Cruise Passenger Scammed Out of Shore Excursion Money

[@donnathompson1682]

Good morning Doug! I never book through third party vendors. Excursions can be pricey enough only to have a scammer steal your money. Thanks for the news and have yourself a fun weekend.

[@CruiseRadio]

Thank you! You as well.

[@tootsiequinn7261]

Doug, Your followers need to realize that John Heald was supposed to be onboard this particular cruise with us. This was the first cruise they offered to Greenland. The cruise in August was actually the second offered cruise because the Sept cruise booked full in 24 hours. That being said, John Heald told us to book through third parties as Carnival was NOT offering excursions because of the remote location. The majority of the cruisers that were taken by Sandra O’Leary were seasoned cruisers. Most of us had travel insurance and they would not refund us as it was Sandra who needed to refund.

[@johnh2601]

No real surprise with this tour company. I have been on cruises she has been on and she would encourage her clients to break rules to get off the ship faster in tender ports. Very Shady.

[@edwesby5752]

There is no way I would continue to wait for a ship to be ready for a world cruise when it has so many problems before it even leaves port. I would instead book with a known world cruise company like Holland America or Viking, or Princess. I would want a cruise line that has options to use other ships if one fails.

[@busymom7729]

Most 3rd party excursion companies have a 24 hour cancellation policy. Sandra became the 4th party and they probably weren’t advice by the cruise line within 24 hours they weren’t going to Greenland, so she changed her website. She did a bait and switch by not telling everyone the real cancellation policy because she didn’t expect what happened.

[@Mrs.Pfurter]

Cancellation policy was 100% refund if the ship did not port.

[@busymom7729]

@@Mrs.Pfurter , So it’s definitely Sandra’s fault. She did the bait to get people to book. It looks like her site not a site of the excursion company. She changed it to non refundable and is not talking now if I’m correct.

[@LovinMyPrincess911]

Also, the cancellation was more than 24 hours in advance. She’s getting refund money and not refunding customers

[@busymom7729]

@@LovinMyPrincess911 , 😮

[@kevingunning675]

We have never had a problem with 3rd party excursions. Once we hired a cab in Roatan and went snorkeling and lunch at a little shack bar. It was great. Helped change a tire with the driver on a very busy road. Met our cabbies son walking down the road and delivered a bag lunch to him. Great fun and adventure. Not the bus and canned tour you get from the cruise tours.

[@LovinMyPrincess911]

Just because you’ve never had a problem, doesn’t mean no one else has. Nor does it discredit this person’s experience. And they are not advocating against third party vendors. They are simply warning people of this particular vendor. One that is still allowed to sell her excursions while on a cruise (against policy). One that is still allowed to sell excursions period. And continue scamming people. SHE just canceled all her scheduled excursions for 2024. That’s six months worth.

[@georgemaltese]

Hi Doug, Thanks for the update. How shady for that tour operator to scam those folks, then skips off the ship. It will take a moment, but she will get busted , plus folks will get their money back. Safe trip Doug. Thanks

[@CruiseRadio]

For sure. Thank you. Have a nice weekend.

[@larrybudsock6507]

Consumer Rescue just had a long story about the Greenland case.

[@LovinMyPrincess911]

She absolutely sells excursions while In carnival ships. Which is against policy! Carnival does nothing to stop it or her

[@Mrs.Pfurter]

@@LovinMyPrincess911 and they know she’s doing it and sweeps it under the rug

[@valmojica8486]

I book my cruises through an agent and never have I taken an overpriced shore excursion rather opting to hire a local guide and avoid the crowds … better service, less crowded and you actually get to see things and get things explained to you as you would never have them on an overcrowded bus tour.

[@BeefromSC]

Thanks for cruise news update and happy Friday!!!!

[@CruiseRadio]

Same to you!

[@grannyoffive1313]

Happy Friday Doug... thank you for keeping us Cruise news informed🚢

[@CruiseRadio]

My pleasure!

[@blake_edwards]

The refund issue is a good example of why you shouldn't pay for shore excursions before the cruise.

[@dianem1952]

But if you don’t pay for cruise line excursions before sailing, you don’t take excursions at all!!

[@LovinMyPrincess911]

If you book through carnival, you are REQUIRED to pay before!

[@jamesgreen3433]

Yeah thats the rub. Booking through the cruise line has a big premium but this is why. Thanks Doug. Happy Friday!

[@CruiseRadio]

You too!

[@CreamyJalapeno]

Carnival was not offering excursions. It’s like they already know they won’t be docking.

[@sylviemarsolais7148]

Hi Doug, You are looking great. Thank you for the updates. Besides buying travel insurance and arriving at port with the right documents (passport, visa), it is a very good idea to book excursions with cruise lines. Scammers are everywhere. Have a great weekend. Enjoy!!😊

[@CruiseRadio]

Well said. Have a great weekend.

