HappyCruiserettu

On 4/4/2020 at 7:54 AM, Daniel A said:

I have a 20 day Train/bus tour booked for the end of September.  I think we well likely cancel as the trip would involve 4 different air segments, train travel and 7 days on a tour bus.  Even if the "curve gets flattened" that only helps the hospital situation - it doesn't make any claims about eliminating the risk of covid-19 infection after the curve is flattened.  It's a shame as this is a 'bucket list' trip to various National Parks which we started working on two years ago.  Oh well, we still have the plans on paper - now we'll need to see how gentle Delta will be with us cancelling 4 flights in September.   

Go to Delta's website, and read their notice about cancelling flights booked prior to April 30. 

2 hours ago, Daniel A said:

If they reposition with a full complement of crew, I could see them offering deeply discounted fares for those cruises.  (As long as they can get some waivers from the Jones Act.) 

My thought, exactly.

 And the PVSA (not the Jones act) would not be a factor unless they were transiting from one US port to another.

2 minutes ago, caribill said:

 

But any FCC that is due to Princess refunding part or all of a cancelled cruise is not refundable. Must use it or lose it (except for the post above after someone had passed away).

 

The basic problem is that if person A pays the cruise fare for persons A, B, C and D and Princess cancels the cruise, the FCC is in the individual names of persons A, B, C and D even though person A paid for all four people.

Yes, I did see that bit about credits going to the individual passengers, rather than to the one who paid.

On 4/3/2020 at 1:15 PM, npcl said:

Its what I expect.  When cruising does start back up, I also expect it to be very limited itineraries at the start, mostly closed loop, no more than 7 days.

I disagree. I expect there will a lot of re-positioning cruises to get the ships in position for resuming operations, whenever that may be.

On 4/5/2020 at 7:59 PM, Tex Mex said:

I tried searching for answers but didn't have any success.  Here is the question  If someone has Future Cruise Credit (FCC) from a cancelled trip for summer 2020 but they are no longer able to take the trip once the industry gets all settled, could someone else use their FCC?

 

We have an Alaskan cruise planned with both sets of parents to be their last big travel while they still had decent enough health to make the trip.  If the trip is cancelled (hasn't been cancelled yet) but based on the earlier sailings cancellation policy, we would have options for cash back or FCC. 

If we took the FCC but then one of the grandparents takes a turn and their health declines to the point they could not travel or they die, could we transfer their FCC to another person?  

 

 

Everything I have seen says that the FCC in non-transferrable. But, I remember seeing somewhere that if it can't be used before the expiration date, it can/will be converted to a refund.

7 hours ago, Lucky TGO said:

Hi Mr. Steelers,

I hope you have a great time on all your future cruises this year. I think I will be cruising only on The Rowboat this year.  Just to be safe.  After all the Rowboat isn’t that bad. 

The Captain of The Rowboat,

Tony

 

Tony,

I was going to warn you to keep your "social distancing" on the Rowboat. Then I saw the picture. Never mind.

5 hours ago, dan4182 said:

 

 

I don’t know what airline(s) you have been flying on lately but, prior to coronavirus, every plane I have flown on has been packed like a can of sardines.


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Re-reading my original and your post, I think I misunderstood your point. The recent past I was speaking of (not so recent, really) was several years ago, before all the consolidations and such. We would hope to have the seat next to us remain empty, or that we might have a whole row to lie down in. Very handy for red-eyes, and not that uncommon "back in the day."

5 hours ago, dan4182 said:

 

 

I don’t know what airline(s) you have been flying on lately but, prior to coronavirus, every plane I have flown on has been packed like a can of sardines.


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I'm not flying currently, but in the past two weeks you would be hard pressed to find a packed  plane. Several months ago, you would certainly be correct. In Honolulu yesterday, there were 1200 arrivals as opposed to normal 30,000.

2 hours ago, jimmieg said:

Watched Aaron Donald's video to reassure employees in regard to financial challenges. Then read that a forward announcement scheduled for today was delayed until Monday.

