When will the next shutdown extension be announced?

[terrierjohn]

13 hours ago, PRINCESSTHE BEST said:

Just checked my booked cruises in 2021. I have paid £6,000 it's now £8,500, another one has gone from £3,500 to £7,200.

The Iona Canaries cruise in Feb next year, which I transferred my cancelled April 19 cruise to, is exactly, to the pound, the same price today as it was when I did the transfer in March.

[PRINCESSTHE BEST]

2 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

The Iona Canaries cruise in Feb next year, which I transferred my cancelled April 19 cruise to, is exactly, to the pound, the same price today as it was when I did the transfer in March.

I suspect pricing will depend on the desirability of the ship and cruise. The sheer size of Iona doesn’t appear to appeal to a lot of traditional P&O cruisers.

[jake 26]

15 minutes ago, Eddie99 said:

In a nutshell

 

I think we older cruisers should quite possibly abandon thoughts of resuming our favourite holiday, ever..This will get sorted, one way or another, in time but all that time we are getting older, more vulnerable, possibly less mobile, possibly troubled by other medical conditions 

 

That’s without even mentioning the problems of health/travel insurance

 

It was nice while it lasted.  I’m so glad we did what we did when we did

 

I totally agree with you.

 

I think it's over, but it's been truly fabulous and we feel very lucky to have seen so much, from Alaska to Cape Town, Belfast to Brisbane and many wonderful places along the way in this beautiful world.

 

Great memories, and met some lovely people from many nations. As my old mum said ' Don't let life pass you by, don't regret'.

[molecrochip]

Rumours suggest internal announcement made this morning.

[PRINCESSTHE BEST]

11 minutes ago, jake 26 said:

 

I totally agree with you.

 

I think it's over, but it's been truly fabulous and we feel very lucky to have seen so much, from Alaska to Cape Town, Belfast to Brisbane and many wonderful places along the way in this beautiful world.

 

Great memories, and met some lovely people from many nations. As my old mum said ' Don't let life pass you by, don't regret'.

I again agree, we have travelled the world over and have been literally everywhere. Cruising has always been a comfortable, relaxing and exciting way to see the world. I remember going on an excursion to Cairo from Oriana. We left the ship with an armed escort in a 12 hour round trip to Cairo and the pyramids. We really enjoyed that day but I remember returning to a clean welcoming ship, a hot shower and great company at dinner. Those days have now gone. No matter what cruising companies say or do, they cannot stop you being stuck on a confined space with air conditioning that facilitates virus spread. Passengers will always be worried about embarking and catching the virus. Travel insurance too will be virtually impossible to obtain for coronavirus cover. 
It’s great to get out the photos and reminisce, but also it’s time to move on to adventures of a different kind.
 

Edited April 23, 2020 by PRINCESSTHE BEST

[PRINCESSTHE BEST]

7 minutes ago, molecrochip said:

Rumours suggest internal announcement made this morning.

I thought that may be the case. Customer service lines not opening until 10am this morning.

[wowzz]

32 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

The Iona Canaries cruise in Feb next year, which I transferred my cancelled April 19 cruise to, is exactly, to the pound, the same price today as it was when I did the transfer in March.

But what was the price in October last year?

[molecrochip]

Now public, cancelled to 31 July.

[PRINCESSTHE BEST]

Cruises paused to 31 July.

[Selbourne]

46 minutes ago, Eddie99 said:

In a nutshell

 

I think we older cruisers should quite possibly abandon thoughts of resuming our favourite holiday, ever..This will get sorted, one way or another, in time but all that time we are getting older, more vulnerable, possibly less mobile, possibly troubled by other medical conditions 

 

That’s without even mentioning the problems of health/travel insurance

 

It was nice while it lasted.  I’m so glad we did what we did when we did

You may well be right and it’s interesting that others are agreeing with your assessment but, in spite of my concerns about the next year or two and the time it will take the cruise industry to return to where it was last year, I think it will eventually recover and older generations will be able to cruise in safety again. Many on this forum can’t wait to go on their next cruise, in spite of the obvious dangers until we are all vaccinated. However great and obvious the risks, some people will be prepared to take it. 
 

