Buzzy123

You might want to worry even more as to whether Silverseas is being honest with you as to whether or not this cruise will run. At this point midday -on Monday July 25th, Japan is experiencing another COVID wave and it is clear that the people (if not the politicians and the tourist industry in Japan are super afraid of cruisers bringing even more COVID. That is why they are for the first time requiring visas from US and Canadian travelers and REFUSING to issue individual visas -instead requiring “group visas” from JAPANESE tour companies. It is totally unclear as to whether Silverseas will be able to change the government of Japan’s policy when every other cruise line except Oceania-for an October cruise_ has already cancelled their Japan 2022 cruises.. silverseas keeps sending messages that they are “optimistic” these cruises will run but do not disclose the basis for their optimism when COVID is raging in Japan and other cruise lines have already cancelled their w022 Japan bookings and are not yet allowing patrons to either cancel or transfer these bookings without penalty

This is outrageous. So if we cancel within 45 days because we can not get a visa thatonly Silverseas can get, not individuals, we will pay $1,000 to Silversea? And if they still haven’t announced in 45 days we pay for the entire cruise?

The problem is that while you might have insurance for the cruise do you have insurance for your purchased airfare? As we understand the current very very opaque Japanese rules you have to travel AT ALL TIMES with a Japanese tour group operator within a Japanese led tour group. I asked JAL and they were totally unclear as to whether that would forbid going from the ship to the airport independently or even as part of a ship sponsored “tour” from the ship to the airport. Further we were advised that only three airports, two in Tokyo and one in one other city, would be allowed to be used as entry OR exit points for those “tours”. Most departures to the US at least are from the two Tokyo airports. Since Osaka has 3 different airports and the two closer and smaller ones (not the larger and farther away Kansai International) connect to the Tokyo flightsbe careful that you would be allowed to go to those airports to get to Tokyo (also you aren’t allowed by the way to step foot on the bullet train to Tokyo a logical alternative). ‘’I recognize this all looks paranoid about a virus for which most people whether in the US or Japan have had vaccinations, booster shots, and yet still have already had a weakened form of the virus, but the Japanese government is not willing to risk the wrath of their citizens for foreign cruisers. Given the state of uncertainly I am unwilling to commit to additional airfares that would incur a penalty if cancelled

Why isn’t Silversea responding to our numerous requests as to whether the Muse trip this Sept from Seward to Osaka will be running? We keep asking because we have to book airfare returning from Osaka and get zero response. We don’t want to forego our $1500 deposit but can’t really book air that will basically incur a major penalty if we “cancel” because a cruise line cancels since tge air carrier will still be running their flights ‘Now we are all aware that most Japanese people do not want cruises to resume in 2022 and the current situation of group tours would be impossible for passengers that desire to book air independently or want to have an extended tour in Japan as opposed to simply getting there and being forced to leave the country ASAP . Other cruise lines like Princess etc have already cancelled 2022 cruises yet Silverseas refuses to give any idea of their plans despite multiple requests. I mean I recognize that they have several ships going to Japan this Fall and don’t want to lose tge revenue, but shouldn’t they try to be more responsive to their loyal passengers like other cruise lines and give us an option to refund our deposits?

Not really opening up in any material way. Starting on June 20th they are allowing COMPLETELy packaged tours to run. E.g. they pick you up at the airport escort you around with people keeping away others while whispering “unclean, unclean”. And you can not use public transportation including bullet trains (you know “unclean, unclean”) . Without that you can not get the new VIsa that you need . I have been trying to relate that to cruise ships docking in Japan and coming say from Alaska/Vancouver later this Summer but so far no one in the Japanese consulates I have spoken to has the faintest idea.. Their government mindful of how this is killing their tourist industry is aware of the pressure but also aware that most Japanese do not want foreign tourists at this time. My guess (and it is totally a guess) is that they will “liberalize” a bit more in Sept barring yet a new outbreak but by then all of the major cruise lines will have cancelled until next year.