Non-refundable deposit

Dinah_C_Alsford

 I telephoned Imagine Cruising answering an ad in the Mail on Sunday for a round Britain cruise in June next year, special offer for two people, second person goes free. The salesman said "June" is a misprint, it's actually July, and I should have rung off at that point  but I continued the conversation and paid a deposit of £350 for two people. 

Next day I got the confirmation by email and realised it was a complete mistake from beginning to end so, less than 24 hours after seeing the confirmation, I cancelled. But now I'm told I agreed to a non-refundable deposit. Why? was it a senior moment ? Was I mesmerised by the long list of conditions the salesman went through? I can't dispute the recording they sent. I am 80 years old so can no longer get annual travel insurance, I live in sheltered housing and have not been able to leave my flat for 10 weeks, could it have been an effect of 10 weeks solitary lockdown? I don't know, but I'm not the only person to have been taken in and it doesn't seem fair.

Westin

So in summary are you saying that you have since booking had second thoughts and have changed your mind?

Unfortunately there is no cooling-off period of time for holidays.   

NoodleDoodleMan

No disrespect - but why enquire about a holiday when you can't get travel insurance ?

Of course, if you are only visiting UK ports then there may be no need for travel cover, as there will be NHS facilities if (God forbid) you need medical treatment ashore - I have no idea how that works in practice.

The real problem would  be if you need to see the doctor onboard and lack travel insurance.

I would be worth writing to the cruise company explaining you can't get travel cover and asking them to reconsider.

Alan_Bowen

The power of Daily Mail adverts! Imagine Cruising is part of the Emirates group who have very careful scripts for their salespeople to follow. Whenever you book any holiday there is a deposit to pay and it is never refundable unless the holiday is cancelled. I appreciate you have had buyers remorse but that of itself is not sufficient to get out of the contract. I seem to recall the government in one of its many pronouncements suggested those over 70 should not go on cruises, you might well use that excuse to explain you cannot get insurance and therefore if you fall ill on board, you would expect whichever cruise line it is to provide free health care and if they cannot confirm that, you believe being aware you were 80 they should not have accepted your booking

sheramber

There are   companies that offer annual travel insurance for those over 80.
A Google search will bring up several.

heatherw_01

As the previous poster said, you can get travel insurance if that is the reason you now don't want to go.

You won't be able to get your no refundable deposit back because you changed your mind