Ride-The-Waves

Some of these companies, to include travel agencies, will likely be "restructuring" before restarting operations.  You could easily lose FCC in any restructuring scenario as creditors will have first pick of monies...  Take the cash now!

21 hours ago, ceilidh1 said:

Under normal circumstances I might agree with this. However, with so many people being out of work and worrying about being able to pay bills/buy food right now, I think it is unreasonable for any of the cruise companies to expect people to be patient and wait 60-90 days to receive back (in some cases) thousands of dollars. Just my opinion - I was laid off last week and know that my expected refund would come in VERY handy right about now!

Its called corporate greed!

1 hour ago, BP99 said:

Hi,

I am mostly troubled that no one has gotten the 100% refund on the cruises

that were cancelled by the cruise lines. Nada, zippo, zero! No one who filled

out the 100% refund form (online) got a confirmation (which they said they would send 

out shortly on the online form). Nada, zippo, zero. Please read some of the 

postings to confirm my information. I am NOT talking about FCC, partial refunds

for excursions, drink packages etc. 

I am not saying I am special like your comment implies "Perhaps there's a reason you should be at the head of the list?". I would like someone, anyone to tell me that they got

the 100% refund. That would give me hope that the 100% refund may happen!

In the same scenario with American Airlines.  Canceled river cruise through France lead to canceling R/T flights.  American Airlines charged us $1,800 to cancel despite France being "closed."  Their offer to extend rebooking at Feb 2021 no help as the rescheduled cruise is in May.  So far, nothing back on my CC and its been ten days.  Refunds are as easy to process as new charges.  The delay is strictly American Airline screwing with customers.  Well, I will not be flying American Airlines to our 2021 cruise.  Too many other choices.  American is just not passenger friendly.  Bailout?  Smellout!

I was horrified to learn that about 800 people off Grand refused to take the test.  Apparently, their rationale was that if they tested positive then they would be quarantined.  So they declined and went off to the 4-winds.  Testing from Grand indicated infection rate was one in ten.  So there are possible 80 carriers out there from Grand.  As a nation as as a part of humanity we have more respect and concern for each other.  I thought what these 800 did refusing testing coming off an infected ship was absolutely selfish.

6 minutes ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

 

That might be good for younger cruisers.  For those of us over 70, it is very bad news.  And, hello, we are the majority of the current passengers.  What good is FCC if they will not allow us to board the ships???

We are 75 and 78.  It is good news that cruisers should be certified to be in good health.  Cruise ship medical facilities are not hospitals.  Medical staffs capable of handling small non-life threatening illnesses and injuries.  In many cases, on board medical equipment isn't the most modern or even always in working order.  I once needed an EKG after going back into arrhythmia following a workout in the ship's gym.  The first EKG machine didn't work.  The second one did - partially.  My wrist BP reader game me the same result as their machine.  My spouse once slipped on an unmarked wet deck and dislocated her knee.  No soft cast available so she was casted in plaster from ankle to hip.  

Prior to a 2-week Antarctic expedition with Hurtigruten the ship's doctor required everyone to submit a doctors approved health certificate.  Being days away from a hospital the health certificate was necessary.  Didn't limit those who could cruise - surprisingly there was even a wheelchair passenger who could walk short distance with a cane.  Not a life threatening condition. Everyone complied.  

This is for your own benefit.  Also helps others.  Ships don't have to divert schedules.  Transmission of infectious agents are curtailed.  Time for everyone think beyond themselves and got the good of all passenger and crew, and good for the industry.

"Hope" does nothing to solve the crisis.  Claiming it will be over in days, in time for the next scheduled cruise, doesn't solve the crisis.  Claiming it doesn't affect Americans doesn't solve the crisis.  Just reported that 800 passengers on Grand Princess refused testing since they believed it would extend their quarantine if positive.  Infection rate from Grand is running about 10 percent, so bout 80 possibly infected people went "home" with knowing their status.  Inconceivable.  Doesn't help solve the crisis.  Compassionate, caring and sharing implies understanding the issues and working with health officials, not against their recommendations and orders.  This is the "new normal."  Get used to it.  Don't put your head in the sand and rely on an inexperienced reality TV show host for guidance.  Several governors are providing wonderful and timely information - follow their guidance.

