travel pulse   |   September 02, 2010

Carnival, NCL Stop Doing Business with Host Agency Joystar

Published on: January 8, 2009

Carnival Cruise Lines and Norwegian Cruise Line have both ceased doing business with Joystar amid complaints that the host agency is not paying commissions to its independent contractors. Carnival spokeswoman Jennifer de la Cruz said the decision was made Jan. 7 and was effective immediately. “We had ongoing concerns about their commission payments to their agents, and made the decision to cease doing business with them as of today (Jan. 7),” she said. According to Cruz, travel agents can transfer bookings to another host agency with the written consent of the client, as long as the booking is not paid in full and the commission is unpaid.

NCL also said it has stopped working with Joystar effective immediately. “The company will no longer accept new reservations from Joystar or any of its affiliated agents,” an NCL spokesperson said. “NCL will continue to service existing Joystar reservations booked prior to Jan. 5, 2009.”

A group of former and current Joystar agents filed a Chapter 7 involuntary bankruptcy filing against the host agency in Florida on Dec. 31. That group said it has indications that Joystar still owes more than $350,000 to its independent contractors, though at least one source formerly close to Joystar tells Travel Pulse that the actual figure may be almost double that. A number of former Joystar agents have been attempting to transfer their cruise bookings to other host agencies in an attempt to save their commissions. A call to the main number of Joystar’s California headquarters was answered by an automatic system that did not accept a message. For more information on Joystar, visit www.joystar.com. For more information on Carnival, visit www.bookccl.com. For more information on NCL, visit www.ncl.com.

 



Reader Comments

Hip Hip Hooray!!! It's about frig'n time the vendors started stepping up to the plate. Joystar was a host agency. The agents were the customers NOT the travelers. Booking should have been moved immediately. diane , NJ

Sadly, this comes 3-6 months too late for most of us. Perhaps suppliers need to realize just WHO it is that brings the clients to them and who can steer them away.Cristy, CA

Why is this the suppliers fault? Joystar agents all supported Bill when RCI dropped Joystar,seems most Joystar agents have a short memory. Bill has his 1.6 million dollar house in Jupiter Fl,he doesn't need Joystar and its agents anymore. He has been screwing people in every business venture he has been involved with. Why the surprise now,you all fell for his con job and now you are out the money.Rick, FL

Rick, Hind sight is 20/20 now isn't it? I'm a former Joystar agent and soon as things started becoming more questionable, I got out, unfortunately, I had a booking made long ago that could not be transfered according to Apple, which at this point has been transfered thanks to Apple and a lot of daily phone calls to them. THANKS APPLE! I totally agree with Cristy's comment!! Now my question is...Where is Bill Alverson, no one has heard from him not even the ones close to him. Has he fled to another country? Lets hear your thoughts as to the where-abouts Bill is!!!Vicki, GA

Back in July before things even started going downhill I attempted to move all my bookings from Joystar and they were blocked by Jo Beemer, manager of Joystar. Even with signed letters from the clients directly, the cruise lines (CCL, Princess etc) would not move my bookings to our new host agency, Carlson. Because the bookings were allowed to be moved, the commissions were eventually paid out to Joystar and in turn have NEVER been paid out to me. I am currently due $12,560.74 USD. I think it's a shame that it took so long for the vendors to step up to the plate and do anything when we were going to them daily with the problem. Everything I had coming has alreay been paid out to Joystar little too late for me.Diane, MO

I would like to thank Carmen Corvos-Roig the DSM at Carnival who listened to us and got Carnival management to understand what Joystar was doing was wrong. It took a lot of convincing to get them to do this and a long time but they stepped up to the plate. Congratulations Carmen in your new position at Costa!Anthony, FL

Good morning as a former Joystar agent now home with TPI i am thankful for the last 4 carnival bookings that were moved just monday yes monday this week. So now my only lost is the commissions that i had which only Joystar knows if we will ever get. I am sad that it had to get to this Joystar did provide my entry into a very rewarding career. Lets hope the powers that be will answer the needed questions to help all involved.Dilworth, MD

A little to late. Carnival and others still support YTB another company that's being investigated and doomed to fail. It's all about the $$$$. The cruise lines will sleep with their mothers just for bucks. The company Joystar from the beginning was set to fall just based on their model. Agents joyed just because it was cheap to do so. Real Agents do it right. They do their due diligence and make the right decisions.Dennis, FL

who needs a host agency? are you folks inept at cutting your own vendor deals...know who you are dealing withivars, PA

More Great News!! Trial for California's lawsuit against YTB set for September California has accused YTB, a multilevel marketing/online travel firm, of using deceptive business practices and running an illegal pyramid scheme. Through the lawsuit, the state is seeking $15 million in civil penalties and $10 million in restitution. The trial is set for Sept. 21. Dennis, FL

Does anyone have a host agency that they recommend? I have paid so much into Joystar and lost so much commission. I am not looking for anything with a huge sign up fee, and I would like one that is honest to some degree. De,Dallas Daphene, TX

I was fooled by JS too. I waited 6 months after joining to make a group booking after receiving the commissions for smaller bookings automatically. My previous host made me wait months for commissions that I knew he reeceived and submitted the dates and check numbers, but he would "forget" The staff at JS was the best. The phones were answered on the 2nd ring and they usually could answer any question on the spot. I only wish they could have been employed by a company that had some scruples. What I don't understand is why a company that was so insolvent put on such a big do in Las Vegas. Denise, CADenise, CA

I have been begging for my $1,500 overdue commission since August 2008. Joystar lied to the bitter end. I stressed over this so much until I finally had to let it go for the sake of my own health. I was already involved with ProTravel but I used Joystar because they I felt they treated you like a rep instead of a business owner. I guess I will go back to Protravel because at least they seem to have a solid foundation. I still don't understand how this could have happened. Dena, FL

Hey, Dennis in FL, better be careful what you say/suggest about YTB. This is a reputable company with great support, commissions always paid on time, and much to your disappointment YTB practices a legally sound MLM company, rated the best in the world by independent study a couple of years ago. Best keep quiet if you don't have the 'goods'. Kathy NMKathy, IL

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