Canceled my next cruise today

[jxtgreek]

So I was one of those that had a Radiance Cruise out of Port Canaveral on 11/30 that got switched to the Breeze.  My final payment was coming up but I decided it wasn't worth thinking about it or worrying about it.  I canceled earlier today.  Carnival tried to talk me into booking something late next year.  I told them I wasn't going to book anything until I see a month of successful cruises and then I will decide.  I walked away from $400 OBC but that is OK.  the money I had put down will be refunded and that is good enough for me.

[Moviela]

Sorry that you felt the need to put off cruising, but for your own piece of mind, it is worth it. 

[bury me at sea]

I understand your reasoning.  

[TNcruising02]

That should eliminate the stress of planning a cruise that may not happen. It’s difficult for people to plan ahead when nobody has any idea when cruising will start.

 

I have a cruise paid in full for January, but it was paid with money from a cancelled cruise. Plus, I got an even better promo rate. Still, i would have cancelled if my schedule wasn’t flexible enough to roll with whatever happens. It’s worth that $600 to me even if I have to rebook. It’s a gamble though and I don’t blame anyone who doesn’t want to do that.

[richfret]

I have a January 9, 2021 cruise booked with final payment due in October, 2020.  I doubt very much that the cruise will take place but I have $1,300 in Carnival gift cards so I could make final payment with them.  Since I cannot return the gift cards that I already have, I figure I have nothing to lose and could possibly earn a credit for a future cruise assuming there are future cruises.  I also have a cruise booked for January, 2022 but I do not know if a cancelled cruise credit for 2021 and credit for the carnival gift cards could be applied to that cruise.  Sure gets complicated and I feel like I am in the Casino.  I either get all kinds of credits for the next cruise  or I lose my $1,300 gift cards and my $500 deposit. 

 

Have completed 23 Carnival cruises and never had any experiences like this.  Even when I call my travel agent, I get a record and then many maybes.  

 

I need a cruise so that I could sit on the balcony, enjoy the fresh air and think this all out.

[jetsfan58]

Some of you may differ and say that Carnival wants us to keep booking so that they can continue to use our pre-paid dollars as a source of ready revenue? My loyalty outnumbers any motive that we can conceive. True team players don't abandon the "proverbial ship" because it is in temporary rough seas. 

 

Support and Believe in your Brand!!!

[Earthworm Jim]

44 minutes ago, richfret said:

I have a January 9, 2021 cruise booked with final payment due in October, 2020.  I doubt very much that the cruise will take place but I have $1,300 in Carnival gift cards so I could make final payment with them.  Since I cannot return the gift cards that I already have, I figure I have nothing to lose and could possibly earn a credit for a future cruise assuming there are future cruises.

 

Well, there would be the risk that you make the final payment and the cruise ends up happening, but you don't feel comfortable enough with the Covid situation at that time that you want to go. But if you're comfortable with the idea of taking a cruise once they are allowed again, then I agree you have nothing really to lose.

[Earthworm Jim]

25 minutes ago, jetsfan58 said:

Some of you may differ and say that Carnival wants us to keep booking so that they can continue to use our pre-paid dollars as a source of ready revenue?

 

I don't know if that's the case. (Not that you personally are saying it is) If Carnival was really desperate to get bookings they'd be giving big discounts and offers. But the current deals seem pretty similar to any other time, leading me to believe they are content with the number of bookings they are getting.

 

I'm in "wait and see" mode myself, but if there were great deals out there that might be enough to tempt me to book. Thus far, that hasn't happened. Though maybe they don't want to give too good a deal to all those people who have Future Cruise Credits which they have to spend.

Edited August 15, 2020 by Earthworm Jim

[MsTabbyKats]

12 hours ago, jxtgreek said:

So I was one of those that had a Radiance Cruise out of Port Canaveral on 11/30 that got switched to the Breeze.  My final payment was coming up but I decided it wasn't worth thinking about it or worrying about it.  I canceled earlier today.  Carnival tried to talk me into booking something late next year.  I told them I wasn't going to book anything until I see a month of successful cruises and then I will decide.  I walked away from $400 OBC but that is OK.  the money I had put down will be refunded and that is good enough for me.

