gerryuk

Wait closer to the time of cruise and then check your countries official rules, re testing and flying. 

If its American Express that would not surprise me. When i lived in London you could not use it on the underground metro, and many other places in the UK would not accept it. Apparently American Express charged companies well above other card companies fees to process payments.

They do accept credit / debit card over the phone, that's how i pay the balance, you will probably need to use another card.

The person you have spoken to is based in Genoa, Costa closed a lot of its European call centres including the UK and all calls are routed to Italy.   

One way you could use the card is to purchase the cruise online, but not with Costa directly. We are not allowed to name names but you get my drift. 

Do you still need to go on Costa excursions or can you get off the ship on your own. Was looking to cruise in May in the Med. There are a couple of stops in Italy.  

1 hour ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Refuting a proven misconception (“control” of a booking) is hardly insulting.  Why throw commission sharing $€£ out the window?

You seem to be of the opinion that everybody has a top notch TA at the end of their street. Just to point out i live on the Spanish Island of Gran Canaria. If i want to book a cruise with Princess on their website,  i have to go through a TA, and the nearest one that Princess directs me to, is in Madrid, on the mainland. Why would i deal with a TA who is 1080 miles away? I have never met this person and would never hand over money to this person, hence i never book with Princess. 

You have to remember that many of those who cruise don't live in the US, many do not have access to good TAs, as it is not as prevalent as the US. Those living outside the US cannot use TAs based in the US as you need a American address. 

Also remember that cruise lines like Costa have a function on their site for them to call you at the time you want, no waiting around.

People are not, as you put it, using Lame excuses for not using TAs, many just don't have the option and those who have the option but don't use them have every right not to, its their money.  

3 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Yes! Not exactly rocket science to figure this out.

What really cracks me up is the folks who won’t do the research to find a good TA. Instead of admitting that they are unwilling to do the research required to find a great TA, many offer the lame excuse that they “want to maintain control of their booking.” 

Of course, some of those folks seem to forget that they are less than a rounding error in the daily bottom line of the cruise company they’re using. On the other hand, a great TA (who specializes in your preferred line[s]) may book $ millions with them in every month. So, while a cruise-line direct booking passenger is stuck “on hold” waiting for the cruise line’s “Personal Cruise Planner” (lol), that savvy TA has the line’s regional sales rep as a speed dial on theyr cell phone. Who do you think will solve your problem faster? 

I think the tone of this answer is quite insulting to those, including myself who just don't want to use a TA but book direct with the cruise line. 

I think you would be better asking this on the MSC boards on here....

MSC Cruises: Ask a Question - Cruise Critic Message Board Forums

If you give a street beggar money to buy food, there's a good chance you will be enabling that person to continue with their drug / alcohol addiction.

By giving tips on cruise lines you are enabling CEOs to continue their shameless outdated business practices, that date back to the dark ages.

Before covid cruise lines were making billions in profits, and paying their staff, slave wages, go figure. 

Hank..

I cruise a lot with Costa, i book directly with them. I don't need to phone them, they phone me when i need to speak with them. They have that option on their web site, you just click the time you want them to phone you, and click send. I have used that option many times and they have always called back at the time i have requested. Are Costa the only cruise line that has this facility?  

Book direct until all this uncertainty is over. 

8 minutes ago, lissie said:

Small remote islands are more expensive anyway because of the cost of freight. Plus Hawaii is very popular so demand pushes prices up. 

Thanks, i live on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria near Western Sahara, but prices here are not much different than on mainland Spain. I do note that, Hawaii is a lot further to mainland America. 

Can i ask, why is Hawaii so expensive?

I think we have to remember that working as a room steward or any other job on a cruise line can be a lot better than working in low paid employment on land.

Working on a cruise line has benefits....

No daily commute to work expenses

No electric bills

No gas bills

Free medical care 

Free lodgings 

Free food 

Reduced alcohol prices

Reduced taxes or no taxes

Free laundry

Free worldwide travel 

Reduced shopping on ship and ports

Taking everything into account, will a bar tender on a cruise line be much worse off than a bar tender on land?

It seems to me that fares for later this year and into next year are very high. I don't think for one minute this is due to pent up demand. Seems to me that the cruise lines are just hoping for people to book now (and get the money) hoping that covid will be, all but over. I would expect prices to come down nearer the time as there is a huge oversupply of cabins.

