Warning re: overbooked river cruises

[robthens]

WARNING - MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A COMFIRMED RESERVATION

 

We didn’t realize until a few days ago that some tour companies overbook river cruises. Then, after the date that a refund can be received they contact the “stand by” bookings and inform them they have to change their travel date. We did see, after the fact, that their web site under “Terms & Conditions” states that they over book in order to have full capacity since they consider they will have cancellations.

 

Our facts are as follows:

- booked original river boat cruise in May 2006 for October 2007 sail date

- paid in full for trip at the time of booking

- changed sail date in February 2007 to September 2007

- booked extensions for pre & post

- this will be our 4th trip with this tour company

- have 2 other trips scheduled for 2008 with same company

 

We were contacted and told that when we rescheduled that we were put on stand by (although we were not advised - would have keep our original date had we known).

We had to change our sail date and could not get our extensions; however, we would get a one category cabin upgrade and $150 pp compensation.

 

We did not feel this was fair compensation since we had not been told we were on standby.

 

We escalated our complaint with a final out come of changing our sail date, cabin upgrade & free $349 pp pre extension which magically became available.

[garycarla]

Who was this with?

 

Assume that all River Cruise around the world do not have the same process.

[robthens]

Who was this with?

 

Assume that all River Cruise around the world do not have the same process.

 

 

There were numerous replies on this thread that have been dropped.

I have emailed the facilitator re: this.

 

We have learned this is common practice.

[gillianrose]

There were numerous replies on this thread that have been dropped.

I have emailed the facilitator re: this.

 

We have learned this is common practice.

 

With no company names listed, and with the post removed by a board facilitator, one can only wonder whether the ads at the top of this page might indicate a company that may do this? Hmmm....

[garycarla]

I do not know what was dropped, but to be honest, I could understand the entire thread being dropped. To make a statement that infers all RIVER CRUISES do this as standard practice is without merit. How does anyone know what all other river cruise companies do.

 

I am guessing the original poster is correct about the cruiseline they worked with, but to spread this across all companies???

[robthens]

I do not know what was dropped, but to be honest, I could understand the entire thread being dropped. To make a statement that infers all RIVER CRUISES do this as standard practice is without merit. How does anyone know what all other river cruise companies do.

 

I am guessing the original poster is correct about the cruiseline they worked with, but to spread this across all companies???

 

This post was a warning on what actually happened to us.

After extensive research, we have found that this is a common practice .

The company we booked with was Vantage.

We have two more trips booked with Vantage for 2008 & have comfirmed our bookings!!!!!!!!

[garycarla]

I guess I will ask again.

 

When you did your research, did you determine that this is standard practice:

 

a) with Vantage, the travel agency

b) with River Cruises based in Europe

c) with River Cruise worldwide, even in the US

d) with cruises booked via agencies, but not with the actual cruiseline?

 

We are thinking about taking a River Cruise in Europe and would like to know???

[robthens]

I guess I'll state again as I did in my original post............

 

"We didn’t realize until a few days ago that some tour companies overbook river cruises"

A simple confirmation will avoid the problem we encountered.

I've put this behind me and have learned my lesson. Hopefully, it will benefit others.

We had a wonderful trip!!!!!