Hang your head in shame RC

[Thorny990]

Yes that could probably be the case that is why I have emailed RCI head office to get their side of the story

[lazydayz]

OP,  let us know the resolution. Best of luck getting this resolved. 

[Thorny990]

Hi Lazydayz I will let you know ASAP

Thanks Thorny990

[AmazedByCruising]

48 minutes ago, chengkp75 said:

You are quite correct that different charges for citizens of different countries would not be allowed either in the UK or in the US. 

 

Businesswise, of course I'd charge less to people from the US than people from Australia knowing that more Australians would remove DSC. I never heard of such law, but I've learned some differences before. Does the same law include being able to book in the first place? I know at least one US TA that simply doesn't allow me to book. 

[Ourusualbeach]

3 minutes ago, AmazedByCruising said:

 

Businesswise, of course I'd charge less to people from the US than people from Australia knowing that more Australians would remove DSC. I never heard of such law, but I've learned some differences before. Does the same law include being able to book in the first place? I know at least one US TA that simply doesn't allow me to book. 

All US travel agents are supposed to accept bookings only  from the US and Canada as part of their agreement with Royal.  Some do bend the rules and look the other way.

[grapau27]

52 minutes ago, Thorny990 said:

Thanks for all of your replies I have emailed  RCI Head Office but I have the email on my phone that clearly states the reason they can not offer me the accessible room without the extra charge  is because I am not a US Citizen it has nothing to do with it not been the same category as that would be acceptable

As a Brit myself you have my sympathies.

In my experience most high street TAs don't have a clue about cruising and on occasions they have asked me how to do things and in future would recommend a specialist cruise TA.

We got an accessible cabin a couple of times when we brought my wife's late mam and her wheelchair with us but they were like gold dust and on 4 occasions we got JS or GS cabins cabins and with a bit of effort it worked.

[ONECRUISER]

1 hour ago, chengkp75 said:

 

You are quite correct that different charges for citizens of different countries would not be allowed either in the UK or in the US.  What you are not correct about is that a cruise ship cabin or hotel room sold in the US would have the price protection for a room upgrade if the desired room category is not available that is written in the US' ADA.  From what I see of the UK's Equality Act, there is no price guarantee, so a cruise ship cabin sold in the UK does not have this protection, regardless of whether the person purchasing the cabin is a UK citizen or a US citizen.  It all depends on where the service is provided (i.e. where the cabin is sold).  If I, as a US citizen, were to book through the RCI UK website, and wanted an accessible cabin in a category that was sold out, I would not receive the price guarantee any more than you did.

 

As for your comment that your TA said RCI stated they could not sell the accessible cabin at the same price because you weren't a US citizen, I think you need to discuss this with the TA.  I can just about guarantee that RCI did not say they would not sell an accessible cabin of the same category for the same price as a non-accessible cabin.  What they did say was that there are no accessible cabins of the same category available, and so you would have to pay more for the next available category of accessible cabin.  If you booked in the US that would not be so, but booking in the UK it is so.

Thanks as always Chief. Most of us assumed it's probably a Cat issue, but your Knowledge in the Laws is always welcome here

[sandy toes]

I do hope you can resolve your issue without too much more emotional stress to you and your family. 

I  do think the last poster, grapau27, had the right suggestion for you in the future. Instead of a standard TA, seek out a one that is a cruise specialist TA. They will be better trained and know all the ins and outs of how to book you an accessible cabin right from the start. They will not "fib" and try to cover it up, they will not quote you one price before being sure of the said price, what they promise you they will deliver. Let us know how it all turns out. 

[matj2000]

For some reason.

 

Even with all you anger toward RC.

 

I bet you end up still booking the cruise.

 

And paying the $600...

[Thorny990]

Hi MATJ2000

I don't have anger towards RCI I am simply making a point that what they are trying to do (if it is them ) is Discrimination

And with regards me paying the extra $600 extra you are very much mistaken but thanks for your comments on what is obviously a hot topic

Regards Thorny990

[Atlantix2000]

Accessible cabins are slightly larger than the standard cabins right?  Just speculating here, but while US law might say RCI has to sell them for the same price, maybe for non-US customers they are allowed to say bigger room = bigger cost.

[Thorny990]

Hi Atlantix2000

I can understand that but the reason they want to charge me more is because I am not a US Citizen

A us Citizen can book the very same accessible room for $600 less than me its a joke

[Merion_Mom]

2 hours ago, Atlantix2000 said:

Accessible cabins are slightly larger than the standard cabins right?  Just speculating here, but while US law might say RCI has to sell them for the same price, maybe for non-US customers they are allowed to say bigger room = bigger cost.