Once they have your money...  Practically there is no reason electronic refunds can't be as fast as purchases.  None.  Once they have your money, though, they like to take their time...  There should be a law...

This is the "new normal."  We will not see a return to yesteryear in cruising.  More health checks and screenings, fewer passengers, more expensive, fewer ports "open" to cruise ships, etc.  Likely significantly more regulation of ships.  All-in-all probably good for the industry and for cruisers.  

14 hours ago, Fouremco said:

While I agree that Carnival's offer was at least in part a publicity stunt, by your own admission they were paid a pretty penny by the USG post Katrina. Are you suggesting that Celebrity wouldn't benefit from government largesse? It seems a better proposition than holding back ship for cruises that we all know are never going to materialize. 

Significantly more expensive and inconvenient than renting, or even buying, a hotel property near or in the center of need.  

On 3/19/2020 at 12:23 PM, JOHN474 said:

President Trump just announced (1220 PM EST Wednesday) that Carnival has offered its Carnival ships to house patients, as needed , in cities such as NYC.  Celebrity & RCL should offer to do the same with all the ships are idled by imminent cancellations. Celebrity should cancel immediately ...and not wait to the last minute to cancel cruises.

Why would this be advisable?  There are empty hotels and motels which could easily be converted to housing all sorts of patients, not just COVOD-19 patients.  Easier to operate and maintain.  This was solely a publicity stunt by Arison CEO of Carnival since a Carnival ship was used to house people in New Orleans After Katrina while hotels were no available.  The USG pain a pretty penny for that, as well to include total refurbishment of the ship.  Hotels are standing empty and already have a well trained staff.

On 3/18/2020 at 11:46 PM, babylene said:

 The border will remain closed as long as there is a health threat.

 

As song as there is a health threat, there will be no cruises for anyone.

 

When it is safe to cruise again, it will be safe to reopen the borders.

International borders will reopen long before cruising restarts.  International traffic is a necessity.  Cruising is not.  Plus before any ship returns to operations it will need to be rectified health safe, crews retrained, and available ports reopened.

Definitely take the refund.  This is the "new normal."  No one has any idea when "cruising" will be able to restart, what it will look like, which ports will be available, what the costs will be, etc.  

Com pared to the airlines, the cruise lines are saints!  Had to cancel a river cruise through France which Uniworld rescheduled for May 2021.  American Airlines, on the other hand, charged my $900 each for canceling.  Rebooking not available after Feb 2021.  Just take our money and then ask for a bail out.  Never fly American again.

15 minutes ago, Relaxedfun said:

Hi friends, Can you tell me why the Pacific Princess is your favorite?  I am gathering information for when I do get to cruise again.  Thanks

Pacific Princes is one of eight "R" class ships built by Renaissance 20 years ago before it went bankrupt.  690 passengers.  Azamara has three of them and operates as a "boutique" cruise line.  Oceania also has three.  Small enough to get into ports the larger ships cannot yet big enough for trans-oceanic travel.  Much more intimate than the bigger ships.  Have sailed on Azamara's ships many time and once on Pacific.  Azamara's are more upscale.  Their focus is focusing on guests rather than on board "adventure" themes like water slides and wave runners.  

You must be kidding, right?  Cruise lines have no idea what will be available, what ships will be ready, what ports will permit cruise ships, etc.  