[@TheRiverPirate13]

Have a great weekend, Doug! The CEO of that residence cruise ship saying it was the most "challenging" drydock he has ever been part of makes me now really think they are funding repairs with customer deposits. It is a cautionary tale that cruise ship start-ups are financially risky to purchase from!

[@CruiseRadio]

Well said! Have a great weekend.

[@tomhenry1592]

Love seeing Norwegian Sky in the video 😅

[@kegarner1012]

Can't wait until Jan 3. I will be on Utopia for 4 days. My first on Royal Caribbean

[@CruiseRadio]

Boom!

[@SeaLegJourneys]

Book through the cruise lines yall. Happy Friday Doug!

[@jillar7911]

Carnival didn’t offer tours at the time we booked

[@PatrickWagz]

Get robbed by a third-party scammer or, get robbed by the cruise line by paying twice as much. 😉

[@tootsiequinn7261]

John Heald was the person who told us to book third party because Carnival was not offering excursions.

[@LovinMyPrincess911]

Get all of your facts straight next time before criticizing, y’all!!!

[@kathyjeffrey1786]

Morning Doug Always book through the cruise lines. Hopefully the dry dock will be done soon .Nice photo and looks beautiful where you are. Ty for your updates Have a wonderful Friday😊

[@TripReviews]

Book through the cruise line or at the port from the vendors, not the outside tour vendors but the ones permitted into the port compound. Or just make it a diy day in port.

[@jillar7911]

Carnival told us to book elsewhere

[@CruiseRadio]

Have a great Friday and weekend Kathy.

[@Mrs.Pfurter]

@@TripReviews Brand Ambassador John Heald told us no excursions would be offered by Carnival and to find other alternatives

[@TripReviews]

@@jillar7911 is there a reason given for this? Why would they not be selling excursions? Easy money in the bank.

[@angelathomas6770]

I never go through a Facebook link because 99% of the time it is a scam

[@Mrs.Pfurter]

@@angelathomas6770 it wasn’t a Facebook link. It was a Facebook page for this sailing

[@momeagle36]

It wasn't a link she was on a Facebook Group for the cruise and said she was offering tours in Greenland, We looked at her reviews and her website and the terms of service and thought she was a legit company.

[@archiescottincny]

Wishing you a wonderful day. You're looking refreshed and relaxed. Thanks for all you do.

[@CruiseRadio]

Thank you for being here and showing up. Have a nice weekend.

[@gregmctevia5087]

Great job, Doug. We sail on Monday for Alaska on Quantum of the Seas. See you when we get back.

[@CruiseRadio]

I hope you enjoy yourself Greg.

[@lorasnyder393]

Looking good Doug! Thanks for the update.

[@CruiseRadio]

Any time!

[@roberthamilton1301]

Thanks Mate

[@CruiseRadio]

My pleasure

[@brantthompson199]

Happy cruising Doug! Have a great weekend.

[@CruiseRadio]

Thanks bud! Have a great weekend.

[@midwestkatie4]

The no-hat look is really nice. I like it!

[@CruiseRadio]

Thank you!

[@tripperdan]

Looking pretty awesome there Doug, have a fantastic time!! We will just live vicariously through you, being ever so slightly jealous, LOL

[@CruiseRadio]

Haha. Thank you. Have a nice weekend.

[@laurenschenck5355]

Excellent news updates Doug YOU ROCK! ❤😊❤

[@CruiseRadio]

Thank you kindly

[@laurenschenck5355]

@@CruiseRadio of course 😀😀

[@elizabethoberlin3621]

Blessed weekend to you Doug!

[@CruiseRadio]

Same to you!

[@karenross4706]

Hope you have an awesome day Doug!!!

[@CruiseRadio]

You too! Have a nice weekend.

[@rogersargent7232]

Thanks for the updates Doug. Enjoy your weekend as well

[@CruiseRadio]

Thanks for watching .

[@laurenschenck5355]

Always always book excursions through the cruise ❤😊❤

[@Mrs.Pfurter]

@@laurenschenck5355 Carnival told us they would not be offering tours for these locations and to look elsewhere or walk around the town. So over 800 of us did just that

[@robertwoodland2387]

Doug I want to take time out to thank for going to TikTok 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👀

[@CruiseRadio]

I need to get active on there again. It’s been a minute since I posted.

[@bobclark8479]

I would never buy anything that was on Facebook too many scammers.

[@CruiseRadio]

Basically! Have a nice weekend.

[@laurenschenck5355]

Happy Friday Doug! Hope you have a amazing weekend 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@CruiseRadio]

Have a great weekend.

