Gilligan840

Hi everyone,

I thought I’d add our details to this list. Here goes:

We were booked on the Ovation, May 23-June 20, 2020, Lisbon to Copenhagen...28 days.

SB booked our airfare and hotels too. Total in $85k. I booked excursions and luggage forward on a separate card ($9k).

In March, as everything started collapsing, we started sensing that this cruise was not going to happen, so I canceled the excursions and luggage forward March 18...luggage forward issued a refund in 2 days, excursions took 3 weeks, only because I contacted Visa and requested a chargeback. 

On April 14th, our cruise was officially canceled. I immediately requested a full refund, we were not interested in an FCC....especially knowing their financial instability (worse now than ever before).

We also contacted Visa to request a chargeback (just to have it on the books) We knew, because of the dollar amount, it was going to be a waiting game. On the same day, I spoke with my SB rep and he told me it would take 60-90 days.

The waiting game begins. We are now at day 59 and counting. 

This was to be our third cruise with Seabourn, having had wonderful and stress-free cruises to the Med and Northern Europe.

Who knows what the future cruising world will be, but I am definitely interested when it resumes.....just not sure if Seabourn is going to be our first choice.

Best of luck to all!

Just now, Paulchili said:

In that case on what basis are you disputing the charge with your CC company?

Currently, my chargeback is regarding our excursions. I canceled them in March 18th, $4500...I have yet to receive my refund. 
On our cruise in 2017, when we cancelled three excursions, I received the credit the next day. Funds are becoming extremely limited, I would rather take my dispute with my CC company, than wait it out for 3-6 months, especially with Chapter 11 looming. 

19 hours ago, Paulchili said:

Was your cruise cancelled by SB and you are waiting for a refund or did you cancel the cruise and are getting FCC from SB?

Neither. Just in limbo

On 4/3/2020 at 12:22 AM, florisdekort said:

I would strongly recommend that everyone who is waiting for a refund from Seabourn speaks to their credit card company and requests a chargeback, before Carnival files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. When Seabourn told us getting our 6-digit down payment on next year’s World Cruise refunded would take them 12 weeks, we got Amex to sort it within 24 hours. 

Did just that. Thank you for the heads up! We are out $85,000 for now.

On 3/30/2020 at 3:37 PM, jenidallas said:

Our April cruise was cancelled today.  We elected, via our TA, to have the 100% refund.  Seabourn told her that we should expect to wait 12 weeks for the refund to be processed.

We just called our Cc companies to request a chargeback. Chapter 11 bankruptcy is looming, once that occurs...your money is in limbo. 

We are on the May 23rd Cruise, Lisbon to Copenhagen, full steam ahead. Not in panic mode, just waiting it all out, hoping we don’t get cancelled. 

SEABOURN TO PAUSE GLOBAL CRUISE OPERATIONS FOR 30 DAYS

SEATTLE, March 13, 2020 – Seabourn, the world’s finest ultra-luxury travel experience, announced that it will voluntarily pause global operations of its five cruise ships for 30 days, starting March 14. The decision is a voluntary response to the unpredictable circumstances evolving from the global spread of COVID-19 and in an abundance of caution.

“In this unprecedented situation, we feel a pause is necessary,” said Rick Meadows, president of Seabourn. “Through this action, it is our absolute intention to convey to our guests and the travel advisor community that we have the health and safety of all who travel with us as a top priority. Our pause should also reassure the hundreds of destinations we visit each year that we want to be responsible in our operations as we bring travelers into their communities each time we visit.”

Current voyages that are underway will end by March 22. Seabourn will be communicating these changes with all booked guests and their travel advisors.

Seabourn guests on impacted voyages will receive a 125% refund of the fare paid in the form of a future cruise credit, which can be applied toward any future cruise through December 31, 2021. For guests who do not opt to choose the 125% future cruise credit, a 100% refund of the fare paid will be reimbursed to the original form of payment.

Seabourn asks guests not to call the Reservation Call Center due to the possibility of high call volumes and the potential of long on-hold wait times. Guests and their travel advisors will be sent communications on how to manage cancellations and desired compensation. Information and instructions for requesting a refund will be available online at Seabourn.com.