Trevor33

Thank you for your reply. As you say you are able in the United states  to book the same Cunard cruise as we can in the uk but due to legislation you are able to book with a refundable deposit whereas we book on a non refundable basis. Ouch it must be time to apply for my Green Card ! 

Deposits paid to Cunard/Carnival Uk do not have the option of a refundable or non refundable choice when making a booking. Am I correct from what you say that if booking a Cunard Cruise from the United States that you have an option on booking as to whether your deposit is made to secure the booking on a fully refundable basis or non refundable deposit? It would basically mean that the Booking Conditions for the same Cruise Line are different in the USA to the UK? You update would be greatly appreciated

32 minutes ago, leaveitallbehind said:

 

Not sure I completely understand what you are saying.  As you are discussing deposits, Most cruise lines offer an option for a refundable as well as a non-refundable deposit (NRD) with their bookings already that are fully refundable up to final payment.  Those currently booked with a refundable deposit have no $ risk. Are you suggesting that they should waive the NRD policy for currently booked cruises with a NRD and make them all fully refundable?   

 

Most have already relaxed the penalty policy and are allowing the full NRD to be transferred to a new booking. True, that is not an immediate refund, but if you do that, with most lines you can then rebook the new fare as a refundable deposit thus providing the refund flexibility with the new booking.  You can then cancel if desired and receive a full refund.  Many are also extending the deposit period relative to final payment date to provide greater flexibility.

 

And with any new booking being considered, you would have the option to book the cruise with a refundable deposit this eliminating any risk of deposit loss, making your concerns moot.

 

What are the surveys you mention?  IMO as you indicate that it is with reference to future bookings - again, for which you can book with a refundable deposit with no deposit risk- not sure how that relates to current bookings deposits.

 

Not being critical - just confused.

32 minutes ago, leaveitallbehind said:

 

Not sure I completely understand what you are saying.  As you are discussing deposits, Most cruise lines offer an option for a refundable as well as a non-refundable deposit (NRD) with their bookings already that are fully refundable up to final payment.  Those currently booked with a refundable deposit have no $ risk. Are you suggesting that they should waive the NRD policy for currently booked cruises with a NRD and make them all fully refundable?   

 

Most have already relaxed the penalty policy and are allowing the full NRD to be transferred to a new booking. True, that is not an immediate refund, but if you do that, with most lines you can then rebook the new fare as a refundable deposit thus providing the refund flexibility with the new booking.  You can then cancel if desired and receive a full refund.  Many are also extending the deposit period relative to final payment date to provide greater flexibility.

 

And with any new booking being considered, you would have the option to book the cruise with a refundable deposit this eliminating any risk of deposit loss, making your concerns moot.

 

What are the surveys you mention?  IMO as you indicate that it is with reference to future bookings - again, for which you can book with a refundable deposit with no deposit risk- not sure how that relates to current bookings deposits.

 

Not being critical - just confused.

It was on the main page

On 3/18/2020 at 9:05 PM, reddogranch said:

What are the pros and cons on the Queen Victoria?

We have sailed Queen Victoria several times. We started Britannia and unfortunately the standards and food quality have slowly continued to fall. We moved ever since to Princess Grill, the fare is of course much higher but the food on repeated cruises has been very good with excellent choices if you prefer to eat off the a la carte. The big difference is the quality of meats, the service and of course the private deck, Afternoon tea served in the Princess Grill so no Long queues in the Queens Room. We have also been Queens Grill twice but find for some reason that the Princess Grill suits us better though the Princess Suite is smaller. In addition you have the service of a Concierge and a private lounge that serves hot drinks free most of the day. The extra comfort and enjoyment we believe is more than worth it. Britannia Club allows you to eat open sitting times and avoid the Canteen feeling eating in the Britannia Restaurant with approx 800 plus people per sitting. 

After the current Coronavirus Pandermic Insurance restrictions, options, and costs will no doubt increase for all. We all hope never to need to claim on the insurance but as we all know the unexpected can occur. Some may try to insure the minimum requirements going forward perhaps excluding repatriation in the event of being stranded in another country or even worse needing to be air lifted off the ship due to a medical emergency. Booking Conditions normally state that in the event of insufficient insurance cover then the cruise line will still treat/transport the passenger at its cost but the passenger agrees(under the Booking Conditions when booking)  that they will repay the costs incurred to the cruise line. Needless to say whatever policies and costs that there are post Pandemic then these could still be the better option. It is normally the official line that the passenger agrees to have proper cover as a condition of sailing although from experience to date I have never been asked to show any Insurance information at the cruise terminal prior to boarding.

