cruiser man 60

This was posted elsewhere about Caribbean opening up,https://skift.com/2020/06/03/caribbean-islands-reopen-to-international-tourism/

I think Fantasia cruises are being changed to cover Seashore itineraries until August, not sure how they will fit all Seashore & Fantasia passengers on one ship but Seaside & Seaview will also be in Mediterranean so maybe they will cover as well.

https://mscfans.blog/2020/06/05/msc-cancels-some-previously-scheduled-2021-cruises/?fbclid=IwAR2VhmZyWhQHO9w0YYLcZu2kVXUXkfDMT-bDoSR6LVI1ef5B3wAJOkwqaK4

Not sure what's happening to Virtuosa sailings if it's delayed as seems likely.

MSC have pulled out of New York for 2021 season as well, putting more ships in Europe as probably far less restrictions there.

Cruises upto 31/07 only cancelled at present plus various ones in USA for later this year and 2021.

We have seaview Rome to Dubai in November & Virtuosa March in Mediterranean, if both cancelled we would struggle to use FCC before December 2022 as have some other plans summer 2021 already.

Lots of cruises cancelled in USA for 2021 season with ships going to Europe 

After today's announcement on delays and new itineraries for 2021 , looks like Virtuosa won't sail until May & Seashore until August so will be another raft of cancellations!!

P&O have announced no cruises until 15 October, mainly U.K. Clients sailing from U.K. So maybe more impacted by quarantine rules U.K. Is starting.

2 hours ago, WH_Cruise said:

Am i mad for holding on to the 125% cruise credit?

 

I am thinking by next May (when we want to sail) there will be a level of normality........or is that just wishful thinking?

I've taken the FCC and booked Rome to Dubai 18/11 , not sure if it will happen but will just rebook for next year if not. Took 70 days to get refunds from Emirates for flights totally £3.3k so feeling a bit Happier as got all hotels, trips etc refunded as well.

4 minutes ago, grandgeezer said:

We were on the MSC  Seaside this past October. Gratuities was not included in the fare, it was added separately, like most of the other lines do. The upside was it was $12.50 p.p.pd for all cabins. We were in the Yacht Club. The food and service was so good that we tipped them extra so it would bring it up to close to the suites on RCL and Celebrity.

MSC have included for all U.K. Cruisers since May this year, so many removing them they just decided to cancel them and include in price.

A lot of lines are including gratuities in headline fare, MSC , P& O, TUI are ones that I know.

17 minutes ago, Smiles1984 said:

The point in my post was that when cruising (cruises take place in seas and oceans around the world) nobody should be expected to follow any particular culture's preference for tipping practices. There's been a huge amount of discussion around following the American model and heavy implication that not doing so is rude or will result in less preferential service, and I am sharing that my experience is otherwise. 

 

When I'm in the US I follow the customs, I'm just pointing out why those from most other countries find it unusual and in some cases confusing. In the rest of the world a tip is a reward for good service rather than a toll to receive any service at all, in the States it seems it can be either. 

I'm from U.K. And would never tip for drinks served in a bar it's just not the custom outside the USA and in Europe tipping for anything is less the norm than the U.K..

what I found annoying is some going around with wads of cash doling out tips for everything under the sun when they are on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean etc and expecting better service because they have a big wad!!

At present Splendida, Fantasia & Opera are docked in Genoa so if Divina goes there MSC will have 4 ships at base to start itineraries in Europe provided they can get crews there and permission from authorities.

Well Italy is opening borders on 3/06 with lots of other European countries following in next month although not U.K. so makes sense to get ships back to Genoa which is main MSC base.

Well Europe are starting to open borders to other Europeans with Italy first on 3rd June and Spain last on 1st July and none of them have mentioned anything about any vaccine as there isn't one anyway. TOurism makes up a large part of GDP for Greece, Spain, Italy, Malta and some others so they are keen to get country up & running.

doubdful they will allow non Europeans in until later in summer.

Most European countries are opening borders in next 4/5 weeks starting with Italy on 3rd June, only open to other Europeans at first but I would think they will open up to other countries which have virus under control in due course. That may rule out USA unless the situation improves rapidly.

its not been established if ports will be open to cruise ships but most airlines are starting up again last week in June.

4 hours ago, sverigecruiser said:

 

I really hope that you are correct and if nothing more happen you probably are. Hopefully they won't have to close everything again during the second wave, if they get a second wave.  

I would think a second wave is more likely in America looking at news reports of packed pools, bars etc, Europe is fairly safe at practicing social distancing at present.

9 hours ago, CruisingFox27 said:

The UK Foreign Office still has a no travel ban to anywhere at present and anyone arriving has to quarantine for 14 days. Although countries are opening up for tourism, it doesn't look likely UK passengers will be enjoying any travel anytime soon. 

I would hope by July U.K. Will reopen borders to some European countries, it's only until 29/06 at present.

Spain have joined Italy, Greece & Malta in reopening borders to international tourists from July so dependent on when FCO change advice holidays to Europe can recommence.

Spain has joined Italy & Greece in opening borders to international tourists from 1st July so tourists will be allowed into most if not all Europe this summer.

whether this means cruise ships will be allowed as well has not been published yet, I would assume MSC along with other lines will be discussing with various tourism ministers.

With MSC being a major Italian line they may have more influence in Italy!

3 hours ago, SNJCruisers said:

On a related topic....about when should winter 2023 bookings open up.  Contemplating a January  2023 Seashore sailing in Yacht Club.

Haven't got 2022 open yet!

Spain has joined Italy & Greece in opening up to international tourists from July, I would assume just European tourists at present but countries are starting to open up.

https://english.elpais.com/politics/2020-05-23/spanish-pm-foreign-tourists-will-be-able-to-return-to-spain-from-july.html

Got mine via TA 3 weeks ago for March cruise, rebooked for November 17th so hopefully that will go ahead.

5 hours ago, Rossco01 said:

We have/had a cruise booked to Norway on the Meraviglia in August. We were holding out to see if this was cancelled by MSC before making final payment, but last week - in the UK - noted that MSC now allow anyone with cruise up to September to move free of charge (in all honesty we were prepared to move for the £100 cost but preferred it free). We contacted them on the phone last week and they confirmed we can move (without paying final payment) and requested we fill out the online form which we have now done (looking at July 2021 instead).

 

This at least now gives us another 10 months before final payment is due and we can see how the cruise market looks before final committment. At the moment the most we'll have lost is the deposit.

Norway have closed borders until 20th August so probably will be cancelled but MSC are being helpful in transferring deposits etc until next year.

I doubt there will be anything like no over 70s S it would take 50 % of clients straight out but who knows, maybe a fit to travel certification for certain age groups