peteukmcr

Guernsey won't be on any itinerary as they are not accepting cruise calls for the 2021 season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The decision was taken yesterday by Guernsey’s Committee for Economic Development.

Well after a few emails between me and Celebrity, I assume our 16th April reservation has been cancelled as the deadline was yesterday. 

Celebrity couldn't offer anything more other than moving the booking to the 2nd April sailing at the same rate, but we can't sail earlier than already planned. No new Caribbean sailings will be released until early possibly early 2021. So bye bye Celebrity.

3 hours ago, D C said:

No change in the offer?

No, still the same and the deadline of 28th December. We’re cancelling because not prepared to pay prevailing rates which will mean a £600 increase in fare and the only ship with suitable alternatives is Infinity. Silhouette is even more expensive and cannot be justified. 

Received an updated email on the 18th basically apologising and confirming the reason for the 16th & 23rd April cancellations is so the ship can transition to Europe. 

8 hours ago, bob278 said:

Oh great!  We just moved off the April 23rd Reflection to the 9th.  What are they going to do with the 17th and 18th?  Cruise to nowhere?  Normally, I would hope for a free 2-day extension of our cruise, but our adult children will be with us and would not be able to stay the extra 2 days.

Looks at the moment that the April 9th sailing is still a 7 night itinerary. 

So in the emails we have received we are basically being lied to. The email clearly states the cancellation is due to dry dock and yet Reflection is leaving on a transatlantic from Fort Lauderdale on 18th April, 2 days after we should have sailed, arriving into Civitavecchia on May 2nd, then setting sail on an 11 night Turkey and Greek islands itinerary. Even if she was in dry dock prior to our sailing, they have scrapped ours and the 23rd April just to send it to Europe. 

1 hour ago, D C said:

A WEEK of drydock and thy couldn't somehow do that now?  

A lot of shipyards/dry docks are closed at the moment due to covid.

Just received an email advising that due to dry dock our April 16, 2022 Reflection sailing has been cancelled. The email also implies some Millenium sailings have been cancelled but there's no dates on the email so I don't know which of those are affected. 

"From now through December 28, you have the option to rebook on any other Celebrity Cruise in 2022 at prevailing rates.  If you choose to rebook, you will also receive an onboard credit of $200 per inside, ocean view, standard veranda, Infinite VerandaSM, AquaClass® or Concierge Class stateroom; or $400 for The Retreat®.  You must rebook a sailing of the same length as your original booking and in the same stateroom category to qualify."

Although our 16th April sailing is still being offered to book on the website.

Problem is there's only 1 later 7 night Caribbean sailing listed at the moment and we can't travel on that date (that's why we chose April 16th). We can't sail any earlier but would like to sail later in 2022 but only Alaska sailings are offered at the moment on a Solstice class ship, and they don't appeal.

Anyone got an idea when later 2022 sailings will be release? 

If they are not released by the deadline, it looks like the only option open to us is to cancel.

Thanks for all your help, much appreciated. Called and as there is no 6D in April 2022 on Ovation they would look at category 4D, but as we have so much FCC from the cancelled Voyager sailing, didn't do Lift and Shift, just changed the booking to a 2D category more midships which is what we like, and will get £887 back on another FCC.

5 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

While they may be reluctant they can do it if you push hard enough. It also depends on the agent. 
 

there is no 6D category on Ovation after April 2021.  It was lost in the recategorization.  The equivalent is a 4D. 

Thanks for the info, at least I can see what 4D's are available.

8 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

You can call and they will do the lift and shift over the phone...that way you will get to pick the cabin.

It would appear from my call earlier today that they are reluctant to do it over the phone, as the agent specifically gave me the steps to follow on the website. Tricky to work out which cabin we'd want as we had a 6D on Voyager on deck 12 (one of the added cabins located over the bridge) and even though on the deck plans for Ovation it suggests that they have the same category, I cannot find any if I do a dummy booking to see what are available. 

Good info on here. We have until 16th December to Lift and Shift our cancelled Voyager April 3rd sailing in 2021 from Sydney. I called and was directed to the online 'form' after they confirmed that the only equivalent sailing in 2022 is Ovation on March 21st 2022 which should work for us, especially as it's rumoured the Australian International borders won't be open until late 2021 (especially for us Brits!).

I think I'd rather Lift and Shift than wait for the FCC which won't arrive until Jan 2021 which by then prices could have increased and the FCC may not cover the increase cost.

My only concern was the inability to choose our cabin. From looking here though it would appear you can call and change once allocated, but I bet that doesn't apply to us Brits only my friends in the US. We'll see.

Well it’s the start of a new month. 2 weeks from today we should have been heading to New York for a 14 night southern Caribbean cruise, but how things change. Yesterday 501 of my colleagues ended their careers in the travel industry, taking voluntary redundancy, now we await the rumoured additional 500 mandatory redundancies. 
 

From today I can’t go to visit my 84 & 85 year old parents as the Conwy county of North Wales is to go into local lockdown and the restrictions there are more stringent than in England. So glad we went 2 weeks ago. 

