Ship credit hassles

My husband and I sailed on Holland America Line’s MS Statendam for a “Japan and Transpacific Passage” (Japan/Siberia) cruise, April 29-May 21, 2006, which we booked through Vantage Deluxe World Travel. Before leaving home, we sent a copy of our 100 shares of stock to the cruise line’s parent company, Carnival Cruises, in order to receive $250 in shipboard credit.

On the ship we went many times to the business area and were told several answers: 1) their communication with Seattle was not working; 2) they were not responsible, we were, for getting the credit for us, and 3) they would/could not give us a letter we might be able to send to Carnival stating we had not received our due credit.

I have since written and called Holland America and Carnival. No response. My letter to Carnival was sent with a delivery confirmation. Are they saying that an 81-year-old won’t know the difference? This is a lot of money to us.

It is now late September. We want our money.

DOROTHY RICHARDSON

Redlands, CA

ITN on Dec. 18 sent a copy of the above (edited) letter to Carnival Cruise Lines (3655 NW 87th Ave., Miami, FL 33178), and received an e-mail on Jan. 19 stating, “We would like to begin by apologizing for any inconvenience we may have caused Mrs. Richardson. After further investigating Mrs. Richardson’s situation, we have resolved the issue and the appropriate credit will be applied. — Joyce Oliva, Carnival Public Relations”

Mrs. Richardson informed ITN on April 17 that they had not yet received the promised $250. ITN contacted Ms. Oliva and was told that the checks had been sent to an incorrect address. After an additional delay, by May 25 the second of two promised checks had been delivered. Incidentally, Mrs. Richardson has sold her 100 shares of Carnival stock.