed, could you? 3. You signed, in your contract, that you would be back on the ship 30 minutes prior to sailing. On my ship, we started calling names 30 minutes prior to sailing, if you were not shown as being onboard. That way your family might know and be able to reach you. 4. The ship cannot stay in port beyond the scheduled time except due to safety hazards or weather. This is the harbor Master's decision, not the ship or captain. 5. The rain on the first day is irrelevent. Your Captain made a decision due to what he felt would best keep everyone safe at sea. I imagine your complaint would be quite different if the Master of the Vessel knew of a danger, sailed anyone and there was a loss of life, wouldn't it? 6. The food is typical of cruise ships. Regardless of what anyone says, when you are feeding 2000 people, you are NOT going to have high quality. Why do people on ships focus so much on eating? You are seeing beautiful places, and there to relax not gorge yourself on food constantly. 7. As a Maitre D' onboard the Pride of America, I can tell you that a dirty restaurant is a disgrace, but the buffets will always be dirty. Why, you ask? Because passengers think crew are slaves, not helpers. It is in no way, shape, or form, my job to clean your bodily fluids, chewed up food, or dirty diapers off a table. I pick up dirty dishes and wipe down tables. I also make friendly conversation and sell you on tours and bars. 8. Next time you cruise, I suggest you MAKE SURE you are back to the ship a minimum of ONE HOUR before you sail. The ship will never leave early unless they are guaranteed to have everyone onboard (ie the little card you swipe to get on records that you are "on" or "off") 9. Best of luck and bon voyage...back to Hawaii I go next week! It is a great life!

Got off the ship on Monday. You're SUPPOSE to be back on the ship by 4:30. The ship sails at 5:00. If you missed the ship by 10 minutes, you were 40 minutes late.

I had a cruise ship experience when two passengers arrived about 10 minutes after sailing. Since the ship was at sea for one day then to the next counrty they ended up paying for hotels and another boat to the tune of $6500 It is never OK to be late for the ship and a costly lesson to learn.

I had a cruise ship experience when two passengers arrived about 10 minutes after sailing. Since the ship was at sea for one day then to the next counrty they ended up paying for hotels and another boat to the tune of $6500 It is never OK to be late for the ship and a costly lesson to learn.

I had a cruise ship experience when two passengers arrived about 10 minutes after sailing. Since the ship was at sea for one day then to the next counrty they ended up paying for hotels and another boat to the tune of $6500 It is never OK to be late for the ship and a costly lesson to learn.

I had a cruise ship experience when two passengers arrived about 10 minutes after sailing. Since the ship was at sea for one day then to the next counrty they ended up paying for hotels and another boat to the tune of $6500 It is never OK to be late for the ship and a costly lesson to learn.

I am an experience cruiser having enjoyed many different cruise lines including Carnival. Each cruise line is very specific about returning to the ship on time. Ship-sponsored tours will wait but if you tour privately, you must return on time. This applies to both passengers and crew. Once the ship casts off, it cannot be stopped and returned to the dock just because somebody was late. I've seen many passengers miss the ship by just a few minutes. Cruise lines cannot allow a pilot boat to bring a passenger to the ship and have the passenger climb up a rope ladder to the cruise ship -- liability issues. It is the passengers responsibility to transport himself to the next port at the passenger's expense. So please do not blame Carnival or the captain for your short comings. Take responsibility for your actions.