I am the cruise right before yours, June 28-July 5, Venice to Rome. Also, in limbo and watching the situation carefully.
18 hours ago, Bruin Steve said:
Okay...there is a lot of talk about Celebrity's policy if YOU cancel your cruise...up to 48 hours prior, etc.
BUT, what if Celebrity is the one to cancel the cruise? What happens then...what will they do for you?
Okay...As of RIGHT NOW, I have back to back bookings on Infinity--July 5 and July 12--Rome to Venice, Venice to Rome...We've had the things booked for about a year...We put down deposits on these cruises and Celebrity has had that money for a long time. We've also purchased a little over $100 in shore excursions and specialty restaurants above and beyond our OBC.
As of right now, Celebrity has told us nothing. They haven't canceled either cruise...or changed either itinerary...but as this whole crisis moves along, it seems less and less likely that these cruises will actually take place. Up until the past few days, I've assumed they'd move the ship and revamp the itinerary...So, instead of what we were supposed to do, we'd end up cruising out of Barcelona or Istanbul or Athens or Southampton...and we'd go to different ports...Of course, that cruise would bear little resemblance to what we signed up for, but we'd clearly consider it--because we really need a vacation...
And I could understand why Celebrity wasn't in a hurry to announce anything...they are undoubtedly clueless about the state of things four months from now...
But, right now, there is all of this talk of various ports and countries completely shutting down--not allowing cruise ships to dock at all. If things continue in this direction, it's entirely possible they won't be able to offer ANY cruises by July. HOWEVER, our final payment due dates are approaching rapidly...and they still expect us to fork over several thousand dollars?
Now we've seen the moving target policy on US canceling: Maybe partial refund, maybe future cruise credit. But, if THEY cancel the cruise, then it is not us canceling, not us defaulting on the contract. It would be either THEM in default, or, at best, impossibility of performance. Theoretically, they would have to provide an immediate full refund...
BUT, what ARE they doing? Have they canceled any full cruises yet? If so, what have they offered the customers? And, for anyone whose final payment has come due recently, has there been any concession there? It is sort of hard to imagine paying out major money to cover a cruise that the cruise line may have no present intention to provide. OR, do the cruise lines expect the pandemic to be suddenly over or the ports involved (like, in my case, the entire country of Italy) to change direction and look to welcome the ships and tourists within the next four months?
Heck, I still have my air reservations (via Celebrity Air, so also subject to payment within the next month) to fly into MILAN on June 25 and out of Rome after the second leg...
And, when I get some idea of what is happening, I'll have the additional task of undoing six pre- and post-cruise hotel reservations (one is unfortunately pre-paid--but in Northern Italy), a pre-paid car rental deal out of Milan to be returned in Civitavecchia, a private tour in one of the ports and private transfers Civitavecchia to Rome and Rome to FCO post cruise...It's going to be a lot of work to undo everything...and I am dreading fighting with people to recover those pre-paid sums (which I haven't done yet because my arguments change based on the actual reasons for cancellation).
It sure would be nice if Celebrity would clue us in on what they plan on doing...and do it soon--BEFORE they come looking for that final payment...
What if CELEBRITY cancels?
in Celebrity Cruises
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