tangoll

Has anyone tried to obtain a refund on a Future Cruise Credit of US$300, with expiration date

a year or so in the future?  Given current circumstances, can Cunard ethically refuse to honour a request to cancel and refund an FCD?

7 hours ago, tangoll said:

Just notified by Princess Cruise that the 28 Feb itinerary on Diamond Princess is cancelled.  Full refund plus 50% FCC to be paid.  Checking on non-Princess Air HKG/HND/HKG air fare of US$216 will be covered by Princess or not.  My hotel expense of US$160 can be cancelled up thru 22 Feb at no charge, booked via Agoda.  

What is meaning of 50% Future Cruise Credit?  If the fare of the cancelled cruise is for example,  $1,000, does this mean I get a $500 credit to be used against price of a future booking?  Or, does this mean that whatever the price of the future cruise is, say $6,000, then I get 50% off or $3,000 discount off of that future cruise price?  

16 hours ago, tangoll said:

I am booked on Diamond Princess, 28 February 2020, 8 days around Japan plus Okinawa and Taiwan.  Anyone else on this itinerary?  I am flying into Tokyo on 26 Feb, stay two nights at hotel in Shinagawa, Tokyo, all fees/fares paid for.  I have annual travel insurance policy, which covers I guess travel/hotel/cruise fares if cancelled by Princess, but not if by governmental act or regulation.  Not sure what cancellation policy is with respect to voluntary cancellation on D Princess, but insurance policy does not cover "disinclination to travel."

 

So, I guess I just will hang on and see what develops.  I am in a double occupancy room with my Japanese friend (also male), and if we separate into two cabins, extra cost is US$1,650 (meaning US$825 for each of us.)  If we can go, we would split up into two cabins for the extra cost. Hang on for two weeks to see what comes around.

Just notified by Princess Cruise that the 28 Feb itinerary on Diamond Princess is cancelled.  Full refund plus 50% FCC to be paid.  Checking on non-Princess Air HKG/HND/HKG air fare of US$216 will be covered by Princess or not.  My hotel expense of US$160 can be cancelled up thru 22 Feb at no charge, booked via Agoda.  

I am booked on Diamond Princess, 28 February 2020, 8 days around Japan plus Okinawa and Taiwan.  Anyone else on this itinerary?  I am flying into Tokyo on 26 Feb, stay two nights at hotel in Shinagawa, Tokyo, all fees/fares paid for.  I have annual travel insurance policy, which covers I guess travel/hotel/cruise fares if cancelled by Princess, but not if by governmental act or regulation.  Not sure what cancellation policy is with respect to voluntary cancellation on D Princess, but insurance policy does not cover "disinclination to travel."

So, I guess I just will hang on and see what develops.  I am in a double occupancy room with my Japanese friend (also male), and if we separate into two cabins, extra cost is US$1,650 (meaning US$825 for each of us.)  If we can go, we would split up into two cabins for the extra cost. Hang on for two weeks to see what comes around.

26 minutes ago, Yoshikitty said:

Check for mykreuzfahrt

 

 

Yoshikitty, thanks for lead, and I did go to that site, but problem is the site is mainly in German language, and even though translated, it's not easy to navigate around a translated site.  I'm looking for a real human agent, likely in Germany, who can communicate with me in English via email or phone chat.

Hello, I am looking for a travel agent who can help me book a cruise from a German owned cruise line company.  I can try to book directly, but the website is totally in German language and even though translated by Google, I'm afraid that mistakes might occur.  What I've heard is that the ship of this company is mainly targetted to German speaking community and that no provisions are made for passengers who don't speak German.  

Thanks for any help in advance.  If name of the travel agent cannot be posted on this thread, please advise me your email address, if that's possible, or

you can PM me direct via my user name here, tangoll.

tangoll

16 hours ago, riffatsea said:

Interesting to find this out about the Diamond Princess.

On land in Japan an onsen "bath" is just that, a bath not a jacuzzi for soaking.

On land you actually wash yourself before getting into the bath.

I wonder if facilities for actually washing(soap, shampoo,hair dryer etc) is in the "onsen" area on the Diamond Princess? Perhaps write about it in your trip report?

What I found out, from videos and another chat group:

1.  Hours of operation:  8 am - 8 pm.  8 am - 10 am are for segregated/nude bathing; other times require swim wear.

2.  Cost: US$15 per single use 2 hour pass.  US$60 for five use pass.

3.  There are cubicles for washing before entering big tub; don't know where water comes from.

4.  Spa tubs alternate days male/female.

I've found out all I need to know.  Thanks.

Hello, I'm booked for 28 Feb 2020 8 day cruise on Diamond Princess.  I understand

there is a Japanese style Onsen Spa (Hot springs).  My questions are:

1.  Is there a special charge for each use of the Onsen, or does one have to

buy a use card for use throughout the 8 day cruise?

2.  Where does the water come from?  Just normal hot water or does the ship

claim that water comes from one of hot springs found somewhere in the world or

Japan?

3.  Hours of operation?

Thank you.

10 hours ago, ronrythm said:

Try Prime Time and Super Shuttle. They are the largest shuttle companies in the area.

Thank you.  I have already tried Supershuttle.  I will try Primetime.

On 7/4/2019 at 5:55 PM, ronrythm said:

Plenty of taxis. There’s a lot of information over on the West Coast Departures board. 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/315-west-coast-departures/

enjoy,

Ron

Rapidshuttle quoted me US$67 for Long Beach to San Pedro, private van, inclusive of tax and fees, but not tips.  I think I will walk over to Queen Mary, have lunch there, then grab a taxi to San Pedro.  

