CRUISE – Elliott Report

When Denise Elwell booked a Celebrity cruise, the last person she expected to have a dispute with was her travel advisor.

Celebrity Cruises overcharged me $641: Can my travel advisor legally keep the refund?

April 30, 2025April 28, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

When Denise Elwell booked a Celebrity cruise, the last person she expected to have a dispute with was her travel advisor.

Tracy Joselson and her husband booked a Windstar cruise with a promised all-inclusive package, only to find that Windstar later denied the package due to a missing signature from the onboard consultant. Despite months of back-and-forth communication, the issue remained unresolved until Windstar finally reviewed the reservation. With persistence and a little help, the cruise line not only honored the original promise but also added extra shipboard credits as an apology. This story highlights the challenges and rewards of booking directly onboard with Windstar.

Windstar promised an all-inclusive package on my Central America cruise. Now it’s refusing!

October 10, 2024September 18, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Tracy Joselson and her husband book a Windstar cruise with a promised all-inclusive package. But then the cruise line takes away the package. Can they cancel their cruise?

David Aronstein's Alaskan cruise took an unexpected turn when he contracted Covid-19. While the onboard medical team provided excellent care, he faced a new challenge upon returning home: a $750 bill for Paxlovid treatment. His insurance company required medical records to process the claim, but despite multiple attempts to obtain these from Holland America, David received no response. The cruise line directed him to fill out a release form and send it to their parent company, Carnival, but this yielded no results. David's perseverance highlights the importance of securing medical records immediately after treatment.

How do I get Holland America to send me my medical records? I keep asking.

August 2, 2024July 31, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

David Aronstein needs his medical records from Holland America. Without them, he can’t file an insurance claim for the treatment he received on a cruise. What’s the holdup?

Elaine Simmons' cruise vacation turned into a nightmare when her NCL flight reservation vanished. Left scrambling at the airport, she paid an exorbitant $1,796 to secure alternative tickets. Despite pleading with NCL for reimbursement, they directed her to their travel insurance provider, AON, which rejected her claim. Even disputing the charge on her credit card proved futile. Exasperated and out of options, Elaine sought mediation. With resolve, she turned to an advocacy team, hoping they could compel NCL to take responsibility for their oversight and compensate her for the unexpected expense.

I paid an extra $1,796 to get to my cruise. Why won’t NCL reimburse me?

September 5, 2024February 28, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

After Elaine Simmons’ flight reservation is lost, she pays an extra $1,796 to get to her NCL cruise. Why won’t the cruise line help her recover the money?

American Airlines changes Allison Bilski's flight time from 11:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., which is impossible for her to make. Can she get a refund -- or at least a credit?

American Airlines changed my flight. Can I get my money back?

April 3, 2025June 16, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

American Airlines changes Allison Bilski’s flight time from 11:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., which is impossible for her to make. Can she get a refund — or at least a credit?

May Youngclaus has been waiting months for a refund from American Queen Voyages. Find out what she should do next.

Where’s my refund from American Queen Voyages? They promised to send it months ago

September 13, 2024May 23, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

May Youngclaus has been waiting months for a refund from American Queen Voyages. Is her money lost at sea?

When it comes to cruising, everything has changed. Ross Copas should know. He and his wife, Jean, were on a Holland America cruise in 2020 when COVID-19 shut everything down.

The ultimate guide to taking a cruise in 2025

March 31, 2025August 15, 2022 by Christopher Elliott

If you’re thinking of taking a cruise in 2025, you’re in good company. It turns out there are a lot of people in the same boat — both literally and figuratively.