North Carolina family wrongfully denied boarding Royal Caribbean cruise

A family from North Carolina was excited for a cruise that turned into a disappointment when they were denied boarding at the port. Shannon Nutting had planned this trip for over a year as a surprise for her children. She had paid for the cruise and took time off from work. Upon arriving at the Port Canaveral terminal, the family was met with bad news. Staff told Nutting that her 16-year-old son's school ID was not acceptable for boarding the Royal Caribbean cruise. Nutting had previously confirmed that the ID was valid, but the staff refused to let them board. She pleaded with a supervisor, explaining that her son has special needs and why he did not have a state-issued ID, but the supervisor ignored her. Heartbroken, the family watched as the ship sailed away without them. Nutting felt that all her planning and saving was in vain. She stayed in Florida while her travel agent worked to resolve the situation with Royal Caribbean. The cruise line later suggested they could fly to Cozumel and board the ship two days later, which Nutting rejected. Royal Caribbean issued an apology for the incident, stating it was a mistake by their staff. They offered three options: a future cruise credit, a full refund, or a refund plus additional credit for a future cruise. However, Nutting felt these options did not cover her expenses for travel, meals, and lodging while in Florida. Despite the airline's assurances, Nutting said she took every precaution to have the right documents. She plans to ensure all future confirmations are in writing to avoid a similar situation. Royal Caribbean has promised to provide additional training to their staff to prevent such errors in the future.