On 6/14/2020 at 10:16 AM, fairywren said:

We were going to fly to Europe in May, but cancelled in March requesting a full refund due to not being able to fly out of Australia. Qatar Airlines took some time processing it but we finally received the full amount directly into my credit card. Very happy with Qatar's service as they kept me informed during the process.

You were lucky.

We cancelled with Qatar mid April and promised refund within 30 days. Since then many calls and promises and "call back in a week" etc, no contact from Qatar until 2 weeks ago when I received an email asking if we want a refund or a credit and to reply immediately. I did point out in the reply that it has been several weeks since the refund was requested. 10 days later they advised that the refund has been approved with a warning "please note that it may take up to 28 days for the amount to appear on your bank statement and in the unlikely event that your refund is not credited after 28 days, please reply to this email" so it will be at least 90 days before we see the refund for 4 tickets to Europe from Qatar.

Not impressed with the lack of communication from them and the fact that they are still not willing to refund any time soon. 

We have used a US TA for years. Never had any problems with the Australian passports regardless of the warnings. Better price and service as well as good OBC. Normally buy a USD travel card when the rate is acceptable and pay for the cruise with it.  The only problem we have had was the amount our bank allows to use from the card in one transaction. Last time we got separate cards to overcome this issue.

Having said that, our last booked cruise on the Med, now cancelled due to COVID19, was a better price here than our US TA's even with the OBC and shore excursion included by her. 😀

4 hours ago, The_Big_M said:

 

Is it the case that you did only pay a small deposit and the above is letting you switch to the regular deposit terms? 

 $125 each same as it is today. Checked an US TA they final payment is earlier than our original one.

25 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

 

27 Sep. and is for 4 people $840.   Regardless if we go or not, this is not the way to treat your customers, hope nobody will be fooled.

Just now, nanaof2 said:

Thank you all for your ideas, suggestions and replies. Kept me busy today in our self imposed isolation. It has been a change from cleaning, cooking, TV, books etc. Will let you know if I get a reply. Take care and stay safe nana 🍀

38 minutes ago, Chiliburn said:

You answered your own question.

 

My advice 

I don’t think you’re trip will happen.

We are in trouble times and you don’t want to be on the other side of the world in this.

 

I know, we will have a video conference with the family next couple of weeks to agree on the next step, most likely to cancel everything. The big amount paid is in the airfares, hoping they cancel the flights and we can have a refund instead of credits. No crystal bowl here to predict next year.

1 hour ago, Chiliburn said:

 

I would ask your self if you want to gamble the extra,because it is a gamble if you’re trip happens.

Being through qantas it could be refunded but I don’t think so.

 

 

Not a gambler. Unfortunately I don't believe that we will do this trip, 18 months in the making with the land components, flights etc. Very sad, but health is more important than a trip. 

12 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

I read that thread yesterday. I think the person paid one pound each deposit. It was suggested that the request to pay more was to bring the amount paid up to the normal deposit amount.

We paid $125 each deposit and it remains the same amount even today.

4 minutes ago, The_Big_M said:

 

Thanks. With respect to the earlier poster, and the fact the above says "full deposit" it does sound like you got a promo deposit where you pay some token or smaller amount, and these bookings normally have earlier final payment than usual.

 

Is it the case that you did only pay a small deposit and the above is letting you switch to the regular deposit terms? 

Don't know. We paid what they asked for, and still are, no mention of a different amount for deposit. Had a look at an US TA smallish deposit and final payment is 2 days before ours.

17 minutes ago, sewgood said:

I was just over at the Princess board and read the first post in the thread "Keep watching the cruise personaliser".

Looks like if his post is correct that Princess may be starting to do this as well.

 

 

Oh no!! 

2 minutes ago, Chiliburn said:

I would ask the Royal Caribbean forum for advice.

 

I have also put this on the Meet and Greet for the cruise. 

Waiting for replies to see if I'm unique😌

Will let you know.

3 minutes ago, Chiliburn said:

Is it a legitimate email?

 I t could be a scam,they are very convincing sometimes 

Yes it is, hope so anyway, not that I would give them any more without actually contacting by phone the TA. Got 2 separate email saying the same except different amounts as one cabin has more people and is a different booking number. 

I have replied requesting explanation as to why would I want to do this 3 months out of departure etc.

4 minutes ago, The_Big_M said:

Can you pass the wording on?