Good for you, and I completely "get it".  It's uncomfortable being "locked in" to booking something  you may not want.  Nobody knows the future, or the future of cruising or even if there will ever be cruising "as we know it" again.

 

In March I said "August isn't gonna happen".  In August I said "Oct isn't gonna happen".  Right now I'm saying "first half 2021 isn't gonna happen".

[Joe817]

34 minutes ago, MsTabbyKats said:

Good for you, and I completely "get it".  It's uncomfortable being "locked in" to booking something  you may not want.  Nobody knows the future, or the future of cruising or even if there will ever be cruising "as we know it" again.

 

In March I said "August isn't gonna happen".  In August I said "Oct isn't gonna happen".  Right now I'm saying "first half 2021 isn't gonna happen".

Dammit! Stop making predictions that come true!  Just kidding!  

[evandbob]

Health before anything else.  $400 of OBC isn't worth the aggravation, the OP made a great decision.

[MsTabbyKats]

49 minutes ago, Joe817 said:

Dammit! Stop making predictions that come true!  Just kidding!  

Sorry about that. 

 

I have a B2B booked for 9/21.  My official position is cautiously optimistic. Even DH, who claims "he only goes because I want to" is praying to the cruise gods to make it happen.  My other official position is if ships sail, the prices will skyrocket (take a look at NCL!!!) so, as a gambler, I feel it's my duty to book while the prices are still normal.

 

But everyone's situation and financial philosophy is different and just not worth the potential aggravation to get OBC.

[Nic6318]

39 minutes ago, MsTabbyKats said:

Sorry about that. 

 

I have a B2B booked for 9/21.  My official position is cautiously optimistic. Even DH, who claims "he only goes because I want to" is praying to the cruise gods to make it happen.  My other official position is if ships sail, the prices will skyrocket (take a look at NCL!!!) so, as a gambler, I feel it's my duty to book while the prices are still normal.

 

But everyone's situation and financial philosophy is different and just not worth the potential aggravation to get OBC.

 

Hi

 

I have a problem with the idea that prices will "skyrocket". I am not suggesting that prices won't go up, I do believe the price for everything will be going up. I can see that happening already. 

 

What I do feel is that once things are back to some sort of normality, and I am not talking about when they can finally start cruising again, the competition will be there to give people choices. People travelled and saw the world long before there were there were "cruises". Even just looking at the cruise lines, the whole concept of mass market cruising, was that they could make it affordable for most. If people can't afford it, they won't go, and we know that the ship don't like sailing half full. I believe, the longer the delays for a safe restart, the harder it will become for any of these cruise lines to be profitable.  So even if they don't run out of money before they restart, it won't be easy sailing for them once they do.

 

 

[MsTabbyKats]

5 minutes ago, Nic6318 said:

 

Hi

 

I have a problem with the idea that prices will "skyrocket". I am not suggesting that prices won't go up, I do believe the price for everything will be going up. I can see that happening already. 

 

What I do feel is that once things are back to some sort of normality, and I am not talking about when they can finally start cruising again, the competition will be there to give people choices. People travelled and saw the world long before there were there were "cruises". Even just looking at the cruise lines, the whole concept of mass market cruising, was that they could make it affordable for most. If people can't afford it, they won't go, and we know that the ship don't like sailing half full. I believe, the longer the delays for a safe restart, the harder it will become for any of these cruise lines to be profitable.  So even if they don't run out of money before they restart, it won't be easy sailing for them once they do.

 

 

My thinking is this.  The cruiselines have all lost a fortune.  I think (my opinion only) is that the mass market lines are going to have a new target market.  Putting families of 5, or 4 adults per cabin won't be available.  They'll want less people but those who can afford more and who will spend more. 

 

In "the new world" crowd control is going to be the norm and cruising will no longer be "affordable for all".

