A reporter's view regarding compensation

[DocJohnB]

I posted this over on the RCI board and meant to post it here also. Got sidetracked. BTW, I think the response to the lady was "right on".

 

 

In the St. Petersburg (FL) Times, there is a consumer column written by a lady named Nancy Paradis.

 

In today's column she tackled a "request for compensation for an altered cruise" I found her response interesting as it was (as her columns are) a dispassionate, "mediators" view. Also because the response from RCI is from a "named" source who appears to be up the food chain a bit

 

Here is the link.

 

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/05/06/Action/Cruise_to_Bermuda_too.shtml

 

 

 

Until we sail on SUMMIT for 10 nights

 

 

Roll Call Summit 11/05/2004 click here

 

 

 

Until MOAGC's on Explorer of the Seas

 

 

 

Seven Cruises last Century, then:

 

Norwegian Sky 2000 GGC2000

Volendam 2001 GGC2001

Paradise 2001

Sensation 2002 GGC2002

Millenium 2003 (Nov 16)

Mariner OTS 2004 (Feb 29)

Summit 2004 (Nov 05)

Explorer OTS 2005 (Jan 09)

[tessea]

There is a reason prices are less in September.

[NitaBcruising]

Interesting, thanks for posting! I agree, a good response.

 

It's true, one shouldn't cruise/travel during hurricane season, if concerned about exact itinerary. And, we do sign that contract! Too bad more of us don't read it!!! Would I be disappointed if it happened to me? Yes, but would live with it. Safety comes first.

 

Nita

[nealberk]

And would that lady really want to go to Bermuda after such a storm and not have any shore time since the natives are too busy cleaning up and worrying about the health of the people already there? Cruising is a combination of ship and ports. If you are really only interested in the ports, fly and rent a hotel on the island of choice. If she were flying into Bermuda, I bet she would have totally cancelled her trip.

[marco]

I would agree. I think everyone knows Aug-Oct is hurricane season and itieraries are subject to change. That person paid for (and got) a 7 day cruise, albiet not to the place (s)he was hoping to go to. The passenger said they would be willing to go the next week, but if that sailing was sold out, where would they put them?

[Jacqueline]

I could not agree more...

 

Jacqueline

Constellation 3/20/04

HAL Westerdam 7/30/04

Tahitian Princess August 2003

Grand Princess Western Caribbean 2003

Brilliance of the Seas Baltic 2002

Ocean Princess- Alaska 2001

Celebrity Zenith- Bermuda 2001

Grand Princess Med 2000

 

[DocJohnB]

marco,

 

Not to be picky, but the hurricane season is actually from 6/1 - 11/30.

 

Hurricanes can happen anytime in this time frame and even a little outside of it.

 

 

 

Until we sail on SUMMIT for 10 nights

 

 

Roll Call Summit 11/05/2004 click here

 

 

 

Until MOAGC's on Explorer of the Seas

 

 

 

Seven Cruises last Century, then:

 

Norwegian Sky 2000 GGC2000

Volendam 2001 GGC2001

Paradise 2001

Sensation 2002 GGC2002

Millenium 2003 (Nov 16)

Mariner OTS 2004 (Feb 29)

Summit 2004 (Nov 05)

Explorer OTS 2005 (Jan 09)

[teedee]

I think the biggest lesson here should be "get the insurance!". We frequently sail in the September - November time frame for the cheaper prices, but we always get the insurance. I've never had a problem, but if the cruise line DID have to change the itinerary I can't see it bothering me. After all I'd be on a cruise! Wherever it goes is fine with me.

 

Terri

 

Skyward - 1989

Carnivale - 1991

Holiday - 1994

Fantasy - 1998

Century - 2002

Century - 2003

Jubilee - 7/04

Century - 9/04

Coral Princess - 3/05

Valor - 10/05

 

Days til Valor Vampires Cruise

[tessea]

I too regularly cruise in the fall. I did have an experience several years ago when we never made it to Bermuda. Due to the fact I booked during the "peak" week of hurricane season, I took it all in stride.

[charlielinda]

We regularly travel in the September to November timeframe because kids are in school. Last year our cruise almost went west instead of east -- no problem. I always look at it as an adventure.

 

Voyager of the Sea -- September 2001; Galaxy -- May 2002; Zuiderdam -- September 2003; Summit -- April 2004; CAN'T WAIT -- SUMMIT OCTOBER 2004

[Guest]

Sorry, I posted to the wrong thread.

 

We are booked on the 4/11/05 Summit 11 nights.

