Not timesharing, but our 45th. wedding anniversary trip went bust

[Ann-Marie]

My husband has always wanted to do a vacation by train. So for our 45th anniversary, we decided to do a trip through America By Rail tour company, which was from Chicago to the Grand Canyon via train, with several stops along the way to see many of the National parks. The company had great reviews and has been in business for 25 years. It was 15 days long, and we were to leave on May 31. Well, the trip was canceled, and we asked for a full refund. We just got a letter that after 25 years, they just closed their business and we should take it up with our credit card company. We put the deposit down in April 2019, and the balance was due in January 2020. The total was $11,800! I guess it was a good thing we put it all on AMEX, however my husband was on the phone with AMEX for 90 minutes. They are saying since it was not within the last 90 days, they didn’t know if we could get our money back. It is still under review. We are at a loss for thinking of where else to turn if AMEX doesn’t refund the money. Man, this COVID has really caused lots of anxiety for many. Next thing we are hoping is to get a full refund from NCL for a cruise we booked for us and all our children. That’s over $20,000!

 

[Luanne]

That's terrible! Did you take out travel insurance? And if so I hope it covers the company shutting down.

 

[slip]

Wow, I hope this all works out for you. I have heard of people getting refunds but it is a long process. Good luck!!

 

[PamMo]

Oh, I'm so sorry!!!! Losing a dream vacation is bad enough, but losing $31,800 in the train trip and cruise just seems criminal!

 

[elaine]

I’d call Amex again and get a different rep. I’ve heard that Amex has refunded outside of 90 days for cancelled cruises, but that was not for default. Find out if the company was a member of any travel or travel agency groups. Maybes they were bonded? So sorry.
for cruise, dispute charge if it’s been 60 days. We disputed for refund and got it resolved with Citibank in 3 days. I heard the same for Amex. Don’t wait past 60 days for refund.
ncl got big cash infusion in May so should be solvent. Bit make sure to request refund ASAP and not default to cruise credit. Do it in writing and save all emails.

 

[bbodb1]

Sorry to hear about your difficulties @Ann-Marie but I suspect there are still a good number of people with similar stories. It has been sad listening to stories about how even those folks who purchased travel insurance are finding out that companies will do everything in their power to avoid refunds. One lesson I have learned from this has been to NOT pay anything in advance.
Best of luck with this.

 

[WinniWoman]

Absolutely terrible! I hope you had travel insurance for such an expensive trip. If not I would try what Elaine recommended.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Passepartout]

I know that this is the wrong time to mention this, but without travel insurance, you MAY be on your own. Since you already paid the credit card statements, you have no leverage (You cant threaten to withhold payment). As to the NCL cruise, they are financially healthy, and MAY be issuing Future Cruise Credit (FCC) for cancelled cruises. Again, travel insurance would pay if you cancel due to illness or even recommendation from a doc that you don't travel. Sure better (and more expensive) than fighting your own battles.

Jim

 

[Krteczech]

Hope your AMEX ordeal will turn out good. Fingers crossed!
NCL just refunded cash for our two cruises canceled by NCL in April and May.
Don’t let that spoil your anniversary celebration!

 

[geekette]

Maybe there will be a class action. They have obvious assets - trains.

I'm so sorry. I would have been so excited about this trip. It's one crappy thing for it to get postponed for pandemic, but, just so much worse that they go completely down the tubes, with your money, and all the others that were going to be on it, too.

I might not be as concerned with the cruise, as others posted.

I'm sorry. But, Happy Anniversary! Money comes and goes, but you have each other.

 

[pedro47]

Some travel insurance companies are not paying claims because it was the coronavirus?
I wish you the best of luck on both claims.

Wishing you a Happy Anniversary. Please try to enjoy your Anniversary and all your Happy Memories from the past Forty Four years.

Good Luck.

 

[presley]

That's terrible. Sorry you are going through that and I think you should keep taking it up higher in the chain at American Express. Remember that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. I'd also take it to social media places like Facebook and Twitter, etc if American Express has a presence on any of those places.

 

[bbodb1]

Some travel insurance companies are not paying claims because it was the coronavirus?
I wish you the best of luck on both claims.

Wishing you a Happy Anniversary. Please try to enjoy your Anniversary and all your Happy Memories from the past Forty Four years.

Good Luck.

I do not have first hand knowledge of this @pedro47 - but I have read this in many places.

 

[GrampaTim]

We were taking the entire family ( 25 people ) to Oregon to celebrate our 50th. Lots of activities planned/reserved. We were driving so that part was easy. Fortunately all reservations were cancelled and deposits returned. Some day this will pass, and those companies will want to have our business so they used smart decision making to handle a "no fault" situation.

When you reserve through an agency, they spend some of that money up front to pay employees for the time booking the trips, and they make deposits. It sounds like this company felt it was easier to walk away then try and recover what funds they can. We know one agency that books expensive student trips, and though they stayed in business, they are only offering partial refunds. To be honest, they don't have the money to give back.

Your direct booking with NCL will likely have a better result. I hope you can plan something else special to celebrate this anniversary.

 

[rapmarks]

That sounded like a wonderful trip.
it is our fiftieth this summer, and we won’t be able to celebrate with family at all

 

[pedro47]

To the OP, There is thread over on Cruise Critic website under NCL
about Tracking Refund Request.

Good Luck.

 

[Patri]

You can argue you filed a claim within 90 days of learning the trip was cancelled.