 

 

 

 

[lidoplease]

We are booked on the Breeze end of November too. We're going to try to extend our final payment. I feel sure this will be cancelled. We have another booked in March. We'll see. I don't think we will book another if November is cancelled. 

The OBC is nice, though, so maybe something way down the road.

[EscapeFromConnecticut]

1 hour ago, MsTabbyKats said:

My thinking is this.  The cruiselines have all lost a fortune.  I think (my opinion only) is that the mass market lines are going to have a new target market.  Putting families of 5, or 4 adults per cabin won't be available.  They'll want less people but those who can afford more and who will spend more. 

 

In "the new world" crowd control is going to be the norm and cruising will no longer be "affordable for all".

 

 

 

 

MsTabbyCats - can always count on you for thoughtful and intelligent posts.

   Cruise prices have to go up. And we can bank on seeing new fees, more high-pressure add-ons & upsells, etc.

    The cruise lines didn't only lose a fortune, they've also borrowed another fortune. No amount of refi will change the fact that this $$ has got to be paid back. So in addition to all of their usual operating & fixed expenses, they're gonna have to make an enormous new debt service nut, too.

     They're going to do it with fewer ships, lower capacity and less flexibility.

      That's a formula for many things, but now of the outcomes are "stable prices." 

[Nic6318]

1 hour ago, MsTabbyKats said:

My thinking is this.  The cruiselines have all lost a fortune.  I think (my opinion only) is that the mass market lines are going to have a new target market.  Putting families of 5, or 4 adults per cabin won't be available.  They'll want less people but those who can afford more and who will spend more. 

 

In "the new world" crowd control is going to be the norm and cruising will no longer be "affordable for all".

 

 

 

 

 

Hi

 

They just won't be able to have ships that were built to accommodate several thousand passengers, if the prices go up significantly, people won't sail on them. That's the bread and butter market for the mainstream cruise lines. Try to remember how "frugal" people were in the past. That's not going to change.

 

The available resorts will be too competitive for the cruise lines. Perhaps those more exclusive lines with smaller ships will be able to find support even with much higher pricing, but if the RCL, Carnival's or NCL's of this world can't fill their ships they won't be sailing for long. If they can't sell to families, they won't survive. (I don't know, maybe that's what you are saying as well.) One good thing, would be, that it will be unlikely to see several ships docked anywhere. 

[BlerkOne]

2 hours ago, MsTabbyKats said:

My thinking is this.  The cruiselines have all lost a fortune.  I think (my opinion only) is that the mass market lines are going to have a new target market.  Putting families of 5, or 4 adults per cabin won't be available.  They'll want less people but those who can afford more and who will spend more. 

 

In "the new world" crowd control is going to be the norm and cruising will no longer be "affordable for all".

 

 

 

 

 

Families or parties that travel together will be desirable. They can obviously sleep in the same cabin, sit together at meals, shows, excursions, etc. Social distancing within a group would not be required. More people will fit on the ship.

[TNcruising02]

I think cruising will someday resume with typical pricing, just less ships.  I don't think cruise lines will price themselves out of the general market.  I believe things will be much more normal than people think they will be.

[MsTabbyKats]

1 hour ago, BlerkOne said:

 

Families or parties that travel together will be desirable. They can obviously sleep in the same cabin, sit together at meals, shows, excursions, etc. Social distancing within a group would not be required. More people will fit on the ship.

And less $$$/per person .  The goal (I think) is to spread out....not be crammed together.

 

If there is a family of 4, with 2 cabins (instead of 4/cabin)...they still only eat four meals, but they're paying twice the price.  Same thing with seating for shows.  They'll only need four seats.

 

I'm not expecting Carnival to be "the new Cunard" with tuxedos/gowns.  Just, I guess, treading towards "upper middle class"....not people looking for "rock bottom".

 

I learned this lesson when I had my tax business.  I raised the prices.  I still made the same $$$ but with less work.

 

Again....just my opinion.

