The group had done everything right. They booked months ahead, paid in full, received confirmations, and showed up at the port ready to board. Then a Royal Caribbean employee told them their cruise didn’t exist — their bookings were fraudulent.
According to police, this wasn’t a glitch or a mistake. It was part of a travel scam run by a New York agency that allegedly sold vacations that were never actually booked.
The Cruise That Vanished at the Pier
In July 2024, nine people arrived at the Royal Caribbean terminal in Bayonne, New Jersey, ready to board what they thought was a fully booked cruise. They’d paid $35,753.98 for their trip through a Long Island travel agency called ‘Destiny Travel’. Everything looked legitimate: confirmations, itineraries, emails.
Then the cruise line checked their records — and found nothing.
Royal Caribbean employees reportedly told the group their bookings were fraudulent and null, and that the cruise they were expecting to sail on wasn’t tied to them in any system. The passengers were left standing in the terminal, stunned, heartbroken, and out tens of thousands of dollars.
Police now allege that the agency owner, 47-year-old Tavia Thomas of Hempstead, took the money but never booked the cruise at all.
That was just the beginning.
A Pattern of Fake Trips
Investigators say Thomas operated Destiny Travel as a one-person business on Long Island, collecting more than $50,000 from multiple groups for trips that were never actually booked or refunded.
According to court filings and police statements, the alleged scams include:
- $35,753.98 from nine people for the Royal Caribbean cruise that didn’t exist.
- $7,660 collected from a wedding group who believed she was booking a destination wedding at an ALG Vacations resort — which was never reserved.
- $10,034.16 from over 50 family members planning a 75th birthday trip to the Dominican Republic — again, no accommodations were ever paid for.
In every case, police say the same thing happened: money went in, bookings never happened, refunds never came.
That’s what makes this so upsetting for travelers — these aren’t just bookings, they’re big life moments. A graduation cruise. A destination wedding. A 75th birthday celebration with dozens of relatives. These trips often take months of planning and saving, and emotionally they matter far more than the dollar amount.
Read more: 6 Scams Cruisers Are Falling For Right Now (And They’re Costing People Thousands)
“We Trusted Her”
One of the victims, Rosalind Gross-Hall, told reporters her family had used Thomas for years without any issues. When she planned a cruise for her daughter’s graduation, she felt safe trusting the same agent again.
“She gave us confirmations and itineraries,” Gross-Hall said. “When we arrived at the port, Royal Caribbean couldn’t find any of it.”
Her daughters were devastated. Some of the money was recovered through credit card chargebacks — but a deposit sent via Zelle was gone forever.
That’s a painful reminder of something many travelers don’t think about until it’s too late: how you pay matters just as much as who you pay.
The Warning Signs Were There — But Easy to Miss
On the surface, Destiny Travel looked professional. The website claimed years of experience, industry certifications, and stress-free planning for special events. Some online reviews were glowing.
Others were alarming.
A bride wrote in 2024 that her entire 80-person wedding group was told their Cancun venue had been “cancelled” the day before departure — which she says was a lie — and that the money was never returned.
Meanwhile, the Better Business Bureau had already issued warnings. Destiny Travel was not accredited, had received multiple complaints, and was rated F for failing to respond. The agency’s listed address was linked to a UPS Store rather than a true office, another subtle red flag many people wouldn’t notice.
Police say Thomas now faces three counts of grand larceny, three counts of scheme to defraud, and additional theft charges. She has pleaded not guilty and is due back in court.
How to Protect Yourself From Travel Booking Scams
You don’t need to avoid travel agents — most are honest and genuinely helpful. But you do need to be a little careful.
A few simple habits go a long way. Once you receive booking details, take a moment to verify them directly with the cruise line, airline, or hotel so you know they exist in the actual system.
When it comes to payment, use a credit card rather than cash, Zelle, Venmo, wire transfers, or gift cards, since credit cards are often the only realistic way to recover money if something goes wrong.
It’s also worth checking Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings and complaint history, not just star reviews, which can be misleading or outdated. Be cautious with bookings that feel unusually easy or informal — especially group trips that don’t come with proper invoices or official confirmations from the travel provider.
And most importantly, if something feels off, don’t ignore that instinct just because the trip is exciting.
The Bottom Line
Vacations take time, money, and planning. When something like this happens, it doesn’t just cost people money — it costs them trips they were looking forward to and moments they can’t easily replace.
Police are asking anyone who believes they may be a victim of Destiny Travel or Tavia Thomas to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS or call 911.
The takeaway is simple: treat your vacation booking with the same care you would any major purchase. Verify it, double-check it, and don’t assume everything is fine just because you’ve received a confirmation email. Once embarkation day arrives, it’s too late to fix what was never booked.
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