Crystal Symphony, Mumbai to Athens - or is it?

[Roland4]

12 hours ago, FlyerTalker said:

In a discussion with some folks, we tossed out another way of looking at things.

 

Rather than starting with a base of prices being refundable, how about thinking of base prices as non-refundable or long-term, with the ability to cancel for refunds being a fare for an additional premium.

 

I note that Delta will sell you a ticket that is refundable to a flight credit for X dollars.  But then, they offer you a buy-up of X+Y to get a ticket that is refundable to your original form of payment. 

 

When you think about it, it's two sides of the same coin - depending on if you view as a discount or a premium.  Hmmm.

Royal Caribbean/Celebrity have been doing this for a year or so now. The base fare is non-refundable, but if you want a refundable fare, there is a sometimes very significant premium. When they also start adding in various promotions, you almost need a cryptologist to decipher the fare table!!! 😮 😮 

[Whipsnade]

Hope you have as many wonderful travel and cruise experiences as we have had. Every port we come to that we have been to several times in past decades gives us an opportunity to relate to each other past experiences there. Once one of us is gone all those experiences will be gone. In the meantime we relish every minute. 

[PaulMCO]

9 hours ago, Roland4 said:

Royal Caribbean/Celebrity have been doing this for a year or so now. The base fare is non-refundable, but if you want a refundable fare, there is a sometimes very significant premium. When they also start adding in various promotions, you almost need a cryptologist to decipher the fare table!!! 😮 😮 

Which flows into the Silversea port to port fares which are all deposit non refundable, and not just a special.  But they have significant savings, brings in cash for the cruise line, and discourages the looky loos, who will cancel before final payment.

[travelberlin]

In cruise lines like Royal Caribbean or Celebrity, the cruise fares are lower than at Crystal. Meaning that it is easier to pay one year in advance for example US 1600 for one in order to save US 500, and not worry about it if one loses it all, than to pay 10.000 non refundable, one year in advance to save US 2000. I am comparing two cruises I am interested on, one with Royal and one with Crystal.

 

Besides this, there is the consideration about the financial situation of the company behind this offer. Royal Caribbean apparently is making billions of profit and the bookings are increasing. Crystal is just starting to operate and this offer gives the impression of being in need for cash.

 

However, each one of us will analyze pros and cons. For some guests it will work out. For others will not. But as we hear many times on this board, it is good to have options. 
 

Ivi

Edited February 11 by travelberlin

[Dog-man]

Looks like Crystal are now ‘the last man standing’.
 

Confirmed earlier by ‘Bitob’ that Silversea have now officially cancelled their sailing from Mumbai on 20th March which was going through the Red Sea and will now be dead-heading Silver Whisper around Africa.

Edited February 11 by Dog-man

[Whipsnade]

Still no word on board Symphony of Red Sea plans. 

[Jayayeff]

6 minutes ago, Whipsnade said:

Still no word on board Symphony of Red Sea plans. 

I was just chatting online to a friend onboard Serenity - still no word there either…

[bitob]

21 hours ago, Dog-man said:

Looks like Crystal are now ‘the last man standing’.
 

Confirmed earlier by ‘Bitob’ that Silversea have now officially cancelled their sailing from Mumbai on 20th March which was going through the Red Sea and will now be dead-heading Silver Whisper around Africa.

Took way too long imo. Apparently Crystal is even worse at notifying passengers. Hope everyone gets refunds.   Love the smell of that green grass 😁

Edited February 12 by bitob

[Dog-man]

1 hour ago, bitob said:

Took way too long imo. Apparently Crystal is even worse at notifying passengers. Hope everyone gets refunds.   Love the smell of that green grass 😁

Perhaps we should run a sweepstake on the announcement date🤣

[sullaRaffaello]

This morning I received an e-mail from my travel agent. When I saw the name,  I thought it was the info about what was going to happen with this cruise. Instead it was the business-as-usual e-ticket for this cruise with a "bon voyage". Unbelievable!

[Dog-man]

9 hours ago, sullaRaffaello said:

This morning I received an e-mail from my travel agent. When I saw the name,  I thought it was the info about what was going to happen with this cruise. Instead it was the business-as-usual e-ticket for this cruise with a "bon voyage". Unbelievable!

Truly farcical.
 

Our TA spoke with the Crystal (London) office at the end of last week to try and get an update and they said they had not been told anything.