On 11/23/2019 at 2:49 AM, erniebernie said:

Thanks everyone for your replies.  Lakesregion  we dont plan on selling the pieces we get  we buy then because we like them and they will eventually be left for our grand kids  so the more Grand kids we have the more cruises we have to take:)

We purchased a painting in the on board gallery whilst on a Cunard cruise a year of so ago. On board we were advised that it would be sent to our home on our return from their Gallery ashore. When we got home we looked at the Gallery website purely to look at what we had bought onboard.  The picture we had agreed to purchase on the ship was on the website at a price much below what we had paid on the ship. The salesperson on the ship advised that we could buy duty free and it was cheaper to buy at sea - However this proved not to be reality. After much correspondence and angst the ship/gallery honoured the gallery price and refunded the additional money we had paid. Each to their own but we wont be doing that again. I hope you were luckier but perhaps you didnt look at the shore price.

It is a given that the current Worldwide Coronavirus Pandemic is tragic resulting in over a million having contracted the virus and already many thousands of deaths -All our hearts go out to those affected and their loved ones. Cruise lines like any business are there to make money and all understand this. People are naturally extremely worried that when this has subsided  the thought of going on a cruise will for some be a definite no. Some will delay cruising to another year and some will take up the deals that will no doubt be available and return and cruise straight away. But what about those that have booked and are not now wanting to cruise "Full Stop" in light of recent unexpected events? Should Cruise companies be offering those already booked the option of an IMMEDIATE REFUND of deposit paid without conditions regardless of how far ahead their cruise may be? Several Surveys are showing that a reasonable percentage of previous cruisers will not now be contemplating a cruise regardless of any sweetner a cruise company pay offer - Rightly or wrongly we have all seen the affected cruise ships caught up in the Virus with the Coronavirus passing fast through the ships seemingly regardless of people being isolated in cabins. No one blames the cruise industry for Covid19 but should those that now fear cruising through NO FAULT of their own be given the option of their deposit back. This is an extremely contagious virus we all hope that we dont see the like of it again but it is suggested that it could spike again as a vaccine needs to be discovered and the World all needs to have been innoculated. Should the cruise companies be thinking about their business or the World we all now see ourselves in?

It is a given that the current Worldwide Coronavirus Pandemic is tragic resulting in over a million having contracted the virus and already many thousands of deaths -All our hearts go out to those affected and their loved ones. Cruise lines like any business are there to make money and all understand this. People are naturally extremely worried that when this has subsided  the thought of going on a cruise will for some be a definite no. Some will delay cruising to another year and some will take up the deals that will no doubt be available and return and cruise straight away. But what about those that have booked and are not now wanting to cruise "Full Stop" in light of recent unexpected events? Should Cruise companies be offering those already booked the option of an IMMEDIATE REFUND of deposit paid without conditions regardless of how far ahead their cruise may be? Several Surveys are showing that a reasonable percentage of previous cruisers will not now be contemplating a cruise regardless of any sweetner a cruise company pay offer - Rightly or wrongly we have all seen the affected cruise ships caught up in the Virus with the Coronavirus passing fast through the ships seemingly regardless of people being isolated in cabins. No one blames the cruise industry for Covid19 but should those that now fear cruising through NO FAULT of their own be given the option of their deposit back. This is an extremely contagious virus we all hope that we dont see the like of it again but it is suggested that it could spike again as a vaccine needs to be discovered and the World all needs to have been innoculated. Should the cruise companies be thinking about their business or the World we all now see ourselves in?

