I believe Calesso is under the impression that any policy bought through a travel agent is actually underwritten by the agency and not a third party. I am not aware of any agencies that underwrite their own policies. Not even major ones nation wide. This can be verified when purchasing insurance simply by asking "Is this a third party?"
It should be noted that travel agents in addition to cruise line insurance, offer third party insurance which they are only acting as a contracted agent. These are usually big names like Berley, Travel Insured, Travel Guard, Access America, to name a few. It is perfectly safe to purchase these through a travel agent.
Cruise Week says that they have heard that "it's estimated almost $3 million in client final payments were never forwarded to the suppliers. Also, sources say Cruise Value Center has in excess of $1.5 million of insurance paid in, but never paid out to the vendor."
You know this makes me even happier with my TA. When we go in and make a payment, she picks up the phone talks to the cruise line, gives the CC/Debit card information, askes for a fax to confirm. We have a conformation that payment was made to the cruise line before we leave. I thought all TAs did that.
I have never really thought about it until now. We just have a super type A TA. She likes to get things done while she has thhem in her hands. She has also done this for all of her clients.
I have always been surprised that the Cruise Lines do not have a way to let you pay on line. Seems like they would want to keep the money in their own pocket. Paying on line seems to work for excursions. I know if would be a software thingy but could be done.
We have a conformation that payment was made to the cruise line before we leave.
I book via e-mail with my agent in Texas, but she always sends me a pdf of the booking - usually within a day or less.
It would be nice to have a feature where you could access the booking on-line and make a payment now and then. This wouldn't tie up your agent, and I can't see an agent minding if this option was available.
If you could look at the balance on line, it might help stop stuff like happened here. Of course there are those who do not use computers, that is a different story.
I can see where it might get a little confusing if you book with a TA but make payments online to the cruiseline--it shouldn't, but I can see where it could.
I always pay online to Princess--but then I always book online with them.
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