Cruise

silvercar

cruisecontrol_wave said:

100% the cruise. Also the op was right in front of her and when I went down after we got back 4 desks away I was telling the other girl what happened ect Manager piped up and said well I didn't hear her properly.so I replied well you clearly just heard me .The op done the Barbados form and then I asked the question op said I'll just double check for you.which she did.Does she need a visa or anything else I've done the Barbados form.manager replied No as she's not stepping on American soil going on the ship .

That could be an admission that he answered her without checking what was asked properly.

daveyjp

zagfles said:

There's no excuse for a UK tour operator or travel agent giving incorrect information on something as basic as entry requirements for UK citizens, if they don't know they should tell you to research it yourself. Cruises do work differently for immigration than normal travel, eg for Schengen countries you don't need to go through passport control and get passport stamped, you can leave your passport in your cabin and just use the cruise card at ports. 

The reality is if the port authorities say they are doing passport checks you need to take them.  We had to when visiting Warnemunde in Germany during a Baltic cruise.  All passports were stamped on exit and entry to ship.

As regards the OP it is down to passengers to check, but agents should check and double check the advice they are giving when asked by a customer.  Many years ago we did a few India holidays booked through agents and they were very helpful in advising about Visas.

Its probably another case of so few people now using agents its not the job it once was, staff don't get the variety of bookings they once did on a regular basis, training is no longer up to par and answers to infrequent questions are just not part of their day to day work so knowledge is lacking.

lisyloo

I think you've got 2 issues.
One is proving what was said.
Can you please answer the question as to whether you got any of it in writing.

The other issue is that its also up to you to read the documentation you were provided.
An elderly person without email would also be required to read what they were sent - with the aid of another person, magnifying glass or large print. I'm not being smart the point is these things aren't excuses - you're meant to read it.
So whilst I don't think you should be given false information you shouldn't be relying on it either because every cruise is different, everyone's status is different.

Were you sent information that contained this information?

You really need to answer these questions to get any meaningful answers.

cruisecontrol_wave

Yes I did and this wasn't highlighted as anything else 

alidai

So you received information that said you need an ESTA, but as it wasn’t highlighted you ignored it? Not having a go but that’s pretty much a slam dunk as far as who the responsibility is on 

cruisecontrol_wave

Unfortunately no I  never got that in writing as it was just a question via the op to the manager.Im just going to have to wait and see what the outcome is .

swingaloo

Im sorry but you seem to be avoiding saying what information you were given in writing.

I have never been on any holiday or cruise, either booked through an agent or online at home, where I have not had ALL the information regarding the trip either in paper form or email.

You must have had the information, why did you not read it. You seem reluctant to take any responsibility for your own actions here.

cruisecontrol_wave

No I totally agree I got email ect the Barbados form was highlighted why wasn't anything else .
And it wasn't just that it was the manager herself whom said I didn't need a visa esta.

eskbanker

Just to be clear, did the cruise itinerary include the US Virgin Islands or any other US territory?

I'm just pondering the possibility that the store manager was right and the airline check-in staff were wrong - it does seem a bit of a long shot but perhaps worth checking....

cruisecontrol_wave

Yes including v irlands