Anyone sailing Med on Costa March/April?

[adam633]

9 hours ago, Bobbingbob said:

Hi Adam

Which cruise are you booked on? We have our first going 3rd May and are still very undecided but it definitely doesn’t look too promising at the moment. We have about 7 or so days until the 45 days cancellation policy (lose only £50 per person if UK booking). We have held off paying the balance but we will lose what we have paid for flights. 
I was told yesterday that cruises for May have been confirmed (I wasn’t totally clear what this meant but presumably if you cancel, that is your own decision) and also that we can choose to book another cruise without penalty and thus transfer the total deposit amount - I hope I got that right. 
The more stringent measures brought into place now by all countries affected, the more chance that this may be brought under control in a couple/few months. There will be major economic disruption so the imperative is there. It is a horrible position to be caught in and I wonder if the stress is worth it quite frankly.

 

I am booked on the cruise leaving the 30th May from Savona. I am going to take this day by day and see how the situation in Spain and Italy is progressing. We are coming from Australia but going to London First. I have already booked my flights to Genoa to get to the cruise port in Italy from Londin so will lose the airfare. I am not going to cancel the cruise yet i will wait a week to see how the situation plays out.

[dritan]

Adam - hope things have calmed down by end of April and your journey is unaffected.  But think you are right to wait.  I suspect Costa won't consider the same cancellation policy with a cruise still over two months away.  Definitely think you are right to "sit tight".

 

On other UK related news, apparently Easyjet will announce that passengers can move their flights free of charge.  No more details yet on what that actually means - for how long,etc.  I have return flights to Barcelona in April and my elderly parents are booked to fly from Belfast to London in mid May which I'm considering delaying until the summer. 

[ighten]

Just arrived la spezia this morning. Another CPL hundred Italians to disembark. Reality of Italian lockdown is not quite what the press seem to think. Roads full ,buses running ,port busy watching the port staff wander around with masks with a hole cut in for smoking bis quite hilarious though. From tomorrow we will be in the unique position of being on Costas largest vessel with no Italians on board. More stunning food porn 😍

Blog will be in usual place

[ighten]

To clarify our letter on board says if you have not spent the obc compensation by the end you will be credited in cash.

 

Have to say our experience has been good. Communication excellent and staff have been great.

[drsel]

52 minutes ago, ighten said:

Blog will be in usual place

 

Lovely! Keep posting photos & info

Edited March 13, 2020 by drsel

[drsel]

15 hours ago, dritan said:

I want to provide an update on my 11th April Costa Fortuna scenario.

Option 1

There is a new policy which allow passengers up to 21 days before the cruise to cancel ( for me this is March 19th). This option will involve a £50 per passenger fee but you receive the rest of your money back ( we had paid fully).

Option 2

Call and request another cruise using the full amount of money spent to go towards the new booking.

Option 3

Take a chance that the cruise itself will be cancelled by Costa after 3rd April and get all you money back ( for the UK they have a policy of refund if requested.

When Costa UK cancelled my cruise (before Corona), they gave me 2 options--

Option 1

Receive a FULL REFUND, no penalty

Option 2

Call and request another cruise using the full amount of money spent to go towards the new booking. And get a 10 DISCOUNT on any other cruise, any date, any destination!

Edited March 13, 2020 by drsel

[dritan]

Hi

Yes I think that kinda covers the option3 - but that's only relevant if they decide to cancel.  I only have until 19th to make a decision and strongly suspect Costa won't make a call on any post 3rd April cruises unless the govt continue the lock down.  So I feel that Option 1 is looking the safest option.  

I'm going to move my Barcelona flights over the weekend.  I need to work out what to do as I'm tied into school holiday period and the booking options end smack in the middle of the October half term. Grrr!! 

But I did have a look and can confirm that there are zero admin charges for any flight changes.

[dritan]

Thanks for the update and  photos - I imagine the ship is pretty empty by now?

 

Although I guess there will still be quite a few French and Spanish passengers still on board.  

 

Interesting what you say about the "lock down".  

[ighten]

We still have a lot of Italians as according to our lovely Russian waitress most will leave tomorrow in Savona. It's quite odd as it's a beautiful new and clean to the spotlessly nth degree ship and it suits us perfectly but my attitude is slightly different than the poster a few posts up, I like the silence and serenity.  Bars and bands are still giving it all with extras( jazz club has been a face) Panorama restaurant has been superb food and wine faultless.  Ship is spotless. Slowly 3 k cruising along the cinq terre coast(close enough to wi fi) As you say though from tomorrow it will be us and the French and Germans .. now sat on the rear terrace for coffee with 2 people in each booth. Divine. Lunch today was.

[Plan B]

Thank you igthen for the stunning photos.  I was getting quite excited with regards to the food on offer but then I realised that you aren't in one of the normal restaurants - I'm assuming that different food is served to the "masses"  🙂

 

Do you know if you are allowed off in Marseilles yet?  Thanks

[drsel]

Are these photos in the main dining room or specialty restaurant

[ighten]

Cpl of updates. Arrived Savona CPL of hours ago so the last Italian passengers are now leaving. I think they are combining the mdr passengers so they only need to open one. Doesn't effect us as we use the panorama for breakfast lunch and dinner. More credit comp has been given as Marseille will now be disembark only if it's your final destination. But the sun's shining and the new Peter Swanson is calling to be finished. Just need to find a quiet spot lol

[ighten]

1 hour ago, drsel said:

Are these photos in the main dining room or specialty restaurant

You can still upgrade to a weeks pass to the suite restaurant something we always do on Costa well worth doing in my opinion. This the deck 8 panorama restaurant. Small venue with superb service. Nice and quiet and you can turn up when it suits you.

