On the 16th of October having decided to spend Chritmas cruising for 7 days with my mother I contacted Ms Linda Lane from Cruise World to arrange my trip. I didn't want to contact travel agencies thru the phone because I wanted someone that would listen to my needs.
My need was that my mother 81 years old was arriving from Brasil to join me in Miami to cruise. I needed to be in Miami one night prior to the departure of the cruising boat - the 20th of december as my mother was arriving from Brasil totally alone and with little english to help her out. The departure was on the 21st Dec.
The day I paid for the ticket, on the 21st october, I asked Linda to please ask the cruising company Costa (the Cattle Cart of Cruising - owned by Carnival, of course) to book me one day prior to get there in Miami on the 20th dec. Yes, she fired a wrong e-mail to Costa requesting that I be booked leaving Seattle on the 20th! I only knew that after it was too late - only 16 days before my trip! That put me in Miami the 21st at 10.00am!
On the 21st October I was physically in her agency with my mother on the phone from Brasil and Linda with Costa on the phone as we were trying to get my mother to come to Seattle and then join the boat with me. My mother didn't want to spend another 400.00 dollars so she let us know that we was going to get to Miami one day prior the departure of the boat.
So after 3 days I did confirm with Linda my mother's booking. She was getting to Miami on the 20th dec. Linda told me of the 35.00 dollars that I could pay to Costa to get my flight one day earlier but did nothing about that.
I called Linda with the information and she blew me off saying that I should wait for Costa's booking - and ticket 30 days prior to the departure to do something then. I only received the ticket information 16 days before the departure because I called Linda to know what was happening about my ticket. All this time I only had my receipt for the payment of the cruise. Not at any time did she called me to let me know how she was helping me to get to Miami. I had no information whatsoever about my trip from Linda.
Costa then issued my ticket and I attempted to have the ticket changed for the 19th dec going to Miami.By then the airline wanted 100.00 dollars penalty plus the 35.00 to Costa.
My mother was very worried back in Brasil just thinking to get to Miami alone and somewhat disoriented. Linda knew all that but couldn't have cared less. She is the most jaded person I have ever met. This trade requires someone that is not burned out with the social skills. She is a very grouchy person that dismissed me with a wave of the hand. All the way I trusted her to try her best to make it happen for me and my mother!
Linda is good for booking of groups of travellers where she does not have to see their faces. She has being doing this work for 35 years - yes sirrr - 35! Maybe is time to quit this line of work.
I would have gotten more service from any l-800 travel agencies as with other people on the boat received. Also I wouldn't have paid 1,200.00 dollars more than other fellow passengers!!!
Her despicable customer service skills and bad manners are alarming if you take into consideration the travel industry after 9/ll. This experience with a non caring travel agent and also Costa, ruined this trip for me.
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