Luxury Cruise Talk Logo

Keene Luxury Travel
800-856-1155 · 972-701-9292
Join Our Mailing List · Email us

Who's Online Now
7 registered members (Yallcruise, Ralph W., Ngaire, Davefr, DennisK, Jim B, 1 invisible), 816 guests
Newest Members
DennisK, SuprDave, BarbD, johnsmithpmt, Juliehoover(41381 Registered Users)
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Crystal refund? #254522 05/11/21 07:05 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,511
Ms Understood Offline OP
cruiser
OP Offline
cruiser
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,511
Anyone besides me STILL waiting for refund for a cancelled cruise? Crystal cancelled the cruise on December 21, 2020, refund was requested the next day. Crystal acknowledged receipt of that request on January 7. It’s now May! Too late to dispute the charge. Any other suggestions?
β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”
Helen

Re: Crystal refund? [Re: Ms Understood] #254523 05/12/21 01:43 PM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 58
W
Worldrunner Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
W
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 58
We're still waiting, too, Helen. I've tried calling & have left emails on the website but no response.

Sue


Sue
Re: Crystal refund? [Re: Ms Understood] #254524 05/12/21 02:51 PM
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,920
Ngaire Online
cruiser
Online
cruiser
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,920
Unfortunately this is definitely requiring as much patience as one can muster. Nothing can be done to speed this up, but they are trickling in and so many bookings were cancelled prior to our river cruises. I have been told they are doing the refunds in the order of the cancellations.

Re: Crystal refund? [Re: Ms Understood] #254525 05/12/21 04:42 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,216
R
RachelG Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
R
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,216
We are still waiting. George is wanting to sue them, but I fear that would just take even more time. This is really ridiculous. I called them a couple of weeks ago and was told that 95% had been refunded. I think that is probably a lie.

Re: Crystal refund? [Re: Ms Understood] #254572 05/27/21 02:58 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,511
Ms Understood Offline OP
cruiser
OP Offline
cruiser
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,511
Just an FYI, no refund so I lodged a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. I’m advised today by BBB that Crystal has not bothered to respond.
β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”-
Helen

Re: Crystal refund? [Re: Ms Understood] #254576 05/28/21 01:22 AM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 58
W
Worldrunner Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
W
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 58
Ray and I charged the B2B river cruises on our new (at the time) Chase Sapphire Preferred cards. He paid for one & I paid for the other to get the points. Since Crystal has been totally unresponsive, we each filed a dispute with Chase earlier this week. This morning we were both notified that temporary credits have been issued to our accounts while they investigate the disputes. Don't know how this will turn out but it's a start.

_____________

Sue


Sue
Re: Crystal refund? [Re: Ms Understood] #254581 05/28/21 08:21 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,216
R
RachelG Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
R
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,216
The problem is that we still haven't gotten our deposit back. We got the temporary credit for the final payment, but the deposit was made too long ago for chase to do anything for us about that.

Re: Crystal refund? [Re: Ms Understood] #254582 05/29/21 12:58 AM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 58
W
Worldrunner Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
W
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 58
Ours was just the reverse. We got our deposit back, I assume because it was made with Ray's AMEX card. Ngaire said Crystal has a special connection with AMEX. But we haven't gotten the final payments that were made with the Chase cards. Frustrating!!


Sue
Re: Crystal refund? [Re: Ms Understood] #254629 06/04/21 05:27 PM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 58
W
Worldrunner Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
W
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 58
Nice surprise! Chase has made our temporary credits permanent and is letting us transfer the credit to our savings or checking accounts. Don't know if Crystal had any hand in this but we're happy to be getting the $ back!

.


Sue
Re: Crystal refund? [Re: Ms Understood] #254669 06/16/21 11:11 AM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,511
Ms Understood Offline OP
cruiser
OP Offline
cruiser
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,511
Got it! Refund posted to my Chase account as of this billing cycle
β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”
Helen

Re: Crystal refund? [Re: Ms Understood] #254670 06/16/21 11:32 AM
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,920
Ngaire Online
cruiser
Online
cruiser
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,920
Great Helen happy to hear that

Re: Crystal refund? [Re: Ms Understood] #254671 06/16/21 06:13 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,084
petlover Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,084
Tom & I got a Crystal refund too ....YEA !


Marcie

Re: Crystal refund? [Re: Ms Understood] #254672 06/17/21 07:31 AM
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,920
Ngaire Online
cruiser
Online
cruiser
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,920
Yes they said they as completed all refunds except those with credit card issues.

So finally this saga is ended and hopefully we will never have a situation like this again.

Re: Crystal refund? [Re: Ms Understood] #254676 06/17/21 04:04 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 447
pammy Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 447
ours showed up on today's Chase bill

Re: Crystal refund? [Re: Ms Understood] #254677 06/18/21 02:43 AM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,216
R
RachelG Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
R
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,216
I still have nothing!

Re: Crystal refund? [Re: Ms Understood] #254690 06/23/21 12:26 AM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,967
jhp Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,967
Nor do I

Re: Crystal refund? [Re: Ms Understood] #254714 06/30/21 06:19 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,216
R
RachelG Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
R
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,216
Still nothing!

Re: Crystal refund? [Re: Ms Understood] #254716 07/01/21 01:21 AM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,033
lonestarlady Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,033
Should I venture to guess that you guys will not be booking any Crystal cruises in the future? I have never cruised with them, but based on what you guys are experiencing, don't think I would ever consider booking with them. I realize COVID is an unprecedented time, but what you have experienced is unforgivable!