Yes, older cruisers will age, but my wife is disabled (full time wheelchair user) and prior to this virus loved cruises because they are so well geared up for those with disabilities (tender operations aside - an issue that needs fixing). So ageing, and all that goes with it, need not cause you to rule out cruising. Insurance may well be a challenge, but any sensible cruise operator will overcome that by including insurance in the price. 
 

We are well under 70 but wouldn’t consider a cruise until it is entirely safe to go on one, which is some way off I fear. For us that means that the virus has burnt itself out (unlikely it seems as it is predicted to become an annual event) or we are vaccinated against it. The latter looks around 18 months off so that’s the likely timescale that we are looking at, but when it is safe to do so I am hopeful that we will return. 

[AndyMichelle]

3 minutes ago, molecrochip said:

Now public, cancelled to 31 July.

That's my 4th July theory out the window then... 😊

[Selbourne]

Interesting that they have gone as far out as 31st July as that will save a few people having to pay their balance and then wait months for a refund. We were due to sail on 19th July and balance due date was 3 days ago, so we moved the deposit to FCC rather than lose it. Anyone who was due to sail in the last week of July should now be able to get their deposit refunded as cash. Although we all know that no cruises will be going anywhere way beyond 31st July, I am surprised that they have announced cancellations over 3 months out, given the vast numbers of refund requests that they will now receive. Given that I think I have only heard of one person who has received a refund so far, I shall be interested to know if the T’s and C’s have changed yet again. Does anyone know?

[Captain_Morgan]

Interesting to see they’ve been ‘late’ with announcing when all others cancelled till 30 June and now they’re going further than the rest by a full month...not sure the logic but at least it gives a realistic tone to things as opposed to the piece-meal approach

[bee-ess]

35 minutes ago, PRINCESSTHE BEST said:

I thought that may be the case. Customer service lines not opening until 10am this morning.

Well, it is there now, pause until July 31st

 

Ionafest has gone on July 4th

Edited April 23, 2020 by bee-ess

[Selbourne]

53 minutes ago, AndyMichelle said:

Good points Selborne. 

Someone will have to be the first to take the plunge and, despite the risks, someone will do it as soon as realistically possible. 

MSC are already talking about getting operations ready to go in China. 

A massive risk, could be make or break, but if they are likely to break anyway.. 

Now B&Q are open, every other retailer wants to do the same, the cruise companies will be no different. 

I know the cruise industry is almost impossible to social distance, but with adequate screening at boarding, things may be different, although we are probably a way off that yet. 

Imagine we got to a stage where they could guarantee nobody onboard, crew or passengers had the virus, it would be the safest place to be. (dreaming, I know)... 

Insurance issues will get resolved because they have to. 

It's a massive risk, but when one jumps.. 

Andy 

 

Footnote.. I won't be going anywhere near a cruise ship until you lot have tried it... 😊

 

 

 

 

 

Of course the biggest challenge with that Andy is that it is absolutely impossible, whatever the level of pre boarding health screening, to be able to guarantee that nobody boards with the virus, as there are no detectable symptoms for at least a week. It only needs one person to unwittingly board a cruise ship whilst in the incubation phase and, bang, another outbreak that will spread like wild fire. 

[emam]

A couple of paragraphs from the email.

 

We hope you are well. We wanted to get in touch to give you an important update that affects your holiday. Regrettably, P&O Cruises is extending its pause in cruise operations up to and including 31 July 2020. This is as a result of the continued impact of COVID-19. With the current lockdown in place and government guidelines around the world advising against travel it is necessary to extend the pause in our operations which means the sailing you had booked will no longer go ahead.

 

Please note, due to the extraordinary circumstances associated with COVID-19 and the impact to our Customer Contact Centre team and wider business, refunds may take up to 60 days to be processed.

