Why is it that travel agencies require payment in full so far in advance of travel? Mine was required in October 2013 for travel beginning February 2014. It totalled $20,000 for two people taking a cruise to Australia. Surely my $2600 deposit would have been sufficient proof of good faith?
You raise an interesting point. What did the management of your travel agency say? I’d be surprised if all agents required full payment four months before travel.
Agents I’ve used have always been quite flexible about when they get paid for hotel accommodation, for example. It may not be the agent’s fault in the case of a cruise booking.
It is not uncommon for shipping companies, as well as airlines, to demand full payment well in advance. Try booking an air flight online and simply offering a deposit.
With a cruise you are booking accommodation and travel simultaneously. It’s not like you can pay for each part separately, as if you were flying and staying in hotels.
But I also don’t think that you should have to pay out for any onshore accommodation, or port taxes, etc, in full so far in advance.
You might have asked your agency to find out what the bookings on the cruise ship were like and delayed making your reservation as long as possible.
But I’ve no need to tell you such a strategy has its risks. You might not get a good berth, or miss the cruise altogether.
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