Cruise Wonderland

1 hour ago, twangster said:

I see the double Q class in China as a test to judge the ability to support a larger ship there.  

Double Q class already happened in pre-covid times. In 2019 there were Spectrum in Shanghai, Quantum in Tianjin, and Voyager in Hong Kong.

https://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/Deployment/2019_2020/Deployment_China_SC_FINAL.pdf

https://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/Deployment/2019_2020/Deployment_China_QN_FINAL.pdf

https://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/Deployment/2019_2020/Deployment_China_VY_final.pdf

6 hours ago, cookooclock said:

If Ovation is taking over China for Summer 2025, where does that leave Spectrum? Back in Singapore? 

Spectrum:

Feb 2025 - Nov 2025: Shanghai

Dec 2025 - Jan 2026: Hong Kong

Ovation:

May 2025 - Oct 2025: Tianjin

No news after Oct 2025 yet, but she appears on the port schedule of Hong Kong on 15th Oct 2025 (transit), so apparantly she will be southbound to Singapore (?)

9 hours ago, MyriamS said:

Cannot see that repositioning cruise to HK on the Royal Carribbean website yet, but I am definitely interested in it! 

Apr 16 - Apr 21: Singapore to Hong Kong

Apr 21 - Apr 26: Hong Kong > Naha > Keelung > Hong Kong

Apr 26 - May 01: Hong Kong to Tianjin

12 hours ago, cruisedoctor said:

The cruise was cancelled late evening on the 13th, and my refund was already posted to my credit card account on the 15th.

I see the other side of the story. It reflects that Princess already knew the cruise cancellation a least a few days in advance. All refunds have been readily prepared. Once they announced the cancellation news to public, all refund can be processed immediately and automatically.

1 hour ago, AtlantaCruiser72 said:

Just looked in the travel agents system and inventory has been zeroed out on all sailings up to and including March 29th. The first sailing showing availability is now the April 8th 9nt departure. I am unsure if any of these sailings previously had any open inventory as I have not been tracking it. 

When the Feb 8th sailing was cancelled two weeks ago, all sailings up to March 19th have been zeroed out. Although I tend to believe that more sailings will also be cancelled, but the current inventory on Polar probably does not imply anything.

Is the June 15th voyage really cancelled? It is still bookable on the website.

8 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

Does anyone have data on how many inaugural cruises have been cancelled by cruise lines?  Is this expected or out of the norm?

It is not unexpected for new ships to be delayed. But when it is announced just 15 days before the maiden voyage, I totally understand how disappointed the passengers will be.

Comparing with other new cruise ships' delay recently:

Silversea' Silver Ray first two voyages in June 2024 are cancelled. This was announced in November 2023, eight months before the guests depart.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2972450-inaugural-silver-ray-voyage-cancellations/

Oceania's Allura cancels first few sailings in June and July 2025. This was just announced last week, 1.5 years in advance.

52 minutes ago, cruisedoctor said:

Has anyone else heard about the HOT POT?

 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/sun-princess-cruise-news

Seems Teppenyaki / Hot Pot is the same area.

On the NCL agent booking system, today they add Norwegian Aqua on the ship list. It is likely to be the name of Leonardo Class Ship #3.

4 minutes ago, tomtcruise said:

Ugh. I’m on in early April…did they offer FCC on top of the refund?

Yes

Refund

plus a 10% discount coupon for rebooking another cruise before Dec 31, 2024

plus a 20% discount coupon for rebooking another Europe cruise before Apr 30, 2024

The 10% coupon and 20% coupon cannot be combined in a same booking.

On 4/6/2023 at 12:36 AM, amygutman said:

Favor to ask of @Beezo and @Cruise Wonderland - can you tell me where you found the logo evolution frame on the Getaway? We are sailing at the end of this month and this would be an awesome little find to share with my kiddo.

In 2017 it was displayed at a corridor on Deck 6, near to the card room / meeting rooms. I am not sure if it still exists now.

On 1/18/2023 at 4:20 AM, JoCruzer said:

Does anyone know if a shuttle is provided or needed at the following stops on our March cruise from Miami to Venice. I did check the Shuttle list but didn’t find these:

 

1) Great Stirrup Cay (Bahamas)

2) Ponta Delgada (Azores)

3) Salerno

4) Messina (Sicily)

1) Great Stirrup Cay is Norwegian Cruise Line's private island. There is no cruise ship dock and you have to go ashore by tender boats.

4) I have been to Messina on another cruise line but not Oceania. Don't think there will be shuttle since the cruise pier is just in front of the city centre.

Due in part to unforeseen events that have occurred in recent years, the shipbuilding industry, like other industries, has faced numerous challenges including energy shortages and global supply chain constraints. As a result, for reasons beyond our control, our much-awaited new ship Queen Anne will be arriving later than expected and we have been advised that we must regrettably cancel her maiden season sailings departing from January 4, 2024, up to and including April 14, 2024.

We very much hope though that you can join us on one of Queen Anne's new maiden season voyages that will now start in May 2024. These voyages will be going on sale on December 6, 2022, for Cunard World Club members and on general sale on December 7, 2022.

After the guests disembarking in Monte Carlo yesterday, Riviera is now heading to the drydock in Marseille.

Ocean Odyssey is in Singapore today. Next port Aqaba in Jordan.

The terms and conditions state that "Only 1 price drop FCC may be issued per qualified reservation".

You cannot request for another FCC for the 2nd price drop on the same cruise. But if you has two cruises, I believe each booking is reviewed separately.

