I usually book cruises directly, but my friend kept telling me to book through her mom, who’s a travel agent. I finally gave in, and the only perk I got was $100 per room as onboard credit. Nice, but not a huge deal.
The following is a copy of the original post to keep a record of how it was originally written:
I forgot to buy supplemental travel insurance within two weeks of the deposit to cover pre-existing conditions. Since my travel companions are in their mid-80s and have health issues, this insurance gives us peace of mind. About a month later, I realized my mistake. Since the cruise isn’t until fall 2025, I asked the travel agent if we could cancel and rebook to fix this. I was upfront about the reason.
The booking was on my credit card, not hers. She gave me a lecture about how supplemental insurance wasn’t necessary and said she couldn’t cancel because she’d lose her commission. I explained we’d still be booking the same trip, just with the correct insurance. She kept pushing me to buy the cruise line’s insurance and even suggested getting a doctor’s note later to claim we couldn’t travel. That felt like fraud to me.
I even offered to cover her commission ($200 per room) to keep things smooth, but she still refused and insisted on the doctor’s note idea. After a few days, I got fed up and canceled the entire booking myself. She called, yelled at me, and hung up.
Within 24 hours, I rebooked directly with the cruise line. Same rooms, slightly higher price, no onboard credit. Later, I discovered that two of the rooms she booked for me were just guaranteed rooms, not the specific ones I requested. That made me even more upset.
Was I wrong to cancel and handle this myself? I told my friend what her mom did, and she just said, “Don’t worry, it’s not your fault.”",
Tobin said:
The following is a copy of the original post to keep a record of how it was originally written:
Sounds like this agent was unhelpful. Good for you for taking charge.
As someone who books their own travel and has worked as a travel agent, the fact she wouldn’t help you is a big red flag. I never buy insurance from the cruise line but get a comprehensive policy myself. Her behavior was unprofessional.
I prefer booking myself to keep control over my travel plans. Losing onboard credit is worth the peace of mind.
Rayne said:
I prefer booking myself to keep control over my travel plans. Losing onboard credit is worth the peace of mind.
Exactly. Unless it’s a super complex trip, I’ll handle it myself.
You weren’t wrong, and she sounds like a terrible agent.
Curious, what insurance do you use that requires booking within a month?
Blair said:
Curious, what insurance do you use that requires booking within a month?
Many policies require it to cover pre-existing conditions.
Blair said:
Curious, what insurance do you use that requires booking within a month?
Exactly, that’s what it is. We’ve had a rare exception before, but usually it’s strict.
I’ve had great experiences with some agents, but this one sounds awful. Find a better one.
You weren’t wrong. Your friend’s mom didn’t value the friendship as much as you did.
Travel agents can be helpful, but pick someone based on their service, not their relationship to you.
I think travel agents use onboard credits to lure clients. Cruises are easy to book yourself, and that credit isn’t worth the hassle.
- You were not wrong. 2. She’s not a good example of a professional travel agent.
Wow, don’t ever use her again. That’s beyond shady.
You did the right thing. Get the drink package and enjoy the cruise!
I had a similar experience with a travel agent. They lied about transfer times and didn’t disclose guaranteed rooms. Lesson learned.
This person wasn’t doing you any favors.