 

I am wondering if there would be a significant financial advantage for CCL, at this time, to consolidate brands in some way.  It is usually thought of the larger brands in the family that Carnival competes in the same market with RC and possibly NCL. Competition with Celebrity is Princess.  Azamara and Oceana might be competing for same demographic as Seaborne.

 

Does HAL have a niche?  Has the Princess brand been damaged too much by events surrounding Diamond/Grand/Ruby or now the HAL brand with Zaandam news?

 

Mergers are complicated with history, corporate culture, brand loyalty, but auto, airlines and hotel brands have had to deal with it.

Don't know what you would do with any unneeded ships in this environment to raise capital. Savings might be only to management, advertising, sales and operations.

 

This is meant to be a positive outside the box consideration in counterpoint alternative to the various bankruptcy speculation threada on various brand discussions.

 

Thoughts?

 

 

 

It's not a matter of over capacity. The airlines and auto manufacturers both had over capacity. There were a lot of empty seats on airlines in the recent past. In contrast, most ships are sailing at or near capacity. Not sure where the savings would come.

On 2/25/2020 at 1:50 PM, Sillyjilly said:

I'll be on that cruise too. Great minds think alike.

Are you on the Roll Call?

We did it on the Star in early March, two years ago. Weather and sea conditions were great. Going on the Emerald on March 30.

On 2/11/2020 at 9:55 AM, Lisas mom said:

I want to book our flights through Easy Air.  However, can we choose our seats?  I want seats with extra leg room going and "Mint" on Jet Blue coming back.  How can I do this by using Easy Air?   I don't seem to be able to find out how to do this on line.  Thanks for your help.

I just booked EZ Air for our Dec 20 14-night Circle Caribbean on the Island Princess, rt Ft Lauderdale. I booked Delta using Flexible Fare. After I got my confirmation, I checked the Delta Reservation Number, went to Delta's website, and picked my seats.

On 1/12/2020 at 4:22 PM, Jeter02 said:

Has anyone here taken the ferry from Halifax to Prince Edward Island? 

Yes, twice. Once on a land tour, and once with a rental car while on our own. Note -The ferry doesn't run from Halifax, it is located on the opposite side of the NS mainland. There is no charge going, but a fairly steep charge returning. Going Confederation Bridge (from New Brunswick) or ferry from NS, there is no charge to PEI, but you must pay to leave. As I recall, the bridge was $54 CAD. 

On 2/16/2020 at 10:28 AM, trbarton said:

I apologize as my reply was confusing. Yes their are several dinning rooms, MDR, with some for assigned dinning & some for anytime dinning. I have seen where some dinning rooms were assigned dinning for the first service & then afterwards anytime dinning. 
 

I’m aware of people making a reservation at anytime dinning but you can also go to assigned dining that does the same things & I enjoy having the same wait staff each night. 
 

Question...If I go to anytime dinning each night with different wait staff how do they get tips?

 

Tom😎

Tips are pooled, and split among all the Dining Room staff. Unless you tip a staff member separately, it makes no difference.

On 2/16/2020 at 1:24 PM, Coral said:

I am curious about this also.  I do know Air is covered.

 

I have a cruise booked with Delta on EZ Air. Do I get a Delta credit, an EZ Air Credit or a large Princess credit?

 

I have only cancelled one cruise with EZ Air and it was due to a medical reason.

You get an EZ Air credit. You can use that to purchase EZ Air for another Princess cruise. It does not have to be on Delta, as it is a Princess (EZ Air) credit.

On 2/15/2020 at 10:03 PM, cruiserchuck said:

 

Some insurance policies, including cancel for any reason coverage, do not cover losses from pandemics/epidemics.  So insurance might not cover a decision to not travel due to the Coronavirus.

Cancel for any Reason (CFAR) is marketed as just that, "for any reason" e.g., I wake up today and decide, "I just don't feel like going after all. I'm going to cancel and collect my insurance."

