Carnival Cruise Line has cancelled numerous reservations after a website glitch offered solo balcony rooms on six-day cruises for an unusually low price of $300. The discounted fares were significantly below the typical cost of $600 to $1,500 for a five to seven-day trip, leading to widespread customer disappointment.
Booking Cancellations and Refunds
Customers who booked these trips received emails stating their reservations were cancelled, with any monies paid being refunded to their original payment method. As a gesture of appreciation, Carnival offered a non-transferable onboard credit of US $100 per stateroom for future bookings made by August 31, 2026.
Customer Frustration
Many affected travellers expressed frustration, with some having already booked flights to their departure ports. Carnival cited its ticket contract and the “unreasonable promotional fare” as justification for the cancellations. The cruise line stated that the glitch resulted in fares that were not intended to be offered, and the company reserved the right to cancel such bookings under its terms and conditions.
Some customers took to social media to voice their anger, noting that they had made non-refundable travel arrangements based on the bookings. Others questioned the fairness of the cancellation, given that the glitch was not their fault. Carnival has not commented on whether it will cover any additional costs incurred by affected passengers.
The incident highlights the risks of online booking glitches and the importance of reading terms and conditions carefully. For now, affected customers are left with a $100 credit and a lesson in the volatility of promotional fares.
