Murrumba

:mad:

I love how this thread just keeps going and going!! Keep up the good work guys - if we keep making enough noise surely something will change!

 

I think Australians are being treated like fools, expected to know nothing of the wider world, and happy to accept whatever is thrown our way!

Rust bucket ancient tubs, outrageous prices, bullying threats about the safety of booking overseas and possibly being denied boarding!

 

Reminds me of what Dame Nellie Melba apparently told a singer about to visit Australia to perform - "Sing 'em muck! It's all they can understand!"

 

Yes, for a long time now Australia has become the dumping ground for the world. When I was working I had to get some equipment that was a

readily available throughout the States and Europe. I could not get it in Victoria/Australia anywhere at the time. But there was excess stock "dumped" into the Australian market which was outdated and probably found its way into our Landfills. There is a government Customs declaration that states clearly about "dumping" here - I just wish they would enforce this too. But I more to the point of this threat yes we are seen as easy targets due to our isolation in the world and lack of population which translates to $$$$$$$$$$$:mad::mad:

We are thinking of going on a Carnival cruise from LA next year. Is it safe if we book directly through the carnival website??

 

Tracy W We are going on a Carnival Cruise in September. We booked a few months ago early saver. We have received about 3 small price drops and now the cruise cost (we are only inside) has gone up 80.00 US more than we paid. Yeh. Love it when they give you price drops, but when it goes up you don't pay - advantage of early saver (non-refundable though - so you are locked in).

 

I booked directly with Carnival in their US$. No problems -they have been great; hope this relationship continues, but it only seems that the cruise ships that are coming and leaving from Australia seem to be affected by this policy even if you choose to book them for overseas travel (i..e Europe, Med or USA) inlcuding Australia/South Pacific travel etc.

:confused::confused:[quote name='newfarmers']Murrumba

That is a great idea!

Why doesn't cruise critic go to the horses' mouths and ask them why we (as in Aussies and Kiwis) are so poorly treated?

On top of discriminatory booking practices, we are subject to price fixing (see RCCL bumping up it's prices to match the exhorbitant amounts P&O charge), being sold a fleet of nearly 20 yo ships as 'superliners' etc etc etc. Would be a very interesting story.

Ask why (and by whom) US agents have been told not to accept bookings for specific lines. Why we can't call all lines direct in the states and book. I successfully called NCL to make my booking but then they are owned by Star so not one of the RCCL/Carnival (near) duopoly. Why we keep getting old ship after old ship and told to be excited (and grateful). Why we don't have the same cancellation and change fee structures as US travellers on the same cruises eg. with P&O pay full fare (does anyone?) and get your deposit back up to day x, pay discounted (that's absolutely everyone!!!!!!!!!!) and lose your deposit if you cancel 6 MONTHS OUT!!

Enough's enough. We all enjoy CC enough of us click on links on the website to help keep it going but as a voice for it's Oz and Kiwi users it is sadly mute.

Your thoughts Walt?[/quote]


TV programmes (yes, USA my spelling is correct) - We should call CURRENT AFFAIR and/or CONSUMER WATCH. I think they would be intrested. Also TRAVELLER REVIEW which is a fantastic reference for us travellers.:confused:

[quote name='Host Walt']Whilst we understand the issue of discriminatory pricing clearly, we cannot permit the identification of specific agencies in posts on our message boards because we do not permit them to respond to either praise or criticism.

Thanks for your understanding.[/quote]

If Cruise Critic understands the issue of discriminatory pricing clearly, why then doesn't Cruise Critic as a body assist with stopping this practice to make it fair for all not just US citizens??

When I went on a couple of RCL cruises, they were keen to give me a number as part of their cruising club, but I could not access any services, ie. utilise that part of their Cruise Line membership area as it was not set up to access anybody other than US ciitizens. I wrote to them 18 months ago about this and they told me that this was going to be fixed up - still waiting. Just not important to them.:mad:

[quote name='MMDown Under']Isn't the local cruiseline representative meant to be a frontline representative of the actual cruise line? What poor customer service.

I think the actual cruise lines have been sold a pup!

They are being snowed with the increasing number of new local bookings, for short cruises, without looking at the bigger picture of loosing their long term loyal local customer base, who are used to frequently cruising overseas, on long cruises. These people buy their overseas travel overseas, like they do all other forms of travel!

Time for a rule change![/quote]


The so called Agents for Cruise lines in Australia are broad based TA's not what we would call "real" Cruise line offices.

Rumour has it the cruiselines have been threatening the U.S agents with removal of any bookings they have from non-residents they will then hand them over to local agents....:confused::confused: but wait ... if i book onboard it's okay for me to name my U.S agent and they get the deal no questions asked:eek:

Top points to the dodo making up the rules:rolleyes::rolleyes:.........

 

If they wish to ban us from purchasing from U.S agents it should only be for local cruises that begin and end in Australia no matter what cruiseline .....repo's and the rest of the world open slather....cheers.....shiona

 

You can book direct with Carnival and NCL and they are giving costs in US dollars. Don't know how long this will last, but they are not in Australian waters yet, so perhaps that makes the difference.

