cruisr

Only 252 tourists on the organized North Korea style tours as of June 30. Not a rousing success at all.  People do not want to have no freedom at all and the tepid reception to them show this.

Covid cases are now at record highs.  Hospitals are warning that elective and non urgent surgery may need to be postponed due to fear of using up beds that are needed for covid.

200,000 confirmed cases recently and as PCR testing is very difficult to get the number of positives is estimated to be much greater.

My wonderful TA called the visa service company that Silversea uses and which they link on their website.  The Visa service said that one cannot apply for a Visa as the port agent for Silversea in Japan has not been able to secure authorization for the ship/passengers.  So, what is it exactly Silversea is optimistic about.
 

September 1 Vancouver to Tokyo is in a bit more than 5 weeks away.  This is really unfair to their loyal passengers and to people trying them for the first time.

2 hours ago, Tothesunset said:

Ireland? Typo? 

Don’t think so as OP clearly says Aer Lingus and Reykavik and non stop.  Now I am very curious.

Well I am glad you are not stranded.  I am confused as Aer Lingus does not fly non stop from Iceland to Boston.  The only non stops are on a Low cost carrier, FlyPlay and Iceland Air.  Just a word of caution if you have not flown Iceland Air, their J class (business class) seats are not lie flat.  They are like US first class flights and are recliner seats, with a foot rest.   I went to the Aer Lingus site and can’t get KEF (the airport code for Reykjavik airport) and they don’t show that even service Iceland.

2 hours ago, drron29 said:

Just a point of reference although a long time ago. We were booked on the Shadow Tokyo-Anchorage in May2011. The great tsunami intervened and we departed from Incheon instead of Tokyo. You were given the option of cancelling for a full refund or significant compensation with paying the airfare Tokyo Incheon, OBC and FCC each in the 4 figure range.

Japan you could say is a far more dangerous place now than it was then. We had arranged a few days in Tokyo before the cruise and happily kept our bookings. The background radiation in Tokyo then was actually lower than Melbourne Australia. But there was fear.

That makes sense as the ship had to be in Alaska for the spring and summer cruises.  This situation is a bit different as currently ships are not being accepted in Japan or S. Korea so there really isn’t a place to go in Asia.   People here want to go to Japan but I think that realistically it is not going to happen and we would like to know sooner rather then the day before we get on the plane to meet the ship.

Were you supposed to be on Aer Lingus?  Why are you stranded and what has SS air done for you so far?  When are you expected to get unstranded, so to speak.

9 hours ago, Aloha Boy said:

I also am not optimistic about this cruise sailing.  At this stage, I would be open to SS altering the itinerary to include other ports of call to replace Japan. But do it now!!!! I believe this option is spelled out in the fine print of the SS agreement, “We reserve the right to alter the cruise itinerary for any reason,” (something like this). SS should not cancel at the final hour and burning bridges with many SS loyalists. That would be a big mistake!

They can change, delete or add ports but they cannot change an entire itinerary, including the embarkation and disembarkation port and expect people to go.  If this cruise turns into a Mexican cruise, if the embarkation and disembarkation changes this is not covered under their T and C.  If it were, Silversea or any other cruiseline, can sell a ton of cruises they have no chance of operating and then say, nevermind, we are making you go somewhere else even if you don’t want to go.

As markham said above this is not right.  They cancelled the Japan cruises for May 2022 in February of 2022.  6 weeks to go before the September 1 cruise, covid numbers at all time highs in Japan, no new announcements from the party that won a sweeping reelection on July 10 about allowing individuals in and yet they keep loyal guests in limbo.

And, if they are forced to cancel September what will they do with the ship(s) due to cruise to and around Japan in September and after?  If they cannot dock in Japan where will they go?    I really do not know why Silversea is the only holdout of the RCI brands.  I want to go but If I cannot I need some notice so I can do something else.  That notice is not forthcoming.  I will not cancel and let them keep 15% of my money.  As I posted in a roll call, Silversea has the upperhand.  If due to their dithering people cancel they get to keep the 15% penalty, don’t have to offer FCCs for any replacement cruise, don’t have to pay TAs and then they can cancel the cruise and only be responsible to those hardy souls who are playing their game of chicken.

Well, the early sailings now have a 15% penalty if we cancel more than 22 days out and if we cancel within 21 days its 100% cancellation.  They are still saying they are working with their contacts.

Are any of you sick or are you asymptomatic?  I am about to cancel my August cruise as I do not like Covid as a souvenir especially if I bring it home to my family.  Thinking of replacing the cruise with a beach or mountain home rental.

Not if you bought your own air.  Then again, if you purchased air thru the cruise line they can reroute you anyway they can get and it can involve hotels, etc.  I presume they would pay for that but who knows.

My friend is finally on his way home.  He left Amsterdam this am and flying to Vancouver.  he lives in Seattle.  If will be over 4 days to get home.

15 hours ago, Texas Tillie said:

I'm on the Muse, November 18, Hong Kong to Singapore, and my travel agent called today to say that final payment has been extended to Sept. 4. That's 75 days out for my cruise. It's only logical that if the Japan cruises are changed, the cruises that follow will have to be changed too. This a case where Door to Door makes things a lot easier with itinerary changes highly possible.

This whole thing makes no sense.  The first sailing heading to Japan is on September 1.   I would hope they let people know if it is going or not going before that.  If that and the other September cruises get cancelled it would have to have a knock on effect for the season, including yours.  

