Cruise Sweepstakes:How You And All Of Your Loved Ones Can Avoid Cruise Vacation Ripoffs
When you surf over to a cruise win or cruise giveaways agency's Web site, or dial up their 800 number, you may be dealing with one of the top cruise-only wholesalers in the nation, a local franchisee of a large full-service travel organization, or a very knowledgeable cruise expert at a small vacation agency. Or, it may be a novice working off of his or her kitchen table.
So, how can you tell the difference and find a good, reputable travel agent or agency -- and keep away from a bad booking experience?
Unluckily, agents tell us that the vacation industry is not well-regulated, and just about any person can just print up company cards, hang out a shingle and start selling travel. The majority of states do not require any kind of registration, certification, licensing or purchaser protection measures for travel businesses, although this is beginning to change. Bottom line: It is very important to know who you are dealing with.
Your best bet is to converse to buddies, co-workers, relatives and associates and ask them if they know of a good, reputable, local agent who specializes in cruise sweepstakes. But here are a some more tips for preventing cruise travel scams -- and spotting a less-than-legitimate agency and protecting your expenditure before it's too late.
Payment with a credit card. For your best protection against either a dishonest seller of travel or possible supplier bankruptcy, always pay for your cruise fare -- both the first deposit and the end payment -- with a big credit card such as Mastercard, Visa or Amex. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, you are entitled to safety (via a chargeback of disputed fees to your account) if a merchant fails.
Important note: This protection may not apply to those using debit or check cards; it's very important to check policies with your issuing bank just before you charge.
Make certain your money is in the right hands. After you've made a payment, review your credit card or bank statement and make sure that any applicable charges originate directly with the cruise line, not with the traveling agency. That way, you'll find out that the cruise line has definitely acquired your money. If you will need to pay by check or money order, it should be made payable to the cruise line -- not to the agency or to an individual.
Get correct verification of your reservation. Insist on getting the true cruise line's confirmation numbers, not just a confirmation number from your agency. Not only will you then know that your information and money is in the right hands, but you'll also be able to preserver shore excursions, restaurant reservations and spa appointments (where available) on the luxury cruise line's Web site.
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