piscean

Testing

We are flying to Italy to join our cruise and whilst Oceania recommend a PCR test  (72hrs) Antigen Test (48hrs) on checking Italy’s entry requirements (Gov,uk) a test (Antigen is acceptable) within 48 hrs of airport arrival in Italy not Heathrow departure

This has caused us a real headache…trying to get a result before leaving Heathrow.

some of the prices quoted have been “eye watering”. 
I hope all the PLF’s for each country are  easier.

When I quoted without insurance I should have clarified that the insurance could be added after the discount . 
insurance is indeed difficult after  a certain age …i currently have a banks (monthly charge) which covers all ages (my husband is 83) with  worldwide cover. I previously had Saga (different to the included Saga cruise insurance)

the TA who is always helpful has refunded 7 cancelled cruises promptly, unlike the Northern Agency….i too put in a section 75  although they took so long the Agency eventually paid after several months.

I also saved around 10% (not including insurance) with my TA for  a Christmas cruise 2022.

My TA is always available and helpful.They make payment direct to the cruises lines, they sell the whole cruise package, not cruise plus flights and transfers like a Northern company. They were very difficult to deal with last year when my cruises were cancelled.

I will never use them again.

I have generally found my TA’s prices very competitive.

31 minutes ago, Funbrit said:

Hello,

What information is there about possible covid restrictions as they pertain to shore excursions?

I asked my TA if ship excursions were going to be the only option as we move forward. She seemed to think independent tours will still be an option.

As an independent tour user, I would much prefer to continue booking my own excursions with private vendors but I am wondering what cruisers out there may be experiencing.....any thoughts or information?

Thank you!

Hello 

I checked with my Uk  Travel Agent recently and was advised the following....

 have double checked this with Oceania and they have advised that you would need to book a shore excursion with Oceania to disembark their ships. 
 

It’s been suggested that when cruise ships sail again that only organised shore excursions will be allowed. No independent time ashore.

If this happens what about the cost of the organised excursions. Oceania are very expensive. Will this mean that we will have to stay on board because we can’t afford to get off?

Hello

Ive cruised with both Regent (gold member)and Saga. 
whilst we like Regent very much they have become very expensive and are now favouring Oceania.

we have cruised a few times with Saga usually because our friends are keen Saga travellers.

They are different ...

They are not luxury but good British....

the staterooms are very nice (with balcony) 

Room service is included.

wi fi is included.

tips are included.

speciality dining is included (not as good as Oceania/Regent but very acceptable)

nice coffee areas  with baristas and snacks.

library also has self service drinks and cookies.

I believe drinks are now included also some free excursions.

Dining room is acceptable to good.

service is excellent.

Another plus is the included taxi to the ship.Routing can be difficult to understand  when sharing but with Covid 19 I would assume taxis wouldn’t be shared and home to ship would be direct.

Value for money is excellent....

Booked a PH3 on Nautica for next year 😀 hopefully....

I was looking at a PH3 guarantee ....

thanks

Thanks for the info, my TA has since advised that PH3’s can have obstruction.

Looking at another cruise now on Nautica...have been in PH3’s before.....taking advantage of the upgrade offer!

Thank you 

We’re looking at a PH3 guarantee next year.....are there any bad positions? We normally have a B3 which we are more than happy with Aft of the ship....does Riviera have any vibration problems?

thank you

Finally received my refund from a Regent, via my TA over 100 days.

Finally received my refund over 100 days...it’s taken a lot of persistence on my part.

thank you SusiQft

46 minutes ago, Pam said:

I was just reading some of the older posts;  our port fees and taxes weren't broken out; I got eight solid credits, four deposits and four final payments, exactly in the order I had paid them.

 

And I am curious; if nobody wants to answer me, I won't get my feelings hurt.  But do cruisers in the UK make payments to their travel agents, instead of the travel agent simply giving Regent your credit card number?  My invoice is from Regent, and my refund was from Regent;  in fact, I knew about the refund before my travel agent did, I let her know.  I am always interested in how people live.

 

 

Hello Pam
I am still waiting my refund ....over 100 days.

To answer your question reference TA’s in the UK...

My preferred TA would pay Regent direct and refund direct to my card. They offer a straightforward package from Regent (flights, transfers etc)

On this occasion I was offered a price they couldn’t match (substantial difference) with a TA that takes Regents cruise and adds on flights, transfers, hotels etc. My contract is with them .

I pay them and they should pay me. UK law is that they should refund in 14 days.

I am advised that they have my monies (I had confirmation from Graham Sadler that it was wired to the TA last week) but it will be 2 weeks before I receive it.

I have raised a cc chargeback but that has taken 9 weeks for someone to contact me.

If I hadn’t chased my TA at every stage it would have been much longer!

