Jayneykul

I got an email from them saying this cruise was cancelled and my deposit would be refunded but my cruise consultant I’m Miami says this was a system error and we are still booked “fingers crossed”

I would have expected a letter to download as you have received? Sail date was 15.9.21. I have contacted them they say they are looking to resume in Europe after Oct 2021 so that means not this year really 

We had epic booked for September 2021. Just opened my emails and there is a cancellation invoice in there without any letter or anything has anyone else recd this?

We have done L&S for our Celebrity Edge sailing 29.11.20 to the same itinerary 27.11.21 on Celebrity Apex really happy with that. Just hoping KLM will issue us with a voucher for the flights to Miami but it’s at their discretion 🤞

Hope you have had your money by now Pensioncruiser?

I think Celebration has gone out of commission Hawksbayne. I know what you mean by Butlins my comment on the Squid & anchor was “haven afloat” So we didn’t go in there again but there are other really nice venues especially on Explorer 2 which was Celebrity Century (we sailed on her to Alaska when she was Century). Anyhow if the prices are comparable we would go Celebrity every time!

That’s an astronomical price hike! Hope you sort something better out for your disappointment! Our March Marella bargain was cancelled last minute only just got the money back booked the Edge for 29.11.20 if it goes ahead it will be a phenomenal bargain if not ..... back to the drawing board. Just to tell you a funny story Sorry for going off topic, but on P&O Britannia I ordered the breakfast special of kedgeree & they brought me a plate of Fish curry n rice clearly from the previous day buffet. Would I go on P&O again, not likely ha ha

Oh that is great to hear cangelmd!!! We are booked on the Edge in November (fingers crossed) Celebrity is not the worst for entertainment by any means, that award definitely goes to Cunard with MSC a close second.

We have cruised with all the lines you mention (I haven’t upgraded my signature for a few years) and are waiting to see if our Celebrity cruise booked for 29.11.20 will go ahead. Celebrity is my husbands line of choice he really enjoys the quality of the ship, the service, the food, it is a class above those you mention.  However, I much prefer the entertainment and general Bon homie of Marella. You won’t find that on Celebrity (imho the entertainment is poor and let’s down what would otherwise be perfect) also with Marella it is totally inclusive. Unless you get the full perks the gratuities are expensive, the drinks package upgrades, transfers etc. If you are offered 125% fcc I personally would take it. 

I really feel for you. The customer service from TUI is appalling. We did a fabulous cruise from Dubai with RCCL they seem to have decent offers on

I am happy to report that I have finally had my refund from TUI! 🤗

I would also hope that they start to introduce a loyalty programme like every other line!

I hear what you say about flights from Scotland. I am lucky in that Manchester airport is very close so I have picked up some bargains from Marella. The last 1 booked (which I am still waiting for the refund for) was to the canaries, from what you say it doesnt sound as though I missed much? I hadnt been to any of the ports before and it was at the time extremely cheap. It was below £500 though if you could fly from the South. I hope that when things are back up and running they give you more options in Scotland

Agreed VWGolf! The problem with booking now on Marella is they notoriously discount their cruises to nearly half the price a few weeks beforehand. Unless you want a specific cabin it really doesn’t pay to book in advance with them

I hope you have more luck than me Margaret I was promised a refund within 28 days which passed on 23.4.20! They are disgraceful 

You are very lucky tiggerdroitwich we are still waiting for our refund 7 weeks on!

I hope you get a good outcome Nancy! Best of luck everyone I am 11 days beyond the deadline they gave me 😩

Thank you for providing the link. I have submitted the complaint. I wanted to send an email today to say I was thinking of issuing proceedings. It says the email is at the bottom of the page (the refund confirm letter) guess what ..... no email! They really are a shower 

Pensioncruiser, we were in a suite on Discovery 2 last September and that was fine some of our complaints were: 

1. There were definite staffing issues, we had to wait up to 2 hours most nights to get a seat in the dining room. one night we waited from 7pm to 8.45 and it was then 10pm when we got served our starters!

2. The food in the dining room was at times dreadful and at best akin to school dinners (it was fine in the other venues eg tapas buffet, paying restaurants etc) 

3. The entertainment in the theatre was not very good ........... it goes on

Have to say this was in complete contrast to our experiences on explorer 1 and 2 and the cruise we had booked was back on explorer. 

My husband much prefers Celebrity or Cunard (and before people jump in we dont find the price any different we get good offers on both as my husband is a senior) so this debacle has put an end to our relationship with TUI

Heres hoping we all see a resolution to our issues soon. I will give them one more week and will then issue a small claims online. it wont speed matters along but it will give me some personal satisfaction

After our experience on Discovery 2 last September we only booked this 1 as we were offered a £350 voucher as a peace offering 🥴. Once we get our money back we will probably turn our back on Marella 

We were supposed to sail in March on Explorer. We received an email for the refund 5 weeks later still waiting! There are lots of comments on the situation in the newspapers running stories about it. It seems most TUI staff have been furloughed so they don’t have enough staff left to cope. Well that’s fine and dandy isn’t it have the Government pay your staff salary, get a loan from Germany and hold onto your customers money! We have booked with Celebrity for December (fingers crossed) sunset verandah balcony on the Edge, premium drinks package, gratuities, internet plus we get a lot of loyalty incentives. Cost with the flight and transfers £1200 pp same ish cruise on Explorer 2 £1706! People will not forget how they have been treated! 

We are due to fly on 21.3.20 to Explorer. No word from Marella as yet 🤨

We are booked on the Explorer 21.3.20 flying from Manchester to Gran Canaria. Waiting anxiously for any news from Marella!

Thank you for your informative review. 

It is going into dry dock in the next few weeks. The staffing issues badly needs sorting!