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Conference abbott::cruise_travel

Title:CRUISE TRAVEL
Moderator:XANADU::FAMULARO
Created:Thu Aug 04 1988
Last Modified:Thu Dec 12 1996
Last Successful Update:Tue Dec 31 1996
Number of topics:562
Total number of notes:2834

287.0. "Travel Specialties, Travel Boutique??" by SWSEIS::WELLS (Cakes useless if you can't eat it too!) Tue Jun 04 1991 16:34

    
         Did a dir/title of both of these and found nothing, but feel
    free to move if appropriate.
    
         I've come across a cruise deal that sounds too good to be true
    and I want to check it out.  If anyone knows any more about either
    of these companies or this deal, or has any suggestions, please
    let me know.  If it turns out this deal is o.k. I will post everything
    here.
    
         Here's what they say.  7 days 7 nights(sat to sat) cruise,
    airfare and meals included, $399.10 FOR 2 PEOPLE.  Also, a port
    tax of $60 apiece when you return.  The flights are from Boston
    to either Ft. Lauderdale or Miami, shuttle to the ship included,
    and a choice of either a west or east route.  The east includes
    stops at Nassau, St Thomas, the Virgin Islands, and a couple others.
    WEst is Montego, Cancun, and a few others.  Some of the cruise
    ships are from Celebrity, Princess, etc...
    
        They say how they do it is that Travel Specialties and Travel
    Boutique pre-buy a small number of spots from the cruise lines.
    The cruise lines are supposedly trying this because they average
    15% vacancy on each cruise and by pre-buying they are at least getting
    some of their money back this way.  Plus once they get you on board
    you spend money in the casino, on drinks, etc...  They say they
    only take 500 of these a day for the entire country.  Once you buy
    this coupon you can use it anytime up till the end of 1992 with
    60 days notice.  These limited spots are on 15 different ships.
    
         The parts I'm suspicious about:
    
    1)  They want you to give them your credit card # BEFORE they send
    you any literature.  The salesman quoted something from a credit
    card saying I was protected if not satisfied once the literature
    arrived.  I called my credit card company though, and they said
    they could not stop any payments and it could be a long tough battle
    if they contested the charge.
    
    2)  I called my travel agent and they had not heard of these companies
    and couldn't believe the price.  The lowest rate they had heard
    of was about $500 PER PERSON.
    
         I refuse to give out my credit card #'s to anyone till I get
    something in writing.  The person who referred me has already paid
    and the brochures are supposed to arrive in 2 weeks.  I think what
    I'll do is wait till they arrive and bring them to the travel agent
    to have them checked over.
                   
         Anyone out there have any thoughts, suggestions, experiences???
    
    
    Tim
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
287.1I'm afraid the answer is obvious. If it sounds to good...VINO::FLEMMINGNo eraser? Its not fault tolerantTue Jun 04 1991 18:252
    Never give your credit card number to someone who calls you.
287.2SWSEIS::WELLSCakes useless if you can't eat it too!Thu Jul 11 1991 11:5622
    
         An update:
    
    
         The only responses I've gotten on this were people saying not
    to give out your credit card # to anyone(which I didn't).  But the
    friends who referred me on this did, and at last entry where waiting
    for they're brochures.
    
         The brochures have now arrived, and they say everything is
    in order.  This is a 7 day cruise FOR 2 PEOPLE for $460 bucks.(the
    price has gone up $60 like they said last time)  It took 3 weeks
    for the documentation to arrive instead of 2 like advertised due
    to "overwhelming response".
    
         So my  next step is to bring the documentation to a travel
    agent and have them check for any gotchas.  If everything there
    turns out ok, I'll post the #'s here as it would be a great deal.
    If not I'll also let you know so it can be avoided.
                                                       
    
    Tim
287.3Anymore Info on offer?CHOTI::CARLINMonte Carlo foreverTue Jul 23 1991 13:058
    Tim
    
    	How is the follow up going with this offer? My SO andI cruised two
       years ago and the would like to do it again. If the price/deal is
       good I'd be interested.
    
    
    Bob C.
287.4SWSEIS::WELLSCakes useless if you can't eat it too!Wed Jul 24 1991 16:348
    
    I'm still working on it.  My friends don't want to give me the
    originals and I've been waiting for them to make copies.  Hopefully
    I'll get them tonite and get to the travel agent soon.  As soon
    as I know I'll post it.
    
    
    Tim
287.5BEWAREGRANPA::KSHIELDSThu Jul 25 1991 11:4011
    Please beware - sicne my husband is an outside sales rep for a
    cruise-only agency we receive many travel agent publications
    weekly.  This week's "Hot topic" in three of these publications
    so far - is the cruise "deals" being offered by "Travel Boutique".
    The Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin is investigating and so
    far Carnival, RCCL and Dolphin deny having any bookings placed 
    for this agency.  Attempts to speak with and interview "Travel
    Boutique" have been denied.  I would be very cautious about 
    doing any business with this agency.  I'll keep the notes file 
    posted as more information becomes available....
287.6MCIS2::DUPUISLove is grand, Divorce is 20 grandFri Aug 02 1991 13:203
    To the Basenoter:
    
    Anything new to report????
287.7SWSEIS::WELLSCakes useless if you can't eat it too!Mon Aug 05 1991 16:2029
    
    
         O.K.   I took copies of the cruise documentation to a travel
    agent.  She looked over everything and didn't find anything blatently
    wrong, everything looked pretty standard.  She was however, extremely
    skeptical that it could be offered at that price, and seemed convinced
    that there had to be something wrong, though she couldn't say what
    it was.  I then got many stories about people being ripped-off in
    various scams.  Not all that helpful.
    
         She did suggest the following.  Over the phone they had told
    me that trip insurance was included in the price.  In the
    documentation, however, it said that insurance had to be purchased
    and was not included.  The travel agent said to call Travel Boutique
    and ask for the name of the insurance agency.  Call the insurance
    agency and make sure they are completely separate from Travel Boutique,
    and that you would be completely covered in case they went under,
    were overbooked, etc...  And also see if the price is worth it for
    the insurance.  It sounds to me like it will be a judgement call.
    If the insurance sounds reputable and affordable, then at least
    your $500 for the trip is covered.  But I am in no way endorsing
    this for anyone, it's going to have to be your own call.
    
         I'm going to try and find time to check  up on the insurance,
    call the Better Business Bereau, etc,  but if I can't I'll post
    the numbers and maybe someone else can.
                                              
    
    Tim
287.8exSWSEIS::WELLSCakes useless if you can't eat it too!Wed Aug 07 1991 16:109
    
         The # for Travel Boutique is 800-477-1854.
    
    
         I'm not gonna have time, so if anyone else wants to check out
    the insurance go ahead.  And to the noter with the travel agent
    spouse, please keep us posted.
    
    Tim
287.9Don't Touch It!!GRANPA::KSHIELDSTue Aug 13 1991 10:198
    Just as an update - be extremely careful in dealing with this company -
    I personally would not touch it.  I read in recent travel trade papers
    that Carnival, Kloster, Costa and RCCL have issued "no sell" polices
    against Travel Boutique - in other works there reservationists are not 
    allowed to book any cruises thru this company.  The Better Business 
    Bureau is still investigating and there was some former problems 
    against the owner of Travel Boutique in previous years for business
    conducted in both New York and Florida.