 

Probably like you, we are flying into Mumbai early as we had the intention of doing things before the cruise. All of these plans need to be reconsidered, but because Crystal won’t speak to their guests it can’t be done.

 

If the Symphony Mumbai to Athens cruise is cancelled - Crystal, tell your guests.

 

Itinerary amendments will most probably affect the Singapore - Mumbai cruise also, and those guests need to know what is happening.

 

The message is simple - speak to your guests.

 

 

[Whipsnade]

Still on board Symphony and not a peep from anyone. Strange indeed. 

[mogilevk9]

It would be useful to say the least, for Crystal to let Symphony passengers both onboard now and those staying on or getting on for the next few voyages which are scheduled to go through Red Sea and Suez Canal , just what Crystal’s intentions are. Does anyone in the decision making process seriously believe that our cruise, Mumbai to Athens, will go ahead?! We should have been told weeks ago that it will be cancelled.

World Cruisers etc on Serenity will get a new itinerary and this needs to be worked out. Fair enough.
However, Symphony’s cruises will need to be cancelled in order for her to get round Africa and through the Straits of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean as quickly as possible for the Med season. This will probably mean deadheading in Singapore, as any new itinerary for passengers which involved stopping in Africa would mean delays in getting to the Med. The refuelling, restocking etc stops for the dash to the Med on a crew only ship can be worked out separately to passengers being informed that their cruise is cancelled.

So, yet again I have to ask, what is the point of dragging this farce out? 

[Worldtraveler22]

I’m sure there is a financial issue regarding cancelling vs redirecting the cruise to other ports, especially for travel insurance.  In addition, there are visa implications for guests going to India.  Why buy a visa if you aren’t going there?

[Roland4]

Just posted to the Crystal Society Family site;

 

"Thank you for your continued patience as we finalize the details around the Red Sea situation. We will be making an announcement in the coming days and will be notifying all affected guests and our valued travel advisors accordingly."

[mogilevk9]

It would have been courteous to have informed the affected guests first, instead of them having to find out this information on a public forum.

[May B]

8 minutes ago, mogilevk9 said:

It would have been courteous to have informed the affected guests first, instead of them having to find out this information on a public forum.

Inform them what, exactly? You already know you’ll hear as soon as Crystal nails it down. This note didn't add anything to that knowledge.

[ctjon]

They may have been working on alternates and the details.   As bad as delaying notifications I think it would be worse if they said A and then a little later said - not A but  B. 

[Worldtraveler22]

43 minutes ago, May B said:

Inform them what, exactly? You already know you’ll hear as soon as Crystal nails it down. This note didn't add anything to that knowledge.

I think it would be helpful to know if the cruises on Symphony are cancelled or just being rerouted, to say the least.  

[Whipsnade]

On Symphony still not an inkling. 
Even if it is cancelled from Singapore it does not leave enough time at 18 knots to get to first Med cruise in time. So maybe they will put us ashore in Puerto Princessa Philippines. That would be an adventure!! I wonder if Luggage Forward would pick up our bags there??!! Maybe we would have to go by ferry to Manila. 
All a mystery to be revealed….sometime. Travel is always exciting. Never know what is coming around the corner. 

[jet65]

2 minutes ago, Whipsnade said:

On Symphony still not an inkling. 
Even if it is cancelled from Singapore it does not leave enough time at 18 knots to get to first Med cruise in time. So maybe they will put us ashore in Puerto Princessa Philippines. That would be an adventure!! I wonder if Luggage Forward would pick up our bags there??!! Maybe we would have to go by ferry to Manila. 
All a mystery to be revealed….sometime. Travel is always exciting. Never know what is coming around the corner. 

You have our admiration for your attitude!!

[Whipsnade]

Just announced. Symphony will cancel only Mumbai to Limassol.  Ship will sail Red Sea with only volunteer crew on board accompanied by naval escort. 
Check backwards and you will see this was my prediction a few weeks ago. 
Only decision that makes financial sense when you look at the numbers. Also bold and gutsy. 
Congratulations Crystal!!!

[Worldtraveler22]

Where did you see this announcement?

[mogilevk9]

My TA telephoned about an hour ago to say Mumbai to Athens is cancelled.

[Whipsnade]

We have been told by Captain on board Symphony. Confirmed.