KJR999

Here is the website link I used: https://eta.gov.lk/etaslvisa/etaNavServ select I agree and then apply for an individual Transit ETA

We are also joining in Singapore and we've had a transit visa approved via the Srl Lanka website. Below is from Cunards Roll board who I assume is already on board.

You can apply online for a Sri Lanka transit visa which is free. What are the general conditions of a Transit Visa? If you are staying more than 24 hours to get your connecting flight, you have to apply for a transit visa through the https://www.eta.gov.lk. It is valid only for 48 hours. .

Have they explained why as I would be surprised if they could stop you especially as they have changed the routing? If you had an emergency and needed to fly home urgently how could they stop you disembarking, especially if had a Visa?

Singapore to Southampton. QM2 is 36 night and QA is 33.

We have just heard back from Cunard via our TA and they have been offered a free transfer to QA in 2025 doing a similar itinerary via Dubai. The were not prepared to offer a full refund as mention earlier by @Fairplay

Just to be clear our TA had spoken to Cunard prior to the rerouting notification to ask if we could transfer to the QA cruise in 2025 and was clearly told this would not be an option and if we cancelled we loose our money.

Thanks for this information and will contact our TA to find out if the full refund option is available if we cancel completely.

TA is trying to contact Cunard and waiting to hear back. I suspect Cunard / P&O are very busy dealing the fallout from rerouting notification.

Yes

That correct no cancellation or transfer has been offered so far but have asked our TA to see if this option is open to us given it wasn’t in the email Cunard sent out. Have you consider flying from Mauritius or Durban to the Maldives or instead assuming there are flights?

Thank you for the feedback and agree that Cunard had no choice but to reroute, but wish they had offered the option to transfer to the Queen Anne next year doing the same cruise or cancelled the sectors from Singapore for those joining the cruise at that point onwards. Other cruise lines such as MSC and Royal Caribbean cancelled their cruises through the Red Sea and sail back empty. I feel that I am being held to ransom, I can cancel and loose my money or go on a cruise that we didn’t book with what I perceive to be minimal recompense for the rerouting. We certainly don’t plan cancel and will join the Cruise in Singapore which no doubt we will enjoy, but shine has been taken off it and feel that Cunard are short changing us because of the major route change.

I have been mulling over Cunard’s offer of OBC and FCC for the last 24 hours given the major itinerary change due to the crisis in the Red Sea. Whilst understanding Cunard had no choice in having to make the change, I feel what is offered as compensation is very very disappointing. My compensation equates to 17% of the original fare paid which IMHO does not compensate for such a major change. We have previous cruised the new itinerary route on the QM2 and specifically booked the Singapore to Southampton because it was stopping at ports in the UAE. So we are being offered a cruise we didn’t book or want to do and the compensation does not that does not make up for such a major change. I’ve written this to seek other people’s opinions to see if what is being offered is fair given such a major change?

I see it says in the Notice from Cunard posted earlier that "We really hope you choose to continue to with Cunard Vacation". Has a cancellation and rebook option been offered as the Queen Anne is doing the same cruise next year from Singapore via Dubai to Southampton?

If QM2 follows QV from Sri Lanka via South Africa to Southampton it can still arrive back in Southampton the 28th April as planned. https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/find-a-cruise/V408D/V408D?categoryCode=S_M&cruiseCode=V408D&rateCode=KD1&typeCode=S The key question for Cunard if they reroute QM2 is which ports will have available capacity for them to stop at plus the logistic for refuelling and replenishing food stocks.

Costa Toscana‘s March 9, 2024 departure from Dubai – a 19-night cruise meant to reposition the ship from the United Arab Emirates to Italy for the Mediterranean summer season – has been cancelled. Guests were notified of the cancellation less than six weeks before the cruise was to set sail. https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2024/01/costa-cruises-cancels-red-sea-repositioning-voyage/#:~:text=Costa Cruises is cancelling a,depart on March 9%2C 2024.

https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2024/01/aida-cancels-red-sea-cruises-for-aidaprima-aidablu-and-aidabella/

Appreciate your reply! This is our 40th cruise, 10th on Princess and have no plans to sail on Princess again based upon our recent experience.I agree that both Ships and planes have their own noises and vibrations, but the noises we have experienced are more extreme and are akin to airplane jets engines roaring loudly prior to take off to get the plane up to speed to take off.

We are on the Island Princess Northern lights Cruise 4th to 18th October from Southampton and booked a Premium Oceanview Cabin. Cabin is fine but is very noisy when docking, leaving port or when anchored. The front thruster which is push the ship off the dock or help it turn is very noisy and the cabin vibrates whilst it is on. Even worse when anchored off shore, pulling up the anchor is even worse. Last night we left Alta in Norway at 4am and had nearly an hour of extreme noise which woke us up and could not get back to sleep until after it had stopped. I strongly recommend that people avoid booking the forward Ocean view cabins as they will all suffer with the same noise problems albeit for short periods. We reported the issue to Princess on aboard and they were unable to move us. They said they were considering offering a future cruise credit which is of no use to us. I think this is a known problem and Princess should make customers aware of this the same way they advertise obscure balcony’s.