Cindy
TravelingTexasDuo.com

"In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." - Abraham Lincoln
Re: Crystal refund? [Re: lonestarlady] #254717 07/01/21 02:50 AM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,351
Marc Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,351
Originally Posted by lonestarlady
Should I venture to guess that you guys will not be booking any Crystal cruises in the future? I have never cruised with them, but based on what you guys are experiencing, don't think I would ever consider booking with them. I realize COVID is an unprecedented time, but what you have experienced is unforgivable!


Cindy, although I did get my money back from Crystal (because I listened to Rachel), Crystal's handling of refunds through the pandemic has definitely soured me on thoughts of any future Crystal cruise. In addition, now that Crystal is selling the river boats, really no reason to ever try out the product.



Re: Crystal refund? [Re: Ms Understood] #254719 07/01/21 11:15 AM
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,920
Ngaire Online
cruiser
Online
cruiser
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,920
I am out of touch here Marc and at this lodge with in and out internet which is always slow it is impossible to research anything. Where did you get that info that Crystal was selling their river boats?

Re: Crystal refund? [Re: Ngaire] #254721 07/01/21 11:53 AM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,351
Marc Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,351
Originally Posted by Ngaire
I am out of touch here Marc and at this lodge with in and out internet which is always slow it is impossible to research anything. Where did you get that info that Crystal was selling their river boats?


Cruise critic article:

https://www.cruisecritic.com/ab/agents/variation-a/news/6255/

Conjecture also about sale and leaseback deal.



Re: Crystal refund? [Re: Ms Understood] #254723 07/01/21 11:06 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,351
Marc Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,351
Ngaire, false alarm; here is statement from Crystal:

Statement from Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Walter Littlejohn, Crystal River Cruises
July 1, 2021
With regards to the June 29 article in Travel Weekly that alleges the Crystal River Cruises ships are for sale, we emphatically deny the accuracy of an email sent to our competitors by a Florida ship broker, with whom we have no contractual relationship and to whom our legal team has issued an immediate cease and desist letter. We are deeply disappointed Travel Weekly failed to employ the highest ethical standards in researching and writing this story in its rush to print, and since then has published another article that also contains significant falsehoods about Crystal.

Crystal River Cruises launched to great acclaim in 2016 and in each successive year has posted record occupancy, and widely expanding yields, culminating with the five-ship fleet sailing at over 97 percent occupancy in 2019. Our forward year, globally-sourced bookings are up well in excess of 50 percent, selling at our absolute highest pricing ever, with a 28 percent capacity increase as for 2022 we have opened Crystal Mozart to all source markets rather than just Asia as planned pre-pandemic.
This week, Crystal’s parent company, Genting Hong Kong (GHK), successfully completed a financial restructuring agreement with its global creditors and following on from that, the company, like all other responsible enterprises, will continue to engage in fundraising exercises to address liquidity needs as it navigates through the COVID-19 pandemic.

We would like to assure our valued guests, travel advisors and team members that Crystal is steadfastly focused on pivoting away from the travails of the pandemic as we prepare to gradually resume service this year on August 29 with Crystal Ravel on the Danube and August 30 with Crystal Debussy on the Rhine, both of which are very heavily booked. This resumption follows the restart of our ocean business with the upcoming July 3 sailing of Crystal Serenity from Nassau, Bahamas and the July 17 maiden voyage of the brand-new expedition ship Crystal Endeavor, just christened in Germany last weekend, from Reykjavik, Iceland. Soon the company will announce a revised restart of the Crystal Symphony with voyages beginning late Summer.

All of us are excited about focusing on what matters, doing business with the highest integrity and delivering unrivaled and exceptional vacations to delighted luxury travelers from across the globe in partnership with guests and travel advisors whose loyalty has remained steadfast with Crystal through these unprecedented times.



Re: Crystal refund? [Re: Marc] #254724 07/02/21 02:46 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,216
R
RachelG Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
R
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,216
So where's my refund if they are doing so well?

Re: Crystal refund? [Re: Ms Understood] #254832 07/20/21 11:51 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,216
R
RachelG Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
R
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,216
Got part of my refund today. They still owe me $6000

Re: Crystal refund? [Re: Ms Understood] #254838 07/22/21 11:23 AM
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,920
Ngaire Online
cruiser
Online
cruiser
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,920
I heard that more refunds from Crystal are forthcoming very soon. Hope that this is accurate information.

Re: Crystal refund? [Re: Ms Understood] #254839 07/22/21 11:59 AM
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,920
Ngaire Online
cruiser
Online
cruiser
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,920
I just checked my cards and both my cruises were refunded on July 19th - hopefully we are at the end of these refunds.

We leave on a Crystal Bahamas cruise on the Serenity on Saturday. Been many years since I have been on an one of the regular Crystal ships. The river cruises and yacht I have done in recent years. Food was fantastic on those smaller ships going to be interesting how it is on a larger ship. So ready to step back on a ship.

Re: Crystal refund? [Re: Ms Understood] #254842 07/23/21 03:10 AM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,216
R
RachelG Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
R
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,216
I will never set foot on a Crystal ship after the way they have dealt with these refunds. They still owe me $6000. They should be paying me interest. In contrast, Oceania and Regent have refunded promptly.

Re: Crystal refund? [Re: Ms Understood] #254884 07/28/21 07:49 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,216
R
RachelG Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
R
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,216
FINALLY received my last refund from Crystal. So glad that is over.

Re: Crystal refund? [Re: Ms Understood] #254885 07/28/21 07:51 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,351
Marc Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,351
cheer clap cheer

dance dance dance



Re: Crystal refund? [Re: Ms Understood] #254886 07/28/21 08:22 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,511
Ms Understood Offline OP
cruiser
OP Offline
cruiser
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,511
Finally! At least that's an issue you don't need to deal with anymore. Drinks on the Gibbses! thumbsup
--------------
Helen


Moderated by  KarenS 

Keene Luxury Travel Offers
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3