eCruiseStore victim contacted by online TA, what to do?

[museumlover]

I was one of the eCruiseStore/Galaxy/Great Vacations customers who received the email early Monday morning informing us of the bankruptcy. I contacted the cruise line and it looks like they are going to take care of us. This evening (Friday) I was contacted by another online TA, wanting to take over the eCruise/Galaxy/G.V. booking. Has anyone else been contacted, and if so, what did you do? Should I try to continue working out the details with the cruise line or should I go with this other Orlando based TA? Any thoughts?

[kitty9]

I think you should continue this with the cruise line and not muddy the situation any more than it already is.

[CowPrincess]

I'd stick with the cruise line. How'd the TA get your name? Are they associates of the TA that closed, perhaps? Or did the closed TA sell off their client list before closing? I'd be taking the safest option at this point -- the cruise line.

[Canuker]

No!!!!

[museumlover]

I'm not sure how the new TA got hold of my email address. Perhaps the bankrupt company sold my info. Has anyone else been contacted?

[seacloud]

The employees of ecruisestore have likely taken their clients
to another location (Heathrow, FL where it was based it not
far from Orlando). I also was hurt by their actions and
would not trust the people they referred me to (for a referral fee, I'm sure)

[buckanear]

What an unfortunate situation and I am very happy to hear that the cruise line is going to work with you. I wouldn't, as another poster said, muddy the waters with another agency. Just stick with the cruise line and enjoy your cruise!

[museumlover]

Thanks for the insights!

[alwayshappytocruise]

Agreed, stick with the cruise line. There have been a lot of problems with some on-line TA's in the Heathrow/Orlando area.
I hope all your deposits, etc are covered with credit cards in case you need to dispute the charges.
Lynda

[sail7seas]

I would soooo soooo soooo finsih up all details working directly with cruise line. You are so fortunate they are willing to still allow you to sail despite the fact they may not have gotten all their money. Why risk going from the frying pan to the fire?

Stay with the cruise line!

[Treven]

Ditto; stay with the cruiseline.

[thinfool]

Originally Posted by museumlover

I was one of the eCruiseStore/Galaxy/Great Vacations customers who received the email early Monday morning informing us of the bankruptcy. I contacted the cruise line and it looks like they are going to take care of us. This evening (Friday) I was contacted by another online TA, wanting to take over the eCruise/Galaxy/G.V. booking. Has anyone else been contacted, and if so, what did you do? Should I try to continue working out the details with the cruise line or should I go with this other Orlando based TA? Any thoughts?

I am going to swim upstream a little bit and say this....call the cruise line and see what your options are....if they agree to using a different TA, look around your area and find someone local (even in Memphis) who will take your booking. Someone you can call or walk into their place of business if problems arise.

I agree with avoiding another online TA.

[ptsaint]

Originally Posted by museumlover

I was one of the eCruiseStore/Galaxy/Great Vacations customers who received the email early Monday morning informing us of the bankruptcy. I contacted the cruise line and it looks like they are going to take care of us. This evening (Friday) I was contacted by another online TA, wanting to take over the eCruise/Galaxy/G.V. booking. Has anyone else been contacted, and if so, what did you do? Should I try to continue working out the details with the cruise line or should I go with this other Orlando based TA? Any thoughts?

Hi,
We are also in the middle of the mess - but I can advise that there are others (TA) who are/have authorized to help/assist. We are working with one now until things are transfered back to the cruise line. For the most part fees/costs are dropping so I don't think we will end up without our cruises (2 of them, 32D for next year, 2 rooms total) being lost. On the ship this August we purchased future cruise credits - so our bookings should still be there at the orginal price (if we get the discountd one all the better). We will prob be short on the ship board credits though. For the most part as much as a hassle this has been the cc companies have been very supportive and I trust they will do what they said they would.
Wishing you all luck if you are still in the middle of this - can you imagine what it would be like if you didn't have the cruise critic boards to help you???
take care
Patrice

[blindrid]

Agree with pp's that said leave well enough alone.

Consider yourself fortunate that it didn't turn into more hassles and since you are being taken care of, why switch?

On future cruises, if you prefer to use this TA feel free but get this one in and enjoy the trip.

[grand isle joe]

So sorry to hear of your bad situation. It may be better to have a relationship with a local travel agency who can provide personal service and lives in the community. Also one that never charges a cancellation fee. If you don't get those "fantastic" deals(some never are true in the first place) it may be a trade off for security of a phone number you can call instead of a 800 number that gets you to a phone bank. Hope all goes well with your upcoming cruise.

[BIG_Steve]

There are a number of ways the other travel agent could have gotten your name. Both ethical and non-ethical.

In YOUR case, personally I would just finish booking with the cruiseline and get everything 100% set, just for peace of mind. Life is too short for all the stress you're going to have by re-doing all this with a new, unknown agent.

If you have time, you may be able to transfer your booking to a reputable agent later to save money or pick up some OBC. And if you don't have that option, at least you'll know your plans and money are safe again.

[LHT28]

You may want to check out the thread on Trip Advisor in the Miami forum
some interesting things there

I agree with the others... stick with the cruise line

[sail7seas]

Originally Posted by grand isle joe

So sorry to hear of your bad situation. It may be better to have a relationship with a local travel agency who can provide personal service and lives in the community. Also one that never charges a cancellation fee. If you don't get those "fantastic" deals(some never are true in the first place) it may be a trade off for security of a phone number you can call instead of a 800 number that gets you to a phone bank. Hope all goes well with your upcoming cruise.

Sadly, many of those local brick and mortar TA's are gone now. They couldn't compete with the huge on line agencies. There used to be about 15 established TA's in my general area. Almost all are out of business including the one I used for many, many cruises.

[madelinerose]

Originally Posted by museumlover

Should I try to continue working out the details with the cruise line or should I go with this other Orlando based TA?

Stick with the cruiseline....after all, the "other" Orlando-based TA could have the same ownership with a new corporate name. The cruiseline isn't fly by night.

[TMLAalum]

I read your other thread that included the full solicitation letter from this outlet and posted a response. Naming agencies probably got your thread pulled, at least I can't seem to find it anymore.

This is a very fishy scenario. I received a "personal" email from an agent at this outlet reminding me of a cruise I had previously booked from her- NOT! Never booked any cruise ever with this outlet.

It is very suspicious to me that the competition CEO has chosen this agency out of the 350 he represents to take over eCS' mess. Plus the promise of keeping OBC's & pricing that eCS "gave" is also a red flag. And isn't it curious that one of their agents has the same first name as one of the eCS principals?