Blue Sea Holidays

Extortionate cancellation charges please be warned

Absolutely shambolic company

We had a booking late last year that we opted to move as the Waterpark was shut at the hotel, so Bluesea recommended another Hotel this year and charged me more money to move the dates.... No problem.

Upon getting nearer to the time I checked the Hotel we were due to go to and noticed the water park was shut also at the new hotel (that they had recommended). I was then told by Blue sea that they had checked and the waterpark is open (total misled). Then I asked to move the date and was told I couldn't as it was too near to the time of departure (8 weeks out).

Also I had an email from one of their staff stating that it was ok as the last 2 days of our 10 day stay the water park is open, so what it the problem... yes really.

I am taking them to court for Misselling and will be reporting them to all relevant bodies ATOL,APTA etc and emailing all newspapers who will listen and want a crappy consumer rights story.

Anyway boring... bottom line is to expect terrible communications and when things go wrong they will hide behind the fact they are not the tour operator.

WORST CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD.

Do. Not. Use!

Before booking with blue seas holidays I read several positive reviews - after the service (or lack thereof) I received I am convinced these are fake reviews. I was let down at every stage of the process and had to chase up and complain even just to get our booking confirmation - this is not what you expect when booking a package holiday.

First issue - upon booking I received no booking confirmation. I had to call the customer services, to be told I’d receive it in 24 hours. When I did not, I called again, and was finally sent the booking.

Next issue - despite blue seas holidays being part of the ‘Package Travel Directive’ it is not actually a “package” holiday at all. They use separate agencies to get the cheapest price for hotel and the cheapest flight and book them as two separate entities. This wouldn’t be an issue if Blue Sea Holidays actually did their job to provide a stress-free experience for customers but unfortunately they did not. Because the flight was booked separately with Ryanair, customers had to retrieve the booking themselves in order to be able to check in. On my itinerary it stated “use the below email address to retrieve your booking”… only to find there was no email address below. When I then had to call to call for assistance, again, I was informed the email address was the personal email of the booking agent. Considering I booked online, without speaking to an agent, I don’t know how I was expected to figure that out.

Despite these annoying but not serious issues, we were looking forward to our holiday. On the day of travel we arrived at Stansted Airport with several hours to spare before our flight. We had paid extra for a checked bag so had this to to drop off and on arrival we joined at an extremely long queue of people waiting to drop a bag off at a poorly staffed Ryanair desk, with just four desks serving customers and 5 Ryanair flights all leaving between 6:20 and 6:40 am. Having waited in the line for more than 2 hours, and pointing out twice to staff that our gate would close soon (only to be told we did not need to worry), we were informed that they would not be accepting anymore passengers on the flight as it was closing. This impacted at many other passengers. Despite complaining and asking for a manager to discuss this decision Ryanair completely ignored our requests and gave us no assistance whatsoever. To say that they were unsympathetic is a gross understatement.

We tried to call BLUE SEA HOLIDAYS immediately but their offices were closed until Monday and we were therefore left with no way to get any assistance from you either. We quickly ascertained that there were no other Ryanair flights available from Stansted to Rhodes that day or indeed until Tuesday and no other airlines were available from Stansted either. Ryanair had made it very clear that they would not help anyway as the flight was booked as part of a package holiday and therefore any assistance would need to be provided by our Travel Agent - Blue Sea, who were not available until Monday.

After attempts to complain to Ryanair we were repeatedly told we had to go to our Travel Agent as they are the ones responsible, as part of the Package Travel Directive, to fulfil all aspects of the holiday.

We politely voiced what happened to Blue Seas Holidays who unsympathetically responded saying there was nothing we could do as it is our own fault we “missed our flight”. I was able to provide parking receipts to prove we were at the airport more than two hours prior to flying (as recommended by both Stansted airport and our travel agent).

Blue Sea Travel offered no a assistance and refused to raise the complaint with Ryanair on our behalf, despite them being the responsible agent. I have since tried repeatedly to escalate my complaint, but I am unable since they will not inform me of the procedure and have stopped replying to my emails all together.

The service we received has been shambolic and the whole ordeal was very upsetting. I am trying to warn any customers as I don’t want any potential travellers facing the same disappointment we did after using a “trusted” travel agent.