1 hour ago, ronrick1943 said:

WELL MY APOLOGIES TO SILVERSEAS!  Got am letter today frommmy TA frommBarbara Muckermann that the cruise is a go—they have been working with the local Governments and has got all approvals.  Looking forward to a great cruise.

That is really good news!

Would you mind sharing that email to us to "cruisewonderland at gmail dot com"?

Thank you in advance.

And feel free to ask us any questions about the latest info in HK. 😉

After many cruise lines cancelling the Asia cruises in spring 2023, Silversea will be the company with most planned calls to Hong Kong in the first quarter of next year. Spirit will have voyages ending in / starting from Hong Kong. Muse, Shadow and Whisper will also have visits here in their longer itineraries.

Silversea seems to be very optimistic and confident that all the cruises embarking / disembarking / visiting Hong Kong will sail as usual without any changes. We are not sure if they have received any special permission from the government that we do not know yet. Time will tell.

On 10/25/2022 at 3:53 PM, Jack McGowan said:

This is true. 
 

MSC Even have 2 of their newest ships sailing from Southampton from Oct 23 with Euribia & Virtuosa.

Not simultaneously.

MSC Virtuosa will stay in Southampton until October 2023, then she will go to Dubai in winter 2023-2024.

MSC Euribia will take over to be homeported in Southampton in winter 2023-2024.

No, Silversea has its own loyalty programme Venetian Society, that does not share any reciprocal benefits or status match with Royal Caribbean's CAS or Celebrity's CC.

Here is a screenshot from the Japan TV news when Diamond Princess was seriously affected at the beginning of the pandemic in early 2020.

That ill-fated cruise departed from Daikoku, and also returned to Daikoku with many sick passengers. Those were the only two times that she moored at this pier.

Location of Daikoku Pier on Google Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Daikoku+Pier+Cruise+Terminal/@35.457502,139.6784679,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x60185d70032063d3:0xfac883c3f1a16a6d!8m2!3d35.4574977!4d139.6806566

(Already replied to you in the Asia forum)

In the past, Diamond Princess moored at the more convenient Osanbashi pier until 2019. She only started using the Daikoku pier since 2020. But just after the first voyage in January, all subsequent cruises were cancelled due to the pandemic.

At that time Princess had planned to arrange shuttle service between Daikoku pier and a train station.

There is no information about the shuttle for 2023 cruises yet. But I believe it will continue to exist.

On 10/16/2022 at 8:07 AM, BruceMuzz said:

Daikoku Pier is actually a Cargo Pier that is rarely used by cruise ships - unless the regular Cruise Ship piers are already assigned to others.

And unless the ships are too tall that cannot pass under the bridge and dock at Osanbashi. In recent years, the megaships of Royal Caribbean, Costa and MSC all have to dock at the cargo pier Daikoku. It is now more and more common for the cruise ships to use this pier.

14 hours ago, Bgwest said:

I read that the Diamond is too tall to sail under the bridge which is necessary to access any of the other piers hence the docking at the Daikoku Pier. 

2 hours ago, USN59-79 said:

We have been in Yokohama many times on the Diamond Princess and we always berthed at the Osanbashi Cruise Terminal.

Diamond Princess is a special case. In the past (2019 and before) she was always able to moor at Osanbashi because she could just fit under the bridge.

Starting from 2020, Princess decides to change the embarkation pier to Daikoku for all future voyages of Diamond Princess. I heard that it is because she becomes slightly taller after adding some structures in the most recent refurbishment, so she cannot pass under the bridge anymore.

Nevertheless, Diamond Princess had only moored at Daikoku for twice in January/February 2020. After that there was the pandemic and Diamond Princess has suspended service until now.

It is unclear that if Diamond Princess will keep docking at Daikoku in 2023, or change back to Osanbashi.

In 2020 Princess (or the port authority?) had arranged shuttle bus between Daikoku pier and Motomachi-Chūkagai (Chinatown) Train Station. This was mentioned in the pre-cruise information below in the last few pages, written in Japanese only.

https://www.princesscruises.jp/pdf/JPP2020_answerbook.pdf

8 hours ago, benitz8 said:

You mention "The above information is provided from MSC regional office to the local travel agencies to the guests here". Does this mean the information you gave "if not provided guests will be allowed to remain onboard during the port of call in any Saudi port" was sent officially by MSC to a booked guest by email?

It is not automatically sent by email (at least not until now). Neither guests nor travel agencies here receive any email notifications. Only when the travel agency asks MSC, then MSC replies with this answer.

I am not sure if some guests directly booked at MSC website will receive this visa information.

On 10/11/2022 at 12:20 PM, benitz8 said:

 

Hello. 

 

Did you get this via email or it is something posted somewhere in MSC website?

 

If email, please forward a copy to me at cft0168 AT gmail DOT com.

 

If website, can you send the link?

 

If ok with you, can you provide me with the name and contact details of the person who advised you of this? 

 

We are a group of 11 passengers and would prefer to NOT apply for a visa and just stay on board on the Damman port stop.

 

Thank you in advance.

 

I tried to find this information on different countries of MSC website, but got no results unfortunately.

The above information is provided from MSC regional office to the local travel agencies to the guests here. Regret that I am not able to provide the contact of MSC staff to you.

But I believe MSC offices in all countries should receive the same information. It should be provided by MSC headquarters to each sub-office. Please try your best to ask MSC in your region, and perhaps you need to find a supervisor to verify this Saudi Arabia visa issue.

Also, I found some discussion on the Facebook group "MSC Cruises Voyagers Club". Note that it is about another Saudi Arabian port Jeddah for other MSC ships, but not Dammam for MSC World Europa.