Can i get my deposit back?

mtbker

Hi Guys n gals!

New to the forum, need any info possible....

We booked a MSC cruise in July through Thomsons for next April and paid a deposit of £300 and were told the flights were unavailable at that time as it was too early in the year and that they would be available early November.
The new MSC brochure came out last week so we contacted Thomson for the flight details only to be told they wont fly from Manchester (as we requested) so we went into the shop today to sort it out.
We went through various scenarios to get the best deal (Thomson only use a few flight checkers) but in the end we just agreed to fly from Gatwick, the Thomson lady then checked and said all the flights had been sold!
After almost three hours in the shop, we came away with no flights to be told we could sort our flights out ourselves!
According to the lady in Thomson, if we cancel we lose our deposit, but surely this cant be right as its not our fault the flights have all gone.
We have tried all manner of flight checkers to get the correct times and dates but alas no good.
All in all, can Thomson keep our deposit even though its not our fault? They say MSC keep the deposit but we paid Thomson in good faith.....
Please help...holidays are supposed to be fun arent they???:mad:

agrinnall

Do you think it might be helpful to tell us where it is that you want to fly to?

Caz3121

Were the flights part of the cruise package? It sounds like you have booked a cruise-only that starts and ends outside the UK. It is therefore up to you to work out how you get too and from the ship

mtbker

Sorry, its Venice (Marco Polo airport) - the ship departs from the port at 5pm, you gotta be on the ship at least 2 hours before (MSC T&C's).

The only flights we could find would get us into Venice with only 2 hours spare and within that time we have to wait for our luggage and then get the transfer to the port.

What with flight delays etc, if we book our own flights and are delayed, the ship is under no obligation to wait for us.....obviously if everything went like clockwork then there wouldn't be a problem...BUT we shouldn't have to be worrying the what-ifs just because they have no flights of their own left. (With their own flights we would be covered in the event of any delays with the airline)

We even looked at going the day before and booking a hotel but again we lose our free transfers AND then the cost of a taxi to the port is quite prohibitive.

We have been talking all night about it and we are just considering cutting our losses - its frankly just not worth the stress...

thanks:)

mtbker

yes, it was a package. we said right from the beginning that we wanted flights from manchester
at no point was it suggested we were buying a cruise only and the flights wouldnt be included - it was just the pricing of the flights werent available in july as we booked before the 2014 brochure came out and saw the cruise in the 2013 brochure and thomson said that they flew out from manchester

stephb34

Why didn't you book a package in the beginning and wait for the flight times to be confirmed, did you know when you booked cruise only how difficult it maybe to get appropriate flights. I'm asking these questions to see if I can help you with an answer, not to criticise.

mtbker

stephb34 wrote: »

Why didn't you book a package in the beginning and wait for the flight times to be confirmed, did you know when you booked cruise only how difficult it maybe to get appropriate flights. I'm asking these questions to see if I can help you with an answer, not to criticise.

like i said previously, we did book a package, however on reflection we are now questioning ourselves as to whether we have been 'assuming' it was indeed a package.
We certainly made it clear to Thomson we wanted flights and transfers etc with the cruise - so in my mind that is what i would define as a 'package'

thanks

stephb34

mtbker wrote: »

yes, it was a package. we said right from the beginning that we wanted flights from manchester
at no point was it suggested we were buying a cruise only and the flights wouldnt be included - it was just the pricing of the flights werent available in july as we booked before the 2014 brochure came out and saw the cruise in the 2013 brochure and thomson said that they flew out from manchester

Hi you obviously type faster than me so I apologise if it happens again.
As far as i'm aware but I maybe wrong I think MSC packages only do their flights out of London that's why we personally don't sell very many MSC packages in the midlands. I think they have done you a cruise and flights separately and have come unstuck with the flights, you need to get someone to look at your paperwork who will understand exactly what you have paid for in case you have been mis sold, if its their fault then you can stand your ground.

mtbker

hi stephb34,
yes it does seem that they may have booked them seperately and are either trying to cover their tracks or just simply keeping quiet.
we eventually said we would fly from london but alas they have all sold out (within a week!) so we are pretty stuck now.
I think we are going to have a royal battle to get our deposit back but we shall certainly try

thanks

joerugby

Have you considered flying with Ryanair to Treviso, from Leeds/Bradford, Bristol or East Midlands?

Archergirl

I find it hard to believe the flights are sold out, maybe all the seats aren't released yet.
Will you be able to use the deposit against another holiday?