ricka47 Posted May 10, 2021 #1 Share Posted May 10, 2021 (edited) My wife and I came back from our shortened Riviera Caribbean cruise, in March of 2020, with Covid. We did have a 150% FCC which we applied to a 20-day Istanbul to Monte Carlo cruise staring on 10/18/21. We have about 8 days before our final payment is required. My concern is that, even if our cruise goes as scheduled, it will not be at the same level as we would normally expect. With it being one of the first after the re-start (if there is indeed a re-start), the crew will not be as well trained, and a routine will not yet be established. We've been on new ships or those returning from dry dock and things are usually pretty rough. I would imagine that this would be a similar situation - perhaps worse. Plus, if we must wear a mask all the time except for when we are actually taking a bite of food or taking a sip of a drink, that will certainly lesson the overall quality. Also, this ship sails out of Istanbul which the CDC (not my favorite agency, to be sure) has advised that all travelers avoid. I have not checked all of the other ports on this cruise but I'm sure that many are on the list. If this were a Caribbean cruise, I would not care if we skipped every port. But this is for our 30th anniversary and is also rather expensive. Here is how I see our options and would welcome opinions. Cancel now before making final payment. Make final payment hoping that, if they cancel, we’ll get 125% FCC or something else. Go for it and hope that, if the cruise goes, the experience is not greatly diminished. Edited May 10, 2021 by ricka47 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulchili Posted May 10, 2021 #2 Share Posted May 10, 2021 Unfortunately, your guess is as good and accurate as anybody else's Choose the option you are most comfortable with. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricka47 Posted May 10, 2021 Author #3 Share Posted May 10, 2021 Just now, Paulchili said: Unfortunately, your guess is as good and accurate as anybody else's Choose the option you are most comfortable with. Yup, just gonna gonna spin the wheel and get an answer. I did see where some folks are noting that final payments were moved to be 60 days out. But, I haven't seen that officially. I better check that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare pinotlover Posted May 10, 2021 #4 Share Posted May 10, 2021 Perhaps you missed the news, but Oceania moved final payment for all cruises through Oct 31 to 60 days pre cruise. Therefore, if your cruise is on 10/28 your payment isn’t due until August. You have awhile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KS&JW Posted May 10, 2021 #5 Share Posted May 10, 2021 Not only has your cruise final payment been pushed back to 60 days, Oceania has not been giving 125% FCC for several months now. If they cancel you get your money back or you get the same FCC than you had used to pay for the cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted May 10, 2021 #6 Share Posted May 10, 2021 Rebook a cruise for 2023 if you can If you have an FCC check when you have to book & sail by to get the full value Most returning crew have been with Oceania for a few years if they cannot get it together in a month then there is a problem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricka47 Posted May 10, 2021 Author #7 Share Posted May 10, 2021 I did get the 60 days FP set up. We'll know something by then - I hope! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seachelt Posted May 10, 2021 #8 Share Posted May 10, 2021 We are also booked on this cruise, and really hoping that it will sail. Terrific itinerary! Our TA told us that if we want our money back we have to cancel by August 18th. For a future travel voucher you can cancel up to 15 days before travel. And yes, final payment date is August 18th. Here's hoping that we see you onboard🛳️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted May 10, 2021 #9 Share Posted May 10, 2021 1 hour ago, ricka47 said: I did get the 60 days FP set up. We'll know something by then - I hope! you probably still have to wear a mask onboard at least for the first few month of cruises Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricka47 Posted May 10, 2021 Author #10 Share Posted May 10, 2021 1 hour ago, seachelt said: We are also booked on this cruise, and really hoping that it will sail. Terrific itinerary! Our TA told us that if we want our money back we have to cancel by August 18th. For a future travel voucher you can cancel up to 15 days before travel. And yes, final payment date is August 18th. Here's hoping that we see you onboard🛳️ I hope so. We have something on our invoice called, "Travelers Assurance Program #2" which appears to allow cancellations after FP without penalty. Maybe you have that as well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricka47 