NetwrkEng

Assuming both are the same “paths” ie inside passage vs outside I guess I would lean to August. September is getting very late in the season and the weather is more likely to be dicey. That said you just don’t know and we’ve spent nearly an entire cruise in Alaska in the gray and rain and still loved it. Can I assume this is your first trip to AK?

Azamara is not handling this well but they maybe under the “guidance” of RCL regarding this. We previously sailed Oceania and also enjoyed our voyage on Quest last year but this is really poor handling of the situation by Azamara. Even if one did venture on what type of cruise experience will this be with all of the screenings etc.

Below is what we received from Oceania. Draw your own conclusions:

Dear Valued Guests, I’d like to share an important update on Oceania Cruises’ response to COVID-19. With COVID-19 impacting communities around the globe, we have decided after collaboration with federal officials to voluntarily suspend cruise voyages across Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings’ three brands, effective immediately. This voluntary action covers voyages with embarkation dates from March 13 to April 11, 2020. We will plan to recommence and operate with embarkations beginning April 12, 2020.  The health, safety and well-being of our guests and crew is our highest priority. While we have not had any confirmed cases of COVID-19 across our 28-ship fleet and are taking this measure in an abundance of caution, we felt it necessary to do our part and contribute to efforts to contain the spread of the virus.  We greatly appreciate the understanding of our valued guests during these fluid, unprecedented and challenging times.  Guests on voyages that are underway will conclude and guests will be disembarked as soon as possible and assisted with travel arrangements.  Guests who are currently booked on voyages with embarkation dates from March 13 to April 11, 2020 are asked to contact their travel advisor or the cruise line for more information. All guests sailing on impacted voyages scheduled to depart in the next 7 days will receive a 150% Future Cruise Credit which can be applied toward any future cruise through December 31, 2022. All guests on impacted voyages departing 8 days or more from now 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, 2022. Future voyage must be booked by March 31, 2021. For guests who wish to not avail themselves of the future cruise credit, a 100% refund of the fare paid will be reimbursed to the original form of payment within 90 days of guests’ request. If you prefer this option, please inform us no later than March 27, 2020. Working closely and in partnership with local, state, federal and global agencies, we are committed to taking all appropriate steps and actions to combat the spread of COVID-19.  If you have questions regarding this matter, please contact us at 855-OCEANIA (855-623-2642).  As always, your business is important to Oceania Cruises and we appreciate your trust in us. We remain dedicated to providing our guests with the best travel experiences across the globe. Sincerely, Bob Binder President & Chief Executive Officer

So will I from our Feb 2 Eurodam cruise, which at this point in time is likely our last with HAL. :( unless ...

We are on the Eurodam 2/16 and we share your sentiment. The only reason we booked this last HAL cruise was to use up the substantial credit we have from the Barclays HAL card.

Ridiculous policy change from one extreme to the other.

Wrote the letter and also received back the thanks for the feedback...to bad it's the policy.

Oceania has sent us enough brochures to paper the walls with. Now those are no longer going in the recycle bin. HAL's are.

I've just retrieved the Oceania brochure that came in the mail yesterday from the recycle basket. This policy was a BIG deal for us when considering cruise lines.

Stuffing extra cabins into our favorite area on the Vistas and now this. I guess that will about do it for us on HAL. We have a large credit from the Barclays card so I guess we will book something before January and the rest will be memories and anticipation of a new cruise line experience.

Well for anyone who was curious before about my room assignment I don't really have an update as it still says I am in a GUAR room. So I have a question for anyone out there... since you have to complete online checkin 3 days prior does that mean after three days prior I will not be able to go in and check if I have been given a room assignment? My cruise is this Sunday so I am nervous I will be "shut out" of the HAL site.

No you will not be "shut out". And keep in mind that it can change all the way up to at the pier. We had an SY GUAR and were assigned an SS about a week out and then the night before they moved us to an SA. :)

Good Luck