mmcguir

Thanks for the responses. Just to follow up, we were never successful with VisaCentral but were able to obtain the visa through Balivisas.com  You exchange info and docs via email (12-hour time difference from US east coast), pay a small fee through PayPal and they make it work pretty easily.  

Ah, thanks,  That makes sense but Regent was pretty explicit in its communications. We’re concerned that we may not be permitted to board the ship without the prior-issued visa.  This from the Regent email:

The Indonesia e-VOA is a single-entry visa valid for ninety (90) days from the date of issue and allows guests to stay in the country for up to thirty (30) days.  The e-VOA is mandatory for all non-exempt guests arriving by air or sea.  Guests in transit (arriving and leaving Indonesia with the ship) are required to secure the e-VOA prior to embarkation, even if they plan on staying onboard while in Indonesian ports.

….It is the responsibility of all guests to obtain the necessary documents in advance of sailing.  Failure to produce the correct documentation at embarkation may result in denial of boarding and be subject to full cancellation penalties.

We received several emails from Regent regarding the necessity to obtain our own visas for Indonesia on this cruise. Using Regent’s recommended provider, VisaCentral, I have been having some difficulty with one of ours.

Using VisaCentral, the Traveller is required to input and download all required information, including a passport scan/photo. (I’m not sure exactly what VisaCentral adds to this process). One of our passports was accepted after a few attempts and a visa issued.  However, the other passport scan keeps getting rejected - each time it takes a few more days to receive the rejection notice. The reasons given are lack of clarity, glare, cropping, etc. Visacentral recommended having the passport scanned at a copy shop, which we did, but still it keeps getting rejected.  Has anyone had a similar issue and/or any advice as to how to proceed?  Perhaps, there is another service where we (reluctantly) hand over the passport and let them obtain the visa? Thanks so much for any advice! 

While our thoughts and actions turn to helping the people of Ukraine,  I assume sanctions against Russia will include terminating leisure travel, including cruise activity, in Russia. Also, I would think cruise lines may take action on their own for safety reasons. 

It seems likely to me that Crystal is just consolidating unsold inventory to fewer ships, due to lack of demand, and performing very poorly at it.  We had booked a penthouse on the Bach for a Rhine cruise and were given several “rollover” options when it was cancelled. We chose one on the Debussy departing 4 days earlier, dutifully filling out the manual on-line form. When the confirmation was sent, it was for a suite half the size, with no explanation to us or our TA and no alternative options offered in our suite category. Seems very bush league for a supposedly luxury line. 

Desantis is doubling down on Norwegian/Frank Del Rio and the vaccine requirement.  Says other cruise lines will be lining up to take Norwegian’s place. Insanity.

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-ne-coronavirus-desantis-norwegian-vaccines-20210513-kf2vlic3bbdizkc3p6wnsddk2y-story.html

The White House has said that there will be no federal Vaccine passport, which is not the same as saying businesses can set their own requirements. WH has said that the “market” will come up with a solution and they will work with relevant businesses to try to be helpful.  This is exactly what should happen.  “Clear” or some other company can come up with a passport, visa or whatever you want to call it,  and that can be voluntarily used by businesses (hotels, event venues, cruise ship operators) as a requirement for entry or as a way to get VIP treatment. The White House is not at all against private businesses requiring whatever they think is necessary for safe operation of their businesses.  It is Desantis and a couple of other state governors who are against this. Make no mistake about it: Desantis doesn’t want unvaccinated people to be denied access to enter cruise ships in Florida. This will set up protracted litigation and/or the cruise companies will vote with their feet, so to speak.  

20 hours ago, rallydave said:

Clearly stated by the WHO in the link in post 80 above and fat about the same time DeSantis made his Executive Order the White House made the identical statement about the Federal Government not allowing people being asked to prove vaccinations.  The Governor of Texas has also issues an Executive Order almost identical to DeSantis.  And other states have either done the same or are working on approval of thet language while other states are working on Vaccine Passports.

 

And this is NOT an anti-vax pandering, it is not allowing people being asked to prove they were vaccinated. 

It is most certainly is anti-vax pandering.  “not allowing people being asked to prove they were vaccinated” means that unvaccinated people will be allowed to board privately owned cruise ships, attend concerts and sporting events at privately owned arenas.  As the Palm Beach Post editorial put it:  “DeSantis is staking a strange position with this fight of his. He’s fighting for the liberation of unvaccinated people to spread germs as they please in the middle of a worldwide pandemic -- one that appears to be surging again.”

On 4/19/2021 at 5:51 PM, mrlevin said:

What WHO has said, just as DeSantis and Biden and many others have said, is that it is discriminatory to ask for proof of vaccination to allow admittance.  The WHO committee statement clearly states that countries should NOT require proof of vaccination as a condition of entry.  DeSantis has said that businesses and government entities should NOT require proof of vaccination as a condition of entry.

