Advice on Celebrity booking with big box TA

[patty1955]

24 minutes ago, zitsky said:

 

Well the customer was told something which they never verified.  If an agent said, we’re giving OP $5,000 in OBC, should OP double check that?  Because an agent said it, therefore the TA must do it?

If all they did was say it, it wouldn't be  that solid.  I have 5 email confirmations from the TA and they all say that AI is included.

[zitsky]

15 minutes ago, patty1955 said:

If all they did was say it, it wouldn't be  that solid.  I have 5 email confirmations from the TA and they all say that AI is included.

I’ve read your posts and I understand what you have from the TA.  But they can tell you anything.

[mahdnc]

34 minutes ago, zitsky said:

 

Well the customer was told something which they never verified.  If an agent said, we’re giving OP $5,000 in OBC, should OP double check that?  Because an agent said it, therefore the TA must do it?

 

The OP does have written confirmation and with that, few of us would be calling a supervisor to verify that it is correct.  However, companies in the travel business have been known in some instances to not honor an erroneous price.  Celebrity did that earlier this year (link) and ANA had a well publicized fare retraction in April (link).  I am not saying that patty1955's current situation is similar in terms of the scale of the error.  I am saying that travel companies have not always honored an error in pricing which may be part of your point.  I hope she gets a resolution to her problem that she finds satisfactory.

[bEwAbG]

You're speaking from ignorance on this and it comes across as blaming the victim.  This TA gives you paperwork that lists what is included in the transaction between customer and the TA (and in this case, gave it multiple times).  Pretty cut and dry that what they sold her was not what was really booked on the back-end.  Confirming with X is moot to the issue at hand as the problem is between TA and customer.

[patty1955]

2 minutes ago, bEwAbG said:

You're speaking from ignorance on this and it comes across as blaming the victim.  This TA gives you paperwork that lists what is included in the transaction between customer and the TA (and in this case, gave it multiple times).  Pretty cut and dry that what they sold her was not what was really booked on the back-end.  Confirming with X is moot to the issue at hand as the problem is between TA and customer.

Thank you, I'm glad someone understands.

[zitsky]

17 minutes ago, bEwAbG said:

You're speaking from ignorance on this and it comes across as blaming the victim.  This TA gives you paperwork that lists what is included in the transaction between customer and the TA (and in this case, gave it multiple times).  Pretty cut and dry that what they sold her was not what was really booked on the back-end.  Confirming with X is moot to the issue at hand as the problem is between TA and customer.

If you’re talking to me it most certainly is needed to know what Celebrity records for your cruise.  So a TA tells you something that is incorrect.  What legal recourse do you have to force a TA to give you anything?

[hcat]

Can OP maybe file a complaint with travel agent assoc if they entertain those?

 

Or, state's consumer  protection agency where TA is registered? 

 

Maybe  OP can cancel with a full  refund from TA..Any enjoyment of this cruise will be  overshadowed by the  unhappiness...even if the TA relents.

 

We book directly with X on the phone to avoid this type  of problem..  we get our paperwork e mailed while on phone with the.rep and sort out issues directly with X reps.

 

a good local  TA can be very helpful in many circumstances but this sounds like a mill!

[Lastdance]

So, the TA works for this company and made a pretty significant mistake.  Is this person stalling because of a huge reprimand or firing?  Maybe, but time will tell.  Telling someone is one thing, but putting it in writing gives it truth.  I hope all of this works out for you; the paperwork is on your side.🙂

 

It is also very interesting to read about your cruise contract, as so many people have no idea because they do not read it!

Edited September 17, 2023 by Lastdance

[zitsky]

1 hour ago, Lastdance said:

So, the TA works for this company and made a pretty significant mistake.  Is this person stalling because of a huge reprimand or firing?  Maybe, but time will tell.  Telling someone is one thing, but putting it in writing gives it truth.  I hope all of this works out for you; the paperwork is on your side.🙂

 

It is also very interesting to read about your cruise contract, as so many people have no idea because they do not read it!

What does contract law say about this relationship with a travel agent?  If a cruise is supposed to be $10,000 but is accidentally printed on paperwork as $1,000 can anyone say “you have to sell it at the mistake price”?  I assume it would depend on whatever contract the TA goes by.  Do these big TAs make it easy to find the contract?

[ChucktownSteve]

OK here's my perspective...Someone at the TA screwed up.  They don't want to pay Celebrity the retail price for the package.  So they're offering you a gift card for the amount because they have the cost of goods for what you buy which saves them money.  Therefore you have the leverage for restitution.

I would forcefully ask them to reimburse you the gift card amount for all the retail Celebrity prices of each of the individual AI components before the cruise so you can add it once you're on board. Include the Wi-Fi.  It won't cost you anything more.  However if you use their credit to purchase the packages on Celebrity, you'll receive 3% cash back on the purchase.

I suggest this solution because you don't want to sue or become confrontational. That is a win-win for both. You receive what you expected and the big box saves on the retail price what you buy due to the cost of goods at their store.

Edited September 17, 2023 by ChucktownSteve

[patty1955]

1 hour ago, zitsky said:

What does contract law say about this relationship with a travel agent?  If a cruise is supposed to be $10,000 but is accidentally printed on paperwork as $1,000 can anyone say “you have to sell it at the mistake price”?  I assume it would depend on whatever contract the TA goes by.  Do these big TAs make it easy to find the contract?

