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Is it cheaper to book cruises through US agents?
Polly Styche is concerned that UK residents pay inflated prices for cruise holidays
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Who says you can't book with US Travel Agents. I booked with All Seas Travel of Jacksonville for a Disney Cruise in 2000 and a Carnival Cruise in Europe in 2005. In both cases the dollar exchange made the cruise much cheaper.
MJ, London, UK
I was on a Celebrity cruise and decided to book another one. I was quoted a price then the sales clerk realised we were from UK and said sorry the price is different and then went up by appx 10%. I was told I could only book via US if I had an address in US and paid with a US card!!!
Jonathan Baxter, Stanmore, Middx
The only problem dealing with US agencies is finding an agency that has the toughest California and Florida sellers of travel laws with bonded and licensed in place for separate clients' trust accounts. All credit payments are to be forwarded to the cruise lines to ensure cruise reservation secured.
Kenneth Chow, ACC, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
We are thinking of taking an Alaska cruise. I looked first at the US website and found the price was $650. When I looked at the UK website the price was £650 - double!
Pauline, Aberyswyth, Wales
I do not know why we (in Uk) are paying inflated prices. The price difference is nearly £400 per person for a 14 nights cruise to Mediterranean leaving from Southampton (no flying) and return to Southampton. A US agent informed me that they do not take our payment but the cruise line company does. The US agent does not hold our payment at all. It does not effect us if the US agent is to go bust because the cruise line company takes our money not the US agent. The cruise line should reimburse us or reschedule if the cruise was cancelled. Am I right? Can anyone tell me any reasons that I should not book a cruise from a US agent?
McNeill, London, UK