Travel to Cuba coming to an end?

[DCPIV]

Bravo to RCL for handling this situation they way they are.

[travelingtink]

1 hour ago, Jayhawk said:

That is a far cry from RCL's 50% off (which they are giving to customers even in cruises leaving in a couple weeks).  I hope they adjust that higher.  Did they tell you where you are going instead?

Just curious, what percentage of passengers would you estimate are non-US?  I'm so sorry. I'm right there with you next week.

 

Perhaps they are giving more to those that have not yet started their cruise? I honestly didn’t exp for anything other than an itinerary change for us so this is nice. 

 

I’d guess that Americans are slightly in the minority in this sailing.

[Houndfish]

Just got my new itinerary for 11-16-19. Nassau replaces Havana.

I will cancel and take 11-17-19 7 day unless I can get 6 times points.

[quakershaker]

Thanks to the person who posted up thread about the refunds on Royal Caribbean that are being offered. I canceled this morning and was offered 50% refund. I called them back about half an hour ago to get a full refund. The representative didn’t even know it was being offered. I directed him to the Facebook page and after going to a “resolution specialist “ I was offered a full refund. They said 3-5 days. I booked an Alaskan cruise today for about the same price. I’m disappointed about Cuba, but happy with a refund!

 

[Expat Cruise]

Those that want a full refund will be able to get full refunds, regardless of what the cruise lines says and the policy they have, if you paid using a credit card. In the eyes of the credit card company guests booked a cruise to Cuba which they will not have, they did not get what they paid for. Any passenger is free to file a credit card dispute in this case and most cruise lines would not even try to dispute the payment.  If would be refunded by your credit card.  

 

[dillydilly]

5 hours ago, Negril60 said:

We are booked on the Sensation for September 8th. I just called carnival. They told me I have until June 19th to cancel with a full refund( I have paid in full). They said they havent scheduled the new ports yet for August through December. June and July will be Nassau, Ocho Rios and Cozumel.  If we choose not to cancel they will give us $100 onboard credit to use. If we just decide to change ships we will receive $50.00 per person onboard credit. 

We are booked on this one as well. Princess Cays and Nassau are the new ports.We are celebrating our anniversary so we will probably stick with this even though its "Nassau".

[danv3]

Seems like the cruise lines are generally doing the best they can for their customers given the situation.  Offering a full refund or a half off cruise to lesser ports seems like a reasonable solution.  

[shirleygr]

1 hour ago, danv3 said:

Seems like the cruise lines are generally doing the best they can for their customers given the situation.  Offering a full refund or a half off cruise to lesser ports seems like a reasonable solution.  

Especially when they are under no obligation to offer anything.

[RVAcruiser]

3 hours ago, ZandZ said:

and that is what i meant when i said it will be a major hit to the industry.  that is a LOT of refunding.... 

We were supposed to go on a RCL 6-day cruise in late September.  I wanted a different itinerary (the one with 2 ports of call in Cuba), but this was a compromise with my husband.  Not at all excited about the substitute itinerary, but between the 50% refund from RCL and the non-refundable plane tickets to Miami we already booked, we'll make it work.  I do hope in the future that Americans can cruise again to Cuba, and if it is again prohibited, the change isn't nearly so abrupt.  So much for grandfathering in travelers who had already paid for their travel.  

[Wyoming2010]

1 hour ago, Expat Cruise said:

Those that want a full refund will be able to get full refunds, regardless of what the cruise lines says and the policy they have, if you paid using a credit card. In the eyes of the credit card company guests booked a cruise to Cuba which they will not have, they did not get what they paid for. Any passenger is free to file a credit card dispute in this case and most cruise lines would not even try to dispute the payment.  If would be refunded by your credit card.  

 

 

But that excuse could be used for any cruiseline that changes its itinerary for weather or otherwise.  We were diverted by NCL from our Bermuda cruise last year and the travel insurance wouldn't cover the loss of the difference in pricing -- which was substantial.  We ended up with their crappy island and Port Canaveral (not even the stop at Nassau was honored).  Not sure the credit card company wouldn't say that the cruise contract says they can change their itinerary as they see fit, but it's worth a try.

[Cru-Zin]

Booked on MSC in October.  Any word yet on their plans?

[Luckiestmanonearth]

Glad we had a chance to go in March and experience Cuba before it was too late.

We loved Havana and would have gone back.  The people are so nice and the city is very historic.

The only outcome of all this nonsense is

1) Cuban people will suffer

2) American companies (cruiselines) will take a hit in the pocket book

[abbeytravelstheworld]

I'm booked on a two week back to back with Msc starting June 17 and not a word from them yet. Not even an email to acknowledge what's occuring. I work as a TA and no extra info available behind the scenes so far either. As we fly out of New Zealand quite soon for Miami I would love to know what's happening. If we were lucky enough to get a full refund we would take it and go via bahamas into Cuba and do a land based holiday. 

