Advice needed re Travel Agents

[katkell]

This is not a P & O question. Different cruiseline, but I thought because this is predominatly Australian I would ask the question here.

 

I am booking a cruise, American Cruiseline, destination not Australia. I rang an internet booking agent the other day (very well known one) and got a quote which was quite good. We have to pay a 900 dollar NON REFUNDABLE deposit at time of booking. I went on line today direct to the cruise line and got a cheaper price for the same cat and there deposit is only 500 dollars aus which is fully refundable up to 70 days prior to sailing.

 

Has anyone come across this type of situation. What are we getting for our dollars booking through an agent, who, if I cancel will pick up the dollars that I have paid, (if I take travel insurance I will get it back, but the agent will also pick up as well) whats going on here.

 

Why should I book through an Aus Agent with those sort of terms. I am going to ring the cruiseline direct on Monday to confirm what I read on their website before I make a commitment, but I know where my dollars are going at this point in time. I will also email the internet agent and ask them why they are charging so much for a deposit that is non refundable.

 

I appreciate any feedback from any one that has had a similar experience with Australian Agents.

[MMDown Under]

This is not a P & O question. Different cruiseline, but I thought because this is predominatly Australian I would ask the question here.

 

I am booking a cruise, American Cruiseline, destination not Australia. I rang an internet booking agent the other day (very well known one) and got a quote which was quite good. We have to pay a 900 dollar NON REFUNDABLE deposit at time of booking. I went on line today direct to the cruise line and got a cheaper price for the same cat and there deposit is only 500 dollars aus which is fully refundable up to 70 days prior to sailing.

 

Has anyone come across this type of situation. What are we getting for our dollars booking through an agent, who, if I cancel will pick up the dollars that I have paid, (if I take travel insurance I will get it back, but the agent will also pick up as well) whats going on here.

 

Why should I book through an Aus Agent with those sort of terms. I am going to ring the cruiseline direct on Monday to confirm what I read on their website before I make a commitment, but I know where my dollars are going at this point in time. I will also email the internet agent and ask them why they are charging so much for a deposit that is non refundable.

 

I appreciate any feedback from any one that has had a similar experience with Australian Agents.

 

Recently, we didn't proceed with a cruise booking solely because of the large non refundable deposit.

 

I'd be interested in the response from the internet agent on why they are charging $900 non refundable deposit.

 

I feel all deposits should be refundable until final payment is due, as no-one knows what the future holds.

 

BTW Even though you have insurance coverage, you are only covered under the terms of the insurance policy, so read the fine print well each time you travel.

[Kinkacruiser]

We've had to take out travel insurance at time of booking to cover the non-refundable deposits. Like Katnell, they are quite substantial as well...$950 per person for our upcoming cruise. In the end, it doesn't make much difference. You need travel insurance anyway and the larger deposit makes the final payment less.

Perhaps it's a way to lock you into your booking. I don't think TA's or cruiselines would appreciate too m any "bookings" being cancelled at the 70 day mark, as not all cruises are waitlisted.

Anna

[Gold Coast Cruisers]

The cruise we've just cancelled is waitlisted in our category yet we cannot get any deposit back which means a loss of $600.00 in total, $200.00 to the Australian online Agent and $400 to the cruise company.

 

So everyone wins except us, as they get our money and have people lining up to take our cabin, which is actually now more expensive than when we booked.

 

Thems the breaks as they say, and rules are rules I suppose.

 

Jillybean:(

[Guest012]

And jillybean that is why it is soooooo important that people booking take the time BEFORE they part with their hard earned money to read the terms and conditions of the travel agency, which vary from one to the other, the cruise line and the booking, some cheap and or early bird prices do have non-refundable deposits, before making a decision ......daylight robbery the Australian agency taking $200 but then if you knew that would happen if you cancelled....you made an informed choice...a sad loss of money....

 

Katkell....there are some agencies out there that are good traders you just have to hunt them down, ask the important questions if it doesn't suit move onto the next....personally i wouldn't entertain that agency though.. would be even scarier if they also had a cancellation charge on top of losing your deposit....:eek::eek::eek:.

Our Rhapsody of the Seas cruise next week was booked direct with the cruiseline for the reasons 1. They matched the lowest price i was quoted by a travel agent.... 2. They offered us an onboard credit and the most important reason 3. No scandalous cancellation fee and full deposit refund within their specified time......

.......good luck with your booking....cheers Shiona

[katkell]

Thanks for all your comments. I have always taken Travel Insurance at the time of booking, but that being said, the cruise line refunds the deposit and we then claim it back through our Insurance. Does the Travel Agent then get to keep the 900 "non refundable". I would think that they do. Suppose its how they make their money. Good luck to them, and bad luck for us.

 

I have previously booked through online cruise specialists and also direct with the cruise co, but I know now that I will probably go with the cruise line direct.

 

By the way, I have been trying to find how much port charges and taxes are worth, as these aren't covered in the cruiseline fare. Would anybody have knowledge of this, or point me in the right direction.

 

Thanks

[The_Big_M]

I think the travel agent's argument is usually they've done work for you and want to get payment if you cancel (in which case they won't get their commission from the booking). Of course, if you actually paid a separate booking fee, or cancellation fee, there's no justification. Personally I'm also concerned that some take the entire deposit in case of cancellation which can be far more than any amount of work done.

 

As you say, the travel agent keeps the deposit. If your insurance company pays up, it's them that pays out of all the policy holders who taken insurance but don't claim.

 

As for port charges, some show some information, but I don't believe there's any public way to check it out.