HAL Cancels All 2020 Alaska, Europe and Canada Sailings

[Oceansaway17]

40 minutes ago, Oak Hill Cruisers said:

It's time to see the USA in our Chevrolet!

Or my Toyota.

But the national parks are beautiful if allowed to be open.

 

Meanwhile keep working on the lawn and garden. 

[Primus]

This is now my fourth cruise canceled.  Does anyone know if the FCC can be applied to a 2021 cruise currently booked or does it only apply to new bookings made after today?

[Oak Hill Cruisers]

Well, in our Chevrolet (actually a Lexus ES 350 F-Sport), we'll continue driving/hiking to the 36 or so land-based points where at least three states meet.

 

We've done the Four Corners , Texas/Arkansas/Louisiana, Alabama/Georgia/Tennessee & Kentucky/Virginia/Tennessee.

[janmcn]

Most questions can be answered by CAREFULLY reading HAL's statement. (and also going to the cancellation form here https://book2.hollandamerica.com/cp/  which, if you print it out to carefully look at, will show you how to get your money returned, etc.  Only NEW bookings are able to have FCC applied to them, but probably some Travel Agents can cancel 2021 trips and try to find similar cabins (and prices) as a new one. From what I've heard, though, some of those 2021 cruises have gone up in price since we booked them.

[AlanF65]

13 minutes ago, Oak Hill Cruisers said:

Well, in our Chevrolet (actually a Lexus ES 350 F-Sport), we'll continue driving/hiking to the 36 or so land-based points where at least three states meet.

 

We've done the Four Corners , Texas/Arkansas/Louisiana, Alabama/Georgia/Tennessee & Kentucky/Virginia/Tennessee.

You still need to see the four corners at Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona, finish up by heading west to Nevada and go up the Extraterrestrial highway for some real fun

 

 

 

 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Extraterrestrial+Hwy,+Nevada/@37.6484193,-115.759339,14.54z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x80b788740d0d760d:0x8e1e209b7fbbb161!8m2!3d37.7116187!4d-115.8734337

 

 

 

 

[Sir PMP]

We knew that this was coming, might as well start January 1st, 2021, at least we'll know a lot more by then.

[Cruising-along]

1 hour ago, Seasick Sailor said:

 

We sent in a change request from 125% FCC to cash refund for balance of our 5 week cruise. Just too much money tied up for too long. 

I read that we won't have that option until June (?)  You were able to do it now? 

[Seasick Sailor]

5 minutes ago, Cruising-along said:

I read that we won't have that option until June (?)  You were able to do it now? 

 

Yes. So we were already into our 1st week of 6 on Oosterdam when we were kicked off on March 14th. We were given some (about $2200) money back within a few days of disembarking. We were on B2B2B cruises. Our 4 week Hawaii-French Polynesia was not refunded at all. We were given the original 2 options, then emailed a 3rd option of changing from FCC to refund on March 30th. 

[Btimmer]

17 minutes ago, Cruising-along said:

I read that we won't have that option until June (?)  You were able to do it now? 

Today's announcement indicated that cash refund requests need to be made by June 1, 2020.

Edited May 6, 2020 by Btimmer

[Cruising-along]

11 minutes ago, Btimmer said:

Today's announcement indicated that cash refund requests need to be made by June 1, 2020.

Thanks, I actually was thinking about cruises that were canceled in March.  I had heard that if you initially requested FCC, you have the option to change that to cash refund but not until June...

 

[1ANGELCAT]

13 minutes ago, Btimmer said:

Today's announcement indicated that cash refund requests need to be made by June 1, 2020.

See post #15. It actually says by June 15,2020.

[Btimmer]

4 minutes ago, 1ANGELCAT said:

See post #15. It actually says by June 15,2020.

I saw that, but on HAL's site, it says:

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/news/coronavirus-travel-advisory.html

For those guests who require a refund in lieu of the FCC offer, please visit the Cancellation Preferences form to make your selection by June 1, 2020. Submit one request, and include one guest name, per booking. To the extent a guest does not elect either Option 1 or Option 2 by June 1, 2020, guest will be deemed to have accepted Option 1 (which is a higher value than Option 2). 

