I took a deep breath and called Ocean-Glide Cruises. After a brief hold, a cheerful representative answered. I explained my situation, my voice surprisingly calm. “That’s my card,” I said. “And I didn’t authorize this charge.”
The representative was understanding. “We can cancel the booking and refund the charge,” she offered after verifying my details. I agreed, a sense of empowerment washing over me. But a part of me knew that simply canceling wasn’t enough. My family needed to understand that this was unacceptable.
I asked the representative if there was a way to send a message when the booking was canceled. “Absolutely,” she replied, and I smiled for what felt like the first time that day.
I thought carefully about what to write. I didn’t want to come across as petty, but I needed them to know how their actions had hurt me. Finally, I settled on a simple, direct message: “Family vacations are for family members. If I’m not in the plans, neither is my card.”
