zanderblue

35 minutes ago, ipeeinthepool said:

Can someone help me see what the plan would be for the cruise lines to resume operations?    It seems like everyone wants a vaccine before cruises can resume.  Even if a vaccine was available in September how many people would need to be vaccinated for people to feel safe? Would the cruise lines require proof of a vaccine before you could sail?  It may also take several weeks before the vaccine is effective and some vaccines may require two shots with a month between shots.   So even if you started vaccinating people at the end of September it would still be the end of November before the very first people are protected.  I doubt the cruise industry would be first group vaccinated,  so at the earliest it looks like early 2021 before cruising resumes.   I hope the cruise industry and all of the local economies can survive that long.  And that’s the best case scenario with a vaccine available in September.

Really hard to say what conditions will need to be in place for safe restart of cruising.

I’m inclined to think that it will be similar to normal life in general and will consist of multiple changes.

Vaccinated population 

Better treatment of disease to reduce severity and or mortality rates.

Some form of social distancing 

Enhanced health education for general public

more frequent deep cleans

more sanitiser locations

effective means of dealing with flare ups in local areas

Functioning trace, test and isolate system

etc, etc,

3 hours ago, cruiser man 60 said:

It is in Europe including U.K. As they had proper lockdowns to stop virus and borders reopening with tourists coming back

I agree with you that parts of Europe have had better outcomes than some others and infection rate is dropping. Not so sure that I’d include the UK in those who have fared better. Additionally, it is only last week that UK implemented quarantine measures for most arrivals. So not many tourists arriving! 

1 hour ago, Mark_T said:

unless you are going to insist that only those who can be proven to have already had CV-19 can cruise...

I can’t see this being an option either. Everything that I’ve read to date indicates that no one currently knows if already having had the infection prevents you catching it again.

2 hours ago, Esprit said:

Her lack of vaccinations is well documented. 

 

Sorry, I don’t quite understand this comment. Are you saying that there is no requirement for crew to have vaccinations period? Or are you saying that there is a requirement and your daughter is exempted?

1 hour ago, Ride-The-Waves said:

  People cannot be forced to take a vaccine nor to certify if they have or have not.   

Pretty much what @Fouremco said. No vaccination certificate, then you ain’t coming aboard. 

On 5/17/2020 at 1:22 AM, cwistyred said:

Hi everyone,

We have a cruise to Europe currently booked for September 2020. Trip was booked through online TA.  Booked with low deposit.  I contacted my agent and I asked about moving to the same trip and ship for 2021.  She told me I would have to pay the full deposit to move the trip.  Is this what you understand this new policy to be?  Also do past perks stay with the new reservation? 

Thank you for your help, I know many, many of you are much more knowledgeable about policies and procedures than I am.

What your TA says is not my experience. I had a March 2021 booking which has a reduced deposit. I used lift and shift to move it out to March 2022, the reduced deposit moved with it as did the cruise fare and all perks as per the original booking. I had nothing further to pay.

Id say you need to have another chat with your TA.

We have decided not to wait and have pulled the trigger on our lift and shift.

On Infinity in March 2021, now pushed out to Infinity in March 2022. Same duration, but with one port of call different. All handled through my TA with no drama.

we did take the opportunity to change our cabin.

I am pretty pleased that Celebrity introduces this option. Primary reasons for move were uncertainty around the cruise experience and also, what my personal finances might look like given the current global recession. I guess I could have left decision until closer to August 1st, but tbh I don’t anticipate there will be much more clarity around either of those concerns in the near future. 

If by early in 2021 the situation has improved, there is a good chance we will make a new booking for around the original dates.

On 4/29/2020 at 6:57 AM, zanderblue said:

Here is another data point for you folks waiting for a refund.

Cruise on Equinox due to depart on March 21st. Cancelled by Celebrity on March 13th, I requested cash refund through my TA on March 19th.

3 separate payments back to my CC on April 28th. The payments appear to be for taxes and fees, additional charges and the cruise fare, but it’s not entirely clear from the amounts. 

 

 

Hi again,

final update to close this out. I did talk to my TA in early May and she suggested to give Celebrity until end of month. 

A 4th refund for the outstanding  amount came back to my CC a few days ago. 😁

We we are now considering lift and shift for our trip next March. 

2 hours ago, GottaKnowWhen said:

He is one who made a decision to accept an offer from Celebrity, then got miffed because other persons got better offers/options a few days later and he thinks he deserves something to compensate him for poor decisions under stress. So with nothing else to do he has mounted a vendetta of sorts. 
 

I agree with above. 

Having said that, I do have some sympathy for NHdoc.

I think what a lot of us customers don’t fully appreciate is the fact that none of the root cause was of Celebrity’s making and as such the CWC offer was pretty generous and over and above their standard contracted arrangements.

I do think it’s fair to criticise Celebrity in some aspects of how well they have managed communications and refunds.

IMO, the current “enhanced” CWC offer is pretty reasonable, they just need to apply it consistently and refund in a timely manner.

NB

I’m not a Celebrity apologist. I too have had a long wait for my refund and am still waiting for a shortfall amount to be refunded. 

@sandc4e

Our experience was very similar to yours in terms of wait time, number of credits and a shortfall. We were short $254.

I was able to match 2 of the payments to taxes and add ons. So the shortfall looks like it is from the cruise fare itself.