[Saint Greg]

5 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

 

Families or parties that travel together will be desirable. They can obviously sleep in the same cabin, sit together at meals, shows, excursions, etc. Social distancing within a group would not be required. More people will fit on the ship.

Bang for their buck is going to be 1 or 2 people per room. Then they can sell all of the rooms and still reduce it the capacity  Those 3rd, 4th, 5th people pay less but still eat meals,  take up seats at shows, use facilities. 
 

I don’t know if it’s a strategy they’ll pursue, but it makes sense to me. 
 

Edited August 16, 2020 by Saint Greg

[GaNavy]

Interesting thoughts, everyone. I had an April cruise cancelled, haven't booked another, and won't for the foreseeable future, at least not until late 2021. If there's a vaccine soon, great, but as someone who has worked in public health for over 30 years, I'd say don't get your hopes up too high...we aren't going to know how long it protects us for a long time, and if the polls are right that a third of the country won't take it, well, you do the math.

I've said this on several boards: if I can never cruise again, I'm grateful for the ones that I've taken and will figure out other ways to enjoy travel.

As for the future of the cruise lines, that will depend on their imagination. They and we will need to reimagine the experience...what does cruising look like in a world with a virus as sneaky and slippery and dangerous as this one? 6000 passengers on a ship? I seriously doubt it...now what?

[BlerkOne]

15 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

Bang for their buck is going to be 1 or 2 people per room. Then they can sell all of the rooms and still reduce it the capacity  Those 3rd, 4th, 5th people pay less but still eat meals,  take up seats at shows, use facilities. 
 

I don’t know if it’s a strategy they’ll pursue, but it makes sense to me. 
 

 

I don't think selling cabins are going to be the problem. 3,4,5 people eat, but can eat at the same table (in limited floor space), ride in the same elevator, sit together at shows, shop in the same shop, go on the same excursions. It might save Carnival from having to have many dinner seatings and show times to accommodate cruisers, or even longer lines for elevators.

 

It may come down to how is capacity controlled? By the number of cabins sold, or the total number of people? Some cruise lines might sell every other cabin, or only sell balconies to achieve the reduction goal. I imagine the bean counters are trying to figure optimum revenue under different scenarios. Almost certainly, cruise lines will have to reserve a certain number of cabins to quarantine covid and potential covid cases. So how do you distribute the maximum number of people among the available cabins?

 

 

[BlerkOne]

19 hours ago, MsTabbyKats said:

And less $$$/per person .  The goal (I think) is to spread out....not be crammed together.

 

If there is a family of 4, with 2 cabins (instead of 4/cabin)...they still only eat four meals, but they're paying twice the price.  Same thing with seating for shows.  They'll only need four seats.

 

I'm not expecting Carnival to be "the new Cunard" with tuxedos/gowns.  Just, I guess, treading towards "upper middle class"....not people looking for "rock bottom".

 

I learned this lesson when I had my tax business.  I raised the prices.  I still made the same $$$ but with less work.

 

Again....just my opinion.

 

Families are scraping by as it is. Limiting cabin capacity to 2 is going to be a deal breaker for many, including some of the thousands already booked. Carnival is a mass market family oriented cruise line and I don't see that changing. Upper middle class has never been Carnival's market and tends to be older. Younger seems to be a better risk for cruise lines during this pandemic

 

[Cushing985]

On 8/14/2020 at 10:26 PM, TNcruising02 said:

That should eliminate the stress of planning a cruise that may not happen. It’s difficult for people to plan ahead when nobody has any idea when cruising will start.

 

I have a cruise paid in full for January, but it was paid with money from a cancelled cruise. Plus, I got an even better promo rate. Still, i would have cancelled if my schedule wasn’t flexible enough to roll with whatever happens. It’s worth that $600 to me even if I have to rebook. It’s a gamble though and I don’t blame anyone who doesn’t want to do that.

 

I do and I'm not even smart.  Cruising will start up again when there is a safe and effective vaccine.