The Wanderer_112358

1 minute ago, anyman said:

 

To alleviate a heavy drain on cash flow. With this crisis, most businesses are postponing payments to maintain cashflow to pay their employees. Mine is, and I know we're not alone.

What you mean is that they don't have enough cash to pay everyone off right now.

On 4/4/2020 at 9:31 AM, SeaShark said:

Sigh...

 

The problem with the whole Cruise Critic Chicken Little discussions of deposits, bankruptcies, and other fictional situations is that not all of the facts are being considered. For example, deposits are not revenue to a cruise line until the sailing takes place..it isn't their money to use. This is all governed by the Federal Maritime Commission's rules on financial responsibility.

 

The FMC requires cruise lines to have a bond or other financial surety available to refund passenger deposits if the cruise line fails to provide a scheduled cruise (performance) or for death or injury on a voyage (casualty). This requirement applies to cruise lines that embark from a U.S. port and have at least 50 berth accommodations.

 

The company (typically an insurance company) that issues the bond or other financial surety processes claims made for cruise cancellation or death or injury.

 

IF a cruise line were to go out of business, unearned revenue (deposits) are protected and would be refunded.

 

If that is true, then why would NCL want to hold refunds for 90 days?

Answer that!

2 minutes ago, Steff79 said:

Nclh has the best paid ceo of all  the cruise Lines. So he must be the best and have plans for such a situation and nclh will survived on long. We will see🤔

Ha,ha.  Huh, uh.  Right.

Of course since this is not and American company, I'm not even sure that there is a version of Chapter 11 or Chapter 7.

But, it will declare bankruptcy.  No other real choice now.

It is really just a matter of time now.

My date guess is that it will be Chapter 7 in about the second week in May. 

Your guess?

4 hours ago, julig22 said:

Currently NCL is offering full refunds so I don't understand the issue.

Um, have you gotten any of that "full refund"?  No?

3 minutes ago, MoniMommy said:

You could be right. In that case our refunds are history. But I think the FCC will be safe as the bankruptcy will be a restructuring and cruises may indeed sail during the restructuring as long as the virus is controlled.

Either result is a high risk in my view.

Personally, I find the company's business ethics rather disgusting.

I honestly believe that NCL won't be around in 3 months and I also believe that the company leaders of NCL are aware of that!

That is why people are not getting immediate refunds on their cancelled cruises.

I know, people here won't like me saying this, but it is the truth.

12 minutes ago, The Wanderer_112358 said:

So far my cheapest PPPD for a Solo cruise was for a 14 day TA cruise from Barcelona to Miami for $75 dollars per person(solo) per day, including taxes, gratuities  and port fees.  But then airfare is also a factor to keep in mind.

 Oh, that was for an Inside Cabin(Sail-Away).

So far my cheapest PPPD for a Solo cruise was for a 14 day TA cruise from Barcelona to Miami for $75 dollars per person(solo) per day, including taxes, gratuities  and port fees.  But then airfare is also a factor to keep in mind.

10 minutes ago, wilmingtech said:

5400/6/7 = 128.50pppd all in.

Thank you!

8 minutes ago, Tapi said:

The absolute cheapest fare we’ve ever booked was on a 7 night cruise aboard the MSC Divina in 2016. Before port taxes, we paid $18pd for a balcony stateroom. At the time, we scored a two for one in a balcony stateroom promo, a kids sail free promo, and an additional 5% discount for their loyalty match program. 
 

Another cheap deal was $25pd (also before taxes) on a weekend Bahamas cruise on Carnival. This was right after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and this price was offered as a last minute fare (We literally booked at 10:00am and we were at the port by 1:00pm).

 

Our upcoming 7 night cruise on Holland America’s Niew Statendam in February is pricing out at $52pd for a balcony stateroom. Considering that HAL is considered a premium cruise line and this is their newest ship, I think that it’s an awesome deal.

That's amazing.  Thanks!

Tell me how you could book a Holland America for that please.  I don't get it.

8 minutes ago, wilmingtech said:

We have 4 kids and it's often never cheap for us to do anything.  For example, go carts on breakaway+ 15$ x 6 = $90 for 8 laps. Forget trying to swing a week long pass for that at $199 a piece!  

 

When we have looked at booking rooms for all 6 of us we have found that a single room that sleeps 6 is always the cheapest.  The best deal we ever got was an NCL special that was pay for 2ppl and everyone else is free (plus taxes).  We found a haven family balcony for $2399pp and were able to get all 6 of us in a family 2 bedroom in the Haven for $4798.00 plus taxes (~5400).  That averages out to 799 per person in the Haven plus taxes.  And there was no age limit on addl people.  

