Which regulatory agency oversees cruise lines?

There appear to be three names on the website of this particular Northern European shipping/cruise company including USTOA US Tour Operators,

Adventure Travel and ASTA.

Our problem is that the cruise, scheduled for a Norway departure, was canceled due to a new ship not being ready in time. We were told our airline tickets would be fully reimbursed. Several weeks have passed since we submitted copies of our tickets and credit card statements showing the cost of the tickets yet we have not received any updates or any other communication from the company. Unfortunately our TA has been of little help as she is not used to the way this company seems to do business. The biggest problem is their total lack of communication so we have no idea whether our reimbursement is in the pipeline, or is being ignored.

We would appreciate knowing whether there is any regulatory agency that we could turn to in the event we need to report this matter.

Wow... Sorry for your bad luck, but the TA should be able to iron this out for you. Whatever cruiseline you are dealing with, should come through, most are not know for speedy responces. If they told you they would handle it, unless they go into receivership, I'm sure they will. Frustrating I know......

There appear to be three names on the website of this particular Northern European shipping/cruise company including USTOA US Tour Operators,

Adventure Travel and ASTA.

 

Our problem is that the cruise, scheduled for a Norway departure, was canceled due to a new ship not being ready in time. We were told our airline tickets would be fully reimbursed. Several weeks have passed since we submitted copies of our tickets and credit card statements showing the cost of the tickets yet we have not received any updates or any other communication from the company. Unfortunately our TA has been of little help as she is not used to the way this company seems to do business. The biggest problem is their total lack of communication so we have no idea whether our reimbursement is in the pipeline, or is being ignored.

 

We would appreciate knowing whether there is any regulatory agency that we could turn to in the event we need to report this matter.

The good news here, to the extent there is any, is that you used a charge card.

Contact them ASAP (there can be deadlines) and they will probably cover it under their own protections.

It's nightmares like these that keep us using charge cards as much as possible, rather than cash/checks.

Okay, also the points ;)

And find a different TA!

Good luck!

I'm not aware of any cruise line, in Europe or elsewhere, with any of those names. :confused:

USTOA US Tour Operators appears to be a trade association for US travel agencies.

"Adventure Travel" is too generic a name to trace, far too many options on a web search. But "Cruise Adventure Travel" is a US-based travel agency (my apologies to the moderators for quoting a TA by name, with the best of intentions) which sells cruises on mainstream cruise lines like NCL, RCI etc.

The most likely "ASTA" of many on the web is the American Society of Travel Agents. Again, a trade association, not a cruise line.

Surely you know the name of the ship you were booked on?

And can you give us any other clues?

And just to forewarn you, when cruises are cancelled for any reason cruise lines will refund cruise ticket costs (and usually give some form of compensation or sweetener for another booking), but as far as I am aware they're not obliged to refund independently-booked airfares.

Give us more detail - and talk to your T/A.

And like the Geezer says, advise your credit card supplier soonest, there are time limits for disputes.

JB :)

you could try

http://www.cruising.org

Have you contacted the cruise line in question & asked what the time frame for refunds will be ?

The good news here, to the extent there is any, is that you used a charge card.

 

Contact them ASAP (there can be deadlines) and they will probably cover it under their own protections.

 

It's nightmares like these that keep us using charge cards as much as possible, rather than cash/checks.

Okay, also the points ;)

 

And find a different TA!

 

Good luck!

If you booked the airfare yourself directly, the airlines may charge you for altering flights. We don't have enough information from you to evaluate your situation properly. Hopefully the info you got from whatever cruiseline you are dealing with happens soon. I would also contact the airlines and your credit card co. Depending on when you bought tickets, it may be more difficult to hash out. Good luck

It takes 5 times as long to "refund" as it does to "collect" your money...be patient...it will happen, eventually!