Do you know how your cruise is protected?
Since the collapse of XL we are all concerned about how well protected our cruise is. Below are some questions that you have been asking us over the last few days.

Does my Travel Agent have to be an ABTA member?

Yes, if your travel agent becomes bankrupt and you have paid them money you will get your money back or the company that operates your holiday will honour your holiday so you do not loose out. ABTA is the main association however, there are smaller schemes.

I have a cruise booked through a travel agent – do both the cruise line and travel agent have to be with ABTA?

Not all cruise lines are covered by ABTA (eg Royal Caribbean,NCL who are covered by a similar scheme operated by the Passenger Shipping Association (PSA) who offer cover for cruise lines and ferries).  If the cruise line were a member of ABTA and they went into closure then you would get your money back and if you were stranded then ABTA would organise for you to come home.

There are lots of mentions of ATOL, what is this?

This is the license that covers any company that puts a holiday together with a flight.  This relates to cruise lines and travel agents.  If an airline was to close then who ever your contract for the holiday package is with is covered by ATOL you would get home, found alternative flights or get your money back.  ATOL is managed by the Civil Aviation Authority.

So, if my flight operator closes then do I claim from my travel agent or the cruise line?

It all depends, if your cruise and flight were organised and issued from the cruise line but you bought from a travel agent then it would be the cruise line.  If the cruise is booked through your travel agent and they also organised your flights and would issue your flight tickets then you would claim from your travel agent. Ask your travel agent when booking who will be ticketing the flights.

I paid by Credit Card – will I get my money back?
Credit Card Protection only covers the financial amount that you have paid on your card for your purchase but will not cover paying for alternative arrangements to get you back home.  

I have taken out holiday Insurance; surely this should cover any eventuality?

No, it depends on what type of insurance that you bought – but many of us buy the standard which covers us for medical reasons.

I purchased the cruise from my travel agent and bought my own flights, but the flight operator has closed and I cannot get to my port of embarkation.

Unfortunately, you are not protected as you have taken the responsibility and risk of getting to the port. This also applies if your flight is delayed.

I bought a cruise on the internet from a travel agent in America, am I protected?

No, as the American Travel Agent will not hold an ABTA license so if the American Travel Agent becomes bankrupt then you will not get your money back. If the travel agent had not passed on your full payment to the cruise line then you would loose that cruise and money.

www.cruise.co.uk ltd have been operating for 24 years and hold the following licenses:

ABTA: we are members of ABTA and they have checked that we are financially sound
ATOL 3385: so if we book your cruise and flights then you are fully protected

All the cruise lines that we sell either members of ABTA or PSA and if we purchase a cruise and flight package from the cruise line we ensure that they also have an ATOL license.

It does not matter if you have booked with us or any other travel agent, if you have any questions please post a comment below and we and other users to the site will try to answer your question.