Leap in the dark. Around Australia on Radiance of the Seas

I am glad it has worked out well for you. I am sure that the US price would not have included gratuities although the end price you were quoted probably included taxes and fees.

Have a wonderful cruise with your sister.

Well my domestic goddess absolutely wouldn't accept a deck three cabin and has insisted on cancelling this reservation. I've been assured by a local travel agent there are cabins on deck seven, not clear to me whether they are Ocean View or balcony cabins but although they more (Australian) dollars it ends up being around the same price after the forex.

 

She assures us this includes gratuities, taxes and some obc whereas the US reservation may not have. So lesson learned, booking a cruise (in this part of the world anyway) through a US agent is NOT always cheaper than getting it locally contrary to what I've long been told. Forex has a lot to do with it of course.

 

I was agonising over whether a cancellation would be expensive or difficult but they were very nice about it which was such a relief since I was afraid I'd have to go the 'disputed transaction' route with the credit card people. So another lesson learned. Now provided there's no glitch REbooking this cruise we'll live happily ever after.

 

2012 P&O Northern Qld

2014 P&O New Zealand

2017 P&O South Pacific Islands

2018 Royal Carribean Around Australia

Glad it is sorted. Research is the key and knowing to compare the price on the whole package (taxes, etc,s included), as well as possible currency exchanges.

looking on the Australian Royal Carribean site all but internal rooms are sold out, you might not have many choices! The Radiance is a lovely ship.

We were on deck 3, cabin 3534 o/v when we did the half navigation Sydney/NZ/Perth in 2015. For the top half, Syd/Bali/Perth, Feb this year we had 4028 o/v. Couldn't fault either of them. Our travelling companions up on deck 7 reckoned our cabin was roomier than their balcony (cabin).

At the risk of hijacking my own thread I wonder if anyone can shed light on the cc transactions relating to the cancelled us travel agent booking?

I paid 900 USD deposit which I understood was fully refundable. It appeared on my anz statement as 1243.33 (including overseas txn fee 36.21). The refund appears as 354.01 plus 820.12 I was expecting a simple reversal as with any Return Of goods and services.

My queries to Anz have provided nothing but a link to their cc pages! I've seen here recommendations to get a 28 degrees card and maybe that's the answer for future but I'm mystified by these transactions.

2012 P&O Northern Qld

2014 P&O New Zealand

2017 P&O South Pacific Islands

2018 Royal Carribean Around Australia

I am not sure why there would be 2 transactions showing but think you will get a second transfer fee and also if the exchange rate has fallen you will lose out there as well. :(

It looks like you are out of pocket about $100?

I've never had to cancel an O'S deposit so can't help there. Hopefully others will be able to give you the information.

I am not sure why there would be 2 transactions showing but think you will get a second transfer fee and also if the exchange rate has fallen you will lose out there as well. :(

It looks like you are out of pocket about $100?

I've never had to cancel an O'S deposit so can't help there. Hopefully others will be able to give you the information.

In case anyone's in a similar position I thought I'd post the progress of my requested refund / reversal. I was expecting a simple credit to offset that debit ($900 aud or $1200 usd approx). Part of the shortfall was a $36 fee from ANZ for the overseas transaction and after a grumpy email from me they've reversed that as a "goodwill gesture" which is great. I'm still waiting to find out why the US travel agent amount wasn't simply reversed but showed up as two credits, totalling roughly $50 less than I paid them. I have to say if that's all I'm put of pocket I can't complain really since the $1000 deposit I paid subsequently to an Australian travel agent was clearly marked "nonrefundable". All this is old news to many perhaps but my previous overseas purchases have all been eBay / PayPal which comes directly offy credit card with no suggestion of surcharges, fees or any kind of penalty, just the daily exchange rate.

2012 P&O Northern Qld

2014 P&O New Zealand

2017 P&O South Pacific Islands

2018 Royal Carribean Around Australia

Banks and credit card institutions charge Foreign Currency Exchange fees. This could be the problem. This has happened with some on-board accounts, although on these occasions (a charge in AUD on a ship in Australian waters) an appeal to the bank has had it reversed.

