Imagine Cruising...what to do with their new proposal

Seronera

We have a ten day trip booked with Imagine to the Singapore Grand Prix with a five day cruise beforehand. On the face of it it is still scheduled to take place, but we all know the likelihood lessons with each passing day. We have paid fully up front, but did so on credit card, and we have travel insurance, and they are ATOL protected, so on the face of it we are as protected financially as we can be in the circumstances.

Today they have contacted us with an offer to move the entire booking a year forward to 2021 for an additional payment of £99 per person, regardless of whether this years event/cruise takes place. On the face of it thats not the worst offer I have ever seen, but 1) we will have to pay for additional travel insurance, and companies may restrict or deny cover compared with what we have 2) This might well affect our section 75 credit card protection 3) We leave ourselves open to possibilities of further 'charge creep' to secure the holiday 4) The company could fold between now and then and that would be the 2021 holiday down the tubes as well.

The cautious person in me says don't go with this offer and in the event of cancellation of the 2020 trip go for full refund. The conundrum is if they do actually manage to run the cruise and holiday in 2020 and we subject ourselves to the accompanying health risk. Their phone rep went straight back into sales mode and say they have a limited number of places available for this new offer.......well maybe, and maybe not.
I'm interested to know the financial implications of accepting such an offer and would appreciate an input from MSE and others if they are in the same or a similar position. 

mattyprice4004

It's pretty much the position we're all in when it comes to holidays - take a voucher and the risks, or force a refund. 
On the one hand, the company might go under as you say - and on the other hand, some are taking forever with refunds or refusing to refund at all. 

It's all down to what suits you best - if you could do with the cash, try and force a refund. If you're OK with the risk, rebook for next year and keep everything crossed that it goes ahead as planned. 

Good luck  

Life__Goes__On

Seronera said:

 2) This might well affect our section 75 credit card protection

No it won't as it's a direct swap,  but to give you more options pay the extra with a different credit card,  this would let you claim from either of them.

Alan_Bowen

Imagine Cruising is part of the Emirates Group. If they go bust, so will everyone else! The greater risk is the cruise line fails but if it does, then your money is protected.