Money Moral Dilemma: Who should pay to change the holiday our neighbours encouraged us to book?

MSE_Kelvin

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...

 Our neighbours mentioned that a local group were going on a river cruise and encouraged us to join them, so we booked it. Later, the trip organiser told us others in the group were adamant we shouldn't go because they don't know us. He asked us to either move or cancel our booking, which will cost up to £200. Should we cancel or go on the holiday anyway? If we cancel, should we ask for a contribution from our neighbours and / or the group? We sympathise with the organiser, but why should we be out of pocket when we were encouraged to book?

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eskbanker

Presumably if it was possible to book independently of the group, it's a publicly-available trip, so the group has no right to interfere, but IMHO the couple should say to the trip organiser that they'll travel unless the organiser (or group collectively) picks up the tab for any mutually agreeable change of plans.  

lr1277

This probably won't be a popular view on these boards but cancel and take the £200 loss.

Then never take recommendations from this neighbour ever again.  Remain civil and friendly even, but that is it.

Consider it the price of a lesson well learned.

JGB1955

Presumably they won't know all the other passengers either?  Unless they've booked an exclusive cruise.....

Voyager2002

Invite the organiser to arrange some kind of meeting, so that you can get to know the group. The chances are that everything will be fine, but if people really don't like each other then that would be the time to consider a change of plans.

elsien

Cruises tend to be on large ish boats so even if they don’t like each other they don’t have to have anything to do with each other. Presumably you fancy the idea of a cruise otherwise you wouldn’t have booked. Sit on different tables. be polite when you see them Not really seeing an issue here.

outtatune

elsien said:

Cruises tend to be on large ish boats so even if they don’t like each other they don’t have to have anything to do with each other. Presumably you fancy the idea of a cruise otherwise you wouldn’t have booked. Sit on different tables. be polite when you see them Not really seeing an issue here.

A river cruise might be on a pretty small boat.

I would either go on the cruise anyway, or require the organiser to pay the full costs of the cancellation/amendment. If he then wants to get the others in the party to contribute to what he's paid, that's his business.

These other people sound awful. Most people would see this as a great opportunity to get to meet some new people.

I don't have any sympathy at all for the organiser the way he's allowed these people to walk all over him at your expense.

Marineboy81

 No-one can tell you to cancel a holiday you’ve paid for but do you really want to be around these people. You were invited so go if you want to go on the holiday and let the people who “don’t know you” suck it up. If it’s making you feel uncomfortable then cancel and let them know you’ve lost money and have nothing more to do with them. It’s on their conscience if they choose to reimburse you for money you’ve lost because of them. Their choice in that respect should tell you everything you need to know about them. These sound like a strange group of people. I think you may be dodging a bullet if you cancel. 

Lindagreenacre

If you want to go then go. There will be others on the cruise,  probably much nicer folk. We went on a river cruise up the Mississipi and there was a group of 10 but the largest tables only seated 6 people so we were the 2 that made up the number on one of the tables. We didn't feel excluded at all and they swapped about. You might be lucky like us. 

elsien

outtatune said:

elsien said:

Cruises tend to be on large ish boats so even if they don’t like each other they don’t have to have anything to do with each other. Presumably you fancy the idea of a cruise otherwise you wouldn’t have booked. Sit on different tables. be polite when you see them Not really seeing an issue here.

A river cruise might be on a pretty small boat.

I would either go on the cruise anyway, or require the organiser to pay the full costs of the cancellation/amendment. If he then wants to get the others in the party to contribute to what he's paid, that's his business.

These other people sound awful. Most people would see this as a great opportunity to get to meet some new people.

I don't have any sympathy at all for the organiser the way he's allowed these people to walk all over him at your expense.

But the neighbours and group are not going have taken of all the rest of the boat, are they? 

Agent57

Feels like there is some detail missing.

If you cancel, will another customer book your place?  Will they also be a stranger?  Or have they found another group member that can make it? 

Could be awkward if you go, knowing they don't want you.  Sounds a bit cliquey.

Always be careful who you holiday with.  Personally, I go on holiday to get away from people. But that's just me.