CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK: SHOULDN'T AZAMARA AVOID ITALIAN PORTS FOR NOW?

[lisiamc]

14 hours ago, sunlover33 said:

We hope to see you onboard enjoying a healthy and enjoyable voyage soon!

https://www.azamara.com/en-au/travel-advisory
 

Can they  guarantee the cruise will be healthy? If so I will happily cruise with them, otherwise I would like the option to cancel. 

I don’t think the UK can guarantee us a healthy trip out of the house right now!  Can we realistically ask so much more of a cruise line?

[skoretsky]

Can they (Azamara) with respect to Coronavirus guarantee safe passage on cruise out of Rome (Italy) departing May 4? 

 

I think not so they should cancel this cruise! The United States State Department had advised against travel to Italy, and is considering a ban on cruise ship travel for United States residence.

 

I hope Azamara executive are monitoring this thread. I am planning to consult with a personal injury attorney to determine what my recourse is should Azamara not cancel this cruise.

 

We are currently booked on Azamara Pursuit 10 day Mediterranean cruise departing Rome, Italy on May 4.

Edited March 6, 2020 by skoretsky
revision

[DRJVH]

30 minutes ago, skoretsky said:

Can they (Azamara) with respect to Coronavirus guarantee safe passage on cruise out of Rome (Italy) departing May 4? 

 

I think not so they should cancel this cruise! The United States State Department had advised against travel to Italy, and is considering a ban on cruise ship travel for United States residence.

 

I hope Azamara executive are monitoring this thread. I am planning to consult with a personal injury attorney to determine what my recourse is should Azamara not cancel this cruise.

 

We are currently booked on Azamara Pursuit 10 day Mediterranean cruise departing Rome, Italy on May 4.

Royal Caribbean have announced Cancellations for FCC. I believe it takes in Celebrity And  Azamara
 

[Cahpek]

1 hour ago, skoretsky said:

Can they (Azamara) with respect to Coronavirus guarantee safe passage on cruise out of Rome (Italy) departing May 4? 

 

I think not so they should cancel this cruise! The United States State Department had advised against travel to Italy, and is considering a ban on cruise ship travel for United States residence.

 

I hope Azamara executive are monitoring this thread. I am planning to consult with a personal injury attorney to determine what my recourse is should Azamara not cancel this cruise.

 

We are currently booked on Azamara Pursuit 10 day Mediterranean cruise departing Rome, Italy on May 4.

 

You might be glad to check this new cancellation policy which just came out today:

 

https://www.azamara.com/int/cruise-with-confidence?icid=aza_brnd_b_int_vb_oth_aza_confidence_hp_hero_3062020_

 

OR

 

 https://www.azamara.co.uk/cruise-with-confidence?icid=aza_brnd_b_int_vb_oth_aza_confidence_hp_hero_3062020_

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Edited March 7, 2020 by Cahpek

[Cahpek]

9 hours ago, Cahpek said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Azamara may have changed their policy to make it easier for passengers to cancel their cruises for FCC, but it does not appear they are giving any news of their decision what to do with cruise ships stopping at Italian ports ( The ships in question, include Azamara Quest, and Azamara Persuit visiting Italy in May).

 

Hope Azamara management will make some decision about these affected  schedules soon. If the cruise ships stop at Italian ports, that may  also affect decisions for passengers on the next cruises after they come from Italy, whether they would want to risk taking the following cruise(s), or cancel them altogether. An example is for the Azamara Persuit. After it has done its cruise from Civitavecchia-Lisbon (May 4th-May 14th, 2020), it will start their next cruise from Lisbon-Southampton (May 14th-23rd, 2020). At the moment,  please correct me if I am mistaken,  their cruises visiting Italy has still not yet been changed.

Edited March 7, 2020 by Cahpek

[Bloodaxe]

Nobody knows which ports will even be open to cruise ships in the next few weeks or even months.

Edited March 7, 2020 by Bloodaxe

[uktog]

7 minutes ago, Bloodaxe said:

Nobody knows which ports will even be open to cruise ships in the new few weeks or even months.

Or  even minutes (based on what’s happened to Constellation in Mumbai) - see post on the other thread

[Lottie A]

I had an email from Oceania this morning telling me they have decided to eliminate  ports of call in Italy from their April and May itineraries. They will review the Italy situation going forward and make any necessary port revisions for the later months this year. They are also allowing no penalty cancellations up to 48 hours before departure with a FCC of 100%. 

Sadly, but I think it’s medically advisable for me, I am cancelling my June cruise on Journey. 

[Bloodaxe]

I was very tempted by a cruise for May but didn't book it, now pleased that I waited, no intention of even thinking about a future cruise at the moment.

[Cahpek]

4 hours ago, uktog said:

Or  even minutes (based on what’s happened to Constellation in Mumbai) - see post on the other thread

 

Where did you read this? I went to the Celebrity discussion board and could not find news on the Constellation with regards to Mumbai.

 

I could not find that information anywhere related to that matter on the rest of the internet either.

 

Could you direct me to those online site which gave out this news?  Thanks.

Edited March 7, 2020 by Cahpek

[uktog]

1 hour ago, Cahpek said:

 

Where did you read this? I went to the Celebrity discussion board and could not find news on the Constellation with regards to Mumbai.

 

I could not find that information anywhere related to that matter on the rest of the internet either.

 

Could you direct me to those online site which gave out this news?  Thanks.

I believe in the end the guests from Constellation were allowed ashore, but this was the notice that was issued to the ship and shared to guests when it looked like they would not get off

 

Edited March 7, 2020 by uktog

[Wheelhouse]

The Costa Luminosa has a 20 day TA which left Fort Lauderdale on March 5 with a number of Italian ports planned with an ending in Venice.  On March 4 (the day before embarkation) the Americans were told they would be getting off on day 16 at Marseille.  Of course they were given benefits like OBC and flight deviation reimbursement or the option to cancel with FCC.

