Annabel50 Posted December 29, 2021 Author #376 Share Posted December 29, 2021 We have done the same, disappointed but clearly a fast moving dynamic situation now with the steep rise of Omicron and many cruise ships impacted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvaBME Posted December 29, 2021 #377 Share Posted December 29, 2021 https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/coronavirus/luxury-cruise-wont-return-to-nyc-after-covid-outbreak-prompts-extra-crew/3471464/ https://abc7ny.com/queen-mary-cruise-ship-covid-red-hook-cruises/11402875/ Articles from NYC sources. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underwatr Posted December 29, 2021 #378 Share Posted December 29, 2021 4 hours ago, Host Hattie said: https://www.reuters.com/business/carnival-unit-says-ship-will-not-sail-new-york-amid-omicron-worries-2021-12-29/ The author of that article knows less about the situation than we here do. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland787 Posted December 29, 2021 #379 Share Posted December 29, 2021 There's a new unsubstantiated rumor going around that several key members of the bridge team had become positive causing them to halt the cruise, as they need to fly in more ships officers. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splice the mainbrace Posted December 29, 2021 #380 Share Posted December 29, 2021 (edited) 55 minutes ago, gkerlin said: This was just delivered to some on board Does this mean that to sail back to Southampton directly from Barbados is not an option? Edited December 29, 2021 by Splice the mainbrace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underwatr Posted December 29, 2021 #381 Share Posted December 29, 2021 4 minutes ago, Splice the mainbrace said: Does this mean that to sail back to Southampton directly from Barbados is not an option? It appears that that letter was only sent to passengers planning to disembark in New York on Jan 3. First paragraph: "As you were due to disembark Queen Mary 2 on 3 January 2022 in New York..." Passengers who had booked to return to Southampton on the ship no doubt will be given a different letter with different options. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fayecruises Posted December 29, 2021 #382 Share Posted December 29, 2021 I don;t know if this helps but my husband and I were on the Queen Mary 2 in March 2020 when we were kicked off in Fremantle Australia It happened very suddenly and everyone had to leave within 24 hours Cunard did the best they could and boy it was a shock - in the middle of a world cruise with tons of luggage They booked people with air and verbally told us if we do not like what they booked we can do it ourselves and they will reimburse us We did that and it took us about 20 hours to get home They paid for hotel in Sydney and all taxi costs and all luggage since we had more than the alloted amount I used my credit card points and they reimbursed me for that amount It took about 6 months to get it all refunded (we wanted a refund and not a credit) We flew to our home airport of Washington DC and not New York Hope this helps a bit I can;t believe that lightning strikes twice and this has happened again to my dear Queen Mary2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ace2542 Posted December 29, 2021 #383 Share Posted December 29, 2021 1 hour ago, Roland787 said: I am currently onboard QM2. We are at anchor off Barbados. To put it kindly Captain Hall has provided no context to passengers as to why the cruise has been halted. We have been given zero information as to the status of COVID cases onboard. There are rumors of a charter flight having been booked to fly North American passengers home on the 1st and 2nd. My family and I are beyond disappointed with the near total lack of communication from Captain Hall / Cunard. I have sent Captain Hall the following letter via the pursers desk: "Captain Hall, I would like to first thank you and all of your crew for all that you have done and are doing to provide a pleasant and safe journey for all onboard Queen Mary 2 under such extremely extraordinary circumstances. I am also grateful to all Cunard, Carnival UK, Carnival shoreside personnel who are working to make arrangements for North American passengers to return home. As a passenger who joined Queen Mary 2 in Brooklyn on the 22 nd, I would respectfully ask that you please consider sharing with North American passengers the context of how Cunard came to the decision that Queen Mary 2 will head directly to Southampton UK vs. stopping at a North American port to disembark North American passengers. From news reports it would appear that the port of New York has closed due to Omicron? Is there a reason Queen Mary 2 could not make a stop in an alternative North American port to disembark North American passengers? Cunard forcing North American passengers to disembark in Barbados and fly commercially during the pandemic feels a bit like Cunard is abandoning the North American passengers. My elderly parents and I drove to the Brooklyn Cruise terminal rather than flying from our homes in Central Virginia specifically in order to avoid flying during COVID. We had not foreseen any possible circumstance under which Cunard would not return us to North America via ship. If you would kindly consider sharing with the passengers some additional information about why Cunard has had to make the difficult decisions that it has made, that would go a long way towards alleviating some of the anxiety and concerns felt by myself, as well as many other passengers. Best wishes to you and all of the Queen Mary 2 crew!" FWIW is it their intention to arrive back in Southampton Jan 10th or are they going to gun it across the atlantic at 29 or 31 or however many knots and make the crossing in 3 or 4 days as they can do probably 3 from Barbados. Many of the UK passengers will have transport booked for them on Jan 10th coaches and the like to get them home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newcruise Posted December 29, 2021 #384 Share Posted December 29, 2021 2 minutes ago, ace2542 said: FWIW is it their intention to arrive back in Southampton Jan 10th or are they going to gun it across the atlantic at 29 or 31 or however many knots and make the crossing in 3 or 4 days as they can do probably 3 from Barbados. Many of the UK passengers will have transport booked for them on Jan 10th coaches and the like to get them home. The news items posted by Host Hattie indicate Cunard’s intention to return to Southampton by January 10. Whether passengers will be onboard has not been addressed as yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Host Hattie Posted December 29, 2021 #385 Share Posted December 29, 2021 Just now, newcruise said: The news items posted by Host Hattie indicate Cunard’s intention to return to Southampton by January 10. Whether passengers will be onboard has not been addressed as yet. It was addressed in the letter posted earlier in the thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underwatr Posted December 29, 2021 #386 Share Posted December 29, 2021 9 minutes ago, Roland787 said: There's a new unsubstantiated rumor going around that several key members of the bridge team had become positive causing them to halt the cruise, as they need to fly in more ships officers. I had picked up that impression somewhere - the term "officers" was used in one of the scant few communications on the topic. It's not in the letter that was sent to all passengers yesterday however so I'm not sure where I had picked that up. Of course bridge officers would be "essential roles" which is one term used in the letter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underwatr Posted December 29, 2021 #387 Share Posted December 29, 2021 13 minutes ago, Fayecruises said: They paid for hotel in Sydney and all taxi costs and all luggage since we had more than the alloted amount Today's passenger letter discusses the airline luggage limits and says excess luggage will be stored onboard and delivered after QM2 reaches Southampton (including US passengers, which I expect will take some time...). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fayecruises Posted December 29, 2021 #388 Share Posted December 29, 2021 and what happens to the luggage if you fly back to NYC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bedruthen Posted December 29, 2021 #389 Share Posted December 29, 2021 On 12/28/2021 at 6:01 PM, PORT ROYAL said: Interesting. Two photographs, two different locations, with a complainant about the filthy condition of a single stateroom. ❓ They are screen shots taken from the video that was posted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland787 Posted December 29, 2021 #390 Share Posted December 29, 2021 The ongoing lack of communication is really frustrating many North American passengers who have received zero official communications today. We're getting tired of Cunard treating us like mushrooms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dermotsgirl Posted December 29, 2021 #391 Share Posted December 29, 2021 40 minutes ago, Underwatr said: I had picked up that impression somewhere - the term "officers" was used in one of the scant few communications on the topic. It's not in the letter that was sent to all passengers yesterday however so I'm not sure where I had picked that up. Of course bridge officers would be "essential roles" which is one term used in the letter. Yes, I had certainly gained the impression that it was officers they were short of, rather than other crew. The new crew members are being flown from the U.K. so that sounds more like bridge crew than, say, cabin stewards or waiters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annabel50 Posted December 29, 2021 Author #392 Share Posted December 29, 2021 Wishing everyone a safe trip home whether you sail or take the flight option its a logistical nightmare with many flights also being cancelled due to crews and pilots falling sick. Im sure even though it appears there is zero communication, there will be a lot going on behind the scenes to try and accommodate all as best as possible. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvaBME Posted December 29, 2021 #393 Share Posted December 29, 2021 What happens if someone who wants to fly back to NYC tests positive for COVID? Do they kick them off in Barbardos? Do they stay on the ship and go to Southampton? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dermotsgirl Posted December 29, 2021 #394 Share Posted December 29, 2021 1 hour ago, Splice the mainbrace said: Does this mean that to sail back to Southampton directly from Barbados is not an option? My friends on this cruise will be expecting to stay on until Southampton, as she can’t fly anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvaBME Posted December 29, 2021 #395 Share Posted December 29, 2021 (edited) 8 minutes ago, Dermotsgirl said: My friends on this cruise will be expecting to stay on until Southampton, as she can’t fly anymore. What would happen if someone was physically unable to fly, and they had to return to NYC? Sometimes the reason people cruise is because they are unable to fly. Edited December 29, 2021 by EvaBME Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annabel50 Posted December 29, 2021 Author #396 Share Posted December 29, 2021 If Cunard can not accommodate that on one of carnivals vessels, then I guess they would have to be in touch with their insurers to look at options. There are many people that cant fly that use Cunard, so Im sure that will be taken into consideration and well planned for when dealing with a critical incident, they will have well rehearsed plans in place. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShipFan13 Posted December 29, 2021 #397 Share Posted December 29, 2021 I feel so very sorry for my fellow passengers on here. Feel sorry for Cunard and QM2 they have been my favorite cruise line for years and I travelled many times with them as I'm a Diamond member. My wife and I were scheduled on this New York to Caribbean trip and then we were going on from New York to Hamburg on January 3rd. As I sat in the hotel in New York, watching the news on the spread of this Omnicron I told my wife I don't want to go down to the Caribbean I just don't feel good about this trip. We decided to drive home and thought we might come back to New York and take the January 3rd portion to Hamburg, but now I see they have cancelled it. Feel so bad for everyone and for Cunard. I have a pretty bad phobia of flying so I always take the ships to travel. I don't know what I would have done being down in Barbados right now and my only two choices are to fly to New York or England. Will definitely keep reading this thread and my prayers and thoughts are with all involved in this situation. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boytjie Posted December 29, 2021 #398 Share Posted December 29, 2021 21 minutes ago, EvaBME said: What would happen if someone was physically unable to fly, and they had to return to NYC? Sometimes the reason people cruise is because they are unable to fly. Anyone that absolutely cannot fly should not be cruising either as there is no guarantee that you can sail back to Point A. Any kind of emergency can happen out on the ocean. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navybankerteacher Posted December 29, 2021 #399 Share Posted December 29, 2021 41 minutes ago, Boytjie said: Anyone that absolutely cannot fly should not be cruising either as there is no guarantee that you can sail back to Point A. Any kind of emergency can happen out on the ocean. It would be interesting to hear what conditions make it "absolutely impossible" to fly - while still making travel on a cruise ship -- bearing in mind that there can be no absolute guarantee that the cruise ship you start on will be able to bring you home. I suppose some such condition might exist --- but my years of experience hearing of people who "ABSOLUTELY CANNOT" do things have taught me that "ABSOLUTELY" does not mean "in all cases" -- 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PORT ROYAL Posted December 29, 2021 #400 Share Posted December 29, 2021 1 hour ago, Bedruthen said: They are screen shots taken from the video that was posted Thank you for the clarification Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now