[emam]

https://www.pocruises.com/travel-health-advisories?utm_medium=email&utm_source=COVIDPAUSE23APR&utm_term=PO-30256091&utm_content=&utm_campaign=PO+Cruises+here#pause-video

 

 

[molecrochip]

As less people become sick and return to remote working, the refund backlog should improve. It’s not done to intentionally improve cash flow - it’s staff shortage. The more people who call the contact centre, the slower it goes.

[pete14]

I think cancelling until the end of July is a good move and will provide certainty for thousands who were still wondering and hoping against hope that their cruise would go ahead. I also find it interesting that FCC can now be used to upgrade cabins, book another cabin for friends or family on cruises already booked or gifted to friends and family. 

[Les_ldh]

11 minutes ago, emam said:

A couple of paragraphs from the email.

 

We hope you are well. We wanted to get in touch to give you an important update that affects your holiday. Regrettably, P&O Cruises is extending its pause in cruise operations up to and including 31 July 2020. This is as a result of the continued impact of COVID-19. With the current lockdown in place and government guidelines around the world advising against travel it is necessary to extend the pause in our operations which means the sailing you had booked will no longer go ahead.

 

Please note, due to the extraordinary circumstances associated with COVID-19 and the impact to our Customer Contact Centre team and wider business, refunds may take up to 60 days to be processed.

I’ve requested a refund for my June cruise via their web form this morning. In the circumstances I don’t mind waiting 60 days, but does anyone know if that means 60 days from today, or 60 days from the sailing date? I didn’t feel it was clear on the form.

Les.

[Selbourne]

4 minutes ago, molecrochip said:

As less people become sick and return to remote working, the refund backlog should improve. It’s not done to intentionally improve cash flow - it’s staff shortage. The more people who call the contact centre, the slower it goes.

I know that you keep saying it’s not cash flow, but I’m afraid that you are wrong. Workload is of course part of the issue but doesn’t in any way account for 60 days delays on refunds. Hardly anyone has had a refund yet, which tells you all you need to know. Anyone who has ever run a business will tell you that in the current crisis it’s all about cash flow and, as I have pointed out before when you said the same thing, ABTA are saying the same. 

[AndyMichelle]

25 minutes ago, Selbourne said:

Of course the biggest challenge with that Andy is that it is absolutely impossible, whatever the level of pre boarding health screening, to be able to guarantee that nobody boards with the virus, as there are no detectable symptoms for at least a week. It only needs one person to unwittingly board a cruise ship whilst in the incubation phase and, bang, another outbreak that will spread like wild fire. 

Yep, totally agree. 

I'm still trying to be optimistic despite the facts.. 😊

Andy 

[Mrs applehead]

We are due on Britannia on the 1st August😭. Wonder how much longer we will have to wait until that is cancelled?

[emam]

This is interesting. I haven't heard of Genting cruises before.

 

 

 

 

There is also a press release for it.

 

https://www.dreamcruiseline.com/en/media/press-release/2020/press-release-20200407-gcl-announces-enhance-preventive-measures/

[Selbourne]

35 minutes ago, Selbourne said:

Interesting that they have gone as far out as 31st July as that will save a few people having to pay their balance and then wait months for a refund. We were due to sail on 19th July and balance due date was 3 days ago, so we moved the deposit to FCC rather than lose it. Anyone who was due to sail in the last week of July should now be able to get their deposit refunded as cash. Although we all know that no cruises will be going anywhere way beyond 31st July, I am surprised that they have announced cancellations over 3 months out, given the vast numbers of refund requests that they will now receive. Given that I think I have only heard of one person who has received a refund so far, I shall be interested to know if the T’s and C’s have changed yet again. Does anyone know?

Having thought that I’d spotted a rare moment of generosity from P&O, in that some people would have been spared paying their balance, Ive just realised that, unlike us, most people book through a travel agent and they require payment earlier than if you book direct. Oh well, the ability to upgrade your cabin on an existing cruise is a welcome addition, although the steadfast refusal to allow FCC to be used towards balances of other cruises already booked will understandably irritate some.