chisoxfan

Chase Sapphire Reserve has 100k medical evac, Sapphire Reserve does not. They have trip cancellation coverage due to cause (10k pp) also that I feel comfortable with. Third party evac insurance is cheap and often includes some small medical benefit (current med insurance covers out of country). Just purchased an evac policy (250k) for 1 week Caribbean for 17 bucks ( well known insurance company). So this is all the insurance we need. Just a comment on group rates and insurance. In one instance, after purchase from major T/A I discovered this group rate would not allow insurance purchase from the cruise line. Even though I was not that interested in this I was miffed it was not disclosed. I have no idea if this is typical but might need to be considered for some.

I have had a few of these but not often. I have had some limitations when booking with group rates also . Anyway, now booking with cruise line, checking two T/A sources and then transfer booking. Frankly knowing X is not offering 'typical' NR deposits I will not be looking at them as a primary option not to say I would not cruise them if the opportunity arose.

Not sure I follow. I have used several agents and don't know any who can 'waive' a non refundable deposit without using insurance which is not always that transparent (or cheap). Anyway, I don't stay up at night worrying about it. If X offered some extraordinary value to me I might rethink the NR deposit as much as I disfavor it. Just hoping that HAL and Princess don't follow suit- unlikely if X doesn't see any market repercussions.

I refuse to book a cruise (or hotel) with a non refundable deposit. X offers refundable option but as many know the price add on is insane (numbers in Retreat I have seen are 15-17% premium often much more than an actual cancellation). MSC YC has smaller deposit requirements that are NR and at least offer some options for rescheduling. Princess and HAL have resisted the NR option so they will get my business. I mean a cruise is fully paid for 90 days or more out which is way more onerous than most hotels and some lines still think they can apply even more stringent NR policies? JMHO ps. glad initial poster was reimbursed by TA but not sure that is where the ultimate problem lies.

Agree. I have been 'shocked' to see some walking tours (not just from HAL) in towns for 80-140 pp. We are probably 'backwards' in our booking process especially with generally full ships in the marketplace. We find and book a cruise of interest (fortunately CCL lines don't charge cancellation fees) and then research airfare, excursions, transfers ie. travel logistics. On several recently, when we 'figure things out' , we determine it just 'isn't worth it'. That is, the cruise is attractive but not when considering air options, pre and post hotels, and excursions. Maybe that is the next 'package' frontier. We used to wait in anticipation for the last night 'bar bill' which was eliminated with drink packages. Perhaps on itinerary 'based' cruises there will be more 'packages' to include tours. JMHO

We cancelled an Arctic Circle cruise (June 24) in part because the HAL excursions were sold out. Usually we would look to Viator or local excursions but these are few and far between in Norway. Certainly not the only reason we cancelled but was surprised that HAL did not have better availability. I understand that there are limited providers in these ports but really don't want to commit to a cruise where excursions are so sparse. It's not like HAL is giving these away. JMHO

Glad I checked. Unbeknownst to me X had transferred the FCC to the national TA I used for the particular trip. I knew you could specify a TA when you made an aboard booking but didn't think a transfer would be made to them without request. Anyway they (TA) found it and refunded. The TA intimated it was kind of in a 'black hole' based on the way it was transferred and doubted there would have been any mechanism for refund automatically.

Ouch, that is a bit different. I will call X. Hopefully they won't have a charge to talk to agent.

Thanks! Not a lot of money so we will wait for refund.

We purchased a FCC on Apex in October (100 pp) dropping our 'form' in box at Future cruise area. We have been on another X cruise since then and aren't seriously considering any future cruises with X. We were surprised this credit does not show up on our account (unless not looking in right place). Anyway, my understanding is that the extra credit would be for cruises booked within 6 mos. When this does not happen is there a mechanism for automatic refund (200) or does one need to contact X? Along those lines can one simply cancel/ refund prior to 6mos.? Many thanks in advance for response.

I agree. I don't really care about a butler but tales of morning coffee and croissants delivered and mini fridges filled make me feel I was missing something. No butler at all on 10nt. Apex Oct. 23 and a 'non-existent' head butler on Ascent in Jan. Apparently X feels they can mix up services, drink packages, etc between cruises in Retreat at their whim (and apparently by ship) and we are all supposed to be OK with this and applaud the unknown return. Heck of a way to run a business impacting your highest revenue passengers. JMHO ps. reminds me of a complaint I filed with Westin in Paris regarding the shabby accommodations of a very expensive 4 star hotel. 'But sir we are going to renovate the property in several months".

State and local tax free.