"Fat finger discounts" are never enforceable, but that's not what this is. I asked for cruise with AI, I was told it was a cruise with AI and the invoice says a cruise with AI. I've got it in writing at a  fair price, what  more do I need?

[hcat]

a  reputable TA you can trust

.in the future!

 

are you waiting on further review or have they made this a final offer??

Edited September 17, 2023 by hcat

[patty1955]

8 minutes ago, hcat said:

a  reputable TA you can trust

.in the future!

 

are you waiting on further review or have they made this a final offer??

The actually haven't come up with an offer yet. The manager I spoke with wanted to know what I would settle for. I'm hoping to hear from her soon, I'm starting to lose sleep over this. 

[keesar]

I had been thinking of booking with one of the big box stores.  I read the offer and it seemed much too good to be true and the agent did not appear to be knowledgeable.  Went back and booked with Celebrity and received an itemized confirmation very quickly.  

 

 

[Lastdance]

2 hours ago, zitsky said:

What does contract law say about this relationship with a travel agent?  If a cruise is supposed to be $10,000 but is accidentally printed on paperwork as $1,000 can anyone say “you have to sell it at the mistake price”?  I assume it would depend on whatever contract the TA goes by.  Do these big TAs make it easy to find the contract?    

https://www.celebritycruises.com/content/dam/celebrity/pdf/Celebrity_CTC_10.19.2020.pdf  

I read a very general cruise passenger contract(link posted below, along with the one from Celebrity that I posted above.  https://cruise.blog/2020/11/18-surprising-things-you-agree-your-cruise-contract

 

It sounds like the big box company wants to deal, so hopefully it all works out as a win-win for the OP!

Edited September 17, 2023 by Lastdance

[billc23]

5 hours ago, patty1955 said:

Thank you, I'm glad someone understands.

I understand also. Here is the reason I transfer my bookings to this TA:

 

Included Extras:

 

$2,825 Digital XXXXX Shop Card

 

  USD 50 dining credit per stateroom

 

  USD 2850 Onboard Credit

 

  ***The amenities included above (including shipboard credit or XXXX Shop Card) are assigned to this booking as of 7/20/23. Any changes to price, cabin, category, sailing date, promo, etc., may result in a change of amenities.***

 

I am hoping they make good on what they agreed to in writing and verbally to you. Did you have AI on your original cruise?

[billc23]

"The cruise contract from Celebrity isn't required but we are required by law to send you a complete invoice within 24 hours of pa6ment that includes all the offer and cancelation criteria. We are held 100% to that invoice. If we promise something we can't deliver that is on us to fix."

 

Yes! They should and will make good and honor the invoice you received.

[hcat]

28 minutes ago, billc23 said:

I understand also. Here is the reason I transfer my bookings to this TA:

 

Included Extras:

 

$2,825 Digital XXXXX Shop Card

 

  USD 50 dining credit per stateroom

 

  USD 2850 Onboard Credit

 

  ***The amenities included above (including shipboard credit or XXXX Shop Card) are assigned to this booking as of 7/20/23. Any changes to price, cabin, category, sailing date, promo, etc., may result in a change of amenities.***

 

I am hoping they make good on what they agreed to in writing and verbally to you. Did you have AI on your original cruise?

Thats Alot of OBC !...too good to be true

[Cruise till you drop]

I had this happen directly with Princess and they did not honor their error.  This is why we’ve migrated to Celebrity for all our recent and future cruises.  That is all the power I had against Princess and I used it

[billc23]

On 9/17/2023 at 8:38 PM, hcat said:

Thats Alot of OBC !...too good to be true

It is true. 2 adults and their 2 kids in a Suite. Usual $400 OBC per guest with an added on $200 per guest promotion. So $600 x 4 = $2400. Then add in the on board booking OBC and a small amount from the TA and you're there. The shareholder credit, not shown, adds another $100. If you look at a prior post of mine I detail turning NR OBC into cash. The method varies depending on the ship and the underlining theme is do not use you cruise card in the casino machine. That has bypassed the requirement to turn over a certain amount in the machine and worked fine the last time I sailed with Celebrity in March 2023. Unfortunately, it looks like the Retreat standard OBC will be a thing of the past.

 

I was answering a question and the main reason to transfer to this TA is the generous gift card and other rebates that I did not include. 

 

My process is this: Book online with Celebrity and receive their official Booking Conformation. Wait a few weeks and request another Booking Conformation because the first one may not show the math where they, for example, charge for internet and then give a credit for the same. If there are any issues on the second Booking Conformation, then it is best to call Celebrity to resolve them and get another Booking Conformation. Once I am satisfied and in less than 4 weeks I will then transfer to the TA. This is done by an online request. At some later date (could be weeks) I call the TA to add the booking to their system and ask for another Booking Conformation to confirm that all is well. Sometimes things "fall off" the reservation and the TA will resolve those with Celebrity. While this may sound complicated it is not provided there are no discrepancies to resolve. Usually I just book online with Celebrity, 2 to 3 weeks later log into Celebrity and request another Booking Conformation and soon after use the Celebrity online form to transfer to a TA. Each step after the initial booking with Celebrity takes a few minutes and I end up with the official paperwork.