Tim-C

Gerry

I agree but I would think that Costa staff would be able work from home?  
 

I don’t doubt that they’re extremely busy, but even an update on their website to say “Your cruise is cancelled - we are currently snowed under but you will get a refund if you’re booked on a cruise on 6th April from Spain” would be enough. 
 

it’s obvious that they can’t offer what we paid for - through no fault of their own - but they are handling the mess that we are all in, really badly and it creates a sour taste. 

I feel the same about giving them more business in the future due to the lack of updates. 
 

My flight on 4th is already cancelled. I can’t imagine for a moment that the cruise on 6th will sail from Barcelona - it’s as if they’re keeping us in the dark as long as they can, hope we transfer to another cruise (I had considered that but there’s too much uncertainty). 
 

It’s basically “who blinks first” - Costa or their customers. 
 

I got an email reply a couple of days after sending it. I think This is pretty good considering how overwhelmed they must be.  

I’ve emailed and asked them to change to a Smeralda cruise in Summer Holidays. Keen to do it before there’s a rush if they DO cancel my April one. 

If the crisis continues and the July one looks unlikely, they’ll cancel or I’ll just postpone again. 

Had this reply to my email sent on Friday. It contradicts what they told me on the phone in certain ways, which makes you question what’s going on...

 I think I’ll leave it a few days and maybe transfer to a cruise in Easter 2021. 

Right now, if you were to cancel this cruise ( since it is still confirmed for us) based on the date you sent the email (13.3), the fee would be 25% of the total frozen until 21 days before departure.
However, if you call us at 08003890622and you ask us to change the departure date, we will be happy to change it with no fees but simply applying the cost of the new cruise you choose.

Please find an alternative on www.costacruises.co.uk and then call us when you have it so that we can move you, we have to work on gthe previous booking. We are not responsible for the flights, sorry, since they are booked outiside Costa, for that you need to refer to the airline.

Tripi23 - I assumed Smeralda would be off to work in the Far East by then. I thought this year’s Med cruises were basically sea trials before it goes East. 

Thanks for for letting me know.  I will look into this, as you’re right - July could be dodgy. 

I spoke to someone from Costa Crociere today.  We are NOT entitled to the £50 cancellation fee as we’re under 45 days from sailing.  We would have to forfeit 50% of our money.  He said that if Costa cancelled themselves, we would obviously get it all back, but clearly can’t predict what will occur over the coming weeks.

The best options for us are to a) go ahead with it. b) transfer to another cruise in the future. I would really like to experience Costa Smeralda so I’m tempted to alter it to go in July. (We are both teachers). We can transfer it as late as the date when we are actually scheduled to board on 6th April. 

My wife and I are discussing the best way forward - I have not been successful in contacting Costa - to be fair, they will be bombarded with enquiries, so it’s understandable. The 21 days limit is on Monday. 

I think I will ask for full refund and attach copy of her asthma care plan and the UK government advice to not travel with underlying heath conditions.  I think it is likely that our cruise could still be cancelled anyway (6th April - currently it is still going ahead). 

Thanks for this.  It is useful information- I’m seriously considering it.  Our flights were separate - we didn’t book as a package.  Might be better to cut our losses. 

I’m concerned - we fly to Barcelona on April 4th and board Costa Smeralda on 6th. There’s no margin if they extend the quarantine in Italy - cruise will be off.  I’d be less worried, but if it DOES go ahead, I’ll be worried about my wife who is asthmatic. I’d rather they just cancelled it now, to be honest.