Cancellation of cruise in the Middle East

[LHT28]

👿

Ok so Oceania  could  cancel  all cruises  give everyone  a refund  on all cruises in the affected areas  & any  going to areas within 2000 miles

Or they could could give  an FCC to those that might prefer that option 

Take the ship to  a safe harbour  until  the world becomes stable 

If they are still in business   then  only offer cruises to areas  where there has  never been a war or  other dangerous situations  eg: volcanos, hurricanes pandemics  etc

 

Maybe cruise lines should only open cruises up for booking  6 mths in advance & check their  crystal ball that  there will be nothing to disrupt the  cruises

 

Enjoy  your life  while you can

☠️    👋👋

 

[Lastdance]

2 hours ago, FetaCheese said:

On the recent Royal earnings call, you'll learn that they are doing a financially superior job  post C, compared to NCLH and CCL.  

 

Just look at stock prices.

True, unfortunately, stock prices do not tell the entire story with X(RCCL).  LLP(Lisa) was quite gracious during her reign, but now there is a new person at the helm- Laura and things have changed.  The stock was down in the 30’s when I purchased it and applied it to quite a few cruises, but then sold at a high point.  If it falls again, I may or may not line up to purchase.  All the new builds add to the debt, but shareholders appear happy for now.  Edge is still scheduled to travel through the Suez Canal until it isn’t...

I was lucky and went to Israel last year at this time.  Yes, I am quite miffed about what O is doing, or not doing.  I have yet to take my first cruise on her, but this doesn’t sit well, nor does having to spend $$ on excursions through the ship.  TBD, as my cruise is a TA in May of 2025 on Vista- Miami to Portugal.

Edited October 29, 2023 by Lastdance

[asnaleah]

@Lastdance, we are booked on that TA also. 

[PinonNoir]

On 10/28/2023 at 8:21 AM, Harters said:

 Everywhere can be a risk. Even small towns like Lewiston, Maine. 

Agreed.  We've been in nearby Boothbay Harbor and there were quite a few businesses closed while that maniac was still at large.

[PinonNoir]

On 10/28/2023 at 9:06 AM, Rhett789 said:

Lesson learned:  1. Don't by air fare upgrades through the cruise company.  Buy your own airfare and make sure it is changeable for a little more money. I used to think you were protected when you purchased through the cruise company, apparently no so.  2. Do you think we will ever sail on Oceania again?????  Not me.

The airfare issue is an important lesson.  We have always purchased our own airfare after our first Oceania cruise in 2007.   While we purchased our airfare for that cruise, another couple we traveled with used Oceania for airfare and arrived in Venice about 4 hours before the cruise departed. Their departure from Rome was about 5 hours after the cruise arrived, and they were scrambling to get to the airport on time from Citivavecchia.  The last thing I want is "bookends of stress" on a cruise!

[oskidunker]

Very disturbing. Lack if customer service. Might prefer Viking considering all this. Maybe they are in financial trouble. 

[PinonNoir]

30 minutes ago, oskidunker said:

Very disturbing. Lack if customer service. Might prefer Viking considering all this. Maybe they are in financial trouble. 

I think the overall number of people who immediately took advantage of the offered FCC freaked them out.  They were looking at a nearly empty ship with a full crew, and scrambled to stop the hemorrhaging.

[Rhett789]

19 hours ago, LHT28 said:

Are you implying Oceania  did nothing when the same situations   happened to their  cruises?

I am implying nothing, just stating my experiences and comparing them to this Oceania cruise.

[Prosecco220]

Four of us are on this same trip!!! What a wonderful itinerary and really the last area in the world we’ve yet to visit. They pulled the same stunt during COVID, waiting till the last minute to cancel, which jeopardizes airlines, hotels and tours we’ve already paid for. This choice, to hold customers at ransom, reveals desperation. Frankly, I do not trust the financial stability of the company. They’re holding a lot of our money that we may never spend. 

[English Tim]

We’ve just enjoyed a wonderful cruise, where favourite ports were exchanged due to the unfortunate conflict in Israel. I spoke with a lot of people on the cruise and they all understood the situation and were happy they were not in Israel.
 

There would appear to be a good number of people on this forum who are not giving enough consideration to the many thousands of people affected by this war.

 

No cruise is a bad cruise, they may not go where we want them to go but the service is always fantastic as are the facilities. The weather will still be decent and God willing you’ll be alive at the end of your cruise.

 

Cruise lines are still recovering from the losses of Covid and everyone needs to give them some slack. So cut out all the moaning and groaning and look forward to a different voyage.

[susiesan]

Interesting that Oceania deemed it too dangerous to go to Alexandria while yesterday Oct. 29 two Azamara ships were docked there. 

