When will Silversea cancel the Muse Japan cruises???

[PaulMCO]

I know there are several cruisers waiting for Japan to reopen,  This effects those doing the circumnavigation (March and April) plus those doing the Tokyo to Seward reposition for the Alaska cruise season in May.

 

Today the Ministry of Health extended the ban on tourism entry (in fact most entry) from the 31st Dec to "until further notice".   So rather than set a date as was done in the past, until further notice means that there are no plans to reopen Japan in the near future.  Making these cruises extremely unlikely to occur.

 

Those within the final payment window might want to consider this.

 

 

[FauxNom]

That's disappointing to hear. I'm on the Shadow in May, Singapore to Japan. I've been working on rebooking my travel to Singapore, which now allows visitors from certain countries to skip the 14-day quarantine--but only if arriving on certain VTL flights. Given this announcement about Japan, perhaps I'm wasting my time trying to get to Asia at all.

[silkismom]

We're on the Mar 25 Japan RT. I actually got excited when they wanted me to upload/download my vax card, thinking it was a good sign.  ARRRGG 

[Stickman1990]

We were booked on the Tokyo to Seward to Vancouver back to back in My but cancelled last week as penalties kick in on 5 January as we just felt that things were too uncertain. We’re not worried about getting Covid but we are concerned about restrictions, disruptions and the overall “experience” we’d have in the relatively near future - the risk of being denied boarding amongst them

 

We had fully paid almost 12 months ago to get the 20% discount and we’re amazed when Silversea refunded that payment to our Amex the same day that we cancelled - very impressive 

 

We’re yet to experience Silversea but have rebooked using another credit from a different cruise that Silversea did cancel for a cruise with them in Feb 2023 - fingers crossed we have returned to some sort of normality by then 

 

Knowing Japan and how they manage things I suspect they’ll stay closed to tourists for quite a while yet so it won’t surprise me if Silversea have to cancel the 2022 Japanese season - fingers crossed for those hoping to travel 

[carefreecruise]

I know, we are waiting also. Was going to cancel, thinking Jan 5th was the day we needed to do it by. Then our travel agent informed me of the 75 day change to full refund.

 

So we will wait till mid February for the gates to Japans shores to re-open... 

[les37b]

16 hours ago, Stickman1990 said:

We were booked on the Tokyo to Seward to Vancouver back to back in My but cancelled last week as penalties kick in on 5 January as we just felt that things were too uncertain. We’re not worried about getting Covid but we are concerned about restrictions, disruptions and the overall “experience” we’d have in the relatively near future - the risk of being denied boarding amongst them

 

We had fully paid almost 12 months ago to get the 20% discount and we’re amazed when Silversea refunded that payment to our Amex the same day that we cancelled - very impressive 

 

 

I'm on the same but so far left things standing . I agree it's unlikely to happen.

[seaquay]

As the Muse is still off San Diego and according to the information I can find it is 15 days minimum sailing time, if she hasn't moved by the beginning of March and we still haven't been told anything then dont think I will be rushing to buy any Yen

[annhill23]

My husband and I are booked on the Muse Yokohama March  25 cruise on the Muse. Hope is dwindling.  A refund would be wonderful, as opposed to a credit toward a future cruise.

[carefreecruise]

7 minutes ago, annhill23 said:

My husband and I are booked on the Muse Yokohama March  25 cruise on the Muse. Hope is dwindling.  A refund would be wonderful, as opposed to a credit toward a future cruise.

I think your in that sweet spot on your cruise. I believe you can cancel up to the day before the cruise and get a full refund or FCC if its related to Covid 19. If Silversea cancels you get 110% FCC.

 

Its a temporary policy that's they extended for some months into 2022.    

[lilant]

Following. We are on the shadow May 6th, Singapore to Tokyo and I’ve started to lose hope. 

Edited January 3, 2022 by lilant

[milepig]

On 1/2/2022 at 5:59 PM, lilant said:

Following. We are on the shadow May 6th, Singapore to Tokyo and I’ve started to lose hope. 

We are as well, and are just holding tight. So many countries, so many possibilities for things to go wrong!

[PaulMCO]

On 1/2/2022 at 12:05 PM, annhill23 said:

My husband and I are booked on the Muse Yokohama March  25 cruise on the Muse. Hope is dwindling.  A refund would be wonderful, as opposed to a credit toward a future cruise.

Ann --  you can get a refund less a $250pp admin fee that would turn into an FCC.  But you have to do this no later than 76 days prior to your cruise.

 

We just cancelled our 8 April cruise.   Cannot wait for SS to make up their mind since final flights were still to be booked and I had a number of private tours arranged.   If the cruise does go I am sure their would be limits on doing things on your own and forcing a group bubble on reopening -- as conservative the government in Japan would be.

 

And if SS does cancel -- you are due a full refund.

Edited January 5, 2022 by PaulMCO

[milepig]

On 12/29/2021 at 1:27 PM, carefreecruise said:

I know, we are waiting also. Was going to cancel, thinking Jan 5th was the day we needed to do it by. Then our travel agent informed me of the 75 day change to full refund.

 

So we will wait till mid February for the gates to Japans shores to re-open... 