Not good news. Rising covid and travel problems even for domestic travel by residents.  
I am beginning to think that Silversea has very poor contacts in Japan if they are not being advised to cancel and reroute their cruises.
 

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20220713/p2g/00m/0na/004000c

I am probably going to say “no” but thought I’d ask.  I know just about every ship on every line is in the orange code on CDC site but just curious if other then reports from people onboard is there any way of telling?

2 hours ago, A Tucson Guy said:

It is now Tuesday and we get off the ship this Friday with what was a SAS flight to JFK from Copenhagen. I emailed the SkyDesk and no response yet. Almost time to start worrying about getting home since SAS is still on strike. Is any body  else scheduled on SAS soon?

i have a friend that has been trying to get home from Bergen for 72 hours now which involved bus rides to Oslo!  Haven’t heard from him today so do not have an update

On 7/11/2022 at 2:39 AM, carefreecruise said:

Big problem with two ships in Tromso with nobody getting any flights. Ship is staying in port additional night to hire a charter aircraft to fly guest from Tromso to Oslo and back. That is only happening with Silversky guests. The rest are on their own and not happy. 

Are you saying that they are chartering an aircraft and will only allow Silversky guests on even if there is space on it?  That seems crazy.

I have never had anyone decline USD as a tip anywhere in the 150+ countries i have visited. Canadians love USD as they get more value when they get tipped USD vs CAD.

1 hour ago, docmark said:

Just confirmed (with OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE from Silversea) that for our cruise to Japan on MUSE, starting 10/21/22 the last day for cancellation without further penalty is 55 days before start of cruise, NOT 45 days.

Interesting all my official correspondence says 45 days before.  My cruise is before yours. My TA called and verified and it is 45 days before.  As I and she have it writing I am not worried and going with 45 days.

If you cancel today and it is still more then 45 days from final payment you still have to pay the $250.00 per person admin fee.  If they have not decided what to do and its 45 days before departure you are still expected to pay in full.  The early sailings to Japan are already paid in full as they fell under the standard rules of payment due dates.

 I feel really bad for the people leaving on September 1 as its getting pretty close and if they need to make alternate plans due to Silversea cancelling they may have a hard time finding something.

And covid is increasing in Japan.  As such I don’t think they are going to be opening up for individual tourism and cruise ship visits anytime soon.

It was on Odyssey when she came out.  It was removed a couple years after.  I don’t know why they removed it.  It was a great addition to the spa.

19 hours ago, Razgumio said:

All great information being shared. Thank you

However, I believe that at this point Silversea (and perhaps other lines) are being illusive in an attempt to hold "us" captive. In our particular case, the cruise to Japan is scheduled to depart on September 1st with travel to Vancouver on August 30th. At this point, with only approximately 50 days to go, the cruise line should be admitting that there is a huge issue with Japanese Visas and granting "us" the option to wait until something happens with the Visas or refund our money so we can get another cruise and/or offer an acceptable alternative itinerary. The longer Silversea waits, the more difficult that it will become for "us" to replace the cruise during the same time period.

I strongly suggest that anyone that agrees begin respectfully yet forcefully communicating with Silversea until they understand that they need to consider the needs of "us" passengers and not continue to ignore the situation while holding us captive. Emails, phone calls, this chat and all other social medias are fair game.

I understand their needs but they need to understand ours.

I have already started communication with Silversea, my TA, this chat and the Japanese Consulate - I will continue to do so until I get results.

If anyone is interested I will post the names of the people at Silversea with whom I am communicating and if I have any success.

Please share your thoughts.

The only other cruiseline still offering cruises to Japan is Oceania and their ship Regatta is supposed to arrive after a transpacific from Los Angeles in October.  Being in Los Angeles they would be able to pivot to Mexico and or Hawaii from Ensenada.  I guess with both the Silversea ships in Alaska now they are probably trying to figure out what to do with the ships after Anchorage before they announce that Japan is cancelled?

• Up to 45 days to sail: usual Admin Fee
• From 44 to 0 days: 100%

@Port PowerThere are no local operators to use as the approved tour operators are only doing the fully escorted land tours.  Silversea cannot contract with independent tour companies.  The approved tour operators are not doing any destination management/tour operations so Silversea, at this point, does not have an option to offer any tours unless Japan changes their stance and allows cruise ships and ground operators to offer shore excursions.  

I have friends in the hospitality industry in Japan and I am in constant contact via text with them as they are hoping I will be able to visit them on my cruise but they are telling me they do not think it will happen.

Silversea need to make a decision now, not later.  The longer they wait the more issues for their valued (or as the email said “esteemed”) guests.  The first cruise to Japan is the cruise from Vancouver to Osaka as mentioned above on September 1.  How disappointing if it is cancelled and a replacement can not be found at this late date.

The other thing is that I have heard from TAs about their commission being or not being protected.  What I was told (on other lines) agent commission is not protected unless the client pays in full.  Not sure what SS policy is.  Right now, if they push final payment to 45 days out and cancel at 50 days out any cruises an agent has booked, not paid in full, they will not get commission on.  Passengers may get a bonus for getting a FCC instead of the refund but again, if not paid in full when cancelled the bonus is only on the money on the booking.  Again, my TA was telling me about other cruiselines so I can only guess this may be the same with SS.  The 45 day buys them time and may save them money if they do have to cancel.

I really wish they would make a decision asap.