We are able to offer the deeply discounted U.S. rates of most of the cruise lines we represent to citizens of other countries. However, the following cruise lines now prohibit all U.S. travel agencies (including Vacations To Go) from selling cruises to citizens of countries other than the U.S. and Canada, unless they have a residence in the U.S. or Canada. This is not a Vacations To Go policy or a U.S. government policy, it is a corporate policy instituted by each of these cruise lines.

*Residents of Mexico are permitted to book Princess through Vacations To Go

What an effing joke!...

If this is the case for commercial & retail US based agents
then I suppose it'll be the same for interline,travel industry
agents too like Dargal...

Carry On!

I also wonder if it works the same way if the tables are turned. If I called a UK or Australian travel agent, would they book me on Fred Olsen or P&O Australia?

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Originally posted by eroller:
This is probably not the best suggestion, but one way around this is if you have a trustworthy friend in the US. Have them book it and pay on their credit card, and you wire the money to them. You can fill out all your documentation information online, and almost all tickets these days are e-tickets so nothing has to be mailed. Again not a perfect solution, but something that would work if you have an American friend.

I also wonder if it works the same way if the tables are turned. If I called a UK or Australian travel agent, would they book me on Fred Olsen or P&O Australia?

Ernie

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For years this is how I booked some of my UK clients on Cunard and Princess; however that process has been thwarted either because of a past guest # bringing up the true residency, or when the guest registers on-line for the cruise with their address.

And indeed this policy works in reverse against Americans as well, making it nearly impossible for us to book P.& O., Fred.Olsen, etc.

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Originally posted by Linerrich:

For years this is how I booked some of my UK clients on Cunard and Princess; however that process has been thwarted either because of a past guest # bringing up the true residency, or when the guest registers on-line for the cruise with their address.

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Well there is a way around everything. They would need to enter the same US address that was used to make the booking, but could still indicate they are an Australian or UK citizen holding a passport from those countries.

Regarding the past passenger number, that would have be left off the booking. Once onboard they could speak to the host to have it added for the cruise and take advantage of the benefits.

I'm not sure if the price is so much lower in the US it would make all this worth it, but if it is then it's certainly worth the effort.

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Originally posted by Cruise mate:
The thing I find most disturbing about all this is that this is the first time major competitors [Carnival Corp + RCI etc.] have clearly got together in order to regulate what could be a free market.
Princess has been on again, off again with this kind of thing for years, but only this year they are all getting together.
This type of collusion results in jail terms in most countries. So much for the free trade agreement between Australia and the US.
NCR here we come.

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This is total bunk. Carnival and RCCL have not gotten together to regulate a market.

This is a simple matter ruled by a few factors.

1 - cruise lines have invested a tremendous amount of money to set up sales and marketing organizations and agreements in various countries and it does not make sense to drive that business back overseas.

2 - Australia, Germany and the UK have vastly different laws, regulations and consumer protection agreements in place than the U.S. and Canada.

In the UK for instance, companies need to have bonds in place and consumers are required to purchase insurance.

In Germany, consumers have the right to cancel and recieve a full refund from the cruise line much closer to or right up to sailing time. Not sure of the exact specifics, but it is very close.

I know of one U.S. agent who sold a cruise to a German resident who cancelled a few days prior to sailing. That person expected and was due a full refund which the AGENT had to fund as they were not aware of the laws governing the sale of travel.

That is just one instance that I know of.

I'm not an expert of the laws, but those 'barriers' if you will, are in place for good reason.

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Originally posted by Tim in 'Lauderdale:

In Germany, consumers have the right to cancel and recieve a full refund from the cruise line much closer to or right up to sailing time. Not sure of the exact specifics, but it is very close.

I know of one U.S. agent who sold a cruise to a German resident who cancelled a few days prior to sailing. That person expected and was due a full refund which the AGENT had to fund as they were not aware of the laws governing the sale of travel.

Tim

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Originally posted by Sutho:
If for argument sake a foreign citizen were on an extended vacation in the US and decided on the spur of the moment to book a cruise, would they get the US fares?

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Originally posted by Sutho:
If for argument sake a foreign citizen were on an extended vacation in the US and decided on the spur of the moment to book a cruise, would they get the US fares?

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I've just put that question to Princess, to get their official response: a non-US resident would not be allowed to book in the US; rates quoted must be in the currency and pricing structure of their home country. I, as an agent, must refer the clients to Princess directly and their International Department would handle the booking.

Now that's the official policy; how one goes about getting around it is another story.

I, being appropriately superannuated, am booking my second cruise with Saga this August. (Saga Pearl II to Norway.) through an Authorized "Saga Cruise Manager," at a US Travel Agent, dba "Cruise & Tour Reservations" in the US.

They book US pax; accept Fares in US$; offer a US-based insurance package in US$; book US/UK airline tx; an, in short serve as Saga's authorized Representative for Saga Cruises. You will be met at Heathrow by a Saga Car and brought to the Port of debarkation. They are located in the Boston Suburbs, is (1-800-343 0273).

This is not a plug, just information for my fellow cruisers here. Is there no similar outfit on the other side?

[ 04-13-2010: Message edited by: Cambodge ]

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Originally posted by Tim in 'Lauderdale:
2 - Australia, Germany and the UK have vastly different laws, regulations and consumer protection agreements in place than the U.S. and Canada.

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It's a perfectly good reason to maintain a separate set of rules, conditions and prices for residents of those countries booking in those countries. Those bookings are governed by laws in those countries.

If a person was on holidays in the US one would assume they could book flights, book train tickets, book hotels and go to amusements parks, holiday resorts as they wish. It appears cruise lines are a different story.

From what I am aware Australians in the UK on a two year working visa can book UK holidays at UK rates as they are residing there.

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Originally posted by Sutho:

From what I am aware Australians in the UK on a two year working visa can book UK holidays at UK rates as they are residing there.

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Someone in the US on a work visa would be allowed to book locally with Princess and the other lines, since they can prove legal residency, even though it's temporary.

Your original query was for someone on vacation in the States, and apparently that makes all the difference to the cruise lines.