Cruise Deals

[Grez]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-24268733

 

Presumably then the Cruise Deals call centre is shutting? If so a real shame as until recently they used to give a great price on cruises, with excellent customer service. Then they started being less competitive, unable to beat the web price and customers getting put through to random stores more often.

 

If this is the end for Cruise Deals in its current incarnation sad to say I will not be using them again. I've read to many horror stories from people who have had the misfortune to be routed through to a shop.

[kruzseeka]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-24268733

 

Presumably then the Cruise Deals call centre is shutting? If so a real shame as until recently they used to give a great price on cruises, with excellent customer service. Then they started being less competitive, unable to beat the web price and customers getting put through to random stores more often.

 

If this is the end for Cruise Deals in its current incarnation sad to say I will not be using them again. I've read to many horror stories from people who have had the misfortune to be routed through to a shop.

 

Gutted! They have just got rid of their home workers recently - the girl who we used to deal with was brilliant and lived in the NE and now the main centre. Can't imagine we're going to get better service elsewhere. :(

We were once routed to a shop and when I got concerned that the tickets hadn't come (in the days when you got a nice booklet) so I rang and they said 'yes they are here - we're waiting for you to fetch them'. Might have been an idea to have read the customer' s address 250 miles away!

[sodafountain]

See it's also some of the Cruise support team:

 

The company said the roles affected by the Swansea announcement were 34 full-time staff at the CruiseDeals sales centre, and 14 members of the the Thomson and Island Cruise support team.

[happy v]

So, it's just shops or internet then.

 

I wouldn't bother phoning just to be put through to a shop. The last time that happened to me the woman was absolutely clueless.:(

[Jakanne1]

happyV, do you live near Teesside Park or have you been there in the last 3 weeks? Thomson have a Superstore there and I am sure it is a Cruise Deals place as well. I know it is a specialist cruise agent shop. I booked there for our Caribbean cruise because it was their staff who were on the Spirit when we visited it and giving the discounts if we booked within the week. I booked over the phone though so never visited the shop. However, recently, someone told me the TA shop was no longer there and it was a shoe shop now. :eek:

 

Obviously, this would not affect our cruise but I just wondered if it is now a shoe shop if it had closed as part of the Cruise Deals cut back. :(. The staff I dealt with were very helpful and knowledgeable.

[happy v]

Sorry Jakanne. we live in Chester-le-Street.

 

There is a Cruise Deals shop in Team Valley, or there was the last time I was there. I'll have to go to see if it's still there next time I am passing.

[robanddiane]

At Teeside Park the Thomas cook shop has relocated but the Thomson/First Choice superstore is still there.

[Jakanne1]

Sorry Jakanne. we live in Chester-le-Street.

 

There is a Cruise Deals shop in Team Valley, or there was the last time I was there. I'll have to go to see if it's still there next time I am passing.

 

At Teeside Park the Thomas cook shop has relocated but the Thomson/First Choice superstore is still there.

 

Thanks, happy V and Rob and Diane. :)

[clearchalk]

They still be taking booking at the moment? AI for next summer runs out Monday and was thinking of booking.

[kruzseeka]

They still be taking booking at the moment? AI for next summer runs out Monday and was thinking of booking.

 

Think so - their website is active. We booked last week. According to the article Thomson were involved in a consultation process so presumably the staff will be employed until at least the end of that period (it might have said 45 days).

 

Feel so sorry for them - I always prefer to speak to someone and you could get back to the same person. I always had very positive experiences with their staff. Much better than the on-line bit then if you have to make contact no-one has a connection with you or the booking.

Edited September 28, 2013 by kruzseeka

[skioncruises]

Has anyone heard any more about the proposed closure of Cruise Deals Call Centre in Swansea? From my reckoning the 45 day consultation has passed.

 

I do hope they sort something out as their staff have been exemplary and I have used them for several years now. The local shops are hopeless, hence my use of Cruise Deals.

[Malch_uk]

Has anyone heard any more about the proposed closure of Cruise Deals Call Centre in Swansea? From my reckoning the 45 day consultation has passed.

 

I do hope they sort something out as their staff have been exemplary and I have used them for several years now. The local shops are hopeless, hence my use of Cruise Deals.

 

 

They are advertising at the top and bottom of threads on this board today and there is an advent calendar type competetion on their website to win various prizes if you click through.

 

M.

Edited December 19, 2013 by Malch_uk

[skioncruises]

They are advertising at the top and bottom of threads on this board today and there is an advent calendar type competetion on their website to win various prizes if you click through.

 

M.

 

Hi Malch-uk

 

Many thanks for your reply.

 

Like you, I noticed today that Cruise Deals were advertising.

 

I had given up hope of someone having any information on the status of Cruise Deals unless, of course, they are still closing Swansea but continuing under the same name from Luton. I very much doubt it but I hope Swansea has had a stay of execution as they were extremely friendly, knowledgeable and helpful.

