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11 months ago
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An Aussie couple just seconds away from boarding a holiday cruise has been left behind after the company Royal Caribbean overbooked the voyage.
The married couple arrived at Port of Brisbane on Tuesday ready to embark on an eight-night cruise through the South Pacific aboard the Quantum of the Seas.
However, just as they were about to walk on board, they were refused entry and told that none of the ship's 2,090 cabins were available.
They were then handed a letter on behalf of Royal Caribbean International which confirmed the voyage had been overbooked.
The disappointed guests had paid at least $595 each for the cruise only to have their holiday ruined.
A couple has been left furious after their South Pacific cruise holiday on Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas (pictured) was ruined because the ship had been overbooked
The letter from Royal Caribbean said the cruise company had been 'unable to allocate a stateroom number' to the couple's reservation.
'The time and effort you took to plan your cruise is important to us, and we apologise for the inconvenience,' it read.
'Every aspect of your time with us should be enjoyable, so we have put together some alternate options that we hope will work for you.'
The couple were then given four options, including the offer of a refund with a 25 per cent discount on a future cruise.
Another option offered them US$100 credit to use on board if they decided to wait for a cancellation to open a spot on the cruise they originally booked.
The other options included changing their booking to a nine-night cruise with a similar itinerary on January 29; or choose another seven or eight-night cruise with a complimentary upgrade 'if available'.
The couple were handed a letter from Royal Caribbean telling them they had four options for compensation to choose from instead of boarding the cruise costing at least $595 each
The frustrated customers took the chance to abandon the cruise and get a full refund and 25 per cent off the cost of a future trip.
Royal Caribbean International told Daily Mail Australia that demand for the cruise had gone 'beyond the rooms that were available'.
'Unfortunately, efforts to accommodate all those who wished to sail that fell short for a group of our guests, and some were unable to sail as planned,' the company said in a statement.
'We take these disruptions seriously, and we apologise for the inconvenience this has caused.
'We have worked with each guest that was affected to rectify the inconvenience this has caused.'
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