Posted May 10, 2021 Author #11 Share Posted May 10, 2021 1 hour ago, LHT28 said: you probably still have to wear a mask onboard at least for the first few month of cruises I really hope not. The CDC has no authority on this cruise and NCL is requiring vaccinations. Plus, in our case, we both have had COVID and have anti-bodies galore. I don't want to wear a mask needlessly for 20 days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted May 10, 2021 #12 Share Posted May 10, 2021 1 hour ago, ricka47 said: I really hope not. The CDC has no authority on this cruise and NCL is requiring vaccinations. I believe Oceania also requires people to be vaccinated 😷 https://www.oceaniacruises.com/health Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricka47 Posted May 10, 2021 Author #13 Share Posted May 10, 2021 6 minutes ago, LHT28 said: I believe Oceania also requires people to be vaccinated 😷 https://www.oceaniacruises.com/health Yeah, I think that the NCL decision applies to all of their holdings. I think that they need to do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njhorseman Posted May 10, 2021 #14 Share Posted May 10, 2021 1 hour ago, ricka47 said: I really hope not. The CDC has no authority on this cruise and NCL is requiring vaccinations. Plus, in our case, we both have had COVID and have anti-bodies galore. I don't want to wear a mask needlessly for 20 days. NCLH protocols currently include mask requirements on all cruises . Here's the statement on Oceania's website: https://www.oceaniacruises.com/health FACE COVERINGS Face coverings are currently required for guests while indoors except for in their own accommodations and while eating and drinking in restaurants, bars and lounges or outdoors when physical distancing is not possible. Face coverings may be required in certain settings to comply with local requirements, for example in terminals for embarkation and disembarkation or at ports of call. We will continue to monitor public health guidance, including from the CDC, at the time of your voyage and modify requirements accordingly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted May 10, 2021 #15 Share Posted May 10, 2021 14 minutes ago, ricka47 said: Yeah, I think that the NCL decision applies to all of their holdings. I think that they need to do it. NCLH which owns NCL REGENT & OCEANIA probably have the same rules for all their holdings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeno Posted May 10, 2021 #16 Share Posted May 10, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, ricka47 said: I hope so. We have something on our invoice called, "Travelers Assurance Program #2" which appears to allow cancellations after FP without penalty. Maybe you have that as well? I think it depends on when you got the Travelers Assurance Program. In our case we purchased the cruise before July 31. Our program allows you to cancel up to 48 hours before the cruise. After we pay in full, we receive the full value that we paid in FCC. So you get the FCC, but not a cash refund. Edited May 10, 2021 by jeno Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mauibabes Posted May 10, 2021 #17 Share Posted May 10, 2021 We are on this 20 day Grand Voyage as well with several friends and we hope it sails for sure because it is a great itinerary at a very nice price. Turkey has been locked down for religious purposes but that should be lifted within 10 days. The current CDC list of countries not to visit isn’t going to impact the cruises, only if the countries involved place restrictions. A ship full of vaccinated travelers and crew is definitely a plus in our favor. Yes, we have the 60 FP but our dilemma is we are on the second segment, November 7 Monte Carlo to Miami Grand Voyage and that FP is due soon. Since ONLY Marina is targeted to sail August 29, no one has any idea if Riviera or any other Oceania ship will be the next ship to sail or if it will only be Marina sailing for the foreseeable future. Believe me when I say, NO ONE KNOWS EXEPT THE GOOD LORD SO 🙏. We are waiting out the decision and making the FP’s knowing we will get our FCC and payments back or transferred to our 2022 booking and not be assessed any fees. Keep rolling the dice cruisers and my guess is we will know more in the next 30-45 days. Gerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njhorseman Posted May 10, 2021 #18 Share Posted May 10, 2021 47 minutes ago, LHT28 said: NCLH which owns NCL REGENT & OCEANIA probably have the same rules for all their holdings Yes, the "Sail Safe" rules are the same across the entire NCLH fleet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted May 11, 2021 #19 Share Posted May 11, 2021 2 hours ago, njhorseman said: Yes, the "Sail Safe" rules are the same across the entire NCLH fleet. Agree Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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