One thing that comes up on almost every booking call is the deposit. Travellers used to a $1,000-per-person cruise-line deposit are sometimes suspicious when we mention ours is $50.
So here’s how it works, in plain terms.
The deposit
When you decide on a voyage, you put down a $50 per person refundable deposit. We send you a confirmation, the operator holds your cabin, and a consultant rings you to confirm the booking details.
The 7-day cooling-off
You have seven days from the moment you put the deposit down to ring us and cancel for any reason — or no reason. We refund the $50 in full to the same card. No questions, no forms, no awkwardness.
After day seven
Once the cooling-off window closes, the $50 is non-refundable on its own but it counts towards the operator’s full deposit, which is usually due 90 days before departure. Final payment is due at the standard operator schedule (usually 60-90 days before departure).
Why we do it
Because most over-60s want to think about it for a day or two without losing the cabin to someone else. The $50 deposit holds the cabin without locking you in financially. If the seven days pass and you’re still excited about the trip, you’ve made a good decision. If you’re not, you’ve cost yourself nothing.
It’s a small thing. It changes the dynamic of the booking call from a high-pressure sales conversation to a friendly chat about whether the trip is right for you. We think that’s how it should be.