General Strike in Greece

[RachelG]

Glad everything turned out as well as it did for you, Alldee. Cruise lines (or anyone else) can't guarantee weather.

[bob2gail]

http://www.sameshipdifferentday.com/2011/weather-strikes/

According to Jamie's blog, the strike and the weather have doubled the trouble.

The 250 of us who left the ship in Turkey were the only ones who arrived home on our scheduled date. Yet, unlike those boarding in Athens for the next cruise, Regent is not covering the cost of rerouting us or putting us up in a hotel in Istanbul. Nor did it cover the hotel or other costs for those who were stuck in Athens for two days. And two weeks later they have not even provided the itemized receipt we need to file an insurance claim, let alone offered any consideration for the tours in cancelled ports that were included in our cruise fares. Communication about what was happening was scant to non-existent. It will take a lot of "after-care" to earn our repeat business, but so far there is none.

[OrpingtonT]

The 250 of us who left the ship in Turkey were the only ones who arrived home on our scheduled date. Yet, unlike those boarding in Athens for the next cruise, Regent is not covering the cost of rerouting us or putting us up in a hotel in Istanbul. Nor did it cover the hotel or other costs for those who were stuck in Athens for two days. And two weeks later they have not even provided the itemized receipt we need to file an insurance claim, let alone offered any consideration for the tours in cancelled ports that were included in our cruise fares. Communication about what was happening was scant to non-existent. It will take a lot of "after-care" to earn our repeat business, but so far there is none.

 

When you booked the cruise did Regent arrange the flights, transfers etc?. Or were you responsible for those yourselves?

[RachelG]

When you booked the cruise did Regent arrange the flights, transfers etc?. Or were you responsible for those yourselves?

 

Wondering the same thing. If Regent booked your air, transfers, etc, they MAY have some liability regarding costs of rerouting, etc. I say MAY because you apparently decided to disembark in Turkey of your own accord.

If you booked your own air, they have no liability at all. And I am saying this as someone who always does my own air and does not buy trip insurance.

[rallydave]

Wondering the same thing. If Regent booked your air, transfers, etc, they MAY have some liability regarding costs of rerouting, etc. I say MAY because you apparently decided to disembark in Turkey of your own accord.

If you booked your own air, they have no liability at all. And I am saying this as someone who always does my own air and does not buy trip insurance.

 

If you read Regent's disclaimer, they have no responsibility whether or not you use Regent Air. This is not to say that they might do better for those on Regent Air but, no responsibility for any arrangements other than on board the ship and those responsibilities are pretty loose as well as we and others have found out when Regent and/or their chosen excursion companies have dropped the ball.

 

If I remember correctly, Regent did take care of the people who had issues from the Iceland Ash Cloud and that included both Regent Air and non-Regent Air. You take your chances whether you take Regent Air or do your own air.

 

The disembarking in Istanbul certainly lessons Regent wanting to help those people but, after reading Regent's T's and C's, they don't accept legal responsibility for much of anything.

[RachelG]

You are absolutely right, Rallydave. Regent (or any other cruise line for that matter) accepts very little responsibility in situations like this. They have helped people in the past, but they were not legally bound to do so. It was probably more for good will.

BUT, when the passenger decides to disembark early, it is totally on the passenger to arrange/pay for their way home.

[OrpingtonT]

If I remember correctly, Regent did take care of the people who had issues from the Iceland Ash Cloud and that included both Regent Air and non-Regent Air. .

 

Not so. Those of us on Regent Air were identified and taken to a hotel and put up for the duration of the flight grounding. Those who made their own arrangements were totally on their own. We met some who were paying their own way, hoping to clain from insurance. Others trying to get coaches or cars to reach destinations unaffected by the cloud.

[rallydave]

Not so. Those of us on Regent Air were identified and taken to a hotel and put up for the duration of the flight grounding. Those who made their own arrangements were totally on their own. We met some who were paying their own way, hoping to claim from insurance. Others trying to get coaches or cars to reach destinations unaffected by the cloud.

 

Well Tom, seem to remember some of the people who did their own air posting that they were helped at least a little bit by Regent and that they had submitted receipts for unexpected costs that were covered by Regent. While some people expect Regent to hold their hands and lead them thru any issues, it is always ultimately the customer's responsibility to look after themselves. As has been documented elsewhere, Regent has no legal responsibility to help anyone when issues occur and is providing any and all support/money out of good will for Regent Air customers and others. At anytime, Regent can stop helping and leave everyone on their own.

