InDaPast

16 hours ago, molly361 said:

Well it's all over our news stations here that ships can't sail until July.  Royal can you hear me😇

They hear ya all right...they're just ignoring you.

Wow..lot's of cheerleaders here...kinda weird ain't it?.....jus say'n.

Wish Mom hadn't dropped me so many times as a little 'ol baby...just made me way too cynical.

5 hours ago, Hlitner said:

the cruise industry talks about special doctors forms, extensive health screenings, eliminating buffets, etc.  this does nothing to lure me back to extensive cruising.  Perhaps the cruise line needs to provide me with doctors notes that cover the entire crew, proof that all air filters on the ship have been converted to HEPA filters and changed on a regular basis, that all luggage coming aboard goes through some kind of disinfection procedure,

Damn...wish I had said that...brilliantly put.

3 hours ago, deec said:

I would like to see Viking keep scooters to a minimum!  There were a few on our WC but have not seen them on other cruises that we took.

Wow....until joining this forum, I had no idea scooters & service dogs where allowed. I guess that shows how long it;s been since my last cruise.

1 hour ago, TOLISTravellers said:

I am tuly feeling up the creek more and more each moment that passes with no news.

The choice is yours, but I believe you should have your attorney contact them ASAP.

3 hours ago, TOLISTravellers said:

I am absolutely petrified that we have not yet received our 60K refund back for the deposit on the 2021 ATW (cancelled a month ago), and not receiving any official communication about expected time for the refund issuance other than "sometime" is where the issue is leading to extra stress

This is almost criminal...yea, yea, I know it really isn't, but to make a customer go through this is !?@?#?$

How about a letter from your attorney? I know it'll cost a couple of hundred, but mitigating your stress is worth it. Had to do that twice with insurance claims. Quickly got results.

Leaving that kind of bucks on the table when a possibility of bankruptcy exists is not something I would want.

8 minutes ago, iancal said:

s long as the fare is paid and the cruiser can fog a mirror it will be welcome aboard

Brilliant!

33 minutes ago, EscapeFromConnecticut said:

The hard-core "optimists" seem to keep clutching at straws.

It's no secret that corporations, governments, & small business owners (sellers on Amazon/Ebay), employ posters to engage on social media in ways that promote their employers or to confuse certain issues. Some of these employees are involved with their forums for a very long time. Most of their postings are benign & they earn a good reputation. When something occurs that requires them to push the party line, they can then jump in & recite the contents of the memo they got from the head office.

I'm not singling out any one on CC. I just think it would be naive not to consider that possibility.

If you can accept that possibility, then I wonder how many of our "optimists" are truly optimistic.

7 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

This excuse of closing off bookings due to managing the # of pax, seems to me like a way to keep people booking that $400 6 or 7 day cruise you know 99% will be cancelled to get the $600 obc.

 

I cant be the only one thought of doing this.

 

I think they know these cruises will be cancelled in late may, saves them paying out a bunch of obc and saves all that processing time.

 

 

You're not. I (& probably others that I haven't seen) have said or implied it.

Me thinks the boys with the key to the executive toilet, have derived their war plans from the book/movie "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room"

16 hours ago, InDaPast said:

 

Yea...dream on Carney....

 

Or, is it a ploy to hang onto folks deposits longer? IE, they want to give folks hope, while the MBA grads in the head office know otherwise.....maybe they were interns at Enron....

2 hours ago, LMaxwell said:

If they have half the people on the ship are they still going to have an entire host of activities (multiple seatings, multiple show performances) space between deck chairs, less crew (maintain same ratio but less people)

Come on...that's easy to do....think of the line to shake the Cap's hand..

At 6ft apart, decks 2,3,4,5, & 6, can easily handle it...if needed, just snake the line down into the bilge.

On 4/7/2020 at 6:51 PM, EscapeFromConnecticut said:

Each of the sailings that had COVID-related trouble since them was corporate malfeasance. None of this "blame the government" red herring.

Yup...

As I posted about Carney's announcement that they will limit pax on their May & June cruises.....

Yea...dream on Carney....

Or, is it a ploy to hang onto folks deposits longer? IE, they want to give folks hope, while the MBA grads in the head office know otherwise.....maybe they were interns at Enron....

2 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

I understand there are reasons for announcing cancellations the way they are doing it, but I wish Carnival, and other cruise lines for that matter, would just state the obvious that no one is going on a cruise any time soon. Articles like this one give people hope that cruises might actually happen in May or June. The chances of that happening are the same as the Bengals winning the Super Bowl next season. 

Yea...dream on Carney....

Or, is it a ploy to hang onto folks deposits longer? IE, they want to give folks hope, while the MBA grads in the head office know otherwise.....maybe they were interns at Enron....

33 minutes ago, seaman11 said:

here check this out,  carnival plans to limit pax on may and june voyages.  see this is what i was thinking, start slow. select cruises. maybe restrict 70 and older im not sure. 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/5259/

May & June, eh?.......yea, right....dream on Carney.

32 minutes ago, chipmaster said:

Until all the listed activities above get back to some sort of normal operation could we even think cruising will start up again, duh

Yup.

I spent most of the morning reading several statements by medical people (from various news sites) that their biggest fear is relaxing the strict measures too soon. They all agree it would negate everything that has been accomplished so far. Numerous new studies & historical data from the 1918 flu seems to support this.

