2023Outdoor Activities in Crystal River. Write to catharine@catharinehamm.com. Now it is May 7, 2025. Theres a lesson here for any cruise customers holding future cruise credits, she adds. )., Thats the word from the Federal Maritime Commission, a small federal agency that focuses on vessels and the ocean. This may offer a solution to one of the two problems you have if youre frustrated about getting a refund. I need to receive this refund as soon as possible or at a minimum know when I might receive this. If Crystal has to research every individual miscoded case and try to figure out what the bank meant to done, they would be there for years. Details per Confirmation # In the other thread there are people waiting almost a year. So, hopefully, I will get the deposit part refunded sometime. Here are 10 you cant miss, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, L.A. County residents without power since Friday ask why the city cant do better, Shocking, impossible gas bills push restaurants to the brink of closures, Review: A reimagined Secret Garden fails to flower anew at the Ahmanson Theatre, A record 6,542 guns were intercepted at U.S. airports in 2022, How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Rachel Bloom, More than 2,000 flights canceled amid workers strike at seven German airports, U.S. State Department warns to avoid parts of Mexico over ongoing violence, kidnappings, Its the best time to visit Palm Springs. CRUISES. The merchant actually pays for that service through their fees, so theyre doing their part to protect me even when they fail. #2 -2256288 (our two sons) Booking number #XXXXXXX In the names of ****** and ********* ******. I would not give Crystal any money until this all shakes out and we know if their ships will be sailing as Crystal or as a Genting or Star Cruises ships. It's not QUITE true that the refund period means nothing. Healy acknowledged Crystal Cruises has limited assets.. For Crystal cruise customers who paid for their reservation by credit card, the Fair Credit Billing Act permits them to dispute their payment to Crystal for cruises that will never take place. Note that complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. On 19-AUG-2021 Crystal submitted a final bill for $15,188.02. This complaint is against Crystal Cruise Line. Unfortunately, due to COVID, we postponed to January 2022. Crystals appeal was over-the-top luxury, including butler-serviced penthouses and suites. By If thats the case, perhaps the cruise line will allow you to give the trip to a relative or friend, said Tom Baker, president of CruiseCenter, who thought he had seen everything in his 37 years as a cruise specialist. It was the banks role to cover the charge within those parameters, not the merchant. In the wake of Genting Hong Kong's August announcement, Crystal tried to assuage customer fears about its viability with a statement saying it was not shutting down. Submitting a response indicates a willingness to work with customers to make things right. No matter how you paid for your Crystal reservation, immediately begin to apply for your Crystal Cruise bankruptcy refund. 301 Route 17 N, Suite 1150, Rutherford, NJ My opinion is a credit card reserve account is for the benefit of the credit card company and not for the benefit of consumers, Pestronk says. We had disputed the charge with Chase, and they will cont. Crystal know this --they rely on passionate cruisers.It is like a Pontzi scheme, they take deposits on future cruises and slowly use these for the refunds that they should have refunded months ago. Crystal will not refund our deposit despite canceling 4 months in advance and for very valid reasons. But dont get too excited. Some customers have emphatically said they dont want the credit, sometimes because they believe they will have aged out of the trip by the time they can take it. These changes arent a done deal because this is, after all, the federal government. Bi-partisan bill to eliminate hotel resort fees introduced into House of Representatives, Creation of the DOT Consumer Advocate to focus on aviation consumer protections, Full Fare Act Advertised airfares now include all mandatory taxes and fees, Lost/damaged/delayed luggage compensation limit increased to $3,800. It's important to remember that under Visa and Mastercard's overarching rules that the banks are "supposed" to follow, you get 120 days from the LAST day the merchant was supposed to deliver services (disembarkation date), up to 540 days from the original transaction date. We were told it would be 90 days to get a refund. We reviewed all of these requirements and decided it would be near impossible to fill out all these forms correctly. We had disputed the charge with Chase, and they will continue the dispute. It took them only 5 days after I filed. We need these funds back. Rather than focusing on the number of complaints, BBB considers how frequently and effectively those complaints are resolved. Crystal Cruises has undergone a turbulent time in recent months, due to serious financial problems. On record-keeping, why do airlines play dumb with Congress? If you took the deal with Crystal, what you have now is a useless voucher. But yes, I finally did get all money back. BBB Business Profiles are subject to change at any time. Im singularly unimpressed. Understandably, our cruise was cancelled on April 2nd. Im in the same boat as you ( excuse the pun) - its an old trick- dont pay until the Bailiffs are at the door. Ten days later, Crystal cancelled the cruise. Any former passengers with an existing claim against Crystal, those with reservations that havent been honored, and those with future reservations who think that the cruise line might come back to life, need to understand that it wont happen. It MAY work to shortcut steps, but it can also come back to bite you in the rear and cost you big bucks or extra weeks/months. Share. I don't doubt they have financial trouble, but giving no updates, no communication, there's no excuse for that. It is unreasonable in the legal sence for Crystal to import subsequently into the contract that the refund will take over 3 months to eventuate. Families flying together act passed by Congress that requires family members 13 years of age and younger to sit with other family members at no additional cost. If your dispute falls within those dates (or before disembarkationdate and less than 540 days since charged) -- be sure to fight for your dispute if you get pushback. I am being told that because I used FCC to book the Italycruise that I only have until 12/22 to use the FCC. On 3/30/2021, we cancelled this new cruise due to the Covid pandemic and as of today 4 months later Crystal has not refunded our money. Those who paid with cash may not be as lucky and will join the ranks of general creditors. Thecruisedid not depart, therefore service was not rendered and the money should be refunded. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. This will ensure you fulfill the policys timing requirements. Thank you. There is a number of threads already on this topic. In other words, if you paid cash, you get cash. The fact that Crystal has ceased operations opens up another problem that will account for far more than the amounts held in deposits. Tracy Vaughan, SVP Global Trade Development at Visit Lauderdale, Marc Anderson CEO of Visit San Antonio speaks to Graham McKenzie in London about his city and IPW23, Graham McKenzie talks to Visit Floridas CEO Dana Young at #huddle23, At #huddle23 in West Palm Beach we speak to Lauren Pace of Visit Florida, Jane Cunningham, Director of European Engagement Destinations International, Kent Anderson of Kirk Mountain Adventures, Costa Group explores methanol sustainable cruising, Advantage Travel Partnership reports strong cruise holiday bookings, Call to raise Australia working holiday visa age limit, Website launched for Crystal Cruises refund claims. As a matter of policy, BBB does not endorse any product, service or business. By alidor, January 20 in Crystal Cruises. "We will be processing your refund." #1 - 2256286 (myself & spouse) by Ned S. Levi | Feb 21, 2022 | Getting there. You should do tests on private browsing mode. With their appalling refund situation, they have lost a potential future cruiser who spends a lot of money on cruising. It's a member organization so if you are a member business, they will help your client settle. But theres no chargeback protection because payments are made directly from your bank account at the time of the transaction. Have an issue with deceptive hotel pricing, resort fees or timeshares? Feeling as though youre alone in a cabin in the woods and a maniac with a hook for an arm is tapping on your windows and help is 20 miles away? I was told I would likely receive a refund within 90 days. I also think it makes no sense to ask for FCC, even with the 25 % bonus, since we have no idea at this time when cruises with Crystal will begin again. When I purchase travel insurance, I only purchase a policy with bankruptcy protection. Here are 64 ways to enjoy L.A.s beloved getaway. Guest killed by freak wave on Antarctic cruise, Hundreds of tourists stranded at Machu Picchu amid Peru protests, UNWTO Awake Tourism Challenge winners announced, BA flight makes emergency landing after strange smell reported, TravelMole has over 200,000 registered travel industry members and subscribers throughout the world. Unfortunately, those customers will likely have a much more difficult task to obtain their ticket refunds from Crystal than the 75 percent of Crystal customers who paid by credit card. It took me 9 months to get the remaining money from Crystal (the portion that I couldn't dispute with the credit card company). Total per booking: Base rate per passenger ********* Tax $196.00 Total $3,895.00 per passenger CC Help Jenn Before entering the corporate world, Ned worked as a Public Health Engineer for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. Other cruise passengers have been dismayed by the ponderous pace of refunds, the inability to contact a live human being or the complete silence in the tsunami that ensued when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued no-sail orders, recently extended until Oct. 31. So- more paperwork to fill out. Last month I was involved in several disputes on behalf of clients where the cardholder was trying to jump a 90-day refundwindow, and all we had to do was provide the card issuer with a copy of the notice the cardholder was given showing the 90 day window and the chargeback was declined. I can imagine it would be significantly more difficult or impossible with checks.. Needless to say - we will never book anything with Crystal again. Total Base $7,398.00 Total Tax $392.00 Grand Total $7,790 If you paid by debit card, your bank will likely provide Fair Credit Billing Act protections. "Unfortunately, it's taken a lot longer than we would have liked. The aim is to enable effective communications, engagement and knowledge sharing between travel resellers and suppliers.. Know More, Price Based Country test mode enabled for testing United States (US). Browse in private with Firefox, Chrome and Safari. Great. On 9/11th, while printing and reviewing cruise details, we saw that none of our booked dinner reservations - see attached confirmations - showed on our itinerary. Theres also no direct transfer requirement the banks must fulfill. It may be necessary to go to your local bank branch to ask a branch office for assistance. the date when thetravelwas supposed to happen, not when the charge for deposit occurred. "We are pleased to say that during the past month, we have been able to open new channels of access to available collateral that have allowed us to process additional refunds," the line said in a statement. FIngers crossed for you. Guests who had their cruises canceled due to the. SteamboatWillie118, March 9, 2021 in Crystal Cruises. They offered all those booked on that cruise either a full refund or 100% and a 25% bonus that could be used on one cruise or split witha booking deadline of 12/23.