Tiffany Banks shared her family’s story of being scammed out of a $15,000 Carnival Cruise, stating that the company refused to refund her money or admit fault. Although Carnival did not directly acknowledge guilt to her, they updated their website and policy to better protect customers from similar issues, which Banks sees as an implicit admission of wrongdoing.
The Kentucky woman had planned a year-long trip with her husband and four children, staying in the $12,000 Excel Presidential Suite on the Carnival Celebration ship. However, she received a cancellation confirmation for an off-ship excursion, leading her to discover that her entire vacation had been canceled through the cruise line’s online system without her knowledge or consent. Carnival offered the family alternative, less expensive accommodations, but Banks refused, feeling it was an inadequate replacement.
Despite her insistence, Carnival refused to provide a full refund, citing their cancellation policy that states no money will be returned within 15 days of the cruise date. The family flew to Miami in hopes of finding a last-minute resolution but was unable to board the ship as planned, ultimately missing their vacation. After Carnival investigated, they informed Banks that she had been the victim of identity theft, as someone used her booking reference number to cancel the entire cabin reservation 48 hours before the sail date.
Carnival offered Banks future cruise credit as compensation, contingent on her posting on social media about the issue being resolved. However, she declined the offer, expressing concerns about the lack of verification processes that allowed the fraudster to take over her booking. Banks asserted that she would never sail with Carnival again and is now exploring legal action against the company, with the support of the attorney general of Florida, in hopes of holding the corporation accountable for their actions and seeking justice for others who have been similarly affected.
In response to the incident and Banks’ public outcry, Carnival made website updates and sent out emails to remind customers not to share their booking numbers, which Banks sees as an acknowledgment of their mistake. While Carnival did not directly confirm their fault, the changes they made to their policies suggest that they recognized the need for greater security measures to protect their customers. Banks continues to advocate for others who have been mistreated by large corporations and hopes that her fight for justice will lead to positive changes within the industry.