We decided to not cancel by 1/5 and to hold tight but if SS changed it to 75 days, do our original T&Cs still hold. Is the 75 day on the website? Sorry, if I'm just behind.

[FauxNom]

2 hours ago, milepig said:

We decided to not cancel by 1/5 and to hold tight but if SS changed it to 75 days, do our original T&Cs still hold. Is the 75 day on the website?

 

This is what shows up if you click "cancellation policies" on the page for that cruise (Other reason basically means other than COVID) 

 

Edited January 5, 2022 by FauxNom

[milepig]

25 minutes ago, FauxNom said:

 

This is what shows up if you click "cancellation policies" on the page for that cruise (Other reason basically means other than COVID) 

 

 

Thanks. I found it on the page for the cruise and it shows as above  I also found it on the T&Cs linked from My Windstar with the languge:

 

“Silver Door-to-Door All-Inclusive Fares” penalty schedule, for all cruises sailing
between March 10th, 2022 and June 30th, 2022 and for both current bookings as well as new
bookings done within February 28th , 2022:
 From the date of deposit to 76 days prior to the initial sailing date: USD 250 / CAD 300 per
person (admin fee); this admin fee will be automatically converted to a future cruise credit
(FCC) and sent to you within 15 days from the cancellation date - please see detailed FCC
terms below in the dedicated paragraph;
 75 – 61 days prior to the initial sailing date: 50% of the total cruise fare per person;
 60 – 31 days prior to the initial sailing date: 75% of the total cruise fare per person;
 30 – 0 days prior to the initial sailing date or nonappearance at the time of sailing: 100% of
the total cruise fare per person.

[MBP&O2/O]

“As the Muse is still off San Diego and according to the information I can find it is 15 days minimum sailing time …..”

 

San Diego to Yokohama is just shy of 5000 nm …. So at 18knots you are looking at a trans Pacific crossing of 12 days ish  … depending on routings etc. 

[PaulMCO]

There would be stops for refueling, plus they would also need a stop/s to pick up crew and provision.  The original plan in mid 2021 was to move her to the Philippines to berth and await the Asian cruise season.

[carefreecruise]

On 1/5/2022 at 7:31 AM, milepig said:

We decided to not cancel by 1/5 and to hold tight but if SS changed it to 75 days, do our original T&Cs still hold. Is the 75 day on the website? Sorry, if I'm just behind.

To make you feel more comfortable, SS will send you new T&C to reflect the new temporary cancelation policy. See picture from selected Japan cruise, that shows you can cancel up to the day before if its related to Covid 19.  

Edited January 8, 2022 by carefreecruise

[seaquay]

I understand that Japan has now extended its entry ban to at least the end of February.

[cruiseaholic78]

2 hours ago, seaquay said:

I understand that Japan has now extended its entry ban to at least the end of February.

I am just wondering if you have anything official showing this. We were not on this cruise but on a leg on the Oceania RTW which is officially visiting Japan (embarkation) China South Korea and Hong Kong (disembarkation).

Oceania is still of the opinion that this will go ahead in March, needless to say we have our doubts!
Happy planning

Rosalyn

[seaquay]

Reuters, Japan Today, New York Times just a few of the publications reporting on this.

Edited January 11, 2022 by seaquay

[cruiseaholic78]

14 minutes ago, seaquay said:

Reuters, Japan Today, New York Times just a few of the publications reporting on this.

Thanks it was not updated on our government website NL (yet)

Rosalyn

[PaulMCO]

And when they open they will open in Phases.  First will be business people with Visas, then escorted tours and finally general tourism...  So March for Tourism -- no way.  April??  May/June is more likely

 

Rosalyn -  We had planned on same on Insignia for April 2020 had the Singapore-Tokyo- San Fran segment booked.

 

We are going to rebook to April 2024.

Edited January 12, 2022 by PaulMCO

[cruiseaholic78]

17 hours ago, PaulMCO said:

And when they open they will open in Phases.  First will be business people with Visas, then escorted tours and finally general tourism...  So March for Tourism -- no way.  April??  May/June is more likely

 

Rosalyn -  We had planned on same on Insignia for April 2020 had the Singapore-Tokyo- San Fran segment booked.

 

We are going to rebook to April 2024.

Well we managed to cancel without the 75% penalty (NL) to be honest it is a relief to no longer keep thinking “what if”, that said I have kept the hotel booking etc in case Oceania was right all along and the cruise is possible.

 

Coincidence, we were also on the Insignia 2020 from Hong Kong to San Francisco, you say you are going to rebook 2024 is there an itinerary/segments available as I saw the route for 2023. ( which is of course all waitlisted)

Happy planning

Rosalyn

 

Edited January 13, 2022 by cruiseaholic78

[PaulMCO]

2 hours ago, cruiseaholic78 said:

Well we managed to cancel without the 75% penalty (NL) to be honest it is a relief to no longer keep thinking “what if”, that said I have kept the hotel booking etc in case Oceania was right all along and the cruise is possible.

 

Coincidence, we were also on the Insignia 2020 from Hong Kong to San Francisco, you say you are going to rebook 2024 is there an itinerary/segments available as I saw the route for 2023. ( which is of course all waitlisted)

Happy planning

Rosalyn

 

Probably we will rebook one on Silversea for April 2024