Just to clarify, couple of months ago the TA sent a form to fill out if we wanted to be advised for any changes from RC. This appears to be the reply. Also, one of the cabins has a refundable deposit, but looks like that have ignored that part. The $210 is per person!

EMAIL received:

Please be advised that we have not received an updated notification from the cruise line regarding cancel sailing.

If you wish to cancel booking, deposit is forfeited.

through our national airline

the TA is through our "national" airline. 

Just for information, this morning I checked the prices for the same category cabins, 2, one is now selling for +$2000 and the other for +$2500. WOW. Not many cabins left and RC must expect a rush for the ones left. 

Cruise 27 Sep 2020 RC Explorer of the Seas Rome to Rome

We have just been offered through our TA an extension for final payment by 11 days, July 3,  for an additional cost of AU$210 additional deposit? per person. Not sure if it is from RC or TA.

What a joke. 

I know RC is saying, via email I received, they are hoping to "get back to making memories beginning May12, 2020" except North America,  they must know something I don't know about the coronavirus disappearing from the rest of the world by then, ports will be open, except NA and people will be very happy to sail the Med etc in just over 5 weeks. 

Our travel ban has no end date at the moment and we would not be travelling to Italy etc in the next few weeks probably months. I don't think it is safe to travel anywhere at the moment and that will not change by May12.

Maybe is a way to get final payment instead of cancellations, possible to fill RC bank account considering the position they are in at the moment. 

Just got off the QE in Sydney. Not sure about the eggs benedict, but all the other items were on the breakfast menu. Best meal of the day.

The traffic around Sydney airport is getting worse by the day. Weekends are probably as bad as or worst than during the week.

Give yourselves plenty of time to get there or, depending on baggage, get the train in Circular Quay to the domestic airport. I think it's $15 each but gets you to the terminal without traffic concerns.

The only problem you could have is track maintenance on the train line and then they use buses. :)

NSW school holidays start April 13 so the airport will be extremely busy by the 12th. :mad:

We did an underwater walk in Moorea, a ship excursion. After the original hesitation/fear it was the best experience ever, never to be forgottten. Highly recommended. :cool:

This morning I had a phone call from Ponant, to address some of my concerns. No idea how they found "the real me", so that shows good Customer Service! The lady assured me we would be sailing at 8pm. so I told her where to find the Port Authority site that said we sail at 6pm.......now she is confused as well!! LOL...... We wont miss the boat whatever time it sails......will be at White Bay quite early..... packing is almost done!

See you in White Bay or on board:D

Thank you all for your suggestions. Happy New Year

We are travelling on the Ovation in a couple of weeks. Our allocated check-in is 12-12.30pm with a 6.30pm departure.

The TRS website advises that the booth at the OPT Sydney is manned approximately 1-4 hours prior to departure.

I believe once on board, we will not be allowed to leave the ship. Does this mean we will not be able to claim the refund of GST?

Thank you in advance for your help Nana:o

Dear Folks,

 

I was just wrapping up packing and this 3kg constraint for the hand baggage (in addition to a standard sized roll aboard) turns out to be a real constraint. But do they really enforce this? It is their policy (pasted below), but it seems draconian.

 

Any insights welcome! Thank you.

 

From their website:

 

"In compliance with Civil Aviation Safety Authority Regulations, it is necessary to limit the size, weight and number of passengers' carry-on baggage. Passengers on Air Tahiti Nui are allowed the following carry-on baggage:

All carry-on baggage allowances in the table below. Piece AllowanceWeight Limitation

(Maximum per piece)Maximum Dimensions

Combined dimensions

(length + width + height)Adult & Child

(From 2 years old)1

*plus 1 personal item22 lbs / 10 Kg45 in / 115 cm

 

*In addition to your cabin baggage allowance, one personal item (3kg max) may be carried in the cabin including one of the following: Handbag/pocket book, small camera case, infant bag or baby food, and laptop computer with case."

"*plus 1 personal item22 lbs / 10 Kg45 in / 115 cm" this is the cabin allowance +the 3kg handbag etc. That is more than most airlines that only allow 7kg +handbag. Have a safe trip :)

We were on Silversea in Oct 2015, and one couple did not have visas for China. Silversea offloaded them in the last port before China, a small island in South Korea. Would not even allow them to stay onboard without getting off the ship in the chinese ports.

It was a sobering experience watching the couple being removed from the ship.:(

Hi David

Could you please add to your list

L'Austral 6 March 2018 Sydney to Cairns :)