Our experience with Batorama on March 29th was one of the worst customer service experiences we have ever had while traveling.
We purchased tickets for the 1:45 PM boat tour and were instructed to scan a barcode to find the pier location. We were also told the pier name, but at no point did anyone inform us that there were multiple piers operated by the same company. We went to the pier indicated, got in line, and waited over 30 minutes. There were no employees present to guide passengers or verify tickets, and nothing indicated that we might be in the wrong place.
When boarding finally began for the boat we had been waiting for, we were abruptly told that our boat had already departed from a different pier -- despite the fact that we were standing in line for a Batorama boat operated by the same company. Instead of offering help or solutions, staff were dismissive and rude, and simply told us to go back to the main office if we wanted to rebook or request a refund.
When we returned to the office around 2:00 PM, we encountered an employee named Kavi, whose behavior made an already frustrating situation far worse. We asked if our tickets could be rebooked for a later tour or refunded, given the obvious confusion about the pier locations. Kavi insinuated that we were idiots for not figuring out the location, because other tourist could figure it out. Kavi bluntly stated she could not help us with either option until her manager returned. When we asked when the manager would be back, she responded that she had no idea and that it could be anytime.
Throughout the conversation, she spoke in an extremely condescending and dismissive tone, treating us as if we were the problem rather than customers who had been misdirected by the company's own unclear instructions. When I expressed my frustration with the situation, she snapped that she "wakes up at 6:30 every morning to deal with people like you." That racial slur, either against middle eastern or Americans, or both was extremely inappropriate.
I reminded her that working with customers is literally her job, especially at a tourism company. I also told her that I didn't appreciate being spoken to as though I were incompetent , I have a doctorate degree, and I certainly don't need to be talked down to by someone refusing to help resolve a simple ticketing issue. After I left, my family members reported that she continued speaking about me and even called me dumb, which was shocking and completely unprofessional.
Between the confusing pier system, lack of staff guidance, refusal to offer immediate assistance, and shockingly rude customer service, this experience left a terrible impression.
If you want to ruin your trip to Strasbourg, take this tour. read more