What's the book corporate America doesn't want you to read? Find out now -- or you could get scammed.

SEA MILES

A Sea Miles swindle? Carnival confuses “per cabin” with “per person”

March 30, 2009

Stuart Harstrom applied for a Carnival Sea Miles MasterCard in 2004 and used it for most of his purchases, hoping to redeem his points for a “free” vacation. Then the cruise line pulled the plug on his plans, he says. His story is a cautionary tale about vague promises made by loyalty programs, imprecise wording on Web sites, and the fleeting nature of points.

37 comments

Elliott is consumer advocate Christopher Elliott's site. You'll find everything you need here to fix your travel-related problems. For all other consumer grievances, please see On Your Side.
Connect with me

I'm on Facebook: Please "like" my new page.

Follow our adventure! We're traveling across America. Details at Away is Home.

Get this blog on your Kindle! Here's how.

Get the sequel to Scammed FREE!: Download the "beta" of The Travel Troubleshooter, the new ebook series that will make you a better traveler -- guaranteed!

Recent Posts
Must read
Don’t miss these stories.
- TSA expands Pre-Check — again (TSA News)
- Drones coming to U.S. airspace — really, they are already here (Consumer Traveler)
- What we’re reading: TSA expands faster screening, WestJet goes ahead with short-haul carrier, Disneyland 1957 (Consumer Traveler)
- Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve (Away is Home)
- Global Entry — final DHS rule expands program (Consumer Traveler)
- Booking a vacation rental through a tour operator — it could save your vacation (Consumer Traveler)
- What we’re reading: Favorite defunct airlines, 10 best travel apps, most romantic cities in Canada (Consumer Traveler)
- TSA pulls down man’s pants, has him arrested (TSA News)
- TSA agents do the strangest things! (TSA News)
- Women say they’re singled out by TSA (TSA News)
- The anatomy of statistics (TSA News)
- Is this a scam? A surprise “foreign transaction” fee (On Your Si.de)
- 7 lessons consumers learned in 2011 (On Your Si.de)
- Is this a scam? Are airlines really giving away “free” flights? (On Your Si.de)
- Is this a scam? Even a “cleared” check is never really cleared (On Your Si.de)
- Time to get political? Yes, and here’s how (On Your Si.de)
- Fresh oranges and monsters in Florida (Away is Home)
- Thanks for another awesome year! (Away is Home)
- The authentic Anna Maria Island (Away is Home)
- Roadtrip rules: No snacks in the back? (Away is Home)
Recent comments
Archives by Year
- 2012
  - January (47)
  - February (14)
- 2011
  - January (54)
  - February (43)
  - March (50)
  - April (51)
  - May (46)
  - June (38)
  - July (44)
  - August (39)
  - September (45)
  - October (40)
  - November (40)
  - December (43)
- 2010
  - January (48)
  - February (48)
  - March (53)
  - April (55)
  - May (55)
  - June (67)
  - July (52)
  - August (60)
  - September (71)
  - October (70)
  - November (69)
  - December (74)
- 2009
  - January (39)
  - February (33)
  - March (37)
  - April (35)
  - May (37)
  - June (52)
  - July (70)
  - August (68)
  - September (64)
  - October (66)
  - November (59)
  - December (71)
- 2008
  - January (47)
  - February (49)
  - March (47)
  - April (43)
  - May (38)
  - June (39)
  - July (36)
  - August (35)
  - September (38)
  - October (39)
  - November (29)
  - December (34)
- 2007
  - January (36)
  - February (34)
  - March (27)
  - April (32)
  - May (39)
  - June (38)
  - July (51)
  - August (57)
  - September (43)
  - October (41)
  - November (45)
  - December (54)
- 2006
  - January (16)
  - February (21)
  - March (25)
  - April (26)
  - May (20)
  - June (25)
  - July (36)
  - August (32)
  - September (28)
  - October (30)
  - November (27)
  - December (22)
- 2005
  - January (8)
  - February (9)
  - March (7)
  - April (9)
  - May (14)
  - June (11)
  - July (10)
  - August (15)
  - September (9)
  - October (16)
  - November (11)
  - December (12)
- 2004
  - January (13)
  - February (14)
  - March (11)
  - April (14)
  - May (10)
  - June (11)
  - July (7)
  - August (10)
  - September (11)
  - October (6)
  - November (9)
  - December (8)
- 2003
  - January (28)
  - February (24)
  - March (24)
  - April (20)
  - May (27)
  - June (17)
  - July (26)
  - August (10)
  - September (8)
  - October (10)
  - November (9)
  - December (6)
- 2002
  - January (22)
  - February (14)
  - March (17)
  - April (21)
  - May (19)
  - June (17)
  - July (13)
  - August (23)
  - September (12)
  - October (8)
  - November (11)
  - December (9)
- 2001
  - January (14)
  - February (11)
  - March (14)
  - April (9)
  - May (12)
  - June (9)
  - July (5)
  - August (7)
  - September (11)
  - October (17)
  - November (15)
  - December (16)
- 2000
  - January (12)
  - February (10)
  - March (13)
  - April (14)
  - May (16)
  - June (13)
  - July (13)
  - August (17)
  - September (13)
  - October (16)
  - November (10)
  - December (10)
- 1999
  - January (9)
  - February (10)
  - March (13)
  - April (12)
  - May (17)
  - June (14)
  - July (15)
  - August (16)
  - September (14)
  - October (17)
  - November (16)
  - December (14)
- 1998
  - January (6)
  - February (5)
  - March (7)
  - April (7)
  - May (6)
  - June (7)
  - July (6)
  - August (9)
  - September (8)
  - October (11)
  - November (12)
  - December (10)
- 1997
  - January (2)
  - February (2)
  - March (2)
  - May (3)
  - June (2)
  - July (2)
  - August (2)
  - September (1)
  - October (3)
  - November (3)
  - December (6)
- 1996
  - March (2)
  - April (2)
  - May (3)
  - June (2)
  - July (2)
  - August (2)
  - September (2)
  - October (2)
  - November (2)
  - December (1)

WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM? If you're having trouble with a travel business - any business - and you've reached a dead end, maybe I can help. Send me an an email and I'll look into it for you. If you want to connect with other travelers, why not sign up for my free weekly newsletter, RSS feed or free daily email updates?

SEA MILES

A Sea Miles swindle? Carnival confuses “per cabin” with “per person”

Connect with me

Free newsletter

Recent Posts

Must read

Recent comments

Archives by Year

Underwriters

Customer Contacts

Features

Connect with me

My Tweets

Your Favorites

Editor’s Picks

Posts that got me into trouble

Most popular posts ever