1 hour ago, Harry Peterson said:

 

Nice patio, Pete.  I wonder how many of us have been busily spending cruise refunds on garden projects like that? And conservatories.  Building prices have been sky high since April - more work than builders to do it.  Sounds like the redoubtable Vamps has got the right idea!

Well that’s what we’ve done, 3 cruises plus some savings have funded the conservatory and patio! Everywhere you go you can see home improvements taking place from new windows, porches, extensions to garden upgrades. 

1 hour ago, kalos said:

Many years ago I was laying slabs at East Midland Airport & Meadowhall .

We worked to 3 shovels of sand & 1 cement which was laid dry about 60mm thick

level out with a spirit level before carefully laying the slabs ,tapping down where required

or packing some of the mix under the slabs to level up .

We left them overnight to settle and if all were level then we got a little more mix and brushed/

swept it into gaps between the slabs . keep off it for a day and the job should be a good one .

Such a timely conversation, I had a new patio laid yesterday seeing the old one was taken up for the conservatory. The guys also relaid the existing slabs from the path which was basically extended. They had to build it up as the garden slopes away, but they said don't walk on it or put heavy objects onto it for 24 hours.

2 hours ago, AndyMichelle said:

Just to jump on the 'down in the dumps' theme, today is a difficult day for us. 

Not only is it the 7th anniversary of Michelle's dear Mums passing, it is also 6 years to the day that Michelle was diagnosed with Cancer and given 6 months to live.. 

Today we have the hat trick.. 

We will be virtually attending 'Grandad' Georges funeral. He was my sister in laws father and a big part of the girls childhood and our family. 

He was 98, so by the time his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren attend, the 30 soon fills up, but at least we have the technology to pay our respects from afar. 

A long walk along the beach is in order to reflect and be thankful. 

Andy 

Sorry to read of your ‘hat trick’ and hope the day gets better. 
 

I attended a funeral on Monday and only 25 allowed due to the size of the chapel. It’s 4 years since my lifelong best friend died alone in his house. 
 

At the moment unfortunately I think we all have too much time (despite working) to reflect on upsetting times as there doesn’t appear to be much too look forward to at the moment. 

5 hours ago, P&O SUE said:

Morning all, raining in Kent today but it’s my day off and hubby is off too so I’ve booked a slot for Scotney Castle for 11am when hopefully it should be dry.

No sun expected here Avril, but I hope your mood is improving, I can imagine there’s a lot of people feeling down today after yesterday’s announcements. 
I’m ok with what’s been announced so far but hoping against hope the no mixing of households doesn’t happen too soon as that will devastate me.

Here in Manchester we’ve not been able to meet anyone in our houses or gardens from any other household since end of July and it is now getting very wearing. 

52 minutes ago, Presto2 said:

 

They don't call it 'God's Own Country' for no reason. We had a beautiful day on Saturday and really did not want to come home on Sunday !  What amazes me is that when the Celebrity Silhouette was docking in Holyhead they weren't selling excursions to places like this to show just how beautiful this part of the world is, but sending them to Liverpool. No offense Liverpool, but we were bewildered as the Americans would have loved all of this and the history of Conwy etc etc  

I wouldn’t understand why they would send people on the long trek to Liverpool from Holyhead when all my US have commented on Swallow Falls etc as wonderful. They would love the area. 

Well seeing the weather was so good we explored more of North Wales and Snowdonia. We headed for Llanberis, and onwards through Capel Curig to Swallow Falls and ended up in Llandudno for a stroll along the prom. 

1 hour ago, Presto2 said:

Glass in hand and Rhyl over there looks lovely tonight 😊 

Great view you have there

16 minutes ago, Presto2 said:

Is that a caravan or a lodge it is beautiful and looks huge. I can see us in the distance... far right rows of white things on the edge of the sea and hill. That's us. Am waving to you . if I knew how to do it would put a ring around our caravan.....

It does say on the side that it is a ‘Platinum Lodge’

Well the 3rd “C” of the year, but not a cruise ship

So we’re not on a cruise ship, but at least we have a sea view immediately behind the caravan. 

8 hours ago, P&O SUE said:

Good morning all, it’s our 33rd wedding anniversary today( I was a child bride 😉) John is working though so we’re having Sunday lunch out tomorrow at a local restaurant- much more our style now to a Saturday night out! Coincidentally it’s the restaurant where I had my hen night 😃.

 

 

Happy anniversary to you both 

17 hours ago, Presto2 said:

Well we aren't too far from you tonight then over here in Llanddulas. We can see the bay from here so we are waving to you. I am beginning to think you are stalking us though 🤔 😉  and would you believe that there is a heron!!!!!!!!

Went through Llanddulas today after visiting my parents in Abergele on our way to Conwy  after driving past Gwrych Castle and seeing the cranes up which are in the process of building the presentation area for Ant & Dec for I’m a Celebrity. Apparently the farm animals have been moved as that area is to be used for vans and trailers for the show.