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Cruise Value Center agency went under...

Moonlight Beach

By Moonlight Beach,
in Holland America Line

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hammybee

hammybee

Posted
Posted

 

But it pays to do research, it pays to ask questions, and it pays to understand the type of travel agent you are using. All travel agents are not created equal.

 

I appreciate this and agree with you. Most travel agents are not contra-party to the credit card transactions.

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thisworldtraveler

thisworldtraveler

Posted
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That is not what Angie from HAL told me. I asked if HAL would honor the fare I received from the TA and she said they would. :confused: Now I have something else to worry about.

 

If the cruise line agreed to honor the fare, you should be fine. I don't know that all cruise lines will agree to do that however.

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herb

herb

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We used the online agency specifically mentioned in the original post many times for booking cruises. They did a great job. So sad to hear that they went out of business.

 

What I still don't get is that cruise critic wouldn't allow the mention of the name of an agency that is going under. One would think that this type of information is EXTREMELY important for all who book cruises to know

I know cruise critic is in league with certain agencies for ad revenue, but once they go under I doubt ad revenue is really much of an issue!!

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Moonlight Beach

Moonlight Beach

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[quote name='herb']What I still don't get is that cruise critic wouldn't allow the mention of the name of an agency that is going under. One would think that this type of information is [I]EXTREMELY important [/I]for all who book cruises to know
I know cruise critic is in league with certain agencies for ad revenue, but once they go under I doubt ad revenue is really much of an issue!![/quote]

I also used them for some of my "not so many" cruises and received not only great prices, but excellent customer service. I am sadden that ANY company goes out of business, and I'm sure that this may be only the beginning...
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BalconyBumz

BalconyBumz

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[quote name='jlynnek']I also used them for some of my "not so many" cruises and received not only great prices, but excellent customer service. I am sadden that ANY company goes out of business, and I'm sure that this may be only the beginning...[/quote]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=4][COLOR=DarkOrchid]
It is and it's quite sad and scary. Circuit City just filed BR.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
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Oceanwench

Oceanwench

Posted
Posted
We also used this TA many times and things always went pretty smoothly.

Has anyone who has a cruise booked through this TA purchased insurance through this company?
DH handles the bookings, and he always buys the TA's insurance package ... which might mean we are out some $$$ now for a booking for fall 2009.
We checked with HAL and the deposit was received some time ago.
We checked our Am Ex and the charge was made to the TA, not the cruise line.

We buy our insurance at the time of booking because of the whole pre-existing condition issue ...
So would we be better off to call HAL and cancel our fall 2009 cruise and rebook it, buying insurance at the time of rebooking?

Btw, DH called HAL today and was told they are setting up a desk and staff to tackle this problem and will be calling us tomorrow.
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lizzielady

lizzielady

Posted
Posted
but got very little service. For a while we continued to use them as the prices were significantly better than any other agency. However, the service was horrible. Wrong flight info and visa info for an Oceania Asian cruise. Because I lurk on this board I am so much more informed than most cruisers, I know so much more than the average cruiser.

All of our charges were booked on the credit card directly with the cruiseline. No complaints that there was a concern with the $$$$. But---we had entry visa problems, cabin selection problems, and air arrangement problems. Finally, as we started booking with the specialists in seattle, we got excellent service, we did not have to worry about the appropriate visas, international flights, etc. We do not get the lowests rates, however.

I truly hope there is no one that suffers from this financial failure.
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wrp96

wrp96

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[quote name='herb']We used the online agency specifically mentioned in the original post many times for booking cruises. They did a great job. So sad to hear that they went out of business.

What I still don't get is that cruise critic wouldn't allow the mention of the name of an agency that is going under. One would think that this type of information is [I]EXTREMELY important [/I]for all who book cruises to know
I know cruise critic is in league with certain agencies for ad revenue, but once they go under I doubt ad revenue is really much of an issue!![/quote]

I have seen several posts today about this agency - specifically mentioning the name - and they haven't been pulled yet so I have a feeling the mods realize the name needs to get out there.
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SAMMYR

SAMMYR

Posted
Posted
[quote name='SAMMYR']Thank all of you so far for the info. about this travel company. We and another couple are booked on the Eurodam for 1/3/09 thru this company. I found out there was a problem yesterday when I received a letter from the insurance that no payment was received and the policy has been canceled. I tried to get the agent but to no avail. I called HAL and also talked to Angie, she was very accommodating and contacted the consilidator who is to call me back.
I have already notified my credit card company about the situation. Two charges were made by the TA to themselves, I never realized the problem till today. I hope to book the balance directly thru HAL. I am confident that all will be worked out. First time for this type of problem after 25 cruises booked all thru TA's. My booking number is still good along with all the reservations and etc.[/QUOTE]

I was on with HAL a little while ago and they told me they are aware of the situation and to give them a couple of days to sort this out. All involved will get a phone call from HAL or another agency to continue a booking with them if final payments weren't made to them by the old travel company.
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Route6A

Route6A

Posted
Posted
I have used this agency repeatedly due to the excellent prices. I recently cancelled a Eurodam cruise with them and was told that the deposit, which was over $2,000, would be refunded by Holland America directly. Today, I double checked with Holland America and, sure enough, they have refunded my deposit to my credit card. The Seattle customer service rep I spoke with was exceedingly helpful and gracious. After reading the posts here, I wanted to be sure that the information the online agency agent gave me about the refund was the case.

