Comments on: My travel agent is AWOL — is my cruise sunk?

By: Eliott

Eliott — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:21:39 +0000

I am a travel agent from Peru I know exactly what to do in all cities without spending money. At the moment i am working for Universus travel company
If you are interested contact me universustravel@hotmail.com

By: Joel Wechsler

Joel Wechsler — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:08:12 +0000

In reference to Ed”s comment above, which is accurate, it is interesting to note that the reference was to “materials to board” the cruise rather than documents. My guess is that there was some kind of total communication breakdown between the agent and Ervin. Looking at the date of the agent’s call and the final payment date, it seems likely that the agent was looking for the payment, without which the clients would not be able to embark. Also, as Cindy said, a guest copy of the booking should have been sent.. We don’t know all the facts by any means.

By: Ed

Ed — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 03:48:34 +0000

I agree that something is not right. How does the client not know that the deposit was not credited back to their credit card 2 months earlier? The client also had to know that the cruise was $8,000+ with an unpaid balance of over $7100 not paid. I would have been calling to find out about making my final payment. And the oddest thing is why would the agent be calling saying that they have their documents when the cruise wasn’t paid for? Documents are never issued until after final payment is made.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:54:03 +0000

Another travel agent chiming in here- normally when a consumer gives someone, anyone, a substantial amount of money for something they want a copy of the paperwork.
I know for a fact that RCCL sends you a guest copy and an agent copy of the invoice. I also know that the guest copy has the deposit payment notated on the bottom AND the amount and date for when the final payment is due.
So what happened did the customer not ask for a copy? Did the agent not supply it?
Defintely something missing.

By: Joel Wechsler

Joel Wechsler — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:35:59 +0000

I agree with Henry. There is clearly something missing from this story. It’s inconceivable to me that someone could be chargedf $900 and not wonder if there was more money due. It is also inconceivable that anyone would fail to notice that they had been credited for their $900 depoit. Lastly, how could anyone wait so long to try to correct the situation? Quite frankly, I smell a rat.
I should mention that I am a travel agent, and while not a cruise specialist, I do book quite a number. I am always careful to tell my clients the amount of the deposit, when it is due and the amount of the final payment, also with due date. If I do not have an agreement in advance I ALWAYS follow up to see about the method of final paymentt. All of my colleagues do the same.

By: John F

John F — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:23:57 +0000

The Med is pretty isolated from hurricanes.

And October is the tail end of the season and the Europeans have already taken their vacation, so having a cabin available is not unheard of by any means.

Joe–I know you don’t like travel agents and that is your prerogative, but as Bela said they are not all crooks. It’s a big world out there and you can continue to purchase online and by whatever means you want and I am confident there are no agents out there mourning the loss of you as a client.

But remember, that agents are still responsible for 50% of the airline tickets sold, 90% of the packaged tours sold, and 80% of the cruises sold in today’s market. So SOME of them have to be doing something right–wouldn’t you think?

And I do agree that the client was lucky to get this resolved so quickly–and the refund of their deposit should have been a clue. Yes the agent appears to be at fault here, but did they try to get in touch for the final payment and the client not respond in time?

By: Henry Mensch

Henry Mensch — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:05:56 +0000

I think the ball was dropped on both sides here. RCCL says they refunded the deposit in August–it’s nearly two months later (and at least one statement cycle) since the refund and the customer didn’t notice?

I’m not sure the story is as it was related here. Something isn’t right.

As for what travel agents do or don’t do … Chris got this right: not $0.10/dozen. My travel agent of more than twenty years is shutting down at the end of the year, and I’m not sure I’ll have another … Travel agents (as a class) are a disappearing breed–finding a diligent, competent agent in this environment seems like it could be especially difficult.

By: Bela Fleck

Bela Fleck — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 21:14:20 +0000

Geez, Joe…you sure do hate travel agents. They’re not ALL crooks. In fact, very few of them do that. You don’t waste an opportunity to let the world know what you think of them, though.

As for having a premium cabin this time of year…well, it could be that it’s in the middle of hurricane season. And it could be people are starting to cancel their previously-booked cruises in light of what’s going on with the economy. I don’t think the cruise industry is REALLY going to start hurting for at least another year or so because people book their cruises so far in advance. People going on cruises right now often booked them a year or more ago – long before the meltdown began in earnest.

By: Joe Farrell

Joe Farrell — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:50:00 +0000

At least the travel agent did not take their money and abscond.

My friends had that happen to them – planned a nice vacation for a 15th wedding anniversary – and the travel agent took all the money and never made any reservations. . . .

such is the threat when dealing with travel agents. Or ANY third party.

Caveat Emptor.

I like what RCCL admitted about their bookings – they had a premium level cabin STILL available for sale at the last minute. The travel industry is way off – way off.

This close to a cruise even this time in the spring of 2008, there was no way you’d get a premium cabin right before cruising. . . .