All indicated the only way to go is via a gradual loosening of restrictions. To me little mind, that seems to say that places like airplanes & cruise ships would be the last places to be allowed to return to near normalcy.

8 minutes ago, chipmaster said:

Great marketing blurb,

 

Sadily if anyone noticed every bar/restaurant, sports venue, private gathering for wedding/funeral, church worship is closed.   They could equally put up signs like this, sorry they will still be closed. 

Yup...

Here's a partial quote from what I just wrote in a thread I started, that touches on what you folks are discussing>>

I spent most of the morning reading several statements by medical people (from various news sites) that their biggest fear is relaxing the strict measures too soon. They all agree it would negate everything that has been accomplished so far. Numerous new studies & historical data from the 1918 flu seems to support this.

 All indicated the only way to go is via a gradual loosening of restrictions. To me little mind, that seems to say that places like airplanes & cruise ships would be the last places to be allowed to return to near normalcy.

43 minutes ago, Ombud said:

Not really. Business meetings have gone online ... socializing at a destination & vacations are also optional and don't REQUIRE a flight which is leading to their issues. That can be done within driving distances 

You are correct in what you say & I agree.

However, my comparing the 2 industries was given in the context of why folks cruise or fly. Flying is done if the traveler desires to get somewhere. Cruising for most folks is a vacation within itself. IOWs, folks don't board planes & when they get off say, "Wow, that was a fun vacation"

3 hours ago, OnTheJourney said:

 

I can tell you this much...having been through a crisis onboard a Viking ship (actually having to evacuate about half of the passengers) and then having Mr. Hagen personally visit the hotels where the guests were temporarily housed and talk to all of us....the guy is a class act. The manner in which we were treated, compensated, well cared for during a difficult time, was beyond reproach. I know I speak for many in saying this. I can near guarantee that he means everything he says in that message. 

Thanks for that info. I come from a background of straight-talk'n & appreciate when I get it in return. I sensed the gentleman was such a person & your tale confirms it.

4 hours ago, RPI64 said:

As a former passenger on that cruise, I was wondering what you are doing for entertainment?

 Such a silly question....I'm busy as ever!

"Entertainment?.....I ain't got no stink'n entertainment"

Enjoyed reading this thread (admittedly starting from late Feb.) Heidi13's progress notes made me feel I was experiencing the dramatic events in real time...thanks!

I've taken note of the kudo's given Viking for their actions. Until a few weeks ago, I hadn't even known they were a separate company from the mega inc outfits, so joining CC provided a good education.

MrRandal's post (about his no-hassle refund) in the thread I started also convinced me that when the dust (seaweed?) settles, I'll be booking a cruise with them, hopefully a TA or TP (No, not the TP everyone is concerned about having enough of......geezz, talk about anal retentive).

On 4/4/2020 at 12:31 PM, JoelinSedona said:

Yesterday, my big box travel agent said it may take up to 90 days. They sounded pretty exasperated with Royal. Certainly seems like they're using our money like an easy no cost source of cash flow. 

MrRandal, posted on this thread, >>

that Viking refunded his money within a few days.

24 minutes ago, Jim Avery said:

 Mom says if you ball it up and straighten it back out a few times it was not too bad....

Dad never told me that.

I can't remember exactly, but I'm sure I held it (#1 & #2) in as loonngg as possible.

...haven't been the same since.....

On 3/15/2020 at 3:24 PM, Jim Avery said:

I really hope a wake up call comes from all of this.  Having to be dependent on China for 80% of our meds, along with TP, etc. etc. is insanity.  If we go back to making our own stuff it will be a win overall.

I'm a late joiner here, but my new found interest in Viking lead me to this thread.

Jim's comment made me relive a tragic & heart-rendering moment from my childhood. At the age of 11, I went to (then West) Germany to visit my Mom's relatives with my Dad. They lived in a small rural town.

At my Grandparents house, Dad took me out to the backyard, showed me the outhouse & the cut-up newspaper TP. I don't remember my exact words, but had I been an adult it would have been..."ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FRIGG'N MIND !!@!*#$??" ....The Horror....

21 minutes ago, cruisinfanatic said:

That's quite a ridiculous way to spend the money. The ones that are broke need it to pay bills, and if you are lucky enough not to need it, it should be spent on something to help with jobs

Telling someone to spend their money on what the speaker says/thinks is a high moral cause/purpose is so very wrong on so many levels.

35 minutes ago, navybankerteacher said:

 Basing your decision on having previously sailed with the line is nuts - previous experience may give you specific knowledge —— but LOYALTY????

BULL!!!!

I don't know if my feelings are "normal" (probably would depend on if I take my meds), but I'm loyal to certain businesses based on things they've done which showed they actually gave a damn about having me as a customer.

I don't have enough experience with the travel industry to have developed any loyalty toward a company, but I'm  learning from this board how some companies are treating their customers who have been loyal to them. As previously stated, I'll take that into account when I take my next cruise.

As I have no experience with Viking, I asked for opinions in my thread >>

about this Viking Statement which seemed straight forward & impressed me>>

https://viking.tv/index/story/a-message-from-our-chairman

Haven't gotten a response to that question. You folks seem to have been the ones to ask...what's your take on it?

The main thrust of my thread is actually what Jim said (focusing only on their handling of the refunds issue)>>

On 4/4/2020 at 6:13 AM, Jim Avery said:

Cruise ships will have a tainted reputation to correct