Had booked trip when friend discovered she needed different dates, knew we would have to pay to change, but website shows E35 (which we guessed should read £35)but were charged £40 plus another £15? Queried this but told 'that's what it is' - then charged £50 'cancellation fee' of the free tour because of date change, when challenged told 'error', then overcharged for separate transfer, when challenged told 'error', then booked in for flights and noticed time changed, when challenged told 'unfortunate - but they can't keep a check on individual bookings'. Tour voucher shows pick up at wrong time and wrong hotel, when challenged told 'voucher reverts to standard and you have to request pick up from your hotel' (isn't that YOUR JOB?) Fortunately when challenged they made the correct amendments. Finally when had to pay balance - even DEBIT cards have a £3 charge - can only pay for 'free' by bank transfer. Really disgusted with service, complete amateurs who appear to be making it up as they go, avoid this company for a more professional service.

Recently booked a holiday on Bluesea Holidays website to Lanzarote, entered details and payment of £850, everything confirmed and received confirmation email. Several hours later received a call from a Bluesea staff member, sorry they couldn't make our booking with hotel as no rooms left at this price, but we could pay a difference of £140 and room would be confirmed. Argued that we had paid & booked in good faith and as we had a confirmation no they would have to honour. Told sorry no as they had not paid flights with airline yet they could offer refund. Absolutely disgusted as had other holidays pending with other companies which we cancelled when we booked this but could not retrieve many hours later. Bluesea should not have an online service if they cannot fulfill their obligations to their customer do not book !!!! Will see how long it takes for refund as we would not give our bank details over phone staff member advised will be 3 - 5 days to refund card. So no holiday and have to wait for our money and none of this our fault !!!!

customer service contacted over phone to make sure we didnt forget anything before trip, email corespondency quick, had dedicated service assistant. reminders sent. all good

Booked and paid for a holiday.

Received a phone call trying to get me to pay more as they said the holiday had gone.

What a pack of lies, re booked on line with another more reputable firm.

Lie after lie still debited my visa even though they haven`t provided the goods.

Do some research there are plenty of decent firms out there.

Work this one out. Holiday is £165 for three days in Budapest. Working independently without shopping around you can get it for £150. Fair enough so far. So why do Blue Sea Holidays charge £229 when you book it? Totally misleading and a right rip off. Now for the next thing ... When you call in they charge a booking fee of £60. Why? Because you have had the privilege of speaking to an advisor, even though you told her what you wanted. They don't tell you this but but they do say in their defence after the event that it may be cheaper if you had booked online and not called. However the website tells you to ring??!! Will never ever use again or sister company Broadway Travel. Am considering a legal case

This is not grunt!!!

Phoned for a quote on Sat 11th June come across a very pushy sales Advisor I said I will phone back once I got the price so I could compare the market. I was given the price he was adamant I give my details which I did what a mistake! he would then call me in an hour to confirm the booking and an additional passenger detail when he phoned back i said we will not be adding another passenger he goes i'm glad I put the holiday through then which is not ethical at all and wrong. I also asked how competitive are you with the prices because i can get the same holiday for £200 Cheaper he then says phone the admin department on Monday to make amendments to find out from the admin department if I cancel the holiday now I will be loosing all the money taken of the card.

i just don't understand how this company can get away with this never been this stressed to find i will loose all the money.

My mistake is i gave the card details but that does not give then the wright to take money without my consent or confirmation hence the reason why there was another call to the agent.

these rip of merchants when I phoned them back on Sat firstly puts the holiday through without my confirmation then to be told he cant do anything until Monday and phone the admin department there should be a grace period for what ever reason you should be able to cancel within 1 hour but he knew its going to be difficult on Monday and reassured me it will get sorted.

written to the Manager with one response bog standard response cant do anything , you are bounded to our terms and conditions which are sent after the booking.

No one want to help sorry we cant do anything I have never come across service like this in 40 years i am also in the service industry if i behaved like this with my customers i would be sacked.

Rude

Unhelpful and unprofessional staff in their manner tone and diction

E-mailing back and forth nothing rectified

Costing too much to amend anything

Stress central!

Will book with another company next time.

AVOID !