Just me, but book direct with cruise line. There is more chance that a TA will go out of business than the cruise line. With everything that is going on, i think it is better at this time, to deal with the cruise line direct particularly if it all goes pear shaped.  

16 hours ago, Colorado Buffalo said:

There are so may good deals right now.

There is a reason there are so many good deals right now. 

If you do book and go on a cruise in the next few months, then you know the score before boarding.

If it all goes pear shape you have no right to complain. Personally i would not touch any of these deals with a barge pole, if they are for sailing within the next few months, but that's just me.

If you booked months ago and your cruise is imminent, then its up to each individual to make their own choice, as to go or cancel. Again we all know what the score is, and if your cruise turns out to be a nightmare, you have no right to complain. 

6 hours ago, Hlitner said:

So let me put some reality to what you have posted based on our three recent cruises. 

 

Hank

If you have not been on a cruise in the last 3 weeks, things have changed dramatically, and not for the better. I have a cruise in March from Dubai to Rome with final payment due in a couple of weeks, i will not be making final payment. I have Med cruise in September i will wait and see what happens closer to time. You can test all you want, but recent events on RCI and other ships tells me to steer clear for now and wait this out. 

Don't know if you are heading to Gran Canaria on your cruise, if you are then Playa Del Ingles / Maspolamas is one of the worlds largest gay resorts, well worth a visit if you dock there, and have the time.

If i remember correctly Costa Smeralda is home ported in Savona. I would be surprised if no one from Costa is in the terminal, i am assuming it is leaving from their on Monday? 

You could retry to book in online and see what happens, if no luck, take pictures on your mobile and show them on Monday. 

The English speaking phone lines open at 09.00 on Monday, in the meantime stop worrying, and have a good cruise. 

Don't worry about it. Turn up at the at the terminal and speak to someone from Costa. If all else fails call Costa when you get to the terminal. The terminal will know which cabin you are in, just make sure you have your passport to hand. Remember many people will be travelling from all corners of the world to cruise, and they will not have access to printers. You wont be alone.

I have a 3 week transatlantic cruise with Costa from Europe to Guadeloupe in December.

A couple of weeks ago the authorities in the West Indies closed their ports to cruise ships until mid January. Costa decided to go to the Dominican Republic instead, and offered customers 100euros as compensation.

To board the ship you need to prove that you are fully vaccinated, have a pcr test within 72 hours of boarding, a negative antigen test within 24 hours of boarding and if you board in Italy an Italian green card. With this, wearing masks and bubble excursions, this seems to be purgatory rather than a vacation.  

Like a lot of others, i have bailed and cancelled the cruise.  

Book a cruise now for the next couple of weeks / months or so, and there are deals to be had. Some cruise lines, including some of the luxury lines seem to be in desperation mode with their prices. Its defiantly a buyers market, however if the cruise you book actually sails, is a another matter.

Book a cruise now for this time next year and into 2023 and the prices are higher by a considerable amount. Those prices will fall of a cliff, if we are in the same situation this time next year. 

I think most lines including the luxury lines are dropping prices significantly in a attempt to get consumers to part with their money now. Many of the cruises advertised in the next couple of months will not sail, but its better for the cruise lines to get your money into their bank account now. If the cruise is cancelled they will have a better chance of getting you to rebook a future cruise if you have already paid up.

Many cruises in late 2022 and 2023 have significant rises in their fares, but if this situation continues those prices will fall of a cliff nearer the time.

For solo travellers there are defiantly bargains to be had at the present time, but its a risk parting with your money, as its debatable if the cruise of your choice, in the next few months will actually sail.   

If your finances said yes, would you do a world cruise, travelling solo? The longest i have done solo on a cruise is 21 days. I was just looking at a well known site (sea scxxxxx) and window shopping some of their prices. Oceania have a 180 day world cruise for just 50,000euros, and that's in a balcony. Costa 30,000euros in a balcony, for their world cruise. And many more cheaper options if travelling solo in a inside cabin. The prices, although bank busting seems to me to be very reasonable. 

Has anybody done a world cruise, travelling solo?

Can you not get the bank details of the cruise line and transfer the money over directly from your bank account, without any card involvement? 

I have a TA with Costa in December sailing from Barcelona to Guadeloupe, including a stop in Martinique. The authorities last week closed both Guadeloupe and Martinique ports to cruise ships until the middle of January. Costa have said nothing yet and are still selling this cruise on their website. 

 Cruises: "There will be no season in the West Indies this winter" (tourmag.com)