Cruise Talk: Refunds???????

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Topic: Refunds???????

Lind@
First Class Passenger
Member # 2443

posted 10-13-2001 07:14 AM

Hi
has anyone in the UK ever managed to get a refund when the prices drop? Like the Americans seem to do,If so please give tips on how you go about this.
Thankyou

Posts: 10 | From: UK | Registered: Sep 2001 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 10-13-2001 09:18 AM

I've never heard of anyone getting money back in Rip-Off Britain! Cruise lines often cut the rates pre departure, but the early bookers are NEVER refunded here in the UK.

I did once ask a TA in the UK and they laughed! There must be a diiferent terms and conditions in 'small print'?

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Colin
First Class Passenger
Member # 1676

posted 10-14-2001 11:54 AM

Not quite refunds, but we've twice been told, when making final payment, that we owed less than we expected due to price reductions. Regards, Colin.

Posts: 283 | From: Inverness, Scotland | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

DianaD
First Class Passenger
Member # 1010

posted 10-14-2001 01:28 PM

It may well be that in Britain they are buying through wholesalers and not direct with the cruise line, the same as we do in Canada. We depend on the wholesaler to pass the reductions on to us, which they quite often do but maybe they dont in the UK.

Posts: 308 | From: Whitby, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

sunniebgi
First Class Passenger
Member # 2513

posted 10-15-2001 01:00 PM

As a Cruise Consultant in Barbados, I deal with both US and UK based cruise lines. Quite interestingly enough the rules differ depending on which side of the big pond you are on (even if you are booking a Carnival Cruise through a Tour Company in the UK)

US based lines(Carnival, Royal Caribbean etc) have better Policies when it comes to booking confirmations, payment deadlines and refunds. UK based cruise lines and charter companies that sell space on US based lines have much more strict policies from everything from booking to refunds.

I can hold a confirmed booking with Carnival in the US for several days before actually having to send them any money and then I'm not under any penalty unless I'm with in the specified days.

With UK based lines and companies, when I ask them to confirm the booking, they want the money right then and even if I'm 90 days before sailing, i'm under penalty for at least the deposit (most will also not even hold a booking for me but will only confirm it once money is in their hand)

The other thing I find is that with some UK based cruise lines, if the sailing is really filling up, they raise there prices, and it has nothing to do with whether a particular category is sold out but more accross the board price increase.

So.. I've never seen a refund from a UK based cruise lines or travel company based in the UK. But I have from the US Lines.

The only thing I can say is that you will also find lines like Princess, HAL etc bringing out low fares closer to sailing and advising "For New Bookings Only" so there would be no refund to any one already booked.

Good luck and happy cruising.

Posts: 11 | From: Barbados | Registered: Oct 2001 | IP: Logged

philcheese2001
First Class Passenger
Member # 2426

posted 10-15-2001 02:00 PM

sunniebgi,
Your last paragraph is right on the ball. People like myself who have retired can afford to sit it out until late bookings and high discounts are offered. In 30 years of cruising I have never heard of a refund on a U.K.based cruise. Operators will merely refer you to the small print.Malcolm is right another case of "rip-off Britain" Sunniebgi the points you make about the U.S.market are most interesting. Thanks for the input.

Posts: 181 | From: Liverpool,European Capital of Culture 2008 | Registered: Sep 2001 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 10-15-2001 04:01 PM

quote:
Originally posted by sunniebgi:
Quite interestingly enough the rules differ depending on which side of the big pond you are on..

Yes very interesting stuff, thank you!

It always amazes me how much us Brits and European's have to pay for cruises in European waters, compared to those in USA waters. This probably explains why it is not such a popular pastime, in Europe yet? For example:

By chance I've got the 2002 NCL Brochure in front me:

9 Night W.Caribbean (Basic Inside cabin, inc. flights from London to Miami, taxes)

£1719 (-30% early booking discount)

9 Night Alaska (Basic Inside cabin, inc. flights from London to Seattle, pre-hotel,taxes )

£1759 (-30% early booking discount)

12 Norwegian Fjords (Basic Inside Cabin, No flights-UK Port, taxes)

£1649 (-30% early booking discount)

Now these are the full brochure rates, per person, without any TA discounts. All taves are included, but Insurance and tips are extra.

However, you can see that if I've got between £1650 to £1750 (minus discounts) to spend, I can fly across the pond and cruise Alaska or the Caribbean for a similar price, than I can take a cruise in my own back yard! (O.K the Fjords cruise is a few days longer).

If I start to shop around, I will find better discounts to Alaska and the Caribbean than I ever will on European cruises, making it actually cheaper to go further!

I suppose it's 'supply and demand' in America and 'price fixing'in Europe? Using a factor of about $1.4 = £1 you can do the maths yourself!

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

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