Elizabethbea

Great thank you.

 I hope all theother people in the same boat ( no pun intended) know this.

 Yes you are right. One can commence a Disputed  transction matter.

 Sad that the bank has to pick up the tab for a cruise company  though.

 So, they are refunding on the cheap cruises, but not the longer ones sailing at the same time--and infact some of the short cruises were PART of the cruises that they now refuse to refund.

I bought a cruise to Japan, why would they insist that a cruise to KL is the same/just a minor change in itinerary???

Regrettably Cruystal are only giving refunds to the very short "Getaway " sailings. The  remainder of cancelled cruises for up to 14 days (thus very expensive-)-are not getting refunds. 

 How they can do this is beyond comprehension.

To clarify I certainly am not advocating putting money in lawyers pockets! 
 

one can issue proceedings on line , it’s easy and effective. No lawyer necessary. 

Of course. I 100% agree with you. I also have a brilliant TA. He is the first option. However if after weeks of fighting they still don’t do what is right one can always sue. 
Actually very  easy and wow does it bring them to the negotiating table. 
 

My T A has got refunds for 4 of his clients already. 
 

it’s a shame one has to fight for what is legally and morally right. 
 

 Certainly a Captain's decision for the safety of his passengers and crew done in the face of imminent danger is a completely different matter.

 Here we have Crystal cancelling (because that is what it is )6 weeks prior to the cruise. Then to say if you don't want to purchase the different product then YOU have cancelled is downright ingenious.

 Also, when Crystal first changed its embarcation Port from Hong Kong to Taiwan, it informed all passengers in writing that it would pay for the extra money involved in changing flights from HK to Taiwan. 

You won't believe it --Crystal has now renaged on their agreement and are refusing to refund. Some people have paid  $thousands to change flights at such short notice--they did so relying on Crystal's written assurance to reimburse.

 Crystal even asked for bank details so as to effect the direct credit--and now are refusing.

 Incredible. 

 Not what we expect from a luxury cruise line. Nor the treatment of loyal year after year customers.

 Just sue-you will win 100%. 

 Crystal are maintaining that changing a cruise to tranquil Japan and substituting a cruise to Pucket is not a cancellation, but "a change in itinerary".  

 Thus if the punter doesn't want to go to Pucket and sais so, Crystal accuse HIM  of cancelling, and then they don't have to refund. 

 Nice try Crystal--that is utter rubbish. 

If I buy a dress online and the supplier says it cannot provide the dress but will supply a  skirt--and  maintains itt's the same, that is utter rubbish--what happens is that the supplier refunds immediately. Without any fraud.

 Our consumer law is quite clear on this. 

 Do not be rolled into accepting a FCC, firstly TA's get less commission therefore you get less discount, secondly , Crystal cruises are booked often years in advance--so one would want to use the FCC in maybe 18 months time--but no--Crystal have said use in 12 months or it is forfeited.

 You are not obliged to accept what is in effect a time limited credit note--your consumer rights are simply to request a refund.

 Apparently UK Crystal have been forced to give refunds for not provided cruises. Crystal's assertion that a cruise to japan was the same as a cruise to myamar didn't cut it with the courts who ruled this was a cancellation by the Cruise Company and thus they were obliged to refund--not insist on a Future Cruise Credit.