boccenana

Latest shipyard info.

https://glashrvatske.hrt.hr/en/news/economy/uljanik-workers-end-strike-after-receiving-back-wages/

A little more info on the positive side today. I would think we will know more by Monday.(yn)

This is so nerve wracking for those of us with reservations after the end of January. We are booked for a 23 day April 5 2019 departure and I am really nervous with all this shipyard news. I wish to hell Scenic would give us some information on what is going on.

It seems to me this shipyard is in the middle of a crisis that won't be settled for a while since the government is involved.

Can't they move to another yard to finish up?

Can they please let us know if we are going to be cancelled so we can make other arrangements.

We cannot cancel on our own or we lose all our money. Cruise, Pre and Post hotels, upgraded Airflights. We have already done all these things.

We have a backup cruise in mind, but can't book it not knowing what is happening with our particular cruise. They claim all is well.

I don't think after this fiasco that sets to well with us.

I can only hope they are reading these posts and will do the right thing.

I know this is not their fault, but that doesn't cure the situation.

I agree it really would be really nice to be given more information upfront, just so customers can have much more confidence in the Company's handling of what has now developed into a very bad situation.

It does seem that Scenic has found itself in this very awarded situation through lack of communication both to agents and passengers.

In future they really do need to seriously consider changing their policy about keeping all booked passengers fully informed on these and other important developments. They were certainly eager to do that when everything was going to plan. I sure they would benefit by continuing that, even when things are not going to plan.

I have some good news though, Scenic has now contacted me directly, and this time shown more consideration and compassion, which has eased my concerns a little. I was certainly appreciative of them making the effort to make direct contact, its just a shame that they had not seen fit do do so much earlier, and of course to all other passengers as well.

I certainly expressed my thoughts to Scenic about these issues and was promised that they would be passed onto top management. Where is goes from there who knows!

 

 

The Scenic office in Australia still seems very confident that all sailings after January 2019 will be on time, but then since they have not updated us on where and how the ship is to be completed, it may still be out of their hands. I guess, only time will tell!!!

I am very glad to hear you actually spoke to someone. It would be nice to see what progress has been made on the ship so far. I am praying this all works as planned from here on in.:halo:

We are also booked on that 2019 Reykjavik Quebec cruise.Our TA told us of the change of dates as soon as it was made.

However today I went to the Scenic site to see if any updates on the delay of the Eclipse-absolutely nothing at all.So I went to individual cruises and our 5th August cruise for 2019 no longer is showing.Searching Eclipse cruises for August 2019 comes up with-nothing found.

 

So I googled the shipyard.It doesn't look good-

https://www.total-croatia-news.com/business/29804-government-s-plan-for-rescuing-shipyard-focuses-on-real-estate

It states that the Government has no idea how many of the 17 ships on order will be cancelled or if any will be completed.

I was under the impression that the Eclipse left the boat yard when they posted the video showing it leaving. I thought it was going through its final fitting.

I tried to to find out where exactly it is right now, to no avail.

We are booked with air and tours all set for April 5th 2019 sailing. Now I am really getting nervous about our trip.

That letter from Scenic is the same exact one we received a few months ago.

Anyone on this thread booked on Great Civilizations Discovery Cruise #302M Tenerife to Athens April 5-27 2019? Curious as to your thoughts on this situation.

Sorry about the shouting font guys, couldn't seem to correct it.

I don't have that big a mouth. :o

Anyone on this thread booked on Great Civilizations Discovery Cruise #302M Tenerife to Athens April 5-27 2019? Curious as to your thoughts on this situation.

Thank you! I was beginning to think I dreamed it. So that was in February 2018 when it had its Float Ceremony"....and it is going to take and entire year to do the finishing?

The question remains.....where in the world is the Scenic Eclipse?

:confused::confused:

Here is the "Float Out'. video we have been referring to. Where is the Ecipse now I wonder?

Sounds like a wise decision. There are lots of cruise lines. Unfortunately we believed the hype for this one! I am sure that I saw a video that the ship had left the ship yard a few months back and it had gone for "finishing".

I also saw the video you are referring to.

We have sailed with them before, are doing the Mekong in Sep (if it wasn’t so close I might cancel), and have a group booked in Europe for Dec 2019. If they don’t make this right we will cancel what we can and take our business elsewhere. Can’t imagune our travel agent will ever recommend them either.

Did you have issues with them in the past?

thanks to all of you who have pursued this issue. will look forward to hearing an answer. Have not checked into this board for a while and did not know this was problem. We are really looking forward to the crossing in September and hope Scenic has their act together and all who are traveling have a wonderful time. Has anyone had an answer to the "dress code"? We were hoping that "country club casual" would be fine. Bob likes to wear nice slacks and a good shirt for dinner.

Haven't really heard much about anything. Massive terms and conditions for Scenic. Nothing for passengers.

Those cruising in August should at least know something by now I would think.

Hello Scenic Team. Hoping you can give a definitive answer on this to ease many of our minds. For non-Antartica sailings on the Eclipse, or in other words, Eclipse sailings that represent a "standard" experience and do not have special requirements (i.e. a Mediterranean voyage)...are guests still limited to 1 suitcase at 42 lbs?

 

If Scenic as you say quoted above, is abiding by airline luggage allowances, many airlines for international flights allow 2 checked pieces of luggage. So will we then be allowed to bring 2 suitcases onboard per person?

 

It's understandable for Scenic River Cruises to have the 1-suitcase luggage limitation due to the extremely small size of the vessels. However as the Eclipse is an ocean-vessel representing a more typical luxury ocean cruise experience, most of us expected that luggage allowance to be more generous, as the spacial limitations would not be an issue.

