Friend isn’t paying share after cruise cancel

Dear Amy: I was planning to go on a cruise with a good friend, due to leave next month.

I paid a $900 deposit to guarantee the cruise for both of us, nine months in advance. It was understood that my friend and I would split the total cost of the cruise 50/50. This includes the deposit and the remaining $2,000 that would be due, plus any other related costs.

Last month, I discovered I had cancer. I need to begin a chemotherapy regime. No cruise for me.

Since the dates were already reserved, I asked my friend if she wanted to take another person. She said no, and that she only wanted to go with me.

I canceled the cruise, losing the $900 deposit (no travel insurance). My friend had never paid me her half of the deposit because we were going to settle up on the total costs after the cruise had ended.

She has said nothing (despite broad hints on my part) about paying her half of the deposit, apparently assuming that the loss was my fault (which it was). Should I just confront her about the $450?

Assuming my cancer will be in remission, she has suggested reserving another cruise for us in October 2024. Because of the $450 issue, I find I’m reluctant to do anything further with her.

How should I handle this?

— Feels Betrayed

It’s hard to think of cancer as something that is your “fault,” but I understand you’ve accepted responsibility that your cancer

Dear Feels Betrayed:

treatment has forced you to cancel these plans.

Yes, reimbursing you for half the cost of the deposit would have been the decent thing for your friend to do. After all, she could have gone ahead to use her half of the deposit by simply accepting your offer for her to enjoy the cruise with someone else.

Instead of broadly hinting, you could ask her, outright: “Are you willing to reimburse me for your half of the cruise deposit?”

If your friend wants to go on another cruise, you could let her plan it and also pay the entire deposit. She will then bear the financial risk.

Given how this has turned out, it would be wisest for you two to each pay your own way separately — from the deposit onward. I sincerely hope that your health is fully restored, in order to face this dilemma next year.

My friend “Harry” is an alcoholic.

A few years ago, he ended up in the hospital facing organ failure due to his drinking. Amazingly, he survived. After that, he attended a few AA meetings via Zoom. He never got a sponsor or actively worked the program.

Recently, a friend told me that Harry commented that it would probably be OK for him to drink a glass of “good” wine. My friend told Harry that this wasn’t a good idea.

I was shocked to hear that Harry is considering drinking again. He got sober before, but it only lasted for a couple of years.

I feel like I should say something to him, but is this any of my business?

Dear Amy:

If I do say something, how do I approach this?

— Caring Friend

Dear Caring: You should extend and continue your friendship with “Harry” by spending time with him, if possible, and by keeping in touch with him.

You couldn’t control him when he was drinking, and you can’t control him now. His sobriety is his business. He likely understands the consequences of drinking even better than you do.

If he expresses his theory about “good wine” directly to you, you could ask him, “Based on what you’ve learned in AA, what do you think you should do? What does your sponsor say?”

Encourage his sobriety and urge him to stay the course.

Dear Amy: “Exhausted and Worn Out” described the burden of hosting a son and daughter-in-law for the Thanksgiving week.

Your advice to teach the daughter-in-law how to cook a turkey was so sexist! She should teach her son!

— Shocked

Dear Shocked: Many readers responded similarly. In my defense, “Exhausted” wrote that her daughterin-law had never cooked a turkey. She didn’t mention her son. I was responding to her reference.

I also think that she and I were both applying a gender stereotype to this issue, and so I agree with you.