Thanks for the information/report back Felixinbrisbane. Wonderful what a grumpy email can achieve :D

Weird that the refund came as two separate amounts; perhaps it was the way the US TA had allocated the deposit when it was paid.

Onward and upward ....just have to wait for the cruise now.

At the risk of hijacking my own thread I wonder if anyone can shed light on the cc transactions relating to the cancelled us travel agent booking?

 

I paid 900 USD deposit which I understood was fully refundable. It appeared on my anz statement as 1243.33 (including overseas txn fee 36.21). The refund appears as 354.01 plus 820.12 I was expecting a simple reversal as with any Return Of goods and services.

 

My queries to Anz have provided nothing but a link to their cc pages! I've seen here recommendations to get a 28 degrees card and maybe that's the answer for future but I'm mystified by these transactions.

 

2012 P&O Northern Qld

2014 P&O New Zealand

2017 P&O South Pacific Islands

2018 Royal Carribean Around Australia

When we receive a refund from Royal Caribbean, it always comes through with the taxes separate to the actual fare, regardless of whether we booked it here or through the USA.

We have done this cruise on the Radiance and it still remains one of our most favourite cruises. Enjoy.

Cheers

Di

If that's the explanation it means that of the $1207 (I've subtracted the $36 Anz fee) the cruise was actually $820 plus $354 in taxes, or vice versa. Seems I'm only out of pocket $33 - can't complain about that. Seems to be a hefty tax component though.

2012 P&O Northern Qld

2014 P&O New Zealand

2017 P&O South Pacific Islands

2018 Royal Carribean Around Australia

I think that is a good result in the end.

Hi Felix.

We are booked on this cruise.

We are paying $5082, for an Oceanview, because that is all we could get.:(

We have done this cruise before, October 2013 followed by Volendam to Melbourne, because we could disembark in Melbourne.:)

See you on the Roll Call when it gets closer, as we have a few before then.:)

Aussie Frequent Floaters.

If you're going again it must be nice. You seem to have specialised in only cruising on this ship and one other. What's the secret?

2012 P&O Northern Qld

2014 P&O New Zealand

2017 P&O South Pacific Islands

2018 Royal Carribean Around Australia

If you're going again it must be nice. You seem to have specialised in only cruising on this ship and one other. What's the secret?

 

2012 P&O Northern Qld

2014 P&O New Zealand

2017 P&O South Pacific Islands

2018 Royal Carribean Around Australia

I've just had a patient blaming her increased weight on a recent cruise (don't they all). I asked her about it and she happened to be on the Radiance of the Seas Syd to Freo in February, same as we'll be. I was wondering about the weather that time of year but she said it was perfect.

She also said she had to insist that they do NOT charge $13.50 gratuity per day (all onboard transactions are in USD) to their room since they prefer to give cash to the staff themselves. They lodged USD in cash at the desk when they boarded because if you give them a credit card "they rob you". But the cruise was fantastic, they were on deck 3 which my wife eschewed. All old news to many perhaps but something else to consider for us.

2012 P&O Northern Qld

2014 P&O New Zealand

2017 P&O South Pacific Islands

2018 Royal Carribean Around Australia

If you're going again it must be nice. You seem to have specialised in only cruising on this ship and one other. What's the secret?

 

2012 P&O Northern Qld

2014 P&O New Zealand

2017 P&O South Pacific Islands

2018 Royal Carribean Around Australia

If you click on Expand Signature, you will see that I have cruised on 15 different ships.:)

DH has done more.

Cheers

Couldn't understand this at first because I normally do everything on my (Android) phone using the app which doesn't have that feature. As you said, if I look using a Web browser I can see your impressive cruise history; a bit jealous I'll admit. Can't wait to add some more trips now.

2012 P&O Northern Qld

2014 P&O New Zealand

2017 P&O South Pacific Islands

2018 Royal Carribean Around Australia