Trying to remain calm

i booked our Hawaii cruise through an agency a fellow cruise critic mentioned. I was amazed at the deal and booked it. I received $885 OBC plus a great price for this November cruise. Well I received an email from a local agency that was offering an escorted cruise, meaning they would give us bus transportation to San Francisco from close t powhere we live, behind the scene tours, daily gifts, and a lot more. So I called her. I asked if she could match the deal, I forwarded the invoice to her. She said she could less $85 which is the money the original agent took off, but she said I would get the $800. So I said go for it. I get an email saying it's all done. I look at the invoice and it's more than $500 more. I emailed her and told her the price was higher. She realized she did not notice the price I had included the port taxes and government fees. She said I could call princess and have it transferred back. But I told her I'm now embatassed to do this and I know my husband will be upset. She said she'll call Princess, but no promises. My husband loved the idea of not driving all the way to SF and dealing with parking and our luggage. I have a shoulder injury so he has to do a lot of the lifting. I'm so upset, but trying to remain calm. I'm not going to tell my husband about this until I see what new agent can do.

Since your cruise isn't past final payment (you say it's in Nov) just cancel and start over.

Since your cruise isn't past final payment (you say it's in Nov) just cancel and start over.

Yes I can do that, just disappointed.

It seemed too good to be true, and it was. :) I can see why you feel awkward about it, but you have to move forward. You have to consider whether the transportation etc. is worth an extra $500 to you.

It seemed too good to be true, and it was. :) I can see why you feel awkward about it, but you have to move forward. You have to consider whether the transportation etc. is worth an extra $500 to you.

No it's not. I met this second travel agency on board my Alaska cruise, they had a lot going on.

Call Princess and have it transferred back to original. Do not be embarrassed, people change their minds all the time. Princess is very aware of people trying to get the best deal.

Go back to where you feel the most comfortable. Its ok.

Just have fun on your trip and stop stressing over this It is not worth any wrinkles!

Sandra

Call Princess and have it transferred back to original. Do not be embarrassed, people change their minds all the time. Princess is very aware of people trying to get the best deal.

 

Go back to where you feel the most comfortable. Its ok.

 

Just have fun on your trip and stop stressing over this It is not worth any wrinkles!

 

Sandra

Yep don't need anymore wrinkles. Hopefully they can change it back to everything I had. I also had the specialty dining for two.

Jessica

I once booked with the TA that does the Escorted cruises and offers the free bus. We used that TA for our cruise through the Panama Canal as we were able to park our car at my wife's niece's house in Sacramento, take a cab to the pickup spot, and then board the bus. The bus took us from Sacramento to San Francisco and handled all of the luggage for us. They had daily gifts onboard for each of us. One day decks of cards, one day bottles of wine, a copy (one) of The Path Between the Seas, bags of salt water taffy, luggage straps, etc. We saved 15 days parking fee in San Francisco ($$$) which was a great perk. The parking savings and free transport were the reasons we booked with that particular agency for that cruise. Since we ended up in FLL there was no free transport back but, on a closed loop cruise, we would also have received a return bus trip from SF to Sacramento.

If you aren't getting that kind of value to make it worth your money then don't let embarrassment cost you $500.

I once booked with the TA that does the Escorted cruises and offers the free bus. We used that TA for our cruise through the Panama Canal as we were able to park our car at my wife's niece's house in Sacramento, take a cab to the pickup spot, and then board the bus. The bus took us from Sacramento to San Francisco and handled all of the luggage for us. They had daily gifts onboard for each of us. One day decks of cards, one day bottles of wine, a copy (one) of The Path Between the Seas, bags of salt water taffy, luggage straps, etc. We saved 15 days parking fee in San Francisco ($$$) which was a great perk. The parking savings and free transport were the reasons we booked with that particular agency for that cruise. Since we ended up in FLL there was no free transport back but, on a closed loop cruise, we would also have received a return bus trip from SF to Sacramento.

 

If you aren't getting that kind of value to make it worth your money then don't let embarrassment cost you $500.

I just hope I can get all my perks back. It's upsetting because I sent her my invoice and verified what I would lose, $85. It was nice knowing all our transportation would be taken care of, I haven't switched it back yet, but I will.

Call Princess and have it transferred back to original. Do not be embarrassed, people change their minds all the time. Princess is very aware of people trying to get the best deal.

 

Go back to where you feel the most comfortable. Its ok.

 

Just have fun on your trip and stop stressing over this It is not worth any wrinkles!

 

Sandra

Great advice!!! By the way Sandra I love your name Nanabananna!! It reminds me of a good friend when I was a kid. :).

Tony

I think your best bet is to just cancel and rebook too. Your comfort is important. Good luck.

I just hope I can get all my perks back. It's upsetting because I sent her my invoice and verified what I would lose, $85. It was nice knowing all our transportation would be taken care of, I haven't switched it back yet, but I will.

Is she the owner?

If not escalate it.

Is she the owner?

 

If not escalate it.

No she isn't.

