Explore Cruise Travel For Ussaa Members

Horrible experience with them. Just awful. Will never use again. What joke. I’ve never spent so much time on hold. Also, I’ve been bouncing from one person to the next. The resort they offered for the price I paid was something I can do a google search and find something better. No even a good deal by any means. Waste of time and money.

I have booked cruises for years with them. This was the 1^st cruise I had an issue with and they were terrible. My husband got throat cancel and we had to cancel. We had insurance and both the insurance company and the cruise lines issued refunds, but I still haven’t received over $ 4,000 that the travel agency owes. I have spent almost an entire week trying to get an answer as to when I can get a refund and still no answer. Imagine dealing with cancer and an unscrupulous travel agent at the same time.

READ & HEED: Committed the cardinal sin; utilized this company before reading Unilocal reviews. BIG MISTAKE!!! HUGE!!! Booked Delta flights thru ECT website for 2 – 4 October. While on site, given option of preselecting seats (X3 travelers), which we did. Site states this is a request, may not be available. I get that. Went to print tickets today, found out our tickets are coded ‘no pre-​reserved seats’. Meaning making seat request was not an option. Think about that; 3 travelers on 4 flights. Zero chance of getting seats together. What if I’m traveling with 2 small kids? Was on phone with ECT today for 50 minutes, unable to resolve issue. Basically told my problem is with Delta. Really? Why use this service then? Asked to speak to manager, was told one would call back. Still waiting. Talked to Delta after calling ECT. Found out they sell basic economy fares. This is coded below common economy fares; have to get ticket & seats at counter on day of flight after all are released. The fare is considered bottom of the barrel in airline industry. Had I known that, would have booked directly with airline. Feel their website is misleading, if not downright dishonest. This company is not saving this USAA member (2^nd gen/​25+ years) money, just selling cheap (est) product with zero customer service or accountability. Only thing I get from them is a huge hassle factor. Feel like I’ve been taken advantage of through USAA affiliate. Expected more from USAA and disappointed they would choose such a company for travel booking.

Horrible website for booking flights. Not only did the price of my RT flight increase while trying to book on Explore Cruise and Travel, but it also wouldn’t let me confirm my second attempt at the higher price. Why? I called Explore Cruise and Travel, and they told me their website is only updated every two to three hours. Are you kidding me? I was trying to book flights for the holidays. I wouldn’t even use such a site to book flights during non-​peak times. What a joke. How can you possibly only update flight booking every few hours?! I then went to Expedia and had my flights confirmed within 15 minutes. So disappointed USAA would choose such a site for travel booking.

Had to cancel a flight due to family illness and it took me 3 days, 5 people, approx 15 phone calls with at least 5 of them putting me on hold for 45 minutes on hold, and once they finally achieved permission from the airline (on the day of my flight) that I could re-​book at a later date, I received absolutely nothing in writing from either the airline or the agency. The record in «my account» online simply states cancelled. Agent claimed there are «internal notes» saying they have my ticket listed as a «re-​book for future», but I have no proof what fees are involved or that it will in fact be accepted once I attempt to re-​book in the future. I was told that I had a special case and they don’t normally send anything out if anything was changed on the booking and that I should trust them because they wouldn’t risk their reputation with all the business they do over the value of 1 ticket. I still feel like I got scammed and am still unsure of what, if any value still remains on my original $ 900 ticket. I have always loved working with USAA and am totally shocked they would want to be associated with a company that seems to have complete opposite values in terms of customer service and tools available for the customer.

Please, Please save yourself a lot of anguish and DO NOT book your travel with this bait and switch company. We booked a cruise for 4 couples and gave the date, cruise line and ship name and told them we wanted 4 balcony staterooms. We were told how lucky it was we called today as they had a special going that we could get that cruise and a 8 day 7 night stay at a resort from all over the US and Canada and Mexico (Hawaii also) for $ 3696.00. Not only that, but a $ 400.00 airfare credit to be used any time in the next 2 years. I told him that that price had to be for an inside cabin, but he told me that it was for a balcony. We then gave him a credit card for two of the couples and the card numbers for the other two couples. We were directed to another person to verify our card and were told that she could not verify the other two couples unless they called themselves. We were then given over to a third person who would do the booking for us. He called us and told us that he was able to give us an upgrade from the balcony to a mini-​suite. And he got us a great price for only $ 3556.00 per couple. We told him that was a great price and to book it. He said to have the other two couples call the next day to verify their credit cards. The next day… what a surprise… the price went from $ 3556.00 to $ 7200.00 a couple. The upgrade turns out to be at our expense. When I called to find out what was going on, I was told that I agreed to pay for a package (I didn’t order) and for the mini-​suite (I didn’t ask for). I ended cancelling the trip and later found out I was billed $ 369.00 3 times for down payments. (10)% of the $ 3696.00 not $ 7200.00 they later claimed we agreed to.
We also found out that they billed one other couple the $ 396.00 after they told them they did not want to give the OK for the charge. He actually asked 3 times to have a contract send to him which they refused to do.
Please do yourself a favor, use a reputable travel agency and not this shifty one.

