mjk43 Posted May 12, 2004 #1 Share Posted May 12, 2004 We live in the UK and a UK cruise agent told us it is now illegal for a US agent to sell a cruise to non-US residents. Which would be a pity as the US agent prices are much more reasonable. Does anyone know whether this prohibition is in fact true? and what law makes it illegal? and whether therefore it is too risky as a UK resident to buy from a US agent, e.g. might we have our tickets confiscated? Thanks for advice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nosnobunny Posted May 12, 2004 #2 Share Posted May 12, 2004 It wasn't true as of last March. I'm a Canadian resident and purchased my last cruise through an agency in Florida. No problems whatsoever and I saved quite a bit on the taxes. We have two taxes that total 15%, much higher than those that apply in Florida. It may be that a US agency cannot market in the UK. My case was a little different, as I approached the agency, not the other way around. This agent happened to be my son-in-law, but it would have been no different for anyone else. I just get preferred service. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] Beth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BurBunny Posted May 14, 2004 #3 Share Posted May 14, 2004 Definitely not illegal. The cruise lines strongly discourage it, but it's still quite possible to do [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] <font face="Imprint MT Shadow" size="5" color="#FFCC00">[i]Amber[/i]</font> <font size="4" face="Berlin Sans FB">Cruise Resource BiddingFun and BiddingHELP</font> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meseta Posted May 15, 2004 #4 Share Posted May 15, 2004 We are Brits living in Spain and use Gibraltar agents without any problem. If you are still trying to book through an agent outside the UK as the prices are better, try Gib., you pay in Sterling, and get great prices. email me for contact info. [img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00bfff&cdt=2005;01;22;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img] First timer ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjk43 Posted May 15, 2004 Author #5 Share Posted May 15, 2004 Many thanks for the advice. We have now successfully booked through a US agent. A couple of comments: 1. Before booking we phoned Princess in the US and asked about the rules; they said as long as one of the passengers is a US citizen,regardless of country of residence, it is fine by them (and we are lucky enough to be in that situation); and 2. I cannot understand what can possibly justify the scale of the price difference, with the UK agents charging the same number of £ as the US agents want in $ [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img], i.e. at today's exchange rates getting on for twice as expensive !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimba_99 Posted May 15, 2004 #6 Share Posted May 15, 2004 We are Australians living in Australia and are not US citizen but we have booked our cruise with a US online agency. (Simply because of the savings.) Has anyone out there had problems regarding this non-US citizens buying from US agency? mjk43 you rang Princess in the US and they said as long as one of the passengers is a US citizen it is fine by them.... well what happens if neither are US citizens.... Anyone know..?? Anyone been charged extra or had problems at the peir before boarding due to this..?? Not worried about it just interested in others experiences regarding this matter. Cheers, Kim [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=4763056957&m=5913037067"]Sapphire Princess Roll Call Christmas/New Year Cruise Syd-Auk 23 Dec 2004[/url] My pics from Alaska, June 2003 [url="http://community.webshots.com/user/kimba_99"]http://community.webshots.com/user/kimba_99[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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