Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Windjammer License to Sell Cruise Travel Expires


Well no surprise here! Making my last posting on this subject for those looking for the latest news on this saga. Have also included a consumer website for customers trying to get refunds . . . And no, we do not have any customers involved in this unfortunate situation - Linda

November 20, 2007
Windjammer Barefoot Cruises has let expire its license to sell travel in the state of Florida.

The company had previously registered as a seller of travel in Florida, which requires an annual renewal. Windjammer's license expired on Nov. 9 and has not been renewed as of Nov. 19, according to Terence McElroy, spokesman for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

"We are in the process of attempting to verify whether this company remains open and operating and, if they are, we will send a case to our investigation section for some sort of enforcement action to block them from continuing to sell while being unregistered," McElroy said. "On the other hand, if they didn't register because they are no longer selling cruises or out of business, that will probably be unnecessary."

Despite the expiration of the license, Windjammer's website still had a booking icon Monday that would accept payment via credit cards or PayPal.

And and $895 buy now button it's still there today . . . Linda
http://www.windjammer.com/

McElroy said the department has received about 15 complaints from consumers "who are dissatisfied with their service or otherwise unhappy with the service they were provided by this company. We are attempting to mediate them."

Windjammer's four sailing ships have not operated for roughly two months. Joseph Burke, a member of the family that owns the company through a trust, has tried to restart operations with cruises on the Legacy out of Costa Rica.

However, several scheduled departures were cancelled at the last minute, leaving some passengers scrambling to find a hotel in Costa Rica. Calls to Joseph Burke and the Windjammer office were not returned by press time.

For more information, contact the state of Florida's Consumer Services Division at 800-HELPFLA within Florida or 850-922-2966 outside Florida or visit http://www.800helpfla.com/

Source: Modern Agent

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