13 hours ago, riffatsea said:

Hi,

There are always taxis and you can also use an app on your phone to call an uber or lyft car.

Wondering why you are going to a San Pedro hotel after the cruise?

Perhaps you are taking another cruise from that port?

There is nothing much to do there.

Yes, going from Carnival cruise to Coral Princess cruise a day later.

Hi and thanks in advance.  I will be getting off Carnival Inspiration, and wish to go from

Long Beach to San Pedro Vagabond Inn Hotel.  Just one person, and I will only have

one carry on bag plus a personal bag, nothing heavy.  No rush.  Are there taxis available after

disembarking, and what is approximate cost?  Any other economical way to go from Long 

Beach cruise terminal to San Pedro Vagabond Inn on South Gaffney Street?

Self disembarkation handling all of your own luggage enables one to disembark by about 7:00 am. If your luggage is picked up outside your cabin the night before, then your scheduled disembarkation time depends on different things -- your Cunard World Club status, deck level of your cabin, and whether your are Queen's Grill, Princess Grill, and so forth. Your vacate your cabin by 8:00 am and can wait at various designated locations. Scheduled disembarkation goes by half hours until about 10:00 or 10:30 am.

Getting through Singapore Customs is very quick. Immigration is done by the night before. There are taxi ranks and other private limo services available just outside the terminal building. It will take no more than 30 minutes to get to Changi Airport by car.

I'm sorry that this happened, but accidents happen, and luckily, only stuff and not you are damaged. You need to be clear headed in how you want to deal with Cunard about this. Moaning about how the cabin staff/CSM/event manager, etc dealt with you may make you feel better, but does nothing to compensate you for the losses and damages.

You don't say whether you have any travel insurance; if so, what damages can be covered by the insurance? Over and above the insurance coverage, you should clearly spell out what you think Cunard should do to alleviate your sense of loss, and lay these items and amounts on Cunard, and begin the negotiating process.

If this had happened to me, I guess what I would do is demand 100% replacement of items damaged; if my travel insurance covered let's say 60%, then Cunard should cover the 40%. If out of a 7 day crossing, I had spent the first two days sorting all this out or being inconsolable about this event, I would ask Cunard to refund 2/7 of the cruise portion of the fare. How to deal with the OBC and port fees/taxed etc are minor items to be discussed. The refund could be in the form of a credit for future cruise, which might make it easier for Cunard to accept your demands.

Thank you Maestro, for such an illuminating and thoughtful explanation. Wonderful technique to determine the voice ranges -- soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. Perhaps I will try to join the September 2019 transAtlantic voyage.

Original itinerary HK-Shanghai-Tianjin-Seoul(Incheon)-Seogwipo-HK, and Kitakyushu Japan

has been substituted for Seoul(Incheon) due to "complex China and Korea political situation".But Seogwipo Korea has been left on itinerary, so the complex situation applies only to Incheon and not Seogwipo. Strange to say the least.

Re 19 Feb 2019 QM2 itinerary, originally Hong Kong-Shanghai-Tianjin-Seowigpo Korea-Hong Kong; just received announcement as follows from Cunard to OTA:

""Ahead of your arrival, we wanted to let you know that due to the complex political situation between China and Korea, it has been necessary for us to replace the call to Incheon on the 1 March with a call to the beautiful city of Kitakyushu, the northernmost city on Japan's Kyushu Island."

Cunard must know something none of us are aware of here in Asia, as to the "complex political situation between China and Korea. . .", especially projecting 8 months out into the future.

It would be nice if Cunard would be upfront and honest as to the real reason for the substitution.

Thanks to all for your replies, very interesting and informative. Looks like a lot of fun, and almost anyone could be accepted into one of the two choirs. Am seriously considering joining the upcoming cruise with the NSO.

Slow Fox, if the NSO were to play in the Queens Room, then it's a no brainer for me, but since they only perform in the Royal Court, and the singing is not really a big deal, I might give this cruise a pass. Will be on the QM2 19 Feb 2019, 14 days, Hong Kong-China-Korea-Hong Kong itinerary though. Maybe see you and Mrs. on that one? Would love to see your Slow Foxtrot.

I started singing about 1.5 years ago, which has helped in ways unanticipated -- my voice has greatly improved with volume, clarity, pitch, and projection, my breathing is far more regular, controlled, and sustained, and for sure, my attention to the beats of the music is much improved, especially as to when to enter the tune for vocals. Plus whenever any friend or even strangers ask me to demonstrate my singing, I have no fear to break into song.

I sing things like Procol Harum's "Whiter Shade of Pale", Elton John's "Can You Feel the Love Tonight", and "Your Song", "Oh Danny Boy", and of course, "My Way" but in 3 languages -- English, Japanese, and French. The French "Comme d'Habitude" (sung by Claude Francois) was the original song, from which Paul Anka took the melody and wrote the lyrics of My Way for Frank Sinatra.

Hi, on this voyage will be National Symphony Orchestra performing twice at the Royal Court. Pax can also audition to sing as member of choir during these performances. Has anyone been on a prior cruise with the NSO and how spectacular was their performance, and has anyone auditioned to sing with the choir, and what was your experience with doing that? What did you have to do for the audition, accepted, and what songs did the choir perform? Very interested to join this itinerary and sing with the choir, though I am just a casual, social singer.

Thank you.

Medina, thanks for reply.

Question for recent passengers on QE/QM2 in transit (not disembarking) during last month's (30 March) stopover in Hong Kong at the new cruise terminal: Does anyone recall when going ashore into HK, was there an