Paying for a cruise

DebanneL

We have to pay our final balance for a cruise in August. We requested to pay be credit card as this would give us protection if the company went into administration.  However this was refused and we have to pay by a one off direct debit. We were told by the company the protection is the same as credit card payment but our bank says this is not so.  Has anyone else come up against this when paying for a cruise?

martindow

Your bank is right, but unfortunately you cannot insist on making the payment by card.  The company specifies payment methods they will accept.  Would your travel insurance cover business failure?

happyandcontented

Which cruise company won't take credit cards?

Ganga

Also how did you pay the deposit ?

sheramber

Does your cruise have ATOL or ABTA protection?. You should have a certificate with  the number on it.
That gives you protection .
Also ,check out your travel insurance for cover.

Neil49

Are you paying the cruise company direct or have you booked through a travel agent and, consequently, paying them? If the payment is made to a travel agent then credit card protection is unlikely to be available as you are paying a third party who is not actually providing you with the holiday.

It would only apply if you paid the cruise company direct e.g P&O, Fred Olsen or TUI (for Marella cruises) for example. 

DCFC79

I dont think a direct debit will make a one off payment, maybe you mean a standing order.

Alan_Bowen

Be very wary of a business in the current environment that will not accept any cards at all. If you pay via a bank transfer you have no obvious protection other than any trade association or ATOL protection available. I am not aware of any cruise line refusing cards and if an agency is, it almost certainly has an issue with their own card processor who will hold on to the money until you have had your cruise, which is great for you but not for the agency. If the cruise is departing from the US, then you should be aware that the CDC (Centre for Disease Control in Atlanta) banned all departure for a 100 days yesterday which brings us into mid-July so there must be a good possibility of the cruise not departing at all 

TELLIT01

Direct debit can be used for a one off payment.  I would also be very concerned about any company involved with cruises which refuses to accept credit card payment.