[Vineyard View]

39 minutes ago, English Tim said:

We’ve just enjoyed a wonderful cruise, where favourite ports were exchanged due to the unfortunate conflict in Israel. I spoke with a lot of people on the cruise and they all understood the situation and were happy they were not in Israel.
 

There would appear to be a good number of people on this forum who are not giving enough consideration to the many thousands of people affected by this war.

 

No cruise is a bad cruise, they may not go where we want them to go but the service is always fantastic as are the facilities. The weather will still be decent and God willing you’ll be alive at the end of your cruise.

 

Cruise lines are still recovering from the losses of Covid and everyone needs to give them some slack. So cut out all the moaning and groaning and look forward to a different voyage.

I am glad to hear that you and others thoroughly enjoyed your altered cruise. Truly. That is good to hear. However, Respectfully, I would disagree that the people on this forum are not giving consideration to the people affected by this war. It has to do with Oceania going back on and rescinding offers made to passengers in a manner that is totally unacceptable. It is not about empathy and sympathy of the heart wrenching events occurring in Israel and Gaza, which I cannot even imagine each and everyone could not possibly have. 

Edited October 30, 2023 by Vineyard View

[Harry Lake]

30 minutes ago, English Tim said:

No cruise is a bad cruise, they may not go where we want them to go but the service is always fantastic as are the facilities. The weather will still be decent and God willing you’ll be alive at the end of your cruise.

 

We are port/destination oriented. Plus if a change in itinerary takes me places I've already been then no. Like Turkey. We did an escorted, land trip there some years ago and saw more than any cruise could do. And nine days at sea? That would be a nightmare for us.

[Harry Lake]

50 minutes ago, English Tim said:

you’ll be alive at the end of your cruise.

And if they CANCEL the cruise and give us a refund or FCC we'll still be alive.

[Prosecco220]

Hi Tim, thank you for your reply. I’m glad your trip was successful. Cruise companies, like any thriving service business, have an obligation to act with integrity. Oceania/NCLH truly has not. As customers, we pay our money UP FRONT with the hope and expectation that Oceania will deliver the promised services. Both cruise companies and their customer assume risks. Yet other cruise companies cancelled Middle East trips and refunded the fees early on. Oceania early choice was to reduce a 22 day Holy Lands and Middle East trip with stops including Istanbul, Ephesus, Rhodes, Limassol, Haifa, Cairo, Suez, Petra, Luxor, Jeddah, Muscat and Dubai to a cruise around the Greek Islands and 10 days down the Red Sea. This, coupled with their shenanigans insisting that customers reschedule within a week, then withdrawing the offer and now providing absolutely no communication with customers. I’m happy your trip went well and if this was a $2000 party cruise we’d chalk it up to bad luck. 
 

You probably know that Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, owner of Oceania, is listed on the NY Stock Exchange and is in excellent financial shape. And yes, this war will cost them money, as it has thousands of other businesses. Given the lofty image they convey, it seems quite stupid and short sighted to try to screw 1200 people out of $10 grand each plus another $4 grand in airfare. 
 

Finally, shareholders and customers should watch the decisions new CEO Harry Sommers is making as the company is investing hundreds of millions of dollars in 2 new ships for 2026 an 2027. Sacrificing today’s good will for future profits? How many of us will trust them in the future?

[GeezerCouple]

54 minutes ago, Harry Lake said:

We are port/destination oriented. Plus if a change in itinerary takes me places I've already been then no. Like Turkey. We did an escorted, land trip there some years ago and saw more than any cruise could do. And nine days at sea? That would be a nightmare for us.

Er, have you actually *read* the terms and conditions of your contract with any cruise line?

It's quite clear what does or doesn't happen with such changes.

The main problem here, for most of us (and the *only* problem here for some/many of us) is that Oceania reneged on an offer they made.  They may have no control over the ports or schedule (or perhaps they do!).

But they DEFINITELY have control over how they handle offers they make to their customers.  Backing out of an offer before a stated deadline, a deadline of *their* choice?

THAT is the real "NO"!

 

As many experienced cruisers recommend, if there is a port that you really *must* see/do, then schedule that as a land trip!  Avoid the vagaries of cruising.

 

And alas, these days, depending upon where those "must see/do" ports are, good luck with the land tour, also, unfortunately.

GC

[Charlene Jones]

I hope everyone keeps the pressure on Oceania.  They may or may not decide to do the right thing.  My cousin is friends with the head of NCL ltd., and she is advocating on our behalf.  I also contacted Jane Wooldridge who is the travel editor for the Miami Herald.  Her email is jwooldridge@miamiherald.com.  She expressed interest in doing a story.  Perhaps, others could email her, too, to help that cause.  