[cowmilker]

I just got an email from HAL. We're booked on the Veendam for December. The Cuba ports are, of course, cancelled.  They said that they will be revising the itinerary, revising the pricing as well, and in addition, are going to give passengers a $100 credit (shipboard credit) even if they choose to transfer their booking to a different Caribbean cruise.  If we choose to transfer it to a non-Caribbean booking, we'll get $50 in shipboard credit.

A full cancellation is also possible with a full refund.  Of course, we are not anywhere close to the ninety day ticker.

Here's a tiny snippet:
 

"When we create itineraries we look forward to taking our guests to the destinations they expect to visit. When unexpected issues beyond our control occur and we must make the decision to change our itinerary, we share in your disappointment."

 

[Baletrina]

1 hour ago, Cru-Zin said:

Booked on MSC in October.  Any word yet on their plans?

 

Here is a screenshot from the MSC page. We are booked for November but will choose a different cruise. 

[Jayhawk]

2 hours ago, abbeytravelstheworld said:

I'm booked on a two week back to back with Msc starting June 17 and not a word from them yet. Not even an email to acknowledge what's occuring. I work as a TA and no extra info available behind the scenes so far either. As we fly out of New Zealand quite soon for Miami I would love to know what's happening. If we were lucky enough to get a full refund we would take it and go via bahamas into Cuba and do a land based holiday. 

 

We leave on the 10th (Monday) and haven't heard from them directly either. Someone on the ship this week said Key West instead and they were offered a $200 shipboard credit.  It's too late to get a full refund on the cruise for us as we'd be out RT airfare, work and family vacation planned all around it. I'm so disappointed the U.S. Government couldn't figure out how to truly grandfather this and at least give it until the end of the calendar year.  They hurt all the cruise lines.

[OHCruisinDad]

Royal Caribbean's message to their Travel Partners that was emailed today.

 

Dear Valued Travel Partners, Yesterday, the United States government declared that effective immediately, educational and recreational (or people-to-people) travel to Cuba is no longer permitted. This new regulation prohibits travel from the U.S. to Cuba by cruise ship, recreational vessel, or non-commercial aircraft. As a result, this change requires us to immediately replace all Cuban ports on our Majesty of the Seas and Empress of the Seas itineraries.

Vicki Freed, CTC SVP Sales and Trade Support & Service Royal Caribbean International®

To make up for this unexpected change as best we can, we are providing your clients booked on impacted sailings with the following: BOOKINGS WITHIN FINAL PAYMENT DATE A refund of 50% per stateroom, credited to your clients' onboard accounts. This amount will be based on their total cruise fare, excluding any taxes and fees. If their onboard spend does not reach this amount, the remaining balance will be refunded to their credit card on file once they've completed their cruise. They'll also receive a refund for any pre-paid shore excursions in Cuba purchased from Royal Caribbean as a credit to their onboard account. BOOKINGS OUTSIDE FINAL PAYMENT DATE A 50% fare reduction per stateroom, excluding any taxes and fees. This amount will be discounted off of your clients' current cruise fare and will be reflected on their reservation by Wednesday, June 12th, 2019. For reservations already paid in full, your clients will automatically receive a refund for any overpayment. They will see this refunded to their credit card by June 19th, 2019. Please know times may vary depending on their financial institution. If they haven't yet paid in full, their remaining balance will be based on this 50% cruise fare reduction. Additionally, they'll receive a refund for any pre-paid Royal Caribbean shore excursions in Cuba to their original form of payment. Our shore excursions team will send an email with the details within the next 3 business days. GUESTS WHO WISH TO CANCEL While we hope your clients choose to stay, if they decide not to sail with us, we'll provide them with a full refund of any paid portion of their cruise fare to the original form of payment, including any non-refundable deposits, both for bookings inside and outside of final payment date. Please work with your client(s) and/or call us by June 7th, 2019 if they are booked on a Majesty of the Seas or Empress of the Seas sailing that departs on or before June 19th, 2019. If their cruise departs on or after June 23rd, 2019, please call us by June 19th. If they choose to cancel, no additional compensation will be provided. They can expect to receive their refund between 3 to 5 business days from cancellation date. We are sorry for this unexpected and sudden change and hope you can appreciate that this policy decision is completely beyond our control. We understand how much time and effort go into planning your clients' vacations. So please know in these circumstances our goal remains the same — to leave your clients with incredible travel memories. We look forward to welcoming your clients onboard soon,

Edited June 6, 2019 by OHCruisinDad

[CruisingFox27]

6 hours ago, Cru-Zin said:

Booked on MSC in October.  Any word yet on their plans?

We've not received anything from them for our booking, I read someone  has called but they had no additional information as yet. 

