Can Americans book O with a U.K. Travel Agent

[CHUCKIE50]

In the current environment where the dollar is strong is there any price advantage to booking with a UK or European travel agent for an American? If there is a significant difference will O accept such a booking. I understand with the time diffences the communication could be difficult the agency. Perhaps my credit card company will flag the transaction a fraud. Just thinking there could be some deals out there this summer. Thanks for any guidance/thoughts you might have on this.

[pinotlover]

If you have a European TA in mind, that has a background with O, it would be best to Query them. I have been told by Brits, the answer is NO, however. O runs various campaigns aimed at the European markets with pricing different from that in the US. If an European TA attempted to enter an American passport cruiser, with a US address as the cruiser, the system will reject it.

[CHUCKIE50]

Thank you Pinotlover for your answer. I took your advice and contacted a large online TA in the UK by online chat. They gave me a quote that was much less than available in the states and said that there would be "no problem" for an American to book with them. Now I have to consider if it is worth the possible hassle to make my booking this way.

 

Anyone else have experience with this situation?

[pinotlover]

If you try it will be interesting to hear your results. I know they get great offers we never see here in the States. Since we're planning a Med cruise next year, might wait to see how you do, and book that way myself. That would surely t off my TA! ;)

[mpfund]

On the Seabourn board a poster called Chairsin has mentioned that he/she books with a UK agent. You might want to post a query to that board in hopes he/she answers.

[turnip eater]

On the Seabourn board a poster called Chairsin has mentioned that he/she books with a UK agent. You might want to post a query to that board in hopes he/she answers.

 

Yes, we knew two Australian gentlemen on Seabourn who booked via a UK agent.

Edited April 9, 2015 by turnip eater

[Janet-]

Just be aware that the terms and conditions in the UK are different, for example, if you cancel before final payment date you would loose your deposit.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

And make sure that it's an "apples to apples" comparison--that what you get is the same deal. I know sometimes they don't include air, for example, in the U.K.

[CHUCKIE50]

And make sure that it's an "apples to apples" comparison--that what you get is the same deal. I know sometimes they don't include air, for example, in the U.K.

I did just that with my quote request. I usually never take O's air since I have many points and miles from my credit cards. I wasn't really ready to commit to a booking yet since my daughter is getting married in August. I will will try to book with this agent when the wedding is finished and my DW isn't quite so busy. I am looking at this fall within the final payment date. The cruise I had quoted was the Riviera July 7 Lisbon-Rome voyage. It really would have been way cheaper to make this booking in the UK.

 

I did not want to waste the agent's time other than requesting a quote. If their prices are as good this fall they will surely get my business if the rules allow.

[glenneagle]

We used a UK agent for our O cruise last summer.

Got much better rates and had no problems at all.

[CHUCKIE50]

We used a UK agent for our O cruise last summer.

Got much better rates and had no problems at all.

Thank you very much. I kinda figured I was on to something.

[bitob]

On the Seabourn board a poster called Chairsin has mentioned that he/she books with a UK agent. You might want to post a query to that board in hopes he/she answers.

 

 

Chairsin is our friend

She books exclusively seabourn and only with an agent in uk