I booked airline tickets for travel through USAA, who outsources that procedure to Explore Cruise and Travel. After booking tickets, I receive calls from people who are selling cruise packages, indicating that they are associated with USAA.
Last time you booked with Hotwire or directly with an airline, did they add you to a solicitation list?
I trust USAA and will take their phone calls, but the call was a direct sales solicitation from Explore Cruise and Travel, typical high pressure «buy now, just put a deposit down» — I told them that I don’t buy cruises over the phone and I didn’t want to be called back again.
I wasn’t called back again, but did receive subsequent email solicitation.
If I buy airline tickets, I don’t want to be put on a sale list for cruises…
USAA — not a good deal here.

Booked a flight through Explore Cruise and Travel to travel from FT Lauderdale to Atlanta. On the website you’re allowed to select your seats before purchasing. A week before the flight I went onto the carrier’s website and it stated that I was only allowed to select my seat once I checked in, needless to say the flight was almost full, so my wife, son and myself were scattered throughout the plane. When I called the travel agency I was told that the seat that I selected on their website was only a recommendation and I would have to contact the carrier to select my seat. I will use this service through USAA again.

We could have booked the cruise of our dreams (Retired after 26 years Army) directly with the cruise line as we already picked out the exact cabin, on the exact ship, and the date we wanted.
But NO, I went against my wife’s better judgement and decided to use this pathetic «service» and save $ 138
When I did not see the balance charged on my credit card I got a little worried but was told that they would charge it automatically. Was traveling for work and got an automated call saying I needed to confirm my reservation.
After 9 minutes on hold I got worried it was a scam and I was possibly being charged per minute for the call.
Confirmed with AT&T I was not being scammed and tried to call the number back, on hold over 10 minutes this time before I hung up (trying to work a little and who has time like this on hold?)
I got called again and on hold again, waited over 15 minutes this time.
Finally got back home and called the original number and found out we were cancelled!
NO Contact, No running the card again, NO email, NOTHING but an automated call with no voice mail and no humans.
Of course our cruise is booked up now 2 ½ months out as it is the best time to go on the best ship.
The offered solution?
Put us on a cheaper and smaller cruise.
Really?
USAA PLEASE SEVER your affiliation with this pathetic company.
Look at all the complaints just on here.
~~~~~~~~~~~UPDATE~~~~~~~~~~
THANK YOU ROYAL CARIBBEAN!
We managed to book another (identical) room — 1 deck lower– on the same ship for the same dates. Cruise saved!
Sad part is this was after I was told by Explore that the ship was booked. Maybe a couple of cabins opened later, but I would of thought an agency would have looked for us

Beware. This company’s «benefits» are offered through USAA, but the business is not trustworthy. Please be patient, as what may seem like excessive details are necessary for you to know exactly why you should not purchase anything from Explore Cruise and Travel.
Two problems: 1. I booked four nights at the Drury Inn & Suites North in San Antonio, and it turned out to be a disgusting hotel. The carpets were old and heavily stained, there were so many insects swarming in the eating area in the lobby that I refused to eat the free food they offer, only to find that the same insects were everywhere in the room we received. There were other issues with our room as well, so we requested that it be changed, only to end up in another dirty room with a leaky ceiling and towels that had dead bug segments on them. When we complained to the manager, she offered us a free night at the same hotel. Of course I refused and asked for either a night to be credited to me or a free night elsewhere (another Drury hotel). She told me that this could not be done because I booked the hotel through Explore Travel Cruise, and that I needed to call them.
So I called them. I spent about 45 minutes speaking to a representative who ultimately told me that she had to wait for the manager of that hotel to return her call, but I should hear back from her within 24 hours. She then gave me her extension, but told me that she wanted me to speak with someone else so that they could explain all of my benefits to me. I said sure. So the next representative named Riad, spent another half hour explaining my «benefits», which I knew would really end up being a paid membership. I was on the fence about it, but figured that if it’s through USAA, it had to be legitimate. Before agreeing though, I told him that I had to speak with my wife before a final decision. He told me that I could put down a $ 200 deposit (for a soon expiring promotion) and call back the next day to get a refund if my wife said no.
The trouble began after 24 hours passed and I had not heard from Randy, the first rep. I called her extension, which seemed to be completely fabricated because it only hung up on me without ringing.
Then, I called after speaking with my wife and deciding that we didn’t want the membership. The savings I was told it offered were nowhere near realistic according to the online inventory. I was transferred numerous times to about 5 different people that wanted to talk me in to keeping it. After finally being told I would receive a refund, I hung up, only to get a call from the rep that sold me the membership. He left a message trying to talk me into keeping it again.
Over a week has passed and I am yet to receive any money. I called back numerous times and the same thing happened. I’ve opened a dispute through my credit union to receive the money that is owed to me. Oh, and as for a credit for the $ 500 dollars that I spent to stay in a roach motel for 4 nights; I received a whopping $ 58. Not even half of what it cost to stay there for one day. Please save yourself some time and frustration and use the armed forces vacation club or even priceline. This agency is a joke.