Radiance of the seas - cancelled

[MicCanberra]

Why wouldn't they have a credit for the full amount paid, in your example $3,500? I don't see why the port fees should not be refunded. After all, if the cruise did not eventuate, the cruiseline did not have to pay the port fees. Therefore they should be refunded. Otherwise the cruiseline is making a profit on a cruise that did not happen. I don't know what other taxes would apply on an Australian cruise.

I was referring to the Future cruise credit not the full refund. They still get their full refund and there is no way Royal will not be making any profit with this situation. The insurance companies may be though, as the cruise was cancelled due to technical issues prior to starting.

[woodscruise]

The FCC is for the value of the cruise fare. Here in Australia the cruise fare includes all government taxes and port handling fees. If you book through an overseas agent, they are listed separately on the invoice. RCCL is refunding in full the cruise fare, port and taxes for the cruise that is cancelled, however for the FCC it is only giving the credit for the cruise fare portion.

[Aus Traveller]

I was referring to the Future cruise credit not the full refund. They still get their full refund and there is no way Royal will not be making any profit with this situation. The insurance companies may be though, as the cruise was cancelled due to technical issues prior to starting.

I understand the point you are making.

[The_Big_M]

I was wondering about this. If the cruise no longer exists how can the taxes and fees exist?

 

i.e. Any taxes and fees paid should come back to the passenger.

 

The refund is completely returned to the passenger.

 

I was referring to the "100% credit" compensation, which is actually much less than 100% since it excludes those taxes and charges.

[The_Big_M]

That was what he said. I was intrigued as to which lines were moving back to props and rudder system.

 

Same. Haven't heard of any major new builds switching back.

[The_Big_M]

The FCC is for the value of the cruise fare. Here in Australia the cruise fare includes all government taxes and port handling fees. If you book through an overseas agent, they are listed separately on the invoice. RCCL is refunding in full the cruise fare, port and taxes for the cruise that is cancelled, however for the FCC it is only giving the credit for the cruise fare portion.

 

Australian bookings also break them up, and exclude the taxes and fees.

 

My latest RCL (Australia) booking through an Australian TA states these elements:

Royal Caribbean International CRUISE xxx

Taxes xxx

Cruise NDAs xxx

 

Total xxx

 

In that specific example, the cruise portion made up 64%, so it would only be a 64% cruise credit for the amount paid.

[Esilef]

The FCC would be 100% of what you paid (less the fees and taxes) not what a similar cabin category costs on another cruise. (i.e cancelled cruise cost $3500 with $500 being port fees and taxes, you would have $3000 to spend towards the future cruise).

 

This is exactly what we are working with for a replacement cruise.

 

Expect to get 100% back of what we paid for the cancelled cruise including the fees, taxes and port charges. Plus we had purchased excursions, drink & Internet packages which will be refunded.

 

The for the FCC we looked at the invoice and removed the cost of the port charges, fees & taxes (1 line item).

 

This is going to be a costly cancellation for RCI but I guess they will have insurance to cover this.

[Aus Traveller]

This is exactly what we are working with for a replacement cruise.

Expect to get 100% back of what we paid for the cancelled cruise including the fees, taxes and port charges. Plus we had purchased excursions, drink & Internet packages which will be refunded.

The for the FCC we looked at the invoice and removed the cost of the port charges, fees & taxes (1 line item).

This is going to be a costly cancellation for RCI but I guess they will have insurance to cover this.

I think it is likely the cruiselines don't have insurance for events like this. It would be too expensive. I know on previous occasions - yes, different - it has been stated that they have insurance to cover just the hull of the ship. They are insured for a total loss like the loss of the Costa Corcordia.

 

I realise this is Royal Caribbean, but I have heard numerous times that Princess gives the passenger a cruise of a similar length as the cancelled one. We have met passengers who have been able to get an even longer cruise at no charge. They happily tell us they are on their "free cruise". In 2014, a mechanical problem with the Sea Princess caused a cruise from Fremantle to Brisbane to be cancelled. Pax got a full refund, travel expenses plus a 100% credit for a cruise in the future. We recently met a couple on a 14 day NZ cruise who told us they were on their free cruise. Passengers got a credit for the full amount paid and didn't have to take the cruise within 12 months. However, I don't know if the couple I spoke to had special circumstances that allowed a three and a half year delay between the original event and their replacement cruise.

Edited April 4, 2018 by Aus Traveller

[Haoie]

Sorry about this situation! Reminds me of my first cruise, when I was due to go on the Carnival Splendor [2010 engine fire]

[Beanb41]

As daily gratuities are compulsory for us guys down under I assume that they would also be included in the refund

[carofil]

If you had paid them up front, yes. not if you were having them added to your account daily.