The deadline for making your cancellation preference selection is June 1, 2020. 

Edited May 6, 2020 by Btimmer

[kangforpres]

So I guess the first possible sailings would be the Caribbean starting in Nov. 2020? Plus Mexico Riviera and Hawaii also starting around that time?

 

Well there is all this talk about a vaccine as early as this Fall, I think that's the only thing that will save cruising at this point.

[ger_77]

I felt this was coming, just wasn't sure when.  I'm not surprised, and am glad we were able to get in 1 cruise this year in early January before everything went to hell in a handbasket.  It's time to look forward to what we can do with the time (and money) we would have spent on the cruise, and enjoy each day.  Stay well, everyone!

 

Smooth Sailing!  🙂🙂🙂

[Sue from Canada]

3 hours ago, wesport said:

Why do they keep offering cash refunds when you don’t get them . At this stage only fcc should be offered unless they are actually going to give the refund.

I was on the RCI forum yesterday and noticed that quite a few have rec'd refunds.  Hope mine comes soon.

[iancal]

My understanding is that HAL must offer cash refunds.  They broke their contract with the customer.   Payment rec'd for a cruise.   Cruise cancelled.  Seems quite straightforward.  

 

I imagine that this is exactly how the credit card issuers are viewing this when they review charge dispute claims.

Edited May 7, 2020 by iancal

[Boatdrill]

3 hours ago, wesport said:

Why do they keep offering cash refunds when you don’t get them . At this stage only fcc should be offered unless they are actually going to give the refund.

If they only offered FCCs, people would be upset.

HAL is offering a refund,  yet people say they should only offer a FCC. 🙂

[Walfam]

We just now received an email from HAL about this.  Now to get a refund on our deposit and shore excursions.

[Sue from Canada]

2 hours ago, Primus said:

This is now my fourth cruise canceled.  Does anyone know if the FCC can be applied to a 2021 cruise currently booked or does it only apply to new bookings made after today?

Fourth cancellation!!!  I only have one and the total refund to me is under 3K (solo).  I feel sorry for those who booked loooooong cruises as you can image how much a couple would have paid.... 

[Reagan0712]

4 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

Interestingly, they do not mention the option of a cash refund...

The email I got cancelling my transatlantic did offer a cash refund eventually.

[ABoatNerd]

4 hours ago, Oak Hill Cruisers said:

It's time to see the USA in our Chevrolet!

 

Well precisely. 

 

Everyone, get to your credit card company and initiate a "third party dispute". I did and got my deposit back in 2 days on my card account. The credit card said that the cruise line (Paul Gauguin) has 45 days to dispute. I cancelled over 1 year in advance of a deposited cruise.

 

Stop being a banker to the cruise lines who obviously had no cash in reserve for troubles. No contingency, no risk management scenarios. Incompetence.  

 

Not on my dime.

[ABoatNerd]

1 hour ago, iancal said:

My understanding is that HAL must offer cash refunds.  They broke their contract with the customer.   Payment rec'd for a cruise.   Cruise cancelled.  Seems quite straightforward.  

 

I imagine that this is exactly how the credit card issuers are viewing this when they review charge dispute claims.

 

iancal - that is exactly how the credit card companies are viewing it. See my just now earlier post.

 

Consumers - stand up for yourself. Get the cash and move on.

 

There are other travel options out there - cruise lines have been taking you for granted for a long time. 

[Himself]

Sad to here HAL is cancelling ALASKA even for Koningsdam and Eurodam. I am saddened for those whose livelihood on land depend on the cruise business.

Edited May 7, 2020 by Himself

[cruisemom42]

2 hours ago, Reagan0712 said:

The email I got cancelling my transatlantic did offer a cash refund eventually.

 

Thanks -- yes, I did get the email a few hours after the announcement. 

 

[HappyInVan]

Sorry Guys, British Columbia reopening. I get a haircut next week, But casinos and pubs closed indefinitely. Still ban on gatherings of more than 50 people. International tourism is out till a vaccine.

 

Stay safe.