 

No, they don't.  Every cabin belongs to a category.  Each category has a price on a particular cruise.  Different categories will have different prices.   A 5D cabin is a 5D cabin.  Some are accessible.  Most are not.  But all are the same price on the same cruise.  

 

 

Thorny:  

 

I think that your complaint lies with the travel agent, either because of misunderstanding or bad work on his or her part.  

 

Some have asked you for cabin numbers.  If you tell us the ship and the cabin numbers, we will be happy to tell you if the accessible cabin you have been offered is in the same or a different category from the other two cabins.

 

🙂

[Merion_Mom]

1 hour ago, Thorny990 said:

Hi Atlantix2000

I can understand that but the reason they want to charge me more is because I am not a US Citizen

A us Citizen can book the very same accessible room for $600 less than me its a joke

 

Oh, and all pricing can vary for North American and UK customers.  That's quite common.  It wouldn't be a feature of the cabin being accessible, though.

[fla gang]

Good luck with your travel agent! I get frustrated calling directly to Royal at times. Call 3 times and get 3 different answers. We book an accessible cabin for the MIL and when we are checking prices, if we don't book it right then it may be gone and cost us another $200 or so because of limited availability in our category. Because of problems in the past we pay extra and always book a refundable rate.

[Balsam12]

Fair or not, this happens all the time, and not only on cruises.

 

Try buying software like photoshop in Australia... it will cost about $2000 more than Americans pay, and this is for something you download over the internet and doesn't even need to be shipped.

 

We call it the "Australia Tax".

[kerryincork]

If you are booking in UK or Europe disabled persons have similar protection as US citizens in regards to pricing.

But UK and EU Citizens have stronger consumer protection when buying cruises then US. Due to this cruise prices are generally more expensive in UK /EU.

so if you look at US websites prices and compare them to UK prices in general they will be many $100s more expensive.

 

This is the reason for the difference

[kernow]

I am confused, if you are booking with a UK travel agent why are they even talking about $600, wouldn't they price everything in pounds? Even RCL always quote in pounds for UK bookings.

 

Julie

[John&LaLa]

Just now, kernow said:

I am confused, if you are booking with a UK travel agent why are they even talking about $600, wouldn't they price everything in pounds? Even RCL always quote in pounds for UK bookings.

 

Julie

 

I was just thinking that as well. 

[Bee Guy]

The OP seems reluctant to disclose the room numbers.  Leads me to wonder if there was in fact an error by the TA.

[ramja96]

12 minutes ago, Bee Guy said:

The OP seems reluctant to disclose the room numbers.  Leads me to wonder if there was in fact an error by the TA.

 

In all fairness - I would be reluctant to share such information in a public forum, as well.

[Bee Guy]

9 minutes ago, ramja96 said:

 

In all fairness - I would be reluctant to share such information in a public forum, as well.

True, but it OP could clarify whether or not they are in fact the same category.

[Bloodgem]

8 hours ago, Thorny990 said:

Hi All

I totally understand all your comments regarding this issue and I thank you for reading them and passing on your comments.

I booked the cruise via a travel agent and when I asked about an accessible cabin for my wife I received an email saying originally that it was the same price as a normal cabin

I asked the agent to reserve the accessible cabin but later that day I got another email saying that because I was not a US Citizen RCI could not offer me that cabin for the same rate as a normal cabin

If there is more to this story than simply wanting to charge a none US  disabled Citizen more money for an accessible cabin I wish RCI would tell me

 

Hi, thank you for posting your thread. Please keep us updated and I hope you get the answer you are looking for.

 

How long did it take your TA to quote you a price for the accessible cabin after you first inquired about the cabin?

We always book an accessible and a non-accessible cabin and we always book through a TA.  The TA can tell us instantly the price of the non-accessible cabin, by looking it up on their PC but has to ring RCI for the price of accessible cabin.  On a good day we can get the price, of the accessible cabin, roughly 15 mins after the TA dials RCI's number. 

 

The only other thing I can add is that when we have booked the same category of cabins they have always been the same price. On your next 2 cruises both cabins are 1L  and both are the same price.

 

 

 

 

 

[John&LaLa]

40 minutes ago, ramja96 said:

 

In all fairness - I would be reluctant to share such information in a public forum, as well.

 

But in post 35 he said they were not booking it

[Milwaukee Eight]

Interesting