11 hours ago, Gracie115 said:

Have been waiting for 2 weeks, looks like it will be quite a bit longer.  From the Princess website:

 

 Thank you for your patience during this time. Given the volume of refund requests and the care being dedicated to ensure each guest’s request is processed accurately and in a coordinated manner, please allow for approximately 60 days for refunds to be processed. All refunds will be processed in due course, but delays should be anticipated. Please allow sufficient time for us to manage this process and know we are doing everything in our power to expedite where possible.

What a load of hooey!  CC refunds can and should be processed immediately.  There is no "research" involved.  No waiting for a "check" to clear.  Just another way their are using us, and our money, for their own profit.

Cruise lines own a large portion of the problem.  They kept selling/pushing cruises when they were fully aware of the ramifications of the virus, the cruise cancellations, and the impact off guests.  Providing FCCs instead of refunds is another way they continue to support the fallacy that all will be alright in weeks.  It won't.  This is the "new normal."  Cruise lines are taking our money, looking forward to bailouts from the American taxpayer, and still try to obfuscate the seriousness of the whole situation. 

This is the "new normal" folks.  Get used to it.  Governments and medical professionals believe that this new coronavirus and social distancing and travel "restrictions" will be around for at least 18 months.  And, things will change after that to preclude this occurring again.  NEW NORMAL!

We are booked in February 2021.  Many governments and health officials are saying this could last 18 months.  After that, the availability of travel is a huge unknown as countries shutter borders to non-citizens.  What is know is that it won't be the same as it was prior to January this year.  The cruise industry will likely be one of the largest changes.  See the industry "advice" for health certificates for this of us over 70 as one example.

12 hours ago, Doubt It said:

 

grandgeezer - exactly said.

 

Full refund and handling fee - nothing more or less. Did not receive the product contracted = refund.

 

The FCC is a scam.  

Yes, it is.  Cruise lines know this will be a long term challenge.  Won't go away by Summer, or even Spring.  

FCC is easy for them to cancel or not extend.  Watch...

12 hours ago, Doubt It said:

 

grandgeezer - exactly said.

 

Full refund and handling fee - nothing more or less. Did not receive the product contracted = refund.

 

The FCC is a scam.  

Yes, it is.  Cruise lines know this will be a long term challenge.  Won't go away by Summer, or even Spring.  

FCC is easy for them to cancel or not extend.  Watch...

12 hours ago, Doubt It said:

 

grandgeezer - exactly said.

 

Full refund and handling fee - nothing more or less. Did not receive the product contracted = refund.

 

The FCC is a scam.  

Yes, it is.  Cruise lines know this will be a long term challenge.  Won't go away by Summer, or even Spring.  

FCC is easy for them to cancel or not extend.  Watch...

This is the "new normal" folks.  Get used to it.  Governments and medical professionals believe that this new coronavirus and social distancing and travel "restrictions" will be around for at least 18 months.  And, things will change after that to preclude this occurring again.  NEW NORMAL!

When we traveled south of the Antarctic Circle on Hurtigruten three years ago and the company required a health certificate from a doctor.  Forwarded to the ship in advance, the ship's doctor reviewed the certificates for underlying health challenge that could manifest during the two-week cruise.  That did not restrict those with selected health problems, include one gentleman using crutches and a wheel chair.  Its a very good precaution and probably should have been in place for "general" cruising.  Ships have a very limited capacity to respond to many health challenges and look to offload "sick" passengers at the nearest/next port.  We are 75 and 78 and fall into the health screening criteria.  Have been "cruising" since my first trans-Atlantic in 1949 as a youngster.  Thirty years US Navy.  I applaud this screening and will adhere to its guidance.

This is the "new normal" folks.  Get used to it.  Governments and medical professionals believe that this new coronavirus and social distancing and travel "restrictions" will be around for at least 18 months.  And, things will change after that to preclude this occurring again.  NEW NORMAL!

This is the "new normal" folks.  Get used to it.  Governments and medical professionals believe that this new coronavirus and social distancing and travel "restrictions" will be around for at least 18 months.  And, things will change after that to preclude this occurring again.  NEW NORMAL!