 

While it was good that Regent helped people, it is disingenuous to leave people thinking that taking Regent Air will guarantee that Regent will take care of you for sure.

[OrpingtonT]

While it was good that Regent helped people, it is disingenuous to leave people thinking that taking Regent Air will guarantee that Regent will take care of you for sure.

 

I cerainly do not disagree with the thrust of your post, I was really just commenting on Regent not helping those who make their own arrangements. As you may know, I have personal knowledge when I had to prove to Regent's agents on disembarking at Venice, that our air had been arranged by Regent. Those who had not were expected to sort out accommodation and transport and eventual flight home themselves.

[bob2gail]

To those who asked, we did indeed use Regent air and transfers. There were dates attached to those; the only way to get home on the date on the cruise contract was to get off the ship in Turkey. Those who went on to Athens were delayed two days, which was not a feasible option for us, especially since there were news reports from credible sources indicating that some unions might stay out on strike longer than the initial 48 hours. More than 1/3 of the passengers chose to reroute from Turkey which was technically (and perhaps legally) voluntary, but we didn't see any other choice. Regent extended the courtesy of covering change fees and hotel for their incoming passengers, but not for those they were dumping. Not real good customer relations. We might recover some of our cost from insurance, but have you ever heard of an insurance company that doesn't require documentation of your expenditures? Regent has failed to give us any such documentation, or even reply to our request for such documentation, more than two weeks later.

[Alldee]

Just as a matter of interest, we claimed on BA for the delayed flight. Regent had booked it for us, but we just submitted our hotel account, including food, for the two days. Today we received the full amount from BA without any problem at all.

[OrpingtonT]

Just as a matter of interest, we claimed on BA for the delayed flight. Regent had booked it for us, but we just submitted our hotel account, including food, for the two days. Today we received the full amount from BA without any problem at all.

 

Some of those Greek gods must have taken a shine to you. :)

[dvalentine823]

To those who asked, we did indeed use Regent air and transfers. There were dates attached to those; the only way to get home on the date on the cruise contract was to get off the ship in Turkey. Those who went on to Athens were delayed two days, which was not a feasible option for us, especially since there were news reports from credible sources indicating that some unions might stay out on strike longer than the initial 48 hours. More than 1/3 of the passengers chose to reroute from Turkey which was technically (and perhaps legally) voluntary, but we didn't see any other choice. Regent extended the courtesy of covering change fees and hotel for their incoming passengers, but not for those they were dumping. Not real good customer relations. We might recover some of our cost from insurance, but have you ever heard of an insurance company that doesn't require documentation of your expenditures? Regent has failed to give us any such documentation, or even reply to our request for such documentation, more than two weeks later.

 

This may not add much to the conversation, but for those of us who used Regent air and transfers, and decided to roll the dice and stay with the ship into Athens, we were treated well and got to spend and extra one or two days at Regents expense. We had already booked a one night stay in Athens anyway through Regent. So two nights were no problem. We just had to cover our dinner costs, as breakfast was I included. Flights out of Athens the next day were not crowded, and the airport was rather calm.

 

We have decided that low stress is very important on a vacation. Even though we could always work out cheaper flight and hotel options on our own, we did not stress out like many other passengers as we knew that Regent was responsible for getting home!

[OrpingtonT]

We have decided that low stress is very important on a vacation. Even though we could always work out cheaper flight and hotel options on our own, we did not stress out like many other passengers as we knew that Regent was responsible for getting home!

 

We are with you in that thought.

[Alldee]

This may not add much to the conversation, but for those of us who used Regent air and transfers, and decided to roll the dice and stay with the ship into Athens, we were treated well and got to spend and extra one or two days at Regents expense. We had already booked a one night stay in Athens anyway through Regent. So two nights were no problem. We just had to cover our dinner costs, as breakfast was I included. Flights out of Athens the next day were not crowded, and the airport was rather calm.

 

We have decided that low stress is very important on a vacation. Even though we could always work out cheaper flight and hotel options on our own, we did not stress out like many other passengers as we knew that Regent was responsible for getting home!

 

Couldn't agree more - there was so much panic when news of the strike became known that I am sure it must have spoiled many peoples experience of the cruise. Like you, we consider low stress one of the main requirements, like you we enjoyed our extra couple of days in the sun, and as Orpington said - the Greek gods certainly watched over us - we even had our food paid for by the airline!