 

The cruise was a Mexican Riviera from LA on the Jewel.  Have never found a deal that good since that special.

What was the length of the cruise?  So the cost per person per day was what?  And how much would the taxes increase that price per person?

I am able to cruise because I work hard to find the cheapest cruise price per day that I can.  I have to also consider what it will cost me to fly to the Embarkation port and to fly back home again as part of the overall cruise deal.

Tell me what your best cruise price was per day and whether it was worth the cost.

I honestly find the work of finding the best cruise price all part of the cruise adventure.  I'd love to hear your best cruise deals, both Solo and otherwise.

I cruise a LOT different than most people do..

I always cruise Solo, as cheap as possible, as long a duration cruise as possible and always Sail-Away.

I really don't care where my cabin is.  Or really where the ship is going.  After sleeping in hostels in Mexico and Central America for $15 Dollars a night, any cruise cabin is utter luxury! 

I just like being out on the open ocean and not having to cook, clean or drive.

I always carry good ear plugs and I even have 12 hours of rain audio on my Android Tablet if it is REALLY noisy, like when drunks sit outside your hostel room and sing old Spanish songs all night.

People really are WAY too picky and spoiled.

For me cruising is about adventure, not luxury.

I travel Sail-Away deals on cruise lines like NCL because they are CHEAP!

But, that's just me.

12 minutes ago, chengkp75 said:

I don't know what the exact issue was, but someone onboard was told it was a diesel engine that failed, but how bad a failure, again, don't know.

 

Then again, the number of times the front of house staff give the passengers wrong information on technical items is just mind boggling.

True.

8 minutes ago, chengkp75 said:

Crankshaft replacements are pretty rare occurrences.  

chengkp75, have you had any updates on what this recent failure really was and how serious the damage really is?  I don't think we know if the new problem is an engine issue. Is that right?

Thanks.

You don't really believe that the serve staff and house keepers get the total gratuities?

Don't be silly!  This is just another way to earn some income.  I don't blame them.  I just see it for what it really is.  If you want it, you pay for it.  A LOT!

23 minutes ago, Bobrunner said:

I guess by the time March comes around all engine issue will be solved.  Sailing from Florida.

Ships are complex systems...

19 minutes ago, Clay Clayton said:

Sorry, I failed to say “last November’s (2018) transatlantic”. 

 

Sorry for any confusion! 😱😜

I wonder if that is the same engine that died this time...

22 minutes ago, Clay Clayton said:

For what it’s worth, I believe Star’s transatlantic was done while one generator was being rebuilt.

 

I'm sorry, but I'm confused.

The Star hasn't done it's transatlantic voyage yet.  The Star 14 day transatlantic trip begins Nov 22 from Barcelona to Miami.

6 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

Unless the engine has completely exploded and sent a connecting rod out the side (and even then I've had onboard repairs done), everything can be repaired onboard.  In the "Star misses Dubrovnik" thread are my comments about engine overhauls and the likely scenario that happened.  Yes, the ship could to a TA without one diesel engine, as she has four, and very likely has been sailing for weeks with only 3 operable, if one was down for scheduled overhaul.

Thank you for all of your great knowledge and info.

I feel much better now that my cruise from Barcelona will probably sail as scheduled.  We may miss a port of call or two, but I am ok with that.  I leave for Spain in 7 days.

I can't wait!

Thanks again!

12 minutes ago, Motegi said:

Here's a video of a cruise ship engine crankshaft replacement:

https://bangshift.com/bangshiftxl/watching-crew-remove-replace-7-5-ton-cruise-ship-engine-crankshaft-amazing/

 

Here's an interesting discussion from another forum on the topic:

https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/how-do-they-replace-an-engine-in-a-modern-mega-cruise-ship/16504

I'm watching the video now. Very interesting.

8 minutes ago, Motegi said:

 

Extensive engine work would require a drydock service and would probably take weeks.  

 

Sadly, although we really liked the Star, she experienced propulsion system issues that resulted in alteration of the schedule when we were on board in 2015.  

 

If you do a google search you will see that the Star has had multiple propulsion related issues over the years.  More than the other NCL ships and it's sister, the NCL Dawn.  

Well, sooner or later the ship will have to come out of service to replace the dead engine and I believe from what I have read that means cutting the hull to remove and replace that bad engine. No quick turn around.

The question is, do you do it now while in Europe or later while in the U.S.

1 hour ago, mugtech said:

Probably be slower, miss some ports, cut down port time in others.  Evidently the TA is sold out, not available on the website.

I'm ok with some missed ports.  Most of the TA days are Sea Days anyway.

I just don't want the voyage delayed or even cancelled.

I am surprised that the ship would attempt to do a TA with one dead engine.

When does the ship find time to do the engine replacement?