[@laurenschenck5355]

@@CruiseRadio 😀😀

[@SHOE53]

Rule number one travel insurance rule number two travel insurance, for the money it's pretty reasonable don't go with out it.

[@jillar7911]

Insurance didn’t refund all of those who put in for refunds

[@tootsiequinn7261]

I had the premium cruise insurance policy and they would not refund!

[@Mrs.Pfurter]

@@SHOE53 rule number 1, travel insurance rejected many of the claims Rule number 2 for the few claims they did pay out she kept that money and did not use it to provide refunds Rules number 3 she changes the terms to nonrefundable after the cruise was over

[@SHOE53]

@@Mrs.Pfurter sorry to hear that, maybe some legal recourse needed hopeful you can get your money back.

[@user-up9iq7ic8z]

3 &1\2 , Years ? Does not sound that Ship will 3 Weeks.. Good am Doug.

[@Lamb9491]

Hard lesson to learn. Book through the cruise lines

[@Mrs.Pfurter]

@@Lamb9491 cruise line Brand Ambassador John Heald told us no excursions would be offered for these ports and to find other alternatives

[@claredobson5792]

Should always book shore excursions with the cruise line. If you get back late the ship will only wait if you booked the excursion with their company. Doesn't feel like 5 mins since Icon, good on Royal!

[@tootsiequinn7261]

This was an exception. John Heald (Carnival Ambassador) suggested we passengers book through a third party as Carnival was not offering excursions because of the remoteness. This was their first Greenland cruise they scheduled.

[@MrGonzo4000]

Looking cool Doug

[@Res375]

Thank you

[@CruiseRadio]

You're welcome, have a great weekend.

[@sarahgreen7704]

Good morning ☕️

[@CruiseRadio]

Morning!

[@timmullen4481]

Good morning, Doug! This is exactly why Carnival tells all cruisers to only book on Cruise Line Excursions! It looks beautiful where your at, hope you’re enjoying your self, was this from your Dad’s bucket list? Anyways, please enjoy your journey and we’ll see you tomorrow!

[@jillar7911]

Carnival told us to book elsewhere!

[@Mrs.Pfurter]

@@timmullen4481 except Carnival did just the opposite here and told us to book elsewhere as they would not be offering tours for those ports!

[@CruiseRadio]

Thank you, Tim.

[@marilynnkadan7948]

Wow no greenland 3rd party vendor refund$ & another wld cruise delay. I glad i on HAL aug to greenland. Doug, i want yo get to Phillipines, suggest pls!

[@Mrs.Pfurter]

@@marilynnkadan7948 careful because she’s planning on expanding to Holland and other cruise lines

[@darleneeastburn7639]

TGIF .. lookin good Doug ..

[@CruiseRadio]

Thank you.. happy Friday .

[@dianeadams6713]

Lookin good Doug!

[@CruiseRadio]

Thank you.

[@nordisk1874]

Sailing by Christmas or never got it!

[@stevongibbons812]

I want to go on Utopia Of The Seas.

[@CruiseRadio]

That should be on the list for your family cruise in 2025!

[@timothyparkhurst8352]

Cruise Excursions sold on FB and these peoe didnt notice anything wrong with this? But supposedly they were seasoned cruisers? Well, you know the old saying,'"you Snooze, you loose!" Any seasoned cruiser knows you dont book excursions with other parties besides ones the cruise company approves. There are several reasons for this. This is one of them. Seasoned cruisers, my butt. Most likely first timers who though they knew it all!

[@momeagle36]

@timothyparkhurst8352 well seasoned cruiser here, Sandra has what looks like a professional webpage, we carefully looked over her terms of service, Fully refundable if we didn't get there. We looked at reviews on her page they were all positive found out later she removes all negative reviews, could not find any negative reviews on line, additionally she has all her cheerleaders on her Facebook pages. so you can assume but you know what that makes you look like

[@tootsiequinn7261]

You absolutely are giving misinformation out. TWO years out. YES! TWO years out IS true! John Heald announced that if we wanted to book excursions that we should book third party as Carnival would NOT be offering excursions because of the remoteness. This was the very first cruise Carnival had scheduled for Greenland. Just because you were on that cruise does not mean that you were aware of what all went down on that cruise. And YES there were hundreds who booked excursions with Sandra’s Cruise Tours! Her business is a “CRUISE TOUR OPERATOR.” This is not opinions. This is FACT!

