Conference abbott::cruise_travel

89.0. "My BAD Travel Agent Experience" by DELNI::BASSETT (Smooth Operator) Tue Feb 21 1989 15:12

I had an unfortunate experience with WITCOMB TRAVEL in Leominster, MA.  I'll 
take this oppertunity to express my disapointment in them and tell you why.  I 
booked a cruise on the Carnival Fun Ship line, the Jubilee, in December. I told
them I was cruising alone and to have Carnival fix me up with another woman to 
bunk with.  That was fine.  Then my boyfriend and I decided for him to come 
along.  We called Paul and he was "put off" because there was a change in 
reservations.  He wasn't thrilled that we were a young couple coming in and 
giving him more business and future business, just "put off" due to the fact 
that he had to change reservations.  The next day we found out that my SO was 
going to be out of town on business in March (the same week that the cruise 
was planned) so I we went back to cancel him. Paul just flew off the handles.  
I don't know why I didn't cancel with him right then and there.  Paul was 
probing for answers on why the cancellation was taking place, he didn't 
believe he was going to REALLY be out of town.  

This left me in a cabin without a roommate.  I didn't want that.  Paul gave me 
the run around that the cruise was sold out and he would "go out on a limb" for 
me and "beg" Carnival to sell him another singels room.  This night was the 
last night to cancel or I'd loose money.  I called him to find out if I got it
at 6p and he told me stop calling him.  He wouldn't answer the phone, nothing. 
Finally I just got in my car and went down there.  If he couldn't/wouldn't get 
the cabin I wanted then I wasn't going to get a $100 charge for cancelling 
tomorrow.  When I got there he said "How can I get any work done if you and 
your boyfriend keep calling me every 5 minutes!"  We weren't calling every 5 
minutes.  My SO called twice to find out if his reservations were cancelled and
if he was going to get any charge on his credit card.  Paul wouldn't call him 
back.  

This story is getting a bit winded, but....If I could do it all over again I 
WOULD NOT and WILL NOT go to this agency again.

I so disgusted, I called them because they haven't called me to let me know 
that my ticket have arrived.  They said they would mail them to me 2 weeks 
before the date....Now Paul is telling me he won't mail them.  I hope that no 
one else will have to go thru what I went thru.  There are so many other 
Travel Agents out there to have to settle with being treated this way.

    
    There is no excuse for that.
    
    From the other side of the fence (the agent side), it is a pain
    for the client to keep switching reservations because of the amount
    of paperwork and the number of phone calls to the carrier/tour 
    operator involved.  I'm currently attending travel agent school in 
    Nashua, NH (at the Travel Education Center - TEC on Rt.101A), and 
    have somewhat of an appreciation for what happens on the other end.  
    
    HOWEVER, it is also stressed at the school that courtesy toward
    the client is of the utmost importance...and some of my other 
    classmates have some real horror stories about past travel agents 
    they've dealt with.
    
    Cindy

    Hi Linda....
    
    When is/was your cruise....?????
    
    
    Chris
    

    Hi Chris,
    
    How's the Mill without me??  ;^>
    
    I leave on March 5th, Sunday and return the following Sunday.
    
    I'll let everyone know how I loved it! 
    
    Linda

    
    You know this place...it NEVER changes!!!
    
    Well.....have a GREAT time....and be sure to report back later!!!
    
    Bon Voyage!!
    
    Chris
    
      
    

    
    
    SO.....How was it Linda????
    
    Tell us all the details.....
    
    Chris