[drsel]

It was called the club restaurant on deck 12 in Costa Victoria

[ighten]

2 hours ago, Plan B said:

Thank you igthen for the stunning photos.  I was getting quite excited with regards to the food on offer but then I realised that you aren't in one of the normal restaurants - I'm assuming that different food is served to the "masses"  🙂

 

Do you know if you are allowed off in Marseilles yet?  Thanks

Not sure as we have only used the mdr Columbina (I think one mdr is always open for lunch and breakfast table service if you want to avoid the buffet) on the first day for lunch when we boarded in Barcelona. I'm pretty sure you can get anything but it may be an upcharge in the mdr for certain dishes where as it's included in the club/suite restaurant. Make sure though you have got your clubmembership in place in general food wise it's 50,,, discount. No we are now credited with even more compensation as we are only allowed into Marseille and Barcelona under the same rules. DisEmbarking passengers only.

Edited March 14, 2020 by ighten

[ighten]

Pulling away smoothly from Savona. The only way you can tell if your not looking out of the window that this ship has set off is that Andrea bottecelli (sic) starts singing she is so quiet and smooth. Disembarking here must have gone smoothly as we are leaving 2hrs early. So next stop Marseille. It's at this point you are suddenly glad your on such a large ship. No cabin fever despite the stuck on board. Ah well lunch and wine is calling my name.

[drsel]

Cabin fever? You seem to be really enjoying yourself and we are so happy for you

[Tim-C]

My wife and I are discussing the best way forward - I have not been successful in contacting Costa - to be fair, they will be bombarded with enquiries, so it’s understandable. The 21 days limit is on Monday. 

 

I think I will ask for full refund and attach copy of her asthma care plan and the UK government advice to not travel with underlying heath conditions.  I think it is likely that our cruise could still be cancelled anyway (6th April - currently it is still going ahead). 

[Bobbingbob]

You definitely sound as if you should be fully refunded without question given the very fluid situation, your wife’s health condition and the U.K. travel advice. I think you are emailing your cancellation, refund request, asthma care plan etc. and that you are going to mention that you have been trying  to contact them by phone without success and that you will continue to try to speak to them by phone? 
Probably worth persisting to contact them by phone as you will need to know when/how refund will be made. We are in the same position and have until midweek to cancel so I would be grateful to hear how you get on.

Best of luck

Bob

[dritan]

Thanks - we are in the same position Bob.  Have until 19th March - if we cancel we have a £100 cancellation fee.  Seems pretty unfair when you see the options provided by pretty much all other lines right now.  We have moved our Easyjet flights to October.

[Tim-C]

I spoke to someone from Costa Crociere today.  We are NOT entitled to the £50 cancellation fee as we’re under 45 days from sailing.  We would have to forfeit 50% of our money.  He said that if Costa cancelled themselves, we would obviously get it all back, but clearly can’t predict what will occur over the coming weeks.

 

The best options for us are to a) go ahead with it. b) transfer to another cruise in the future. I would really like to experience Costa Smeralda so I’m tempted to alter it to go in July. (We are both teachers). We can transfer it as late as the date when we are actually scheduled to board on 6th April. 

Edited March 16, 2020 by Tim-C
Typo

[Bobbingbob]

I think Costa are way behind virtually all the other cruise lines regarding flexibility and fairness re. Coronavirus concerns. How can you take a cruise with underlying health conditions? You just cannot take that risk.

I am really sorry Tim that you weren’t offered a full refund. This situation is only going to get worse. Borders are being closed, flights being cancelled and how many countries will want cruise ships in their ports?

I suspect there will be many more changes and cancellations to cruise itineraries and I cannot see things just returning to any kind of normality for months.
If you transfer your cruise to July would you then have the option to cancel 45 days before the new date (so if things still look unsafe to go ) and lose only £100 or even to transfer a 2nd time?

Dritan, I think Costa are being rather mean about this and should refund the whole amount including the £100. It is not going to leave a very nice taste in the mouth being penalised over a health risk given that Costa will probably be cancelling anyway. Can they guarantee that none of us will get sick? 

[Tripi23]

43 minutes ago, Tim-C said:

I spoke to someone from Costa Crociere today.  We are NOT entitled to the £50 cancellation fee as we’re under 45 days from sailing.  We would have to forfeit 50% of our money.  He said that if Costa cancelled themselves, we would obviously get it all back, but clearly can’t predict what will occur over the coming weeks.

 

The best options for us are to a) go ahead with it. b) transfer to another cruise in the future. I would really like to experience Costa Smeralda so I’m tempted to alter it to go in July. (We are both teachers). We can transfer it as late as the date when we are actually scheduled to board on 6th April. 

Why not costa Smeralda next Easter - that’s what we did.  Even July could be dodgy with this virus. 

[Tim-C]

Tripi23 - I assumed Smeralda would be off to work in the Far East by then. I thought this year’s Med cruises were basically sea trials before it goes East. 

 

Thanks for for letting me know.  I will look into this, as you’re right - July could be dodgy. 

Edited March 16, 2020 by Tim-C

[Tripi23]

Just now, Tim-C said:

The other option would be to put it off for 12 months, but I guess we’d miss out on Costa Smeralda as I believe she’s doing Med cruises effectively as sea trials until she transfers to the far-East.  

It is on their website for 2nd April 2021 from Rome - Costa Smeralda