[@Mrs.Pfurter]

@@tootsiequinn7261 she absolutely is providing misinformation. She forgot to mention she admin’d the page and when people including me started demanding answers she suspended me from posting then shut the page down! She won’t tell the truth because she sides with Sandra every time

[@heideleskun1163]

I was on that cruise. Booked it " as of 23/Sep/2021 SAILING: CARNIVAL LEGEND 02/Sep/2023 SAILING DURATION: 14 days." There were NO cruise excursions posted 2 years out. If there was, that would NOT be normal. A lot of what the "article said" is from "Jill's" and a Small number of folks opinions considering that there were 2,100 passengers. The member count is probably not accurate to how many were ACTUALLY on board that sailing. Being I was on it OURs varies and I know others also. The "tender" tickets was a MADHOUSE. The folks who signed up for Jill's excursions were in line HOURS before hoping to get early disembarkation. It's a Journey Cruise, TOP heavy for Diamond Passenger Suites to get priority and a LOT of those folks booked Carnival Excursions. Folks were mad because THEY thought they should have got priority. Ummmmmmm When I read Sandra's excursions and reading questions and answers between the pages HUGE red flags. I mean Blatant. You never take the word on a website, that's easy to change at a whim. You ask for the insurance policy information and PROOF. AND yes I've done that for independent companies. Have had great excursions with some on many islands. My point is this, These Folk are NOT taking ANY personal responsibility. The numbers used for "800" people are rather funny due to the size of the ship/passengers ratio. NO WAY were there 800 AND that number quoted is from Sandra AND Jill and gang are repeating Sandra's numbers. So why would they use her number as "proof"? There was a letter in our cabin upon boarding "We are monitoring" the hurricane, like normal when you board if there is weather issues boarding day. (Read the contract too) They claim that it was decided prior to sailing we wouldn't be going because someone at their hotel said "Oh good luck, it's already been decided you're not". Yes we didn't go but PLEASE I have shots of the Winds and that was NOT great traveling with wind and waves. over 30 knots. Also, it was known she was leaving at one of the Canadian ports, St. Anthony's I want to say. She had a booking from Seattle to reposition the ship to where ever it was going. She had that ALL worked out. There was actually another popular vloggers on the cruise who left after it was stated "we are monitoring if we will be delayed going back into port " They had a cruise back across out of Canada or Seattle and had to get permission for a last minute leave the ship early. Had to be cleared with customs etc. I was on a tour on the bridge at that time (12:00-12:30) and SAW the screen for radar. IT was nothing but RED. The captain had to leave around 12:25 because he had to call in and have a situational meeting on what to do. We were disappointed? OF COURSE we missed a bucket list opportunity. BUT we are thankful that the right SAFETY decision was made. Bonus is we did learn that if you want to go to Greenland you need to go Kent and you have WAY better weather, especially in May/June and the next few months. We are going to do that in a few years. Still got to see great things in Canada. Again, my point as an outside observer who was there and paid attention, Personal Responsibility is NOT being addressed in this. I have no clue who Sandra is, to the best of my knowledge never met Jill. I know ONE person who was on that cruise who was involved. That's IT. They've already let it go, Lesson Learned on 3rd party excursions.

[@Mrs.Pfurter]

Well so glad you think there aren’t 800 passengers who she stiffed. There are! That article is not from a small number of people. But keep thinking it was! Sandra down right lied to all of us. She posted on September 6th refunds coming. The tour operator emailed her on August 28th begging her to cancel the ship isn’t coming, so he could book other tours. He lost no money too! Instead she told the tour operator to keep 10k of our money and he would get that business and more back in 2025 when we all returned on our free cruise. There was no free cruise! She then cried to everyone she lost 10k which is now up to 30k! You are right the tender ticket line was long and was total chaos. The 800 number never came from Sandra herself! It came from people on the cruise and on excursions! Any more information you would like to clarify? I’d be glad to do so

[@tootsiequinn7261]

You absolutely are giving misinformation. Two years out. YES! Two years out is TRUE. John Heald announced that if we wanted to do excursions then we should book third party because Carnival would NOT be offering any excursions because of how remote it is. This was the very FIRST cruise Carnival had scheduled. Just because you were in that cruise does m no it make you aware of what all took place. And YES there were hundreds who scheduled excursions with Sandra O’Leary who was a “CRUISE TOUR COMPANY OPERATOR!” This is NOT opinions. This is FACT.

[@tootsiequinn7261]

You don’t ask the tour operator about insurance. That’s where travel insurance comes in. So why you state they should ask that is incorrect. Tour operators do not carry insurance for their tours. Sandra had a 100% refund if the ship did not make the port. When she realized the ship wasn’t making it she went on to her website and changed the refund policy. Please get your facts correct before spreading false information. It’s quite frustrating to see!

[@Mrs.Pfurter]

@@heideleskun1163 and a lot of what you have said are down right lies

[@momeagle36]

No one booked tours 2 years out like your claiming we booked our tours in March 2023 less than 6 months before the cruise and Carnival still had zero excursions available to book. It was only after multiple people complained there were no excursions that Carnival offered a couple limited availability excursion options.