 

As a civil libertarian, I understand that point of view.  As someone who is so looking forward to going on a cruise; I will waive my vaccination cards in front of anyone that wants to see them.

I haven’t seen any communication where President “Biden and many others” have said anything like this.  Desantis is alone on this anti-vax pandering crusade to control what companies in the private sector require to do business with them.  Desantis has said not only that cruise lines cannot require proof of vaccines, but that non-vaccinated passengers must be allowed on privately owned cruise ships.   

3 hours ago, mrlevin said:

He is just saying they can't require a vaccine "passport" to show proof.  Nothing about the CDC card.

Sadly, no.  He is explicitly saying that unvaccinated passengers should be allowed on cruise ships leaving Florida, AND that they should not be treated any differently than vaccinated passengers.  He is turning this into a political football, pandering to the “anti-vaxers”.  His statement/question below “what if you have a reason for why you didn’t get vaccinated?” is beyond ridiculous: everyone who doesn’t get vaccinated has a reason.  

During a press conference on Friday, the Florida governor suggested the state might fight efforts to impose COVID-19 vaccine mandates on cruise passengers — something that is at the core of comeback plans at a growing number of cruise lines.

“We would object to it,” DeSantis said in response to a question from a reporter about such mandates. “What if you have a reason for why you didn’t get vaccinated? You then can’t participate in society like everybody else? These (cruise ships) are basically public accommodations, and to have different classes of citizens based on vaccine status, I think is a big, big mistake.”

In case there was any doubt, DeSantis’s intent is now clear.  After SilverSea followed NCL’s lead in announcing that vaccines will be required for all passengers, the Gov’s office responded:

“The Governor’s Executive Order provides that businesses in Florida are prohibited from requiring patrons or customers to provide any documentation certifying COVID-19 vaccination or post-transmission recovery to gain access to, entry upon, or service from the business,” press secretary Cody McCloud said by email. “Therefore, the Executive Order prohibits cruise lines from requiring vaccine passports for their Florida operations.  

In my opinion, this will not facilitate opening up the cruise industry. 

Cancelling the previously planned July itineraries gives NCL/Regent some flexibility to add some new itineraries at 60% capacity in July, 80% in August. Mr. Del Rio committed to an initial 60% capacity limitation in the letter to CDC  

A fairly thorough letter from NCL to CDC outlining plans to re-start July 4th, starting at 60% capacity and increasing by 20% in 30-day increments. A good opening offer.  Proof of full vaccination required 2 weeks prior to sailing.  Fingers crossed.  Doesn’t mention how excursions into other countries will be handled.  

I would say it’s really about the industry not having to shut down again.  While you or I may be protected by the vaccine, if other people come aboard infected and it spreads to others onboard (passengers or crew who are not vaccinated), it will shut down the specific cruise, and could result in another ban on cruise ships. 

Having trouble following the logic.  So if there is no vaccine requirement, infected people are free come on board a private business and start an outbreak in a contained environment?  That’s what caused this in the first place. That would shut down the industry again.  

Gov DeSantis plans to take “executive action” to ban any type of vaccine passport for the private sector.  Go figure. I’m not very political but it seems that private businesses should be able to impose requirements reasonably related to the health and safety of employees and customers.  This could be really bad for the cruise industry. 

Thanks both! 

Apologies if this has been covered before.  Our travel agent emailed to us that we have $XX credit representing 125% of our fully paid cruise that was cancelled (we chose this option over a refund, for better or worse).  I was wondering if we can get written confirmation from Regent on the FFC, since final payment for our next cruise is quite far on the horizon and I don’t want any surprises and would like to see the “fine print” if any.  I didn’t see a way to access it through our account on the RSSC website.  Have others received something directly from Regent regarding the FFC?  Thanks!  

Our “next” cruise is November 3rd on Splendor, less than 60 days out.  It seems impossible that the cruise will happen.  Americans can’t even travel to Italy or the other port countries.  Why won’t Regent cancel and start the refund/rescheduling process?  Is it wishful thinking or some other reason?  The lack of communication from Regent is disappointing.

Wow, thanks! I didn’t realize they actually sell the mattresses.

Maybe an odd or off-topic request: We have enjoyed the beds on Regent (and some other luxury cruise lines). It’s amazing to me that two independent twin beds can be made very *very* comfortable (imho) as a king-ish sized bed. We would like to set up a guest room with 2 twin beds that can be converted to a nice king bed for couples. A quick search of the web reveals some pretty cheesy looking products. Can anyone point me in the direction of beds and/or related products that would approach the quality of the Regent set-up? I assume theirs is somewhat of a trade secret. Thanks!!

IMO this is simply good marketing - adding benefits rather than dropping prices. And the cost of providing the benefit is less than the perceived value to the customer.