[English Tim]

16 minutes ago, Prosecco220 said:

Hi Tim, thank you for your reply. I’m glad your trip was successful. Cruise companies, like any thriving service business, have an obligation to act with integrity. Oceania/NCLH truly has not. As customers, we pay our money UP FRONT with the hope and expectation that Oceania will deliver the promised services. Both cruise companies and their customer assume risks. Yet other cruise companies cancelled Middle East trips and refunded the fees early on. Oceania early choice was to reduce a 22 day Holy Lands and Middle East trip with stops including Istanbul, Ephesus, Rhodes, Limassol, Haifa, Cairo, Suez, Petra, Luxor, Jeddah, Muscat and Dubai to a cruise around the Greek Islands and 10 days down the Red Sea. This, coupled with their shenanigans insisting that customers reschedule within a week, then withdrawing the offer and now providing absolutely no communication with customers. I’m happy your trip went well and if this was a $2000 party cruise we’d chalk it up to bad luck. 
 

You probably know that Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, owner of Oceania, is listed on the NY Stock Exchange and is in excellent financial shape. And yes, this war will cost them money, as it has thousands of other businesses. Given the lofty image they convey, it seems quite stupid and short sighted to try to screw 1200 people out of $10 grand each plus another $4 grand in airfare. 
 

Finally, shareholders and customers should watch the decisions new CEO Harry Sommers is making as the company is investing hundreds of millions of dollars in 2 new ships for 2026 an 2027. Sacrificing today’s good will for future profits? How many of us will trust them in the future?

How do you know what other companies have done? Maybe people have said things, but it doesn’t mean it has actually happened.

[sunlover12]

1 hour ago, Prosecco220 said:

 

You probably know that Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, owner of Oceania, is listed on the NY Stock Exchange and is in excellent financial shape. And yes, this war will cost them money, as it has thousands of other businesses. Given the lofty image they convey, it seems quite stupid and short sighted to try to screw 1200 people out of $10 grand each plus another $4 grand in airfare. 
 

Finally, shareholders and customers should watch the decisions new CEO Harry Sommers is making as the company is investing hundreds of millions of dollars in 2 new ships for 2026 an 2027. Sacrificing today’s good will for future profits? How many of us will trust them in the future?

Huh? A glance at the financials of NCLH will show you that is not true. They're not in excellent financial shape.  The numbers show a negative EPS and negative net profit margin. 

 

I suspect some of the decisions they are making are because of the poor financial shape they are in. I agree that promising FCC one day and then taking it away the next is poor customer relations but I understand why they can't offer it.  You can't squeeze blood out of a turnip. 

 

[Harry Lake]

1 hour ago, GeezerCouple said:

But they DEFINITELY have control over how they handle offers they make to their customers.  Backing out of an offer before a stated deadline, a deadline of *their* choice?

THAT is the real "NO"!

Yes, that is. And I apologize for sidetracking.

It's a matter of what they must do and what they should do. 

[susiesan]

Here's an article about cruise companies cancelling ports in the Middle East calling out Oceania:

 

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/cruise-israel-egypt-jordan-oman-b2438446.html

[Harry Lake]

1 hour ago, susiesan said:

Here's an article about cruise companies cancelling ports in the Middle East calling out Oceania:

 

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/cruise-israel-egypt-jordan-oman-b2438446.html

Well, well.  Thanks for this.

[PinonNoir]

5 hours ago, Harry Lake said:

 And nine days at sea? That would be a nightmare for us.

Agreed. Our Southampton to Iceland cruise this past July ended up with two back-to-back sea days when they canceled a port, and I frankly didn't know what to do with myself!  I travel to see new parts of the world, not hang out in Baristas or walk around the pool 100 times.

 

Nine days of nothing...and you are paying for it.  I'd rather stay at my house.  At least I have excellent access to Pinot Noir there!

[Vineyard View]

3 hours ago, sunlover12 said:

Huh? A glance at the financials of NCLH will show you that is not true. They're not in excellent financial shape.  The numbers show a negative EPS and negative net profit margin. 

 

I suspect some of the decisions they are making are because of the poor financial shape they are in. I agree that promising FCC one day and then taking it away the next is poor customer relations but I understand why they can't offer it.  You can't squeeze blood out of a turnip. 

 

I think there is lot of spare turnip juice for this specific situation. 

[EJL2023]

31 minutes ago, Vineyard View said:

I think there is lot of spare turnip juice for this specific situation. 

Have you canceled your cruise on Marina yet??  This situation here seems to indicate you have no confidence in Oceania any longer based upon your numerous postings on several threads with this topic. Just seems it is causing unneeded stress and assume you are more comfortable at this point not trying Oceania??