We all understand the Booking Conditions/the pages of small almost ineligible small print in the back of the brochures. The World is in the midst of a Pandemic which no one saw coming. We all are mindful at this time for all that are suffering the virus and those many lives across the World that have been lost. The World will be a different place after and will take time for the cruise industry and travel to recover to whatever degree it will. Whilst the cruise industry is not responsible  for the Pandemic it has operated in an expanding market place for many years, vast profits, regular new ships, large profits in return for mostly happy vacations. When Cruising ceased many people had their holidays cancelled  or altered. Understandably ports were closed and itinerary changes changed some cruises completely. Having a future cruise booking with Cunard at the time cruises were cancelled I am in a position(as many will be) where Cunard have £11,000 plus of our money as a deposit for a future cruise. Whilst we understand Cunard is a business should they be allowing booked passengers to take back the deposits they hold "Without Strings Attached" in light of peoples fears regarding cruising in light of the Carnival/Princes cruises/Holland America problems of recent weeks? Whilst this is not just affecting Carnival should they be taking a "Fair Stand" as it has the monopoly  all the cruise lines. People are worried about cruising now and post Pandemic(see Cruise Critic Survey) so should the cruise lines be more understanding and responsible at a time when many thousands have died and currently over a million people have contracted Coronavirus? 

The cruise industry will take an unknown period of time to recover fully. Many people that have cruised before may not be rushing to book a cruise when the World gets back to more normality as we all hope. Carnival Group consisting of 9 cruise lines has I understand borrowed a vast amount of money in the past months to support the whole group of cruise companies in its portfolio. Things may be difficult with Cunard shortly bringing a 4th Queen to the market place with several thousand more cabins to fill. Sadly for a while the cruise market may downsize in bookings when the industry has been expanding with many of the other cruise companies also bringing new ships to the market place every year. I hope the cruise lines survive and thrive again and particularly Carnival as they have such a large market share. Carnival's Costa Concordia understandably caused ripples through the industry as sadly has Carnival's Princess Cruise Line but lets hope somehow things improve. I hope Carnival are more flexible in there offer to existing customers that have booked as it is important in these times to look after and retain as many regular cruisers as possible. The offer of 125% Future Cruise credits is a good step but have been told by Carnival/Cunard Southampton today that whilst we can choose to move our booking to another cruise we will still have to spend at least the same amount or more than our original booking.

On 3/30/2020 at 3:38 AM, IDB37 said:

After the awful events of the last few months, a myriad of things will need  massive improvement if public confidence is to be regained by all Cruise lines, including Cunard.

 

Just one matter which springs to mind, is that henceforth,  surely absolutely no-one should be permitted to enter the Kings Court, or any of the Dining rooms, without hands being washed. I don't think I could restrain myself in the event of watching someone decline to do so.

 

I even wonder whether the concept of  'buffet' style eating is sustainable moving forward.

 

Thoughts ? 

I agree with your comments. We are aware that Norovirus too regularly spreads through a cruise ship mainly due to perhaps unknowingly having the virus and not using the hand sanitisers, hand washing etc. How many times we have seen people visiting the on board buffets and just walking past the sanitiser stations. I went on a Holland America ship on the cruise after a norovirus outbreak and all food was being served by staff. Whilst this is not the intention of a buffet it is perhaps something that should be introduced for at least the first few days of every cruise if only to remind those choosing not to sanitise for the benefit of all. Sadly with the Coronavirus cruise ships have suffered both through the close proximity of people but also as is now being discussed it is being transferred from cabin to cabin via the air conditioning systems that on many ships cannot be turned off in the cabins. 

My Partner and I have booked the 108 night World Cruise on Queen Victoria departing 10 January 2020. We and the whole World are shocked and saddened by the Coronavirus and especially for those affected and having lost a loved one. I guess many have seen the current offer on Cunard's website offering options to move existing bookings etc. Having spoken with Cunard today at great length it appears that the information on their website is different to what I have been told relative to cruise departures departing after 31 August 2020. We have been told by Cunard today that although we can transfer our cruise to a cruise of lesser value or even more than one future cruise the condition is that the new booking(s) need to be at least equal in cost to the original that may/may not go ahead. Can anyone that has similar advice/in a similar situation please update this post with a reply regarding their experience with Cunard. Whilst Cunard are not responsible for the current situation we are concerned that our trip although 8 months away may still have serious amendments to the itinerary rendering it a "Non World Cruise". Cunard advises in its Booking Conditions that a cruise would only be considered null and void if the Itinerary had a "Significant Change". The problem here is that although Booking conditions are supposed to be clear to all parties there is no explanation of the term"Significant Change". Has anyone else encountered this or had a clear written explanation of what this means?