21 hours ago, jasbo49 said:

 

Now that was a sweet deal, at least according to me. The ability to just show up when you're hungry and be seated almost immediately is worth quite a bit.

 

We like to go to shows or catch musical acts when the spirit moves us, not when the dinner gods force us.

 

Jim

That's why we always book Anytime Dining.

Regarding the tender issues the OP had in Port Arthur. As has been mentioned, that is a function of the port. We had a similar experience on RC's Ovation in Lahaina in May. Almost an hour in the line to get on a return tender/shuttle. 

We were on the Majestic in the Med for 14 days during it's time before heading for Asia. We just didn't care for the changes from the Royal/Regal that had been made to appeal to the Asian market. Our overall experience was still good. 

I have complained on the comment card about the over use of loud music in the Piazza. I agree with the distraction while eating at the IC or Alfredo's. Does it have to be going on all day and evening?

7 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

It isn't technically a move-over.  Many folks on this board have been calling this relatively new offering a "move-down" since you are accepting a lower category of cabin.  A "move-over" would be to cancel out of the current cruise altogether in exchange to sail on a future cruise.

 

The there is the "upsell", which is an offer where the customer pays for a better cabin category. 

 

And then there is that rarest bird of all - the FREE upgrade.  LOL.

We were booked on the Grand 15-day SF to Hawaii round trip, for Jan 26. On Jan 21 we got a moreover offer that I couldn't turn down. Give up our cat BB balcony ($4100) and book for free another 15 day or less cruise in the North America market, with an upgrade to a mini suite and OBC equal to our previous fare. We had EZ flights, so they were cancelled and the money applied to flights for the new cruise. If air is higher, Princess will make up the difference, if cheaper, we get a refund. We did not have to pick another cruise immediately, the funds were moved to a "Holding Account." No expiration date, no blackout dates, subject only to availability. Two days later we booked free a $10K mini- suite on the Island 14-night Caribbean Circle, sailing Dec 20 out of Ft Lauderdale. Too early for flights yet. I am a happy camper. I called twice for further information before accepting because it seemed "too good to be true."

5 hours ago, need2cruisesoon said:

I predict in the year 2030 SFO will get the Royal.....

"In the Year 2525 . . ." (queue the music.)

2 hours ago, Thrak said:

When Grand Princess launched she was the largest cruise ship at sea. Ever. Period. It was a pretty darn big deal. She has never been "stretched" and I can't imagine that being "a thing". If it is, it's not a "Princess thing". It sounds weird to me.

It is a thing. I don't recall which ship(s) had that, but it has been done. 

14 hours ago, suekay said:

We haven't sailed on Princess since 2001, so I'm not sure of what is allowed. When sailing Celebrity in the Far East we were able to stay onshore at one port and rejoin the ship at the next port, but we had to get written permission in advance of the sailing . We would like to do the same in March 2021 leaving the ship in Cambodia and rejoining in Bangkok the following day. Has anybody done this on Princess. TIA

I'm told it's not allowed in Hawaii because of the PVSA. However, it should be permissible on international itineraries.

10 hours ago, janert said:

The menu is nice but limited.  Not normal lunch menu.

I always get the beef medallions. Great.

11 hours ago, Alaska05 said:

I just checked our booking for this June for round trip London.

 

We booked with EZAir when they were having a $200 sale.  When I checked today the exact same flights were $98 less total for my husband and I.

 

Can I refare with the exact same flights?  Is it worth it for $98?

Yes. and Yes. Just call Princess air.

16 hours ago, MixerDave said:

Actually, you can avoid the Horizon Court - just ask which dining room is open.. The may first tell you Horizon, but ask again and they will tell you.  You can leave your carry on at the entrance and enjoy a leisurely lunch without the crowds.

Find a copy of the Patter, in cabin if open, otherwise at Customer Service desk. Look on the back page under dining. It will show which MDR is open for lunch, Usually 12:00-1:30. Order the beef tenderloin. It's wonderful.