I have discussed with my TA and the advice I have been given is to wait a couple of weeks and see if further payment is forthcoming.

Thanks for input folks. Looking at pushing out our trip on Infinity next March to same month in 2022. Still on Infinity in Caribbean, but different ports.

I reckon we will give it a go. If successful and this horrible virus abates, I can see us booking an additional cruise for next spring.

Anyone got thoughts on what the lift and shift “same itenary type” means. Would same duration, location, but different ports of call be same itenary type?

Thanks

4 minutes ago, doodlefan said:

 It was said that they won't refund that because it was non refundable, which is crazy because that just means WE couldn't change it or cancel it, but Celebrity is the one who booked it and we didn't  get to go so I think they DO owe us a cash refund for that. 

I think it is more about what Celebrity asked the airline to do with the air reservation. Or maybe more importantly what you asked Celebrity to do with air reservation.

If it is non refundable fare and your agent (Celebrity in this case) cancelled then that’s pretty much it. 

On the other hand, if air reservation was left intact until airline cancelled then you would have a better chance to get refund of cash or future vouchers.

If you didn’t ask Celebrity specifically to do anything about air, then I’d say you are in a much stronger position.

To move forward, I’d be inclined to ask Celebrity if they cancelled the air reservation and if so why? Particularly, if you didn’t ask them to do so.

8 hours ago, mom says said:

I have the same question I had the first time the OP posted this question back in Feb. Why would anyone (cruise line or insurance company) issue a refund for a plane trip that was taken, and a hotel that was stayed in?

I believe there exists an option that covers just this, that certain airlines recognize. I think the actual terminology is “trip in vain”. 

As far as I know it applies in circumstances where a trip has been disrupted and there is no point in actually completing it. It would typically apply where for example a person was delayed en route and they were unable to complete the purpose of their journey; ie, missed meeting, etc. The airline would then return the passenger to their point of origin. 

I think that Celebrity may be testing the market. I had an email through from my TA a few days ago with some reasonable offers. Mostly around this Christmas and New Year. The best I could see was for March 20121 though, 7 days in Caribbean on Apex in a Concierge for just over $1400, this included 4 perks. 

Von and John,

no they don’t. The refund amounts for  taxes and additional charges are the same as on my invoice. The cruise fare refund does not match my invoice amount.

It is short by about $300. I’m planning to give it another week and see if any further payments come through. If not I’ll ask my TA to query.

Here is another data point for you folks waiting for a refund.

Cruise on Equinox due to depart on March 21st. Cancelled by Celebrity on March 13th, I requested cash refund through my TA on March 19th.

3 separate payments back to my CC on April 28th. The payments appear to be for taxes and fees, additional charges and the cruise fare, but it’s not entirely clear from the amounts. 

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading your review. Please carry on and include Mexico.

I’d expect one of the challenges would be around crew social distancing, never mind the guests.

Most of the crew live in very small 2 person cabins. I just can’t see how they can comply with the 2m rule with existing arrangements. 

1 hour ago, Tigrou said:

 

Charge back is for debit cards, not credit cards and is different from Section 75 which is for credit cards.  Section 75 does not appear to have any time limit.

 

Many UK websites have the full details, eg Money Saving Expert.

 

 

Im sorry, I believe you are mistaken. In the UK chargeback is an option for Credit cards, as well as Debit and Charge cards. You are correct, insomuch, that Section 75 only applies to credit cards.

15 hours ago, sunlover33 said:

Yes that’s about correct, we have a scheme called ATOL which steps in for refunds if the TA goes bankrupt. If you book via a TA in the U.K. you pay the TA who then pays the various Air and cruise fares. Therefore waiting for the cruise company and airline to reimburse the TA who will then refund us. Long winded but safer if the TA goes bankrupt. But you are also correct re cruise fares going down, we cannot cancel and re book without losing deposit. 

Also worth noting for any other UK guests, is that there are 2 other options.

The first is a chargeback. The CC company will look to reimburse the card holder for any shortfall in goods or services bought and not provided. This has to be initiated within 120 days of the card holder being aware of a problem. This process is not enforceable in law.

The second option is called a section 75 and is protection in law which makes the credit card company jointly liable for any shortfall in goods or services not provided. It also applies for online or foreign currency transactions. I believe there is a 540 day time limit on initiating it.

33 minutes ago, Ronin23 said:

Where did I say it was an a accredited statement? Most comments in here are opinions. 🤦‍♂️

You didn’t; and I didn’t say or imply that you did. I simply and politely asked for the source of your information.

You have since explained that it is a personal opinion. Thanks for clearing that up.

6 hours ago, Ronin23 said:

I was stating an opinion that quite frankly makes a lot of sense. Cruiselines will continue to request clearance from over 70s until a vaccine is found because they don’t want to put themselves or their passengers at expose risk.

Ah, OK. So it is your personal opinion and not accredited statement?

No more than speculation then...................

8 hours ago, Ronin23 said:

It will end when there is a vaccine in place, no sooner. That’s not likely to be this year. 

Do you mind sharing the source of this information, please?

Upwarduk, I feel your pain. 

However, these are temporary, emergency measures put in place in the interim. They will be eased and then finally lifted as soon as the medical folks are comfortable that they will be able to cope.

lets all hunker down and stay healthy until then.