Cruise lines that discriminate against Australians.

Can someone list the companies that won't allow Australians to book through US travel agents? I know Princess is one but who are the others?

What about Celebrity and Royal Caribbean?

Thanks.

Can someone list the companies that won't allow Australians to book through US travel agents? I know Princess is one but who are the others?

 

What about Celebrity and Royal Caribbean?

 

Thanks.

We book Royal Caribbean and Celebrity with US agents. :D

Have been told HAL is another line you can't book.

Definitely not HAL or Princess, though in truth you can book - the agent just doesn't get paid! Just checked and Cunard not surprisingly is the same deal (all three use the same booking engine)

Oceania is also officially against it and I would assume the Regent would be as well although they don't say so on their website.

I have heard over and over how people can book through O/S TA's yet when I have tried, they have knocked me back. Have tried a HAL (which I know you can't do) and an RCI and been knocked back.

I heard ages ago that alot of people have said they could book O/S because they had their details with these TA before alot of cruise companies decided to limit who they sell to in each country etc.

Any truth to that?

Would love to hear from someone who has only recently (as in in the last 6 months) has been able to book through an O/S TA.

Going to that particular website, they state the shipping companies which decline booking Australians. You can book Princess if you previously have done so with them, but HAL require you to book through Aust agent. I have recently booked Celebrity with this US agent. Carnival sailing out of US can be booked through US agent.

Seems to me if ship sails out of Australia, then we get better deals booking through Aussie agents. If ship sails out of US ports, then if we are allowed to book out of US, then their prices are far better.

You hear rumours too of Aussies who booked with US T/A's being refused boarding, but I say they are only rumours.

Certainly Princess/HAL will not let us book with US T/A's.

I booked our current cruises with a British T/A who has an office in Sydney. That was OK with Princess and P& O UK.

I have just booked our cruise with Royal Carribbean with a big US TA. No problems at all.

You hear rumours too of Aussies who booked with US T/A's being refused boarding, but I say they are only rumours.

Les

I suspect that it is only rumours probably started by agents here worried that they were losing clients.

I've booked a couple of Princess cruises with a US agent and on my Contract of Passage, there is nothing about refusing to board passengers on the basis of their nationality / where they bought their passage.

When I asked for a FCL and wanted to pay the $US100pp dep, all the FCC was interested in was if I had booked my current cruise with a US based TA. I had and that's all he was interested in. Then I asked him for a FCL for use in Australia. Again no problem or issue at all.

You could probably find some useful information here - http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i10703-k3350647-Regional_pricing_at_what_cost-Cruises.html

You could probably find some useful information here - http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i10703-k3350647-Regional_pricing_at_what_cost-Cruises.html

Thank you Dougo.

That's a great thread on tripadvisor.

Regards, Ann

There has NEVER been anybody post that they were denied boarding which leads me to believe it is a myth. I believe that those lines discriminating against us require a "verifiable" US address..not too difficult is it as everything is done by email these days.

I have already booked using an Australian online TA and have paid the deposit, but their cancellation penalty is $100 plus 10% of all monies paid. Thanks to this thread I have looked at some interesting US sites that allow bookings from a range of countries (so they know we are Australia) and if the price is right I will cancel and rebook!

Will let you know how I go...

so is there a list?

Going to that particular website, they state the shipping companies which decline booking Australians. You can book Princess if you previously have done so with them, but HAL require you to book through Aust agent. I have recently booked Celebrity with this US agent. Carnival sailing out of US can be booked through US agent.

 

Seems to me if ship sails out of Australia, then we get better deals booking through Aussie agents. If ship sails out of US ports, then if we are allowed to book out of US, then their prices are far better.

I definitely got a much better rate booking our 2013 cruise through the American TA than what I could get here.

Hi - we (group o 8 Aussies) have booked back to back cruises with a US online TA. We have received various price decreases since we booked in October last year for travel in October this year. We have just made final payment.

I contacted Princess Australia to see if I could get an OBC for my military service. They replied that as I had made the booking in the US they couldn't access my booking to apply the credit and suggested that I contact Princess US (and supplied me with the email address)to see if they would honour the OBC. I contacted Princess US and within a week I received an email advising that I was entitled to the credit and that I would receive it. At no time did they say anything about the fact that I wuold be denied board. go figure.

This is the list as some Websites list :

US Agents & Websites only to US & Canadian residents:

NO GO for Other Nationalities via US Agents / websites for Holland America, Princess, Costa, and Oceania.

Other lines including Carnival, Disney, NCL, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean open to all comers.

There is supposed to be a Free Trade Agreement between Australia and the USA so how can the practise of restricting sales to US residents only be legal within a free trade agreement ?

