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Why are UK residents not allowed to use US travel agents to book cruises? Why should we pay inflated prices just because of where we live? Everything is done online so there is no problem regarding postage, which is what we were told, and any actual tickets that cannot be printed can be picked up pierside. Polly Styche, by email
A response from the Passenger Shipping Association: As far as pricing goes, cruise companies do not offer cheaper deals to US travel agencies as opposed to UK agencies. If a cruise from the US is cheaper in the US than in the Uk, it is likely to be because of flights.
There are no laws saying that people in the UK can't book with travel agencies in the US. The Passenger Shipping Association strongly urges customers not to do this though, because if they book through a US travel agency, they are not protected by UK or EU consumer protection for package holidays (European travel directive).
If the travel agency were to go bust, or a cruise was cancelled but the customer had problems getting their money back from the travel agency, the customer would have to deal with the US courts in order to get their money back.
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We are thinking of taking an Alaska cruise. I looked first at the US website and found the price was $650. When I looked at the UK website the price was £650 - double!
Pauline, Aberyswyth, Wales
I do not know why we (in Uk) are paying inflated prices. The price difference is nearly £400 per person for a 14 nights cruise to Mediterranean leaving from Southampton (no flying) and return to Southampton. A US agent informed me that they do not take our payment but the cruise line company does. The US agent does not hold our payment at all. It does not effect us if the US agent is to go bust because the cruise line company takes our money not the US agent. The cruise line should reimburse us or reschedule if the cruise was cancelled. Am I right? Can anyone tell me any reasons that I should not book a cruise from a US agent?
McNeill, London, UK