Thanks for you report. As outlined earlier a big issue with X seems to be their inconsistencies. On Apex 10 night in SS we never met a head butler. On Ascent he (head butler) and the room attendant introduced themselves on boarding and gave us cards which I thought was a nice touch. We had room service breakfast on Ascent the first morning and the head butler appeared to help arrange tables, etc. Great I thought..... but we did not see him again during the cruise. While we don't need a butler,etc. one is struck by the inconsistency between ships, etc. ie. what are we really getting on any cruise? That is not a good look. Sorry to beat the price drum again but we booked Sun Princess next Jan in suite with a ton of things included and then on to HAL with (at least) a dedicated suite dining room as part of their Club Orange. Total price for both cruises and refundable deposits was the same as Ascent SS one week with non refundable. We like the E Class but are way more excited with the fantastic live music of HAL and trying a new Princess 'super ship'. We are not sure what we are going to get but have some of the 'old anticipation' that we used to feel when cruising. The X 'excitement' factor seems to be 'what have they cut corners on and how much are they going to increase pricing' for drinks, specialty dinners, etc. JMHO

If you follow X boards there has been much comment on X Retreat and comparisons to MSC, Oceania, Regent, etc.etc. primarily in the context of cruise value for the money. I think this is helpful as many of us sail on multiple lines and are hoping to stay abreast of current offerings and what other X cruisers think of them. There is much X comparison on other boards. If that makes us a chumps in your mind that is your opinion but I look forward to seeing what other cruisers are finding as they try different lines. JMHO

Like the US debt, a billion there and a billion over there and now you are talking real money. 😜 The question is whether it is a good investment (CCL) for somebody based on OBC they anticipate. For some it is and perhaps for those that bought in at 40 or 60 dollars it was not so good. I have heard many arguments that a new product/ subscription is only 50cents a day or whatever. Just because I can afford it doesn't make it a smart investment. JMHO

Yes. I am not sure we have ever had lunch in a cruise ship dining room and I am not sure what to expect in Club Orange..... not anticipating Luminae quality but also not paying for it. This dining is what HAL suite passengers get so I am thinking it can't be that bad. We are on Nieuw Statendam which does have dedicated dining room.

I guess my middle name should be 'scammer'. Does CCL say you need to own stock for x days to get OBC? If I buy and hold for two weeks is that legit? One month? Since CCL management sells shares frequently that they pay little or nothing for I am not going to confession because I bought and sold CCL stock for the 'minimal' OBC offered. To date I haven't stolen any towels or bath soaps, but have been eyeing the laundry bags.☺️

Glad you enjoyed it and hope you have a great cruise on your balcony. I did see an interesting YT video from a frequent cruiser who enjoyed her IV with bed by door but felt it was much less favorable with bed by balcony. Just thought it interesting and something I would not have considered.

My point was that I get the OBC also without any risk. So in that sense have an infinite ROI. The value of CCL is in the eye of the beholder but the question was if it was worth buying (and holding for OBC) and my only comment would be that a stock should be purchased because one believes in the soundness of the business.

We thought Luminae was solid not spectacular on Ascent and Apex. For us the service on Apex was superior. The hostess was so accommodating on Apex less so on Ascent. The tables (2x) just seemed tighter on Ascent and on both ships the two tops were tiny and required a balancing act at times. We tried Blu on Ascent and thought the decor was amazing but service a bit slow (maybe because we weren't regulars). Our take away is that we liked Luminae but frankly do not feel it was fully in keeping with the 'luxury' Retreat prices. We just booked a 7N Princess Sun cruise in their new suite area (basically the Retreat style- lounge, restaurant, pool) and will go afterwards on HAL balcony with their Club Orange dedicated dining. We are looking forward to trying these venues. Price for 14 days (both cruises) was the same as APEX 7 days with a non refundable fare. We would gladly cruise again on E class if pricing was more reasonable but it isn't that amazing of a product that I am going to sit around looking for 'deals' which ultimately are at the same suite price as other mainstream lines. JMHO

They have over 30b debt and equity is under 7b so I think debt is their problem. Anyway commenting to original poster why would you buy this stock long term for a small OBC. Buy it, record in account and sell it and you get your OBC without rolling the dice on this one. JMHO

Yes buy it and sell it immediately. It is cheap because they are drowning in debt with liquidity drying up and high interest rates- but all of us like OBC.

Agree... we loved BB Kings and experienced it on Eurodam and Westerdam previously. It is a reason for us to choose a ship and we are doing Nieuw Statendam upcoming. Looking forward to Rolling Stone also. HAL seems to be unique in how they present good live music.

Don't be confused. I said E class and mentioned Ascent. My last cruises were on Ascent and Apex in balconies. So I have your blessing to sleep with the balcony open?

Infinite Veranda = Inflation Reduction Act or Patriot Act. 😉