My cruise wasn't plain sailing

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Updated:

 

Last August, I booked a P&O cruise for this August through travel agent Magic Breaks.

Cruise Liner

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When confirmation came through in September, I discovered I had been booked on the wrong cruise. Each time I rang the travel agency - and wrote - I was told that it would be sorted out, but six months later it wasn't resolved.

Then Magic Breaks was taken over by Co-op Travel, so I began writing to them, still with no joy. Co-op Travel at last says my booking has been changed to the right cruise but it would be classed as a new booking and I have to pay £512 more, losing my early booking discount. So, instead of paying £1,000 for the balance of the holiday, I have now been charged £1,512.

M.J., Manchester.

Margaret Stone, the Mail's Money Doctor replies: Initially, Co-op Travel suggested you complained to them only at the beginning of the year, several months after the booking was made. It has also, apparently, been difficult to trace the details of your initial dealings with Magic Breaks to find out the actual sequence of events.

At that stage, Co- op Travel was minded to refund £256, or half of the extra charge (because you were no longer eligible for the early booking discount).

That wasn't good enough, I said. It was clear from your letter that you had been in touch with Magic Breaks immediately you discovered the incorrect booking, and that Magic Breaks, having promised to do something about it, didn't. I suspect it

has been hard for Co-op Travel to pick up the trail of events, but I am glad to say it has decided to give you a full refund, £512, of the additional monies you paid - adding that it hopes you have an enjoyable cruise.

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