Palm Coast Travel gets more company as regulators crack down on Cruises R Us, Atlantis International

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By Christopher Elliott

Florida regulators this morning cracked down on two more travel agencies as part of their expanding investigation into illegal travel insurance. It brings the total number of companies charged with selling fake travel insurance to seven since January. More enforcement actions are believed to be on the way.

Notices of intent to issue a cease and desist orders were filed against Atlantis International Limited, a St. Petersburg, Fla., travel agency, and Cruises R Us of Plantation, Fla., which also used the name Cruisequick.com.

Here’s the paperwork for Atlantis International (PDF) and Cruises R Us (PDF).

Uncovering a pattern of illegal travel insurance

Cruisequick is familiar to readers of this site. A few years ago, it allegedly sold another unauthorized travel policy to reader Don Filiault. Several states, including California and Florida, later issued a cease and desist order against his insurance company, Trip Assured.

If the current allegations against it are true, then Cruises R Us/Cruisequick sold illegal insurance after the cease and desist. (Here’s what you need to know about travel insurance.)

As for Atlantis, it hasn’t even bothered removing the references to Trip Assured from its Web site.

Tsk, tsk.

Florida’s charges against both companies are similar to those of leveled against other agencies since the beginning of the year — Ahoy Cruises of Jacksonville, Fla., JB Travel of Boynton Beach, Fla., St. Lucie West Travel of Port St. Lucie, Fla., Four Seasons Tours and Cruises in Largo, Fla., Diana’s Travel South of Spring Hill, Fla., and Sandra Demore.

And of course, there’s Palm Coast Travel, the company suing me because I had the audacity to report on its alleged involvement in the sale of bogus travel insurance.

Insured Nomads helps you get travel insurance for as low as $2.88 per day, and options to add trip cancellation, global legal assistance, car rental cover and adventure sports. Award-winning plans. Exceptional service. Digital policy card to store with to your boarding pass and loyalty programs in your Apple/Google Wallet, in-app emergency button, lounge access for registered delayed flights and so much more than just medical. It’s peace of mind to reduce the uncertainty and travel with confidence short term for leisure and even longer for remote work, or your cruise and safari excursions. TrustPilot reviewed ”Excellent.” Read more and get covered.

The big questions now is: Did these agencies have something in common, other than that they were apparently selling fake insurance? Was there a middleman, and if so, who was it?

Stay tuned for the answer.

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Christopher Elliott

Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers consumers to solve their problems and helps those who can't. He's the author of numerous books on consumer advocacy and writes three nationally syndicated columns. He also publishes the Elliott Report, a news site for consumers, and Elliott Confidential, a critically acclaimed newsletter about customer service. If you have a consumer problem you can't solve, contact him directly through his advocacy website. You can also follow him on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn, or sign up for his daily newsletter. He is based in Rio de Janeiro.

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