 

I would expect more of this across the industry as its better for bottom line than straight cancellations. 

[Covepointcruiser]

I would expect there will be changes in embarkation ports and in ports being visited.

Its too bad, but not surprising that Italy has not managed the virus.   It’s funny that Mumbai would restrict cruise lines from entering the port.   It has certainly received no awards for cleanliness.

The situation is fluid and no cruise line can be expected to predict the future.   I don’t want my cruise cancelled and I realize it may not include the ports I expected, but my husband and I are healthy and not in any of the risk groups so we want to cruise.

[Doh15]

I don’t see what‘s funny about any country trying to minimize the spread of the virus into that country. 

[the mice]

Just announced  that all of Italy is on lockdown:

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-whole-of-italy-put-on-lockdown-11954097

[Mackdogmolly]

1 hour ago, the mice said:

Just announced  that all of Italy is on lockdown:

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-whole-of-italy-put-on-lockdown-11954097

Can’t imagine there will be any cruises going there 

[skoretsky]

Nope, appears Italy travel will be shutdown for some time to come...unfortunately.

 

[ltcTN]

Most likely the May 4th Pursuit cruise will likely have a embarkation port change. I really don't care other than I do not want to cancel the cruise. The cost and all the changes and bs involved is enough but I really don't want to miss this cruise. This is a media driven event and people are buying into the hype. To each his own but the certificate of carriage for the cruise industry allows them to set the rules in their favor. I agree with whoever mentioned the PR nightmare but I fully expect to lose money on this escapade! JMHO

[mrbluesea]

This is a media driven event and people are buying into the hype.

 

So you believe the Italian authorities have responded as they have as a result of media hype?. 

[DRJVH]

3 hours ago, ltcTN said:

Most likely the May 4th Pursuit cruise will likely have a embarkation port change. I really don't care other than I do not want to cancel the cruise. The cost and all the changes and bs involved is enough but I really don't want to miss this cruise. This is a media driven event and people are buying into the hype. To each his own but the certificate of carriage for the cruise industry allows them to set the rules in their favor. I agree with whoever mentioned the PR nightmare but I fully expect to lose money on this escapade! JMHO

Really???  Media driven hype???

i don’t think the Italian government think so. Why would you lockdown a whole country’s economy on media hype. Looks like someone needs to pull their heads out of the sand. I sincerely hope you don’t get the virus. 

[ltcTN]

8 hours ago, DRJVH said:

Really???  Media driven hype???

i don’t think the Italian government think so. Why would you lockdown a whole country’s economy on media hype. Looks like someone needs to pull their heads out of the sand. I sincerely hope you don’t get the virus. 

Yes Really! I agree, I hope no one gets the virus, whether it be Covid-19 or any of the other 6000 virus strains out there! But there is no head in the sand here. Do your research from something besides the media. Yes, the Italian government did exactly that, knee jerk reaction based upon media hype. By the way, wash your hands and respect personal space and happy cruising!

 

[nordski]

42 minutes ago, ltcTN said:

Yes Really! I agree, I hope no one gets the virus, whether it be Covid-19 or any of the other 6000 virus strains out there! But there is no head in the sand here. Do your research from something besides the media. Yes, the Italian government did exactly that, knee jerk reaction based upon media hype. By the way, wash your hands and respect personal space and happy cruising!

 

I’m not certain what you mean by media “hype”, but faced with 463 deaths I can understand why the Italian Government adopted this policy.

 

It seems most jurisdictions are considering forms of limitation on travel and social contact if they face a similar or even lesser mortality rate.

 

That is one of the issues that potential cruisers must consider.

[Doh15]

1 hour ago, ltcTN said:

Yes Really! I agree, I hope no one gets the virus, whether it be Covid-19 or any of the other 6000 virus strains out there! But there is no head in the sand here. Do your research from something besides the media. Yes, the Italian government did exactly that, knee jerk reaction based upon media hype. By the way, wash your hands and respect personal space and happy cruising!

 

 It amazes me that you think you can make that judgment apparently from 3,000 miles away with no first hand knowledge. 
 

I too don’t have first hand knowledge but I have seen the reported increases in infections and the stories of people dying in hospitals waiting to be seen and it would never occur to me that I know better than the infectious disease specialists and  Italian government. 
 

I just hope you aren’t one of those people who gets asked to self-quaratine for a week or two and ignores it. 

[ltcTN]

1 hour ago, Doh15 said:

 It amazes me that you think you can make that judgment apparently from 3,000 miles away with no first hand knowledge. 
 

I too don’t have first hand knowledge but I have seen the reported increases in infections and the stories of people dying in hospitals waiting to be seen and it would never occur to me that I know better than the infectious disease specialists and  Italian government. 
 

I just hope you aren’t one of those people who gets asked to self-quaratine for a week or two and ignores it. 

Well Well , it seems to be an exciting topic. Rest easy Doh15, Not making judgement just a personal observation upon personal experience with previous notifications from governments regarding public health.(It seems to happen every 2 years, please check me on this)! Not one to ignore a request or requirement from the local authority you will not have to worry about me spreading the virus, but I guarantee you the media will cause more harm than I will travelling to Italy to go on a cruise. I can also assure you that I will not cancel the flight, cruise, pre and post hotel stays nor excursions unless ordered by said authority. I personally choose to not live in fear. Cheers!

[Lottie A]

I see that BA have cancelled all their flights to Italy. I’m sure other airlines will soon follow.