After reading this thread, I checked on Celebrity's web page and this cruise is not showing either. So, I called, said I had friends that wanted to book with us, and the rep cam back and said "we are not taking reservations for this cruise". I asked what was going on, and she said she isn's sure, but it looks like they are doing a cabin inventory or something like that, and to call back in about 1-2 weeks. Seems to me that there is definately something strange going on with the Summit's schedule.

Nancy

 

Untile Our Enchantment Cruise

 

Until My Cruise to Hawaii on Infinity

[Guest]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by grannynanny:

We are booked on the 4/11/05 Summit 11 nights.

After reading this thread, I checked on Celebrity's web page and this cruise is not showing either. So, I called, said I had friends that wanted to book with us, and the rep cam back and said "we are not taking reservations for this cruise". I asked what was going on, and she said she isn's sure, but it looks like they are doing a cabin inventory or something like that, and to call back in about 1-2 weeks. Seems to me that there is definately something strange going on with the Summit's schedule.

Nancy

OOPS, SORRY, I replied on the wrong thread.

 

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;6;12;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500

Untile Our Enchantment Cruise

 

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;12;5;21;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800

Until My Cruise to Hawaii on Infinity

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

Untile Our Enchantment Cruise

 

Until My Cruise to Hawaii on Infinity

 

[Guest]

Although I always get insurance and agree it is important, it should be pointed out in this case that the insurance would not cover the cruise since the cruise occurred.

 

Don

[mango14217]

I agree 100 percent with what the reporter said

 

 

[B-Anne]

Having sailed on the Zenith to Bermuda on 9/13/03 and again on 4/24/04. I can tell you from experience what we encountered. In Sept., we were the first ship into Hamilton after the hurricane. The previous week, the Zenith went to Canada and Maine. From what I heard and read, people wanted to go to Bermuda, regardless

of the conditions!! We took the island tour by

taxi and were totally astonished by the devasta-

tion on the island. Cleanup was still very much

in progress! Not one flower was evident, the trees were brown and everything was torn up!! Not a pretty sight......Fast forward to 4/24, return trip and everything, while not back to normal, is definitely progressing at a good rate! I don't think you can push the flowers to

grow, even though they're coming along, the island is not yet back to its beautiful normal self, but it's getting there!!! Anyone going this summer should find Bermuda, Just beautiful!

[brigittetom]

We have really had good luck with our cruises. Except for a few missed ports, we haven't had any surprises, and missed ports don't phase me unless it were St. Thomas.

 

Zenith from Jacksonville

Feb. 13 05

[teedee]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by dkjretired:

Although I always get insurance and agree it is important, it should be pointed out in this case that the insurance would not cover the cruise since the cruise occurred.

 

Don<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

I thought the people taking the cruise found out a week ahead of time about the change in itinerary. I don't think they were already on the ship. If they had insurance they could have cancelled it. If I am reading the article correctly.

 

Terri

 

Skyward - 1989

Carnivale - 1991

Holiday - 1994

Fantasy - 1998

Century - 2002

Century - 2003

Jubilee - 7/04

Century - 9/04

Coral Princess - 3/05

Valor - 10/05

 

Days til Valor Vampires Cruise

[Guest]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by teedee:

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by dkjretired:

Although I always get insurance and agree it is important, it should be pointed out in this case that the insurance would not cover the cruise since the cruise occurred.

 

Don<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

They did find out several days in advance but they were in the cancellation penalty phases. The problem is the cruise itself was not cancelled but went as scheduled to different ports. Cruise insurance policies will not cover a situation such as this since the cruise did occur. There may be something out there where you could get this as a rider on a policy but in I am sure that would be an added expense. Considering how many people didn't even know the cruise could change ports, I doubt many would take advantage of a rider if it exsisted.

 

Don

 

I thought the people taking the cruise found out a week ahead of time about the change in itinerary. I don't think they were already on the ship. If they had insurance they could have cancelled it. If I am reading the article correctly.

 

Terri

 

Skyward - 1989

Carnivale - 1991

Holiday - 1994

Fantasy - 1998

Century - 2002

Century - 2003

Jubilee - 7/04

Century - 9/04

Coral Princess - 3/05

Valor - 10/05

 

Days til Valor Vampires Cruise

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=111111&cdt=2005;10;30;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500

http://www.bigotis.com/valorvampires.gif <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[marco]

Yes, DocJohnB, I KNEW hurricane season was that length, but just about EVERYONE knows Aug-Oct is PRIME hurricane time. Gee...when could we possibly book a cruise to MOST LIKELY get rerouted because of a hurricane? I know, I know....let's go in Aug-Sept-Oct!!!!!!! And I am VERY excited because we just booked "QM2" trans-At in July.....hurricane season!!!!!!!