UPDATE: The CEO of CVO has really done a great job of apologizing and getting my business back. I am certainly considering doing business with them in the future!





I'm a cruise neophyte who will be taking his first cruise at the end of the month.

At the beginning of September I researched a cruise price by using cruisecompete.com. I got offers from several different agencies, generally ranging from around $6.9k to $7.3k for a jr suite. One, however, cruisevacationoutlet, had a quote for 5k.

I called the agency, spoke with a nice agent, and booked the cruise by paying the deposit. The same day, I received an urgent email from the agent saying there had been a teriible mistake and his worker had messed up on pricing. He now came back with a much higher price. I let him know that I'd gotten lower bids and he tried to match them but couldn't quite. Being the sucker I am, I still booked with him. I thought I'd be paying about $6.5 k, but the final bill was $7.5k. (Honestly, I didn't even realize this till today!)

Today, a month and 2 days later, I receive an email that my deposit was declined and that the cruise line had cancelled our reservation. Now we were "waitlisted" for our mini-suite. And I should call the agent.

Indeed, it seems that all those cabins in that category are now sold out (Sailing date beg. Sep 2007).

I just emailed the agent to forget it and am getting new quotes. A month later, prices have risen. A balcony which was $5.8k now is now $6k.


Whenever I have ordered travel (flights, hotels) or merchandise I have always been notified either immediately or at least within 2-3 d, that a charge had been declined. We now have lost our mini-suite. Perhaps it's a good thing. A balcony will save us money and be just fine.

I really did think that the initial pricing error was an honest mistake. I don't know what happened with the cancellation one month later. But I just resent a request for bids and the same agency came back again with the much lower quote. Plus they did not state that the jr suite was sold out/wait list only.

I haven't called yet, but now I do think it's a bait and switch.

So, please beware using them.

Nobbi
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