 

Thanks again.:)

[kruzseeka]

Hi Malch-uk

 

Many thanks for your reply.

 

Like you, I noticed today that Cruise Deals were advertising.

 

I had given up hope of someone having any information on the status of Cruise Deals unless, of course, they are still closing Swansea but continuing under the same name from Luton. I very much doubt it but I hope Swansea has had a stay of execution as they were extremely friendly, knowledgeable and helpful.

 

Thanks again.:)

 

I would be delighted too - I find them much more knowledgeable about cruises than our local stores. We have always had excellent service from them. I would be very sorry to learn they had lost their jobs.

Edited December 19, 2013 by kruzseeka

[geomagot]

They are advertising at the top and bottom of threads on this board today and there is an advent calendar type competetion on their website to win various prizes if you click through.

 

M.

 

thats odd :confused: ..Ive got an ad banner for thermal winter clothing....got that wrong eh? :p....showing me thermal clothing!? I'm heading for caribbean the day after tomorrow....maybe they know something I dont??:eek::)

[kruzseeka]

Anyone had an update? The website is still active.

[skioncruises]

Anyone had an update? The website is still active.

 

They appear to still be operating from Swansea. Received a reminder from them on Friday telling me my balance is due on 12th which is 12 weeks before we go. Thomson paperwork states 9th February (8 weeks before we go) but CD wants the money because that's who I booked with. All the CD information on the invoice is the same as previous bookings so perhaps they have had a rethink.:)

[Little Nell]

MY DH picked up a Cruise Deals newspaper type brochure in our local Thomson shop on Friday

[kruzseeka]

They appear to still be operating from Swansea. Received a reminder from them on Friday telling me my balance is due on 12th which is 12 weeks before we go. Thomson paperwork states 9th February (8 weeks before we go) but CD wants the money because that's who I booked with. All the CD information on the invoice is the same as previous bookings so perhaps they have had a rethink.:)

 

MY DH picked up a Cruise Deals newspaper type brochure in our local Thomson shop on Friday

 

 

I hope this heralds a reprieve - I find them really helpful and you can get hold of the same person again so you get to know the agents, and they you. So much more personal!

[Sailaway487]

Don't understand why they spent so much money on rebranding the cruise part of the travel shops with the Cruise Deals branding everywhere, and they seemed to be promoting the brand a lot more and expanding it, just to then announce its closure. :confused:

 

Let's hope it sticks around.

[sodafountain]

Of course, re-reading the announcement, it doesn't actually say they are closing Cruise Deals (that i could see), just closing the call centre in Swansea, so in theory, they could still carry on with the website, after all, why not, if they get business through it?

 

Post can be re-directed from anywhere these days, so just because it shows the Swansea address on the website, doesn't mean the post ends up there (plus they still have payroll staff in the building).

[kruzseeka]

Of course, re-reading the announcement, it doesn't actually say they are closing Cruise Deals (that i could see), just closing the call centre in Swansea, so in theory, they could still carry on with the website, after all, why not, if they get business through it?

 

Post can be re-directed from anywhere these days, so just because it shows the Swansea address on the website, doesn't mean the post ends up there (plus they still have payroll staff in the building).

 

 

Good point - the call centre staff may no longer be there. Does anyone have an agent they usually deal with at Cruisedeals who is still contactable i.e. still taking calls in Swansea?

[Grez]

Yes,my original post was that it seemed the call centre would be closing down. Cruise Deals as a brand is, I'm sure, here to stay. My concern is that instead of dealing with somebody who knew what they were talking about when you rang the call centre, in future if you rang the number you would be put through to a retail shop, and as is well documented the quality of the help and advice you would get is somewhat variable.

[kruzseeka]

Yes,my original post was that it seemed the call centre would be closing down. Cruise Deals as a brand is, I'm sure, here to stay. My concern is that instead of dealing with somebody who knew what they were talking about when you rang the call centre, in future if you rang the number you would be put through to a retail shop, and as is well documented the quality of the help and advice you would get is somewhat variable.

 

 

Yes I fear you are right Grez - I am really so sorry though if the guys at Swansea have lost their jobs - all the more so because they were very reliable, always followed up queries thoroughly and had a good knowledge of what they were selling.

[skioncruises]

Good point - the call centre staff may no longer be there. Does anyone have an agent they usually deal with at

 

When I pay my balance at the end of the week I will use my contact number for the chap I have been dealing with over the last few years and let you know the outcome if he is still there.

 

The reminder for the final balance last week came in an unmarked envelope which I recognised before I even opened it. It was posted from Swansea, had the usual address, phone number and my agents contact name. They only thing they do not put on their paperwork is the agent's direct contact number which is the one I always use and will do so again at the end of the week.:)