Still waiting to find out if the agency can do anything. I'm just concerned that the $885 OBC and specialty dining can be moved back since I booked when they had the sale. I'm hoping the transfer will have all those perks. I'll call tomorrow.

So this is the email I received from my TA. I am deleting the name of the agency she refers to in email so not to violate cc guidelines

Hi Jessica, You do have the specialty dinner for two included in your reservation. I spoke with Princess and the only thing they offered is for a copy of the original booking be faxed or emailed to Princess Customer Relations to show the pricing before transferring the reservation. I will be happy to try this for you.... It is worth a try! I will fax a letter and the original booking over to Customer Relations for them to review. I am uncertain if they will match the price, in which case you may have to go back to *** have retain the reservation. Thanks,

Great advice!!! By the way Sandra I love your name Nanabananna!! It reminds me of a good friend when I was a kid. :).

Tony

Thank You Tony. It is always good when we can reminiscence of our childhood.

My grandchildren call me Nana and they like bananas too, hence the name Nanabananna!! LOL

Thank You Tony. It is always good when we can reminiscence of our childhood.

My grandchildren call me Nana and they like bananas too, hence the name Nanabananna!! LOL

I love it :D :D. Grandchildren are the BEST!! I have 4.

Tony

So I received this email back from the agent

Hi Jessica, I finally called Customer Relations after not hearing from them. I spoke to a supervisor (Kim) regarding your booking and was following up on the letter that I had faxed to them. Unfortunately, Princess will not protect the original price from**** ($460.00) Their explanation was that the price does not include the government fees and taxes. They are uncertain if ****rebates that price or how they do not include those prices in the total cruise fare. I am very disappointed; as I am sure you are too. You have the option of transferring your booking back to ****.... You may even call them and have them request the transfer. I am sorry this happened. Our only hope is that Princess has another promotion that may lower the price....but that is hard to predict.

Please advise me if you there is anything I can do on my end.

I asked the agent if she could meet the price since it was her error. She said they can't go lower than Princess price. I asked if the owner could do anything and she said no. I will never try this new agency ever again.

So I received this email back from the agent

 

 

 

Hi Jessica, I finally called Customer Relations after not hearing from them. I spoke to a supervisor (Kim) regarding your booking and was following up on the letter that I had faxed to them. Unfortunately, Princess will not protect the original price from**** ($460.00) Their explanation was that the price does not include the government fees and taxes. They are uncertain if ****rebates that price or how they do not include those prices in the total cruise fare. I am very disappointed; as I am sure you are too. You have the option of transferring your booking back to ****.... You may even call them and have them request the transfer. I am sorry this happened. Our only hope is that Princess has another promotion that may lower the price....but that is hard to predict.

 

Please advise me if you there is anything I can do on my end.

 

 

 

I asked the agent if she could meet the price since it was her error. She said they can't go lower than Princess price. I asked if the owner could do anything and she said no. I will never try this new agency ever again.

Oh, that is too bad. [emoji20]

Could you possibly rebook under the Sip and Sail and at least get $500 OBC or something, or is it not applicable for your sailing?

And if you have a FCD you could stack credits, plus agency credits, et cet?

We had something happen recently (not related to cruising )

I wish I could share with you to make you feel a whole lot better about your current situation. Suffice it to say, we wish we were only missing the equivalent of $885 OBC. [emoji6][emoji33]

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Jessica,

I am sorry you are having so much trouble. I know you must be thinking, "Why did I do this to begin with?"

We all make mistakes and hindsight is always waiting for us!

I think go back to where your were or cancel and rebook, which might be better to do in the long run. Then hope and pray for a new promotion. Good Luck in your decision making on this cruise. It will be fun for you and your husband.

Don't Worry, Be Happy!

Sandra

The new agency needs to honor what you were originally told. You sent an email and fully disclosed what you were looking for and they agreed to meet it, less the $85. They need to either exercise their Errors & Omissions insurance or take the hit out of pocket. You may very well not be able to get your perks back on the original booking with the first agency. You should not let this go.

Jessica,

I am sorry you are having so much trouble. I know you must be thinking, "Why did I do this to begin with?"

We all make mistakes and hindsight is always waiting for us!

 

I think go back to where your were or cancel and rebook, which might be better to do in the long run. Then hope and pray for a new promotion. Good Luck in your decision making on this cruise. It will be fun for you and your husband.

Don't Worry, Be Happy!

 

Sandra

Well originally I thought it was a good idea since the transportation was included. Plus the agent saying it was the same price.

I'm happy to say I was able to switch back, and I did not lose my perks!!

Jessica

Well originally I thought it was a good idea since the transportation was included. Plus the agent saying it was the same price.

 

I'm happy to say I was able to switch back, and I did not lose my perks!!

 

Jessica

Yea for you Jessica!! That makes me happy bc you are and all is good.

Take care my friend.

Sandra

Yea for you Jessica!! That makes me happy bc you are and all is good.

Take care my friend.

 

Sandra

Thanks Sandra.