ssobol
Guru
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2015
- Messages
- 1,231
- Location
- United States
- Vessel Name
- Sobelle
- Vessel Make
- C-Dory 22 Cruiser
We used it several times bringing the Endeavour from Ft. Myers to New Orleans. Found it easy to use and a lot of marinas use it. However, you do have to commit and give a credit card to reserve. Have not tried to cancel yet, but I can see that it might be a hassle
If I cancel per the cancellation quidelines for the marina holding the reservation, I've had no problem getting a refund. Takes a little while to get a credit back on my CC, just like any other credit card refund.
If you look at transient slips like hotel rooms, I see no problem with paying up front to reserve a slip. If you pick a popular marina at a popular time you take an asset of the marina off the market. If you don't show up then the marina was unable to utilize that space as anticipated and could have lost some revenue (assuming that they could have sold that space to someone else). Marina slip nights are a perishable product.
Hotels have cancellation policies that are intended to protect them and usually are not unreasonable (IMO). If you were a hotel operator what would you think of people who made a reservation and then didn't show? You might want some compensation.
FWIW, rental car companies are starting to implement similar cancellation policies for the same reasons.
If you have to cancel a reservation due to exceptional circumstances I guess you have to call the marina holding the reservation and plead your case.