iipa Posted November 30, 2016 #1 Share Posted November 30, 2016 Background: I was on the November 2016 Splendour of the Seas Suez Canal cruise traveling solo. We made our two ports - Haifa and Ashdod and I had a wonderful 2 days of shore excursions booked with Viator. Convinced my husband that we needed to do this cruise together and booked on the Vision of the Seas and we're on the ship now. We paid a premium for a junior suite on this cruise and a BIG premium of $839.00 per person for the Royal Caribbean offered overnight shore excursion that seemed to cover everything we'd want to see. Tonight at 10:30 p.m. before reaching Haifa the captain made an in-room announcement that Ashdod would be cancelled in two days because of weather. All tours would be modified. WHAT!!!!! The skies are clear and sunny at the moment but I realize that can change. My husband and I booked the $839 per person overnight excursion that was to include many highlights including Jerusalem and Bethlehem along with a museum that I didn't get to visit last time. When we got on the ship, we were notified that the tour had changed and didn't include the museum. But our price wouldn't change. That was OK, we probably won't be back to Israel but visit lots of museums so I didn't complain. Now tonight, we learned that Bethlehem is cancelled too and our day 2 is severely shortened. I surely didn't book this pretty expensive cruise to go to Athens, Oman and Dubai yet skip Bethlehem. There is no time to book anything else. I definitely oversold my husband on how great this cruise would be, and most definitely overpaid for the decimated shore excursion. I saw much more last cruise on my 2 $99 per day per person Viator shore excursions. Just venting, I guess. We are Pinnacle members and not usually the type to complain AT ALL but this really stinks. This is not the cruise we signed up for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Langley Cruisers Posted November 30, 2016 #2 Share Posted November 30, 2016 I don't think there is anything else I could say except I am so sorry to hear this. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iipa Posted November 30, 2016 Author #3 Share Posted November 30, 2016 I don't think there is anything else I could say except I am so sorry to hear this. :( I can't believe this is happening to us. We're not whiners. My husband is so angry about this, thanks for understanding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jticarruthers Posted November 30, 2016 #4 Share Posted November 30, 2016 Be curious what the weather ends up doing. Talked with several people on AOTS last week who had excursions cancelled, initially told due to weather but when pushed admitted they were due to low attendance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGoguen Posted November 30, 2016 #5 Share Posted November 30, 2016 So you need to fight with royal about your money. Captain can't change the weather Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
setsail Posted November 30, 2016 #6 Share Posted November 30, 2016 (edited) What's being PC members got to do with excursions:rolleyes: Your money will be refunded but you already know that Edited November 30, 2016 by setsail Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruizers Posted November 30, 2016 #7 Share Posted November 30, 2016 I'm so sorry to hear about the change with your shore excursion; I realize how disappointing that can be. You may not know but there are serious forest fires burning throughout Israel, and that may be interfering with the agenda. I hope the rest of your trip goes smoothly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUT2407 Posted November 30, 2016 #8 Share Posted November 30, 2016 Have missed ports on over 1/2 of our cruises, on others the order of visit gas changed. It's unfortunate but it happens. It's a risk you take. If a port is the reason for the visit don't cruise to get there, drive or fly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spunky946 Posted November 30, 2016 #9 Share Posted November 30, 2016 I'd go and see about getting your money refunded instead of complaining here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VASOXFANN Posted November 30, 2016 #10 Share Posted November 30, 2016 I'm confused. Is there some question about the OP's money getting refunded? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUT2407 Posted November 30, 2016 #11 Share Posted November 30, 2016 And actually it is exactly the cruise you signed up for because your terms would say that there was no guarantee of getting to any particular port and the line reserved the right to vary, or cancel ports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueenofKrakatoa Posted November 30, 2016 #12 Share Posted November 30, 2016 (edited) Holy shiitake mushrooms, that's expensive. Can't you get a refund? Edited November 30, 2016 by QueenofKrakatoa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrsinsyder Posted December 1, 2016 #13 Share Posted December 1, 2016 I'm confused. Is there some question about the OP's money getting refunded? No. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crosby99 Posted December 1, 2016 #14 Share Posted December 1, 2016 What's being PC members got to do with excursions:rolleyes: I was wondering that too :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VASOXFANN Posted December 1, 2016 #15 Share Posted December 1, 2016 No. Then why are people discussing it? :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrsinsyder Posted December 1, 2016 #16 Share Posted December 1, 2016 Then why are people discussing it? :confused: Cruise critic ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxgoodrich Posted December 1, 2016 #17 Share Posted December 1, 2016 (edited) I'm confused. Is there some question about the OP's money getting refunded? To clear it up for you - the OP will NOT get a refund for the shortened $839pp excursion. OP is stuck paying the full price for a shortened excursion that leaves out some of the things she booked it for in the first place. Why not take another look at the OP's post! (reading comprehension is our friend!) Here's the relevant part: My husband and I booked the $839 per person overnight excursion that was to include many highlights including Jerusalem and Bethlehem along with a museum that I didn't get to visit last time. When we got on the ship, we were notified that the tour had changed and didn't include the museum. But our price wouldn't change. CLIFF NOTES SUMMARY - OP booked an $839pp excursion through RC. RC took something out of the excursion. They did not change the price. and there's more... Now tonight, we learned that Bethlehem is cancelled too and our day 2 is severely shortened. CLIFF NOTES SUMMARY - Now OP is told that more features will be taken out of the overnight excursion. The 2nd day is A LOT shorter now. No change in price. OP is upset about the excursion situation and venting about it here. I hope she will be able to get at least a partial refund for this expensive excursion that is now shorter and lacks the highlights she wanted when she booked it, but that's not what she has been told. She has been told there is no adjustment in the price of the expensive excursion. I'd be upset too! Judy Edited December 1, 2016 by foxgoodrich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VASOXFANN Posted December 1, 2016 #18 Share Posted December 1, 2016 (edited) Nice attitude and edits! Edited December 1, 2016 by VASOXFANN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atnolan94 Posted December 1, 2016 #19 Share Posted December 1, 2016 Yeah we rip people here for complaining, but you are pretty justified here. Sorry to hear it. Hopefully there is a solution! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easyboy Posted December 1, 2016 #20 Share Posted December 1, 2016 Hope OP gets a partial refund. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viv0828 Posted December 1, 2016 #21 Share Posted December 1, 2016 If I were in the OP's position I would have a long talk with customer no service. No satisfaction - I would ask to speak to a supervisor and take it up the food chain. No success - I would file a claim with my credit card company. Good luck. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cel_cruise Posted December 1, 2016 #22 Share Posted December 1, 2016 I would be really upset too! I understand that changes might be needed due to weather or other safety concerns (fires?) but I think that there should be some compensation for it too for the excursion. Or atleast the option to cancel it! Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalliekae Posted December 1, 2016 #23 Share Posted December 1, 2016 I understand the frustration of the op and I hope she gets a refund. Many years ago, we were on a Baltic cruise. When we boarded, we were told our excursion to Moscow (from the St. Petersburg stop) was cancelled. I was very disappointed and had the same feelings as the op. Our money was completely refunded. However, several days later, the excursion was once again offered to us and we jumped at the chance. So in the end, it turned out to be the best excursion ever and perhaps the op will get lucky and have the same experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pspercy Posted December 1, 2016 #24 Share Posted December 1, 2016 (edited) Bethlehem is within the Palestinian area so, in addition to the fires around Haifa it could be there'd been "incidents" making a Bethlehem visit inadvisable. We did a tour out of Haifa in 2011 and at that time Bethlehem was not an option. Edited December 1, 2016 by pspercy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaggyofwv Posted December 1, 2016 #25 Share Posted December 1, 2016 I've never understood why some people will read a post and then proceed to attack the op. If you don't have anything constructive to offer then do the rest of us a favor and go on to the next thread, we don't need to read your condescension. To the OP, I hope you get a refund on your excursion and I think you should get some OBC for your troubles. [emoji6] Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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