[Elva]

Legal scam?​

Hi everyone
I really enjoy my 'seniors discount club' read every morning. This platform may be the wrong one to voice my concern though today. I am, however, also writing to Tourism Australia, TripAdvisor, Seniors and other affiliates. Have spoken to Virgin Cruises and My Cruises.
Having only dealt directly with airlines and cruises previously we were unaware how tricky dealing with a travel agent could be.
In December 2022 we booked with My Cruises for a 2024 (three leg) discounted Cruise and because the travel was almost 16 months away we could not get travel insurance. This turned out to be a very expensive trap.
In early March 2023, due to unexpected personal reasons, I had to cancel two legs of the 2024 trip. The travel agency has kept the $1,200 deposit on them.
When I rang Virgin Cruises they said the travel agency keeps all of the deposits but if I'd booked directly with Virgin they would have refunded because the cruise was thirteen months away...well in the area of allowable refunds. They advised me to email My Cruises and fall on their good graces. I did but they haven't responded.
All I can think is.. we've been caught up in a 'legal' scam because one of the email attachments which is many pages of small print does indeed say that they can keep all of your deposits.
We would've been happy for them to deduct inevitable costs... or maybe we just have to 'suck it up'

 

[Elva]

Legal scam?​

Hi everyone
I really enjoy my 'seniors discount club' read every morning. This platform may be the wrong one to voice my concern though today. I am, however, also writing to Tourism Australia, TripAdvisor, Seniors and other affiliates. Have spoken to Virgin Cruises and My Cruises.
Having only dealt directly with airlines and cruises previously we were unaware how tricky dealing with a travel agent could be.
In December 2022 we booked with My Cruises for a 2024 (three leg) discounted Cruise and because the travel was almost 16 months away we could not get travel insurance. This turned out to be a very expensive trap.
In early March 2023, due to unexpected personal reasons, I had to cancel two legs of the 2024 trip. The travel agency has kept the $1,200 deposit on them.
When I rang Virgin Cruises they said the travel agency keeps all of the deposits but if I'd booked directly with Virgin they would have refunded because the cruise was thirteen months away...well in the area of allowable refunds. They advised me to email My Cruises and fall on their good graces. I did but they haven't responded.
All I can think is.. we've been caught up in a 'legal' scam because one of the email attachments which is many pages of small print does indeed say that they can keep all of your deposits.
We would've been happy for them to deduct inevitable costs... or maybe we just have to 'suck it up'

This issue has now been resolved...and I'm grateful to My Cruises for their positive actions...yippee!