Vancouver pre-cruise disaster

by **tcdegroot** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 6:38 pm

READ THIS BEFORE YOU PICK A CRUISE LINE. After maybe a dozen cruises with different companies we decided to see Alaska with Holland America Line. That turned out to be a mistake. We bought a pre-cruise package that included a two day stay in Vancouver's newest hotel, a bus tour of Vancouver City and a visit to Bouchers Garden on Vancouver Island. Due to sloppyness we were given the wrong departure times and as a result were totally on our own and had to pay again for taxis, busses, the ferry ride and the tickets for Bouchers garden. Before boarding our ship we managed to find a H.A.L. representative and explained what happened. She outdid her self apologising for the mistake, she collected our receipts for the expenses and repeatedly assured us that we would soon bereimbursed for the full amount. We were never reimbursed. After months we sent a friendly reminder. No answer; only spam and mailings to get us on another cruise to Alaska! Would you deal with such a company again?

Theodore C. de Groot dick@dickdegroot.com

by **Guest** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 7:43 pm

tcdegroot wrote:READ THIS BEFORE YOU PICK A CRUISE LINE. After maybe a dozen cruises with different companies we decided to see Alaska with Holland America Line. That turned out to be a mistake. We bought a pre-cruise package that included a two day stay in Vancouver's newest hotel, a bus tour of Vancouver City and a visit to Bouchers Garden on Vancouver Island. Due to sloppyness we were given the wrong departure times and as a result were totally on our own and had to pay again for taxis, busses, the ferry ride and the tickets for Bouchers garden. Before boarding our ship we managed to find a H.A.L. representative and explained what happened. She outdid her self apologising for the mistake, she collected our receipts for the expenses and repeatedly assured us that we would soon bereimbursed for the full amount. We were never reimbursed. After months we sent a friendly reminder. No answer; only spam and mailings to get us on another cruise to Alaska! Would you deal with such a company again?
Theodore C. de Groot dick@dickdegroot. com

Something does not add up here - we've been cruising with HAL since '88 - usually twice a year and have never experienced such problems.

Have to wonder if you used a Travel Agent or booked 'on line'. .

I've never booked on line so am not sure just what information re confirmation etc. is actually sent to you. In any event, you must have had a booking number and, hopefully, noted the name of the HAL rep. who took your receipts etc. If you booked 'on line' I strongly suggest you call HAL Customer Service and talk with them - have as much information as possible re your booking at your finger tips. Try these numbers - 1-800-599-8256 or 1-877-7245

A T-A would have solved all your problems!

Hopefully your reimbursement will come through soon. Oh, for the record.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..I'm not a HAL stockholder and I don't work for the Line.

P.S. It's Buchart Gardens, Victoria, B.C.

Vancouver pre-cruise disaster

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