As far as boarding is concerned what I have been told (by the lines and by agents) is that the passenger will be allowed to board but the TA will not be paid. That way the lines get to enforce their rules but he traveler is not put out at all - except of course no TA will take a client for free. For a little more insight look at this from a TA friend of mine to her company website

Holland America question...Have you had a client that holds an American Passport and at this time residing outside of the US and is going on a cruise with family ( that I have booked before ) and Holland at the start said no problem with booking them though they live in Spain right now, for they have travelled with you in the past and are going out of NY with family members etc. Well I paid everything,deposit then final, and NOW I am being told....NO....we do not pay commission on residents outside of US even though they also hold a US Passport. Interesting that they did pay me for her sister that lives in Spain( holds US Passport too ).! Curious how you handle this if it has happened to you. Of course I have emailed and contacted rep but still no response!!!

@ things here stand out HAL is not paying even though it is a previously booking passenger and a US citizen. I bet every American TA out there would think that this would be good. but . . . so when you contact your American TA please understand that they may be leery.

I have heard over and over how people can book through O/S TA's yet when I have tried, they have knocked me back. Have tried a HAL (which I know you can't do) and an RCI and been knocked back.

 

I heard ages ago that alot of people have said they could book O/S because they had their details with these TA before alot of cruise companies decided to limit who they sell to in each country etc.

 

Any truth to that?

 

Would love to hear from someone who has only recently (as in in the last 6 months) has been able to book through an O/S TA.

Yes, I am allowed to book with US TA's for Princess as we were established customers with 2 of them before the ban. I book overseas cruises as well as the Australian cruises and they are MUCH cheaper.

I have made 5 bookings within the last 6 months.

I am allowed to buy FCC letters on Australian ships using US$ for US ships.

I am sorry everyone is not able to do this and I think it sucks big time that you can't.

According to my son, who owns a travel business, specialising in South American Travel and Antarctic expedition cruises, the cruise companies mentioned are trying to 'protect' the Australian Travel Industry.' After many representations by Australian T/A's to the Cruise Lines, including those at an International Cruise Convention, a few years ago.

If you believe that 100% you believe in the upgrade fairy too. But maybe part of it is true.

I blame the Cruise Companies, favouring their North American clients and everyone else can go jump.

My word for it? 'INJUSTICE.'

Well I am sick of the discrimination so I have got myself some pretty new tickers. :D In protest of course, someone's got to make the sacrifice! :p

Sandandsea lovers I asked for the travel agent recommendation and posted my email but it was removed by the powers that be. Never mind I booked through a big US travel agent and just on the Celebrity cruise saved over $1000 and will also get on board credit that I wasn't being offered here in oz as well as having to pay $1350 deposit rather than the $2600 the Australian co wanted.

Thank you Dougo.

That's a great thread on tripadvisor.

Ditto. :)

I blame the Cruise Companies, favouring their North American clients and everyone else can go jump.

How then do you explain when fares are cheaper here or elsewhere in the world than North America? Or where they are the same.

I tend to blame the Travel Agents here. As they are the ones who create their own contract with us, the client, not the cruise company. Hence the cancellation fees 99% of them charge if you cancel 'at any time' with them.

That's why Princess now work like a Travel Agent themselves and look after their clients well who book with them direct.

In the USA many people book their cruises online, whereas here it is still relatively new to do this.

Travel Agents here are trying to hang on to what they've got, and, I think it is beginning to slip through their hot little hands. I think NZ is similar, am I right?.....Speaking to those Kiwis across the ditch?

Jilly:)

Maye I should blame the Australian Travel agents then and the Cruise Companies. We are the mugs in the middle of the sambo.

Protest, no more auto tips, let the cruise companies pay our auto tips from their own profits and not our pockets. We already pay too much in our cruise fares.

This is the booking conditions from a big US site.

NOTE: Costa Cruises, Holland America Line, Oceania Cruises and Princess Cruises prohibit U.S. travel agencies from selling cruises to customers who do not have a residence in the U.S. or Canada. We will be happy to assist international clients with finding cruise lines that accept international bookings. International customers must contact our cruise specialists by calling one of the phone numbers listed above to complete their purchase.

I Booked with Ncl.com .. no problems booking direct with them,Aussie agent wants non refundable deposit.

Well I am sick of the discrimination so I have got myself some pretty new tickers. :D In protest of course, someone's got to make the sacrifice! :p

 

Sandandsea lovers I asked for the travel agent recommendation and posted my email but it was removed by the powers that be. Never mind I booked through a big US travel agent and just on the Celebrity cruise saved over $1000 and will also get on board credit that I wasn't being offered here in oz as well as having to pay $1350 deposit rather than the $2600 the Australian co wanted.

 

 

Ditto. :)

Hi Silverwillow:D

I have only just found out about the American T/A's after another member very kindly recommended one, meanwhile I had found another which we eventually booked a RCCI cruise next year with. The first T/A didn't even have the cruise listed but was happy to take the booking all the same. They are also security conscious regarding payment. The deal was so much better than if we went through an Aussie T/A:D Live and learn!

Cheers

Melissa