LiveAboard.com cancelled our trip less than 90 days to go.

[Marilyn Levy]

I am confused. The OP booked a cabin on a LOB through Liveaboard.com. Now the LOB is offering the couple the trip but only if they share 2 different cabins? Or travel a different date? Or as compensation for missed LOB, a stay at a specific resort not of the couple’s choosing? Is this common?

Would you be willing to share the name of the boat?

Neomi in Indonesia. Actually, I’m not too sure on the accommodations they would have given us on the vessel but it certainly wasn’t the balcony cabin we had a paid and confirmed reservation for nearly two years. They offered us one bed on the lower deck and one on the upper deck.
The operator offered us a nice cabin for a later departure date but with all the components of this trip paid for, it wasn’t feasible to take that option.
Also, the resorts we’d want to stay in are full already. We’re trying to make the best of this situation by staying at a resort because plugging in the same dates for a live aboard isn’t possible. And the resort the operator offered was a dump.
I received a phone call from the head of customer service at LiveAboard and he told me that they’re trying to arrange a compensation agreement with the vessel but this problem wasn’t caused by weather or technical problems with the boat. I believe the boat was offered a multiple room booking by a big group and chose to bump us. We understand that things happen, but I believe that LiveAboard should have compensated us for this fiasco and gone after the operator without involving us.

 

[uncfnp]

Ok. I have thankfully never been in this situation but I can tell you I would not go quietly. Given the lack of viable alternatives I would be willing to accept the separate rooms but only with significant compensation. Maybe something like half price on the trip or credit for a free future trip.

 

[Living4Experiences]

You have the right to a full refund because you are not getting what you paid for. Get the refund and run!

 

[uncfnp]

You have the right to a full refund because you are not getting what you paid for. Get the refund and run!

The problem with this if I am reading this correctly is that she already has a significant investment in the trip beyond the cost of the LOB and no other resort/boat has space.

 

[CWK]

Years ago, I was talking to one of the managers at the Ritz Carlton in HK and were told that the RC would sometimes overbooked because they regularly had a percentage of no shows. When they had guests in excess of rooms, they would transfer the excess guests to the Peninsula. Guests would not complain since they were getting an upgrade. Think of thie upgrade as a full refund plus compensation.

Demanded for a replacement resort or LOB that costs more than the Neomi cruise price. Your travel agent should be doing this for you.

 

[TostitoBandito]

Always book directly with the liveaboard who operates the boat, not with a middleman or agency. Not saying it would've necessarily prevented this, but possibly could've simplified communications/resolution.

Liveaboard.com or other travel/booking agencies also have no business selling trips for scam operators like this and bear some responsibility here. It's now on them to sort it out, regardless of the fact that fault ultimately lies with the operator.

 

[Centrals]

C

Thread 'Buyer Beware Liveaboard.com'

May 21, 2024

Guys I am in the middle of a email battle with Liveaboard.com. I just searched this website and looks like I am not the only one. I paid a deposit of Euro 2256 and per the website should get a 70% refund. They are only wanting to refund euro 687.30 and I probably wont see that.

This is the policy on their website

when you make the payment the policy turns into this

If you wish to cancel instead of reschedule then the following cancellation termsapply;More
than 90 days out = 70 %
refund Between 7 and 90 days out = 20 %
refundLess than 7 days out = no refund*With Covid-19...

• Clernix
• Replies: 22
• Forum: General Asia

• 
• 

S

Thread 'LiveAboard.com'

Jan 25, 2022

I thought it is a good time to start a discussion on a liveaboard travel agencies. One of the biggest is LiveAboard.com, located in Amsterdam.

I have booked trips with the LiveAboard.com in the past with no problem. But after my experience this time around I am sure to take my business elsewhere.

I have booked and paid in full for a cruise on Turks and Caicos Explorer II in 2019 for a cruise in April 2020. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the cruise was cancelled by the operator. I have requested a refund but was informed by the LiveAboard.com that operator is not issuing refunds but...

• scubaviol1
• Replies: 4
• Forum: Introductions & Greets

 

[Pickled2025]

Agreed. For one thing we discovered several years ago that they remove nearly all negative reviews of the boats they list. Frankly, I wouldn't use them for anything except very basic research on boat availability and itineraries.

I should clarify something. They are technically travel agents and receive a commission for trips booked through their site. This means they are bound by any EU requirements on travel agents.

I noticed their manipulation of the reviews too late.. no negative reviews, no dates on the reviews. Our recent “luxury” Raja Ampat liveaboard was anything but luxury, and in fact had many serious issues, like extreme mold and exhaust leaks in the lower deck rooms, and an insect infestation (carpenter ants or termites). This is a boat that has a 9.7 exceptional rating on Liveaboard.com. The photos are outdated by several years, probably pre-covid era.