Carnival Cruise Line’s New Policy on Gift Requests
Carnival Cruise Line has recently made a significant change to its gift request policy. This decision comes after an administrative error led to a bottle of champagne being delivered to a cabin occupied by children. The incident involved John Heald, the line’s well-known brand ambassador, who often arranges special surprises for guests celebrating milestones at sea.
Why the Change?
The mix-up occurred when a frequent Carnival guest asked Heald to organise a surprise for friends retiring from the police force. The guest, not on the cruise themselves, wanted to treat their friends onboard. Unfortunately, the cabin number provided was incorrect. As a result, the champagne and medallion intended for the retirees ended up in a stateroom with two grandchildren.
Heald’s Response
Heald, who receives numerous requests weekly for birthdays, anniversaries, and other celebrations, shared the incident on Facebook. He explained that while he enjoys helping people celebrate, mistakes can happen. Heald apologised to the intended recipient, acknowledging the seriousness of the error. He empathised, saying he would have been equally upset if it had involved his own daughter.
New Policy in Place
In light of this incident, Carnival Cruise Line has decided to halt all third-party gift requests. This change affects requests made through Heald and his colleague Jacinta. Heald stated, “We are very happy to send something to people actually cruising on the ship, but third-party requests are not something that we are permitted to do anymore.”
Looking Ahead
This policy shift aims to prevent similar errors in the future. While guests can still enjoy celebratory gestures, these must now be arranged directly by those on the cruise. This ensures that surprises reach the right recipients, maintaining the joy of celebrating special occasions at sea.
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