 

Would appreciate any clarity you can provide on the matter.

Well put Miami, looking forward to Scenic's answer.

Scenic Tours!!!!! It is great to see you are on this board. You will see a number of people are getting quite anxious about the Scenic Eclipse. I think this is mainly due to the lack of information/conflicting information currently available. Your timely responses here will be most appreciated I am sure.

Indeed it is good to see someone from Scenic is actually reading these posts. It's the first place I would look if I wanted to know how our future passengers are viewing our customer service. Good sign.(yn)(yn)

Roll call for Scenic Eclipse 23 days Tenerife to Athens April 5 2019.

Now I am getting very concerned about our cruise.

We are not volume cruisers, have only done a 16 day Silver Cloud Panama Canal and this will be a 23 day Mediterranean. These are our dream cruises. I would sure hate for this one to be a screw up.

Would have stuck with Silver Sea but reports the last few years weren't exactly glowing.

If this is a mistake I really want to know NOW!

We are getting so little information and certainly not any kind of special treatment like Silver Sea gave 10 years ago.

I would have expected a lot more from a "6 Star" cruise.

Am I wrong?

:eek::confused:

Roll call for Scenic Eclipse 23 days Tenerife to Athens April 5 2019.

Surely many Scenic customers fly Business class, which entitles you to check 2 large bags and have 2 carry-ons [including the 'personal item'] per person. If I wanted to live out of a backpack, I would book a Rick Steves tour...

Well said Jazz. I don't tend to over pack. Common sense prevails. Not flying coach for sure.

See my comments at post #50. I am not concerned now about the baggage "allowance". Scenic has told me it is just a guide and won't be strictly enforced (they are not going to leave an "extra" suitcase on the dock as the owner boards a 5* cruiseship!). My intention is to take my usual - 2 larger suitcases and 1 smaller suitcase (total), for my husband and I. That falls into their "reasonable" luggage allowance, as currently practiced on Scenic river ships.

Thanks so much Cruising Kirby, sorry I missed your post #50, seems I didn't have my email setting correct so haven't seen responses until today.

I usually don't over pack, but 42 pounds wasn't going to hack it.

So happy to have someone from Australia familiar with Scenic. Too bad your not on our cruise.

Still not getting any information updates. When I checked my passenger forms they have added Terms and Conditions that are readable. Also pdf form to give Medical Director of the ship when you arrive.

The terms and conditions still state ONE BAG 42LB. limit.:eek: Absurd.

I just came back from one week to Ambergris Caye, Belize. Traveled alone and my bag weighed 61 pounds.

I cannot believe they expect my husband and I to do a 23 day cruise plus pre and post days with 42 pounds. Am I sounding spoiled? :o

Anyone with better information please post here.

Thanks guys.

I called Scenic and spoke with a rep who is specific to the Scenic Eclipse. She said that they would not be offering any pre-reservations system prior to boarding, all venues on board would be "open dining". Once on board the staff would "facilitate" the dining process, with the smaller restaurants likely to be managed by having two dinner times each evening. There will be priority given to the top category suites, (Owners, Grand Panorama and Panorama), and at the price they are paying, I am not surprised. As to how they will cope with potentially 200+ guests wanting to try all of the very small venues on a shorter duration cruise, it was not clear and the rep couldn't answer that with much conviction unfortunately. She said the staff will be commited to making sure everyone gets the opportunity to try what they want.

 

Maths is not my best subject, but I think it is going to be a bit of a squeeze and compromise is going to be the key. It might not be realistic to expect a preferred dining time/day at the smaller venues? With a 10 person venue and 2 seatings per night, on a 10 night cruise, most guests should get the chance to dine at some stage, and I guess not everyone is into all the specific dining offerings. Longer cruises should be easier to manage.

 

I don't know what it all means for impromptu dining with new friends, perhaps that will be best delivered in the larger venues.

 

I just hope that the 5 star luxury branding of Scenic flows through to a dignified and effective dining system once on board! I hope that is is managed fairly, giving everyone the b

Thanks so much, that's more information than we have gotten in months.

That would be lovely. Thank you. It's a tad bit more difficult for us to call from USA.

That is so nice of you, thanks.

That is definitely more than the Scenic USA people know (which isn't much), but still doesn't answer how the priority will go for folks within same cabin category. Is it like many lines that a certain number of days before a cruise you can book? Or first come, first serve (within your category) once you board? We love Scenic but they are always light on the details/information and the often give lots of conflicting information when pressed for details.

Do you think they have any offers for longer cruises? Ours is 23 days.

I've booked the Mediterranean Treasures sailing for 9 days in April 2019! https://www.scenic.co.uk/ocean-cruise/europe/501m/6126-mediterranean-treasures. It will be our first cruise but looks like a great ship and itinerary to start with! Has anyone else booked this cruise? :)

We booked the 23 day cruise just before yours . Ours ends in Athens. Only 400 more days, not that I am counting. ;)

Here's another article published yesterday which makes the situation sound a bit better:

 

https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/18433-uljanik-gets-96-million-euro-loan.html

Thanks for that update. I was wondering if they got the loan. Certainly takes the edge off.

:)

Yeah - even the agents at Scenic's US call center seem totally out of the loop. It's been a mission just to get simple answers to questions about pre-cruise hotels and booking flights for Eclipse sailings. Hoping that things get ironed out soon! And also eager to see the progress of the ship.

I read that the shipyard where the Eclipse is being built was having some issues. Here's the article.

https://www.total-croatia-news.com/business/23320-uljanik-shipyard-from-pula-in-trouble.

I guess we will have to see how the Inaugural Cruise goes in August.