[The_Big_M]

As daily gratuities are compulsory for us guys down under I assume that they would also be included in the refund

 

Since they were made compulsory they are part of the fare - there is no separate charge. As the fare is refunded, that includes those compulsory ones.

 

If the booking was made prior to that change, then they would not have been charged, so would not be refunded. Or if you had voluntarily paid them, they would be refunded as with other extras.

[MicCanberra]

This is exactly what we are working with for a replacement cruise.

 

Expect to get 100% back of what we paid for the cancelled cruise including the fees, taxes and port charges. Plus we had purchased excursions, drink & Internet packages which will be refunded.

 

The for the FCC we looked at the invoice and removed the cost of the port charges, fees & taxes (1 line item).

 

This is going to be a costly cancellation for RCI but I guess they will have insurance to cover this.

Good work.

[Beanb41]

Australians and New Zealanders who book cruises with RCCL and X are automatically charged gratuities which cannot be cancelled and this has been so now for over 18 months

[The_Big_M]

Incorrect. The gratuities are part of the fare. There is no separate charge - and indeed when introduced, fares did not even increase.

[banzaii]

indeed when introduced, fares did not even increase.

 

How could you possibly know that with all the games RCI play with pricing?

 

Cheers

[Beanb41]

Incorrect. The gratuities are part of the fare. There is no separate charge - and indeed when introduced, fares did not even increase.

 

What is incorrect? Celebrity fares did increase as a result of the change and have been increasing ever since. As a trade off for compulsory gratuities an extra $US300 OBC was offered as one of the 4 perks in lieu of free gratuities

 

Because gratuities are included in the cruise fare now it is very difficult to compare apples and oranges with other Celebrity jurisdictions

[Freckles_51]

I don’t suppose anyone has an update on the technical issues?

[Esilef]

I don’t suppose anyone has an update on the technical issues?

 

 

 

Is she in Sydney harbour yet?

 

It sounds like they made the wrong choice in tendering in Airlie beach with such bad weather.

 

I guess once the engineering specialists get down into the azipod they will know more. All signs point towards the TP cruise proceeding as planned. Fingers crossed.

[timtam2]

The ship will leave today at about 4pm and go back to Newcastle. New wiring was being flown in from Germany plus a crew of technicians to fit it. The job should take 7 days and they will also inspect the port azipod to be sure. Captain seemed to be very confident that the job would be successful with no impact on the 17 April sailing. However, he did say if there are any unforseen issues ( unlikely he said) they would obviously need to decide what the next course of action would be.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Is she in Sydney harbour yet?

 

It sounds like they made the wrong choice in tendering in Airlie beach with such bad weather.

 

I guess once the engineering specialists get down into the azipod they will know more. All signs point towards the TP cruise proceeding as planned. Fingers crossed.

 

She sailed in at 6 this morning.

[SeaDog-46]

There is an ATSB preliminary report in pdf - Loss of Propulsion on cruise ship Norwegian Star.

 

Not sure if Radiance has the same ABB made system - but it gives an idea of what could have gone wrong & how they can fix it without a drydock.

[The_Big_M]

How could you possibly know that with all the games RCI play with pricing?

 

Aside from the official statement that was the case, the prices for cruises checked by many, and not just myself, was the same after the change as they were before the change.

[The_Big_M]

What is incorrect? Celebrity fares did increase as a result of the change and have been increasing ever since. As a trade off for compulsory gratuities an extra $US300 OBC was offered as one of the 4 perks in lieu of free gratuities

 

The prices didn't increase. Go back and check the threads when the change was made and you'll see posters confirming that at the time.

 

I'd certainly expect them to increase over time e.g. such as when they launch new itineraries to make them equivalent. It was a bargain for those booking then though. And yes, as gratuities were now included, they offered the replacement perk since there was no point offering something that was already included. The perk offer doesn't cause prices to change however.

 

Because gratuities are included in the cruise fare now it is very difficult to compare apples and oranges with other Celebrity jurisdictions

 

It shouldn't be. Just add the value of the gratuities on to the fare elsewhere and then you have a comparable basis.

[MicCanberra]

There is an ATSB preliminary report in pdf - Loss of Propulsion on cruise ship Norwegian Star.

 

Not sure if Radiance has the same ABB made system - but it gives an idea of what could have gone wrong & how they can fix it without a drydock.

I just hope they can fix her properly and quickly.