[Dream1]

Spoke with a rep from MSC earlier today she stated that the Cuba destination has been canceled and will be replaced with another destination but they don’t know which destination yet.

According to the news all ships have canceled the Cuba destination.

 

Not happy, I really wanted to go to Cuba.

Edited June 6, 2019 by Dream1

[abbeytravelstheworld]

I spoke with MSC this afternoon too and got much the same story as well as a very rude response to my query on possible compensation. They said they will be offering no compensation of any kind and they can change ports whenever they want. I realise this is true but in light of what other lines are offering some OBC would be the least they could do really. We fly out from New Zealand for Miami next weekend and picked a 2 week back to back on Armonia purely for Cuba. We are beyond disappointed.

[Bollinge]

On the MSC Cruises UK website they have a notice to say that Havana visits are ceasing forthwith, but that they will notify passengers who have booked, the alternative itineraries by ‘COB’ today, which I take to mean ‘close of business’.

 

Whilst intensely disappointed that we won’t be going to Cuba, I would be very impressed if they offered a 50% discount off the cruise price, just like RCCL.

 

Not holding my breath!

[Luckiestmanonearth]

My neighbor is booked on RCL in Oct on the “Best of Cuba” cruise and didn’t know any of this was going on until we informed them .

 

Yesterday they received a call from their TA and the only thing the TA was calling about was to confirm dinner time. After some prodding to the TA, there was a comment that removing Cuba was only a temporary thing and shouldn’t affect their cruise (which my neighbor believed)

 

Is it just me or does this sound odd that the TA didn’t know anything ?  Or were they just lying ?

Edited June 6, 2019 by Luckiestmanonearth

[secretchimp]

Got this email from Priceline today (whom I booked through). I guess NCL told them to tell me.

 

"Thank you for making your travel arrangements with us. We know you must be eagerly anticipating your cruise. Please be advised that we have received the following important information from Norwegian Cruise Line regarding your sailing. 

As you know, yesterday the United States government announced new and immediate travel restrictions to Cuba. Effective today, June 5, 2019, we are no longer permitted to call to the country and will begin modifying the itineraries for all previously scheduled Cuba sailings. Amended itineraries will be communicated in the coming days. Sailings through and including September 2, 2019 All guests currently sailing on Norwegian Sun who departed on June 3 as well as all guests booked on Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Sun cruises to Cuba through and including the September 2, 2019 departure will receive a 50% refund of the cruise fare paid as well as a 50% future cruise credit valid for sailings through December 31, 2021. Refunds for June 2019 and July 2019 sailings will be processed by June 30, 2019 while refunds for August 2019 sailings will be processed by July 31, 2019. Refunds will be applied to the original form of payment. This process will be automatic and requires no action from you. We apologize for the inconvenience caused by this unforeseen change. Standard cancellation policies apply for guests who choose not to sail. Visa fees arranged through Norwegian Cruise Line will be refunded and government taxes and fees will be adjusted accordingly. Any shore excursions purchased through Norwegian Cruise Line for Cuba will be automatically refunded to original form of payment for other sailings. Future Cruise Credits will be attached to your Latitudes profile. 

We value your business and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. If you have any questions or require further assistance, please feel free to call us at 800-735-8000. 

Sincerely, 
Customer Care 
Priceline Cruises "

[danv3]

25 minutes ago, Luckiestmanonearth said:

My neighbor is booked on RCL in Oct on the “Best of Cuba” cruise and didn’t know any of this was going on until we informed them .

 

Yesterday they received a call from their TA and the only thing the TA was calling about was to confirm dinner time. After some prodding to the TA, there was a comment that removing Cuba was only a temporary thing and shouldn’t affect their cruise (which my neighbor believed)

 

Is it just me or does this sound odd that the TA didn’t know anything ?  Or were they just lying ?

 

Sounds like they need to find a better TA.  

Edited June 6, 2019 by danv3

[Negril60]

We were to sail Monday September 9 on the Sensation. I waited on hold with Carnival for 35 min last night. I switched our cruise to the 9/7/19 cruise on the Conquest. The Rep asked me if we wanted our $50 per person onboard credit. I said of course. She said I have to get a Supervisor on the line. She said I wanna warn you the last person had to wait 45 min. I said I’ll wait. While waiting I called Delta got a wonderful rep. I had called earlier in the day they told me $400 change I said basically BS. The nice lady last night waived the fee. I paid $119 per person for the change. I know nothing about this ship. I haven’t sailed Carnival since 2000. I always loved it. I haven’t sailed period since 2013. They had switched us to Nassau and Princess Cayes. I am so sick of that Island. I was actually excited for Nassau. We ended up getting a $138 refund for the price difference. I’m very disappointed but we still get to cruise. Oh then I had to call hotels to change our Miami  stay. I basically planned our whole vacation on 2 phones and one computer while on hold in 2 hrs at midnight.