American Discount Cruises & Travel Beware the undisclosed cancellation fee! Old Bridge New Jersey

I booked a Princess Lines cruise through American Discount Cruises & Travel in July, 2008 over the phone. The cruise was for March 2008. The agent was helpful enough, but failed to disclose the $100 cancellation fee that the agency charges (Princess Cruises does not charge cancellation fees with an early cancellation).

In November I attempted to cancel the cruise. I was then told by another agent (mine was not available) that I would need to pay the agency $100 before they would cancel the cruise. My $500 deposit had been sent to Princess Cruise and would be refunded once I cancelled. I disputed the cancellation charge, explaining that it was never disclosed to me. The reply I got was that it was in the "fine print" on the invoice I was sent, after I had already made my reservation!

When my husband spoke with the owner and questioned the ethics of disclosing cancellation charges after the customer has already booked and can no longer make an informed decision, he was told that the invoice states that the customer may cancel without charge within 24 hours. My invoice states nothing of the sort!

So the short of it is I am being held hostage by American Discount Cruises & Travel. They will not cancel my reservation with Princess Cruises until I pay them $100. If I do not cancel, I will be held liable for the entire cost of the cruise, with penalties. Don't fall into the same trap I did. The small discount you recieve from this travel agency isn't worth it. Book directly with the cruise line and avoid the hidden fees!

Brett and Deirdre
Fredericksburg, Virginia
U.S.A.