 

I spent a nearly 40 hours investigating this issue last week on another thread and that was my letter to RCL and my reply.

 

I believe that Holland America (who are starting to come to Australia) are going to do the same thing as RCL - as I stated before send them back to US. Perhaps there needs to be an ombudsman. I for one would love to have a test case of this in an Australian Court - or perhaps we should just do as we have been taught - Caveat Emptor = Buyer Beware - (too expensive, dishonest = do not book through these companies).

i came across this post

 

 

PLEASE REFER BELOW TO CORRESPONDENCE (EMAIL) FROM RCL TO MY ENQUIRY ABOUT THEIR INFLATED PRICES AND MY RESPONSE TO THEM FOLLOWS THIS EMAIL. I THINK THIS IS SELF EXPLANATORY. VERY DISAPPOINTING AND I FOR ONE WILL HAVE TO THINK VERY LONG AND HARD ABOUT USING RCL AGAIN OR REFERRING ANY OTHER PERSON TO RCL CRUISES.

 

From: "customerservices.au@rcclapac.com" <customerservices.au@rcclapac.com>

 

Sent: Mon, 15 March, 2010 11:00:35 AM

 

Good morning

 

Thank you for your email regarding the pricing of cruises booked in

Australia as compared to those booked through an overseas travel agent.

 

Royal Caribbean Cruises Australia prices and sells all of its cruises in

Australian Dollars. The Australian dollar cost is determined prior to our

brochures being produced, which may be as much as two years prior to

sailing. Wwhere the underlying cost of an item comprising an element of the

cruise costs (such as gratuities which are paid in US dollars) is not in

Australian dollars the exchange rate prevailing at the time of going to

print is used to calculate the Australian dollar cost. By doing this Guests

are not affected by any currency fluctuations as they are aware of the

Australian dollar cost of their cruise at the time of booking.

 

It should be noted, that bookings made by Australian residents with an

overseas based travel agency, whether on-line or via a high street

location, are not covered by Australian consumer laws and the associated

protection of the Travel Compensation Fund - which protects consumers

against travel agency liquidation or insolvency.

 

Please be advised that if you book at a rate that is not applicable to an

Australian resident, you may be asked to pay the difference at the pier

during embarkation and in some cases be denied boarding.

 

This policy has been established in consultation with our retail travel

agent partners in Australia, USA and Europe, in an effort to ensure the

best possible consumer service is provided to all Royal Caribbean Cruises

Limited guests.

 

We hope this answers you concerns.

 

 

Sincere regards

 

 

Trish Sleigh

 

 

Customer Relations

Royal Caribbean Cruises (Australia) Pty Ltd.

email: customerservices.au@rcclapac.com

fax: 61 2 8065 3564

 

 

Hello,

 

I would appreciate this email being brought to the attention of a Manager of RCL.

 

Thank you for your reply. I am absolutely astonished at this response to my enquiry. The conversion is totally unfair. There has been some talk on cruise critic that USA companies decided to charge Australians this extra as they do not pay their tips. I always pay and always pay about twice as much in cash again.

 

I have had two cruises with your company and thoroughly enjoyed them, and encouraged other Australians and even brought some of my friends from the USA (Madawaska) to come to Australia and cruise to New Zealand with us.

 

My partner and I after receiving your email need to advise you that unless you change your policy that we will not be going on anymore RCL cruises and will use other countries who allow us to book for the same fare that people in the US can use. I understand we cannot use Military, Resident or Teacher discounts (as this was for the US people, which is still unfair). I will be putting your reply on Cruise critic for other Australians to see and they can make their own decision. I am very disappointed, but now understand that when we were looking for cruises in the US this year, your prices were prohibitive and we booked 2 cruises with NCL and one with Carnival as their prices were about half the price that you were going to charge us in Australian dollars.

 

I did wish you well in the Australian market and encouraged other people to use you. Unfortunately I cannot support you at this time with your policy

 

 

Thanks - I posted this and I am pleased that you are passing this to other Australians through Cruise Critic Boards. I am furious, disappointed and disgusted with RCL. They came to Australia and entertained Australians with great prices via Rhapsody of the Seas cruises and then do this - send them back to the States. No support from me anylonger or any of my colleagues, friends.

I would refuse to pay for any of the above. I have never used room service. Happy not to eat in my inside cabin - could not think of anything more boring - looking at the walls. Would always prefer to go "upstairs"; but if I did for whatever reason, then I would be happy to tip the person who brought food down.

I love coffee, but refused to purchase one on the cruise ship and didn't!!!

I just go early to get seats that I want at the shows.

I am lucky that I am retired and can organise myself around embarkation and disembarkation times and I figure I don't really care - can always find something to do - must be good at doing nothing!!!

Would never support a specialty restaurant. I remember when even the most basic ships (from Australia) had the most fantastic food and midnite feasts!!! The ships I have been going on lately RCL have nice food, but nothing like it used to be. Perhaps the decline is relative to the incline in speciality restaurants??