HoludayReader

pleased you’ve received your refund.

we are still waiting....over 100 days since refund requested 

6 minutes ago, HOLIDAYREADER said:

Hi

We have had some news to update in that we have been contacted by our Chorley TA to check financial details with a view to payment! Needless to say, we haven't received payment yet but it is promised for this week. I have not posted until we have some news because I have been upset by the unsympathetic attitude of some on this thread who presumably have been paid but think it's a good idea to lecture to other people who haven't about the error of their ways. Sharing the information we have been given, when Oceania say they've 'refunded' it just means that the paperwork has been passed to another department who approve it and then it is passed for payment. Hence, in our case the 2 week delay between Oceania saying they've paid and the monies being received. The travel agent apologised for the service which had not been as professional as they would like but because staff have been furloughed and are also working from home they have, apparently, one lady in the accounts department trying single handedly to pay the thousands of people who are owed money! This sounded genuine. I know when cruise firms pay the TA they just give them the money and a list and it is up to them to work out who is owed what. This may be the case with Regent, who we haven't used again since they cancelled our flights mid-cruise and rebooked them both in the same name consequently leaving my husband without a flight home from New Zealand, but that's another story! Hoping that all of us who are waiting DO get paid and can put this nightmare behind us.🤞

Hello

I fully understand about the lack of sympathy. Over the years I try only to post carefully...
did you get an Abta credit note valid until 31st July that if monies were not paid then our TA would pay! I think they are dragging it out ...I refused the credit note.

Following confirmation from the MD of Regent UK on Friday that the monies had been paid I notified our TA ...no response but on checking our bank account today I find a very small sum has been credited. No notification...
As one of the largest TA’s why would they furlough their staff?
I do hope we all get our monies soon but I don’t have a lot of faith....

On 6/27/2020 at 11:35 AM, HOLIDAYREADER said:

Hi Janet and Piscean. We still haven't received our refund for our April 14th cruise cancelled by Oceania in March. It does seem unfair that the European customers are being treated very badly, I am wondering if they have taken a decision to protect their American customer base. We have been told that the money had reached our Chorley TA on Monday and it would be paid on Friday but no sign of it yet. Back on the phone to the accounts department on Monday I guess! We have held off with our credit card as we have another unrelated claim ongoing which is taking ages too and were hoping that we could avoid going that route again. We will not be using Oceania again.

Hello HolidayReader

I hope you have received your monies from our Chorley TA?

I have now been waiting over 100 days....today I was informed that they have paid my TA.

next problem is getting the TA to pay. They are saying they are still waiting for suppliers of flights, hotels and transfers.

As a package holiday here in the UK we should have been paid in 14 days. 
I applied for a credit card chargeback 2 months ago....they are only just addressing it.

On 6/24/2020 at 9:42 PM, HOLIDAYREADER said:

Hi Piscean. We rang the TA on Monday and were told that the money from Oceania had just reached them that morning! We have been told that we are on the list for processing this week and that the payment should be authorised on this Friday's payment schedule. We are keeping our fingers crossed🤞. We are at 103 days since the cruise was cancelled although we were told that Oceania were taking the date as from 31st March and not 13th which was the actual date. It seems strange that cruises recently cancelled are getting paid back so quickly; a big difference in people's experiences.

hello HolidayReader

It will be interesting to learn if they do indeed credit your card today. Best of luck.

We are still getting excuses but our CC provider is finally on the case...because of Covid 19 it’s taken 7 weeks to get a response.

Paulchili

hello...yes I’ll let you know.

Holiday reader and others that are using a TA in Chorley....I’m still waiting over 100 days and have been advised that they have received the refunds but have no remittance in order to pay me. Also they are still waiting on other suppliers!

I have requested a section 75 card chargeback and have reported the TA to the 

https://www.coronavirus-business-complaint.service.gov.uk/

I’m still trying to get my refund from my TA!

3 hours ago, lprp said:

My apologies to Susie too, but couldn’t resist.  We’ve frequently used SS and never had an issue with them, but these are extraordinary times! I always shop around and wonder if the Reading co is another name for a king, queen or gold coin? Thanks 

yes to the TA.

today I received notification from my TA that their accounts department had received funds but no remittance.....they don’t know who to pay!

further that they are still waiting for the suppliers of flights, transfers and hotel....
 

3 hours ago, flossie009 said:

Yes, fortunately the TA that we use (in Reading, UK) has been excellent throughout the difficult situation caused by the pandemic:

• they have had agents available to answer the phone & emails promptly (their office never closed)
• they have passed on communications from Regent promptly
• most importantly our CC payments are processed by Regent(UK) rather than by the TA so refunds come directly back from Regent to our CC, rather than getting stuck with a third party as in your case. 

apologies again Susie for ‘hijacking’ this roll call....

thanks to Flossie for understanding 

I always use your agent they are truly excellent, indeed I have a cruise on Marina booked with them next year.

At the time SS offered me such a good deal I couldn’t refuse it....

7 hours ago, flossie009 said:

If I understand @piscean correctly their TA (UK) is refusing to return money to piscean that has been refunded to the TA by Regent. Instead the TA is offering a credit note.

I am sure that the TA is struggling in these difficult times but I am afraid that I do not have any compassion or understanding for a company that is seemingly misusing clients’ funds and breaking UK consumer law.

Apologies @SusieQft for interrupting your excellent Refund Roll Call

Also my apologies to Susie.

i have been a member on CC for many years although I’m reluctant to post.

However this roll call has been very helpful and I felt It would be useful to share my experience.

On Oceania’s roll call others are using the same TA and also having problems.

39 minutes ago, flossie009 said:

@piscean, as well as keeping up the pressure on your TA I suggest you share your experience with the UK Government Agency, the CMA: https://www.coronavirus-business-complaint.service.gov.uk/

 

Thank you Flossie. 
I note that you have been refunded for the same cruise. I’m pleased for you.