I am sad to see the agency fail as I enjoy doing my own travel research and booking online. The savings have been outstanding, too, especially on the Eurodam cruise I cancelled. The weakening economy will have a significant impact on the travel industry for quite a long time, I think.
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BalconyBumz

BalconyBumz

Posted
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[quote name='sail7seas'][B]It's always sad to hear of any business closing........ all those lost jobs.
I hope they can relocate to other positions quickly. My heart aches for anyone losing their work.

[/B][/quote]

[SIZE=4][COLOR=DarkOrchid]Yes, it's all filters down all over the place, and it really IS bad. I feel for all these people, including myself! This economy has effected me very badly also. No matter how bad you think you have it, someone always has it worse, so I just feel for everyone![/COLOR][/SIZE]
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G'ma

G'ma

Posted
Posted
[quote name='thisworldtraveler']The office was closed midday yesterday. There is nobody there.[/quote]

I got a refund check from them last Thursday...deposited Friday. Will be interesting to see if it clears the bank.....

:confused:Holding my breath!!!!:confused:
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Jade13

Jade13

Posted
Posted
[quote name='sail7seas'][B]Jade: We have not used A&K but several of our 'very particular' friends did and were well satisfied. They went on rather pricey trips and they said everything was as they expected it to be.

You should have a great time.

How many days is the trip?

[/B][/quote]

It's 12 nights with them all inclusive once we leave BA (two pre-cruise hotel nights and 10 night cruise) plus two overnight flights. We have two nights at Iguazu falls that we have booked on our own and was easy to do. So, 17 days total for us.
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Two@Sea

Two@Sea

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[quote name='BalconyBumz'][FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=4][COLOR=darkorchid]I just spoke to the very large and popular online agency I use all the time and they told me specifically that they always charge directly to the cruise line not to them, which I knew was true. They have always been so good and helpful to me. They are in Florida, which is rumored to be another place where one is going down, and they assured me it wasn't them, but still, one has to be cautious.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/quote]

I was ready to pick up the phone today to book our cruise with a Florida agency, which also happens to be in our general area of the state. They seem to think they have the best price cruises. But then I read here that a large Florida agency was in trouble, and I began to worry. I did not make the call, or book my cruise. How on earth is one supposed to know whom to trust??? It is all very frustrating, and somewhat frightening. I feel so sorry for those caught in limbo with the agency that has closed.
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BalconyBumz

BalconyBumz

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Posted
[quote name='Two@Sea']I was ready to pick up the phone today to book our cruise with a Florida agency, which also happens to be in our general area of the state. [U][B] They seem to think they have the best price cruises.[/B][/U] But then I read here that a large Florida agency was in trouble, and I began to worry. I did not make the call, or book my cruise. How on earth is one supposed to know whom to trust??? It is all very frustrating, and somewhat frightening. I feel so sorry for those caught in limbo with the agency that has closed.[/quote]

[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=4][COLOR=DarkOrchid]That is not the one going out of biz and they are just fine. (wink)[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
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biddy belle

biddy belle

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[quote name='wrp96']I have seen several posts today about this agency - specifically mentioning the name - and they haven't been pulled yet so I have a feeling the mods realize the name needs to get out there.[/quote]
I tried, 3 times ,to post the phone number of their consolidator @9:30 this morning, having been warned by HAL and the consolidator of a serious problem. Each post was deleted in a matter of minutes! This is totally unacceptable behavior for a website that is supposedly dedicated to the interests and well-being of cruisers! I googled the situation in a matter of minutes. Why did it take the Cruise Critic Powers That Be 5 HOURS to do the same? Could it be that they were influenced by advertising revenue from the aforementioned site? 100's of customers have 1000's of dollars in limbo with this agency. I am totally perplexed that Laura, and Cruise Critic, did not address this problem in a prompt and forthright fashion, rather than leave the decision up to the moderators. Let's see if this post makes it past the censors!
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Two@Sea

Two@Sea

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[quote name='BalconyBumz'][FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=4][COLOR=darkorchid]That is not the one going out of biz and they are just fine. (wink)[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/quote]

How very kind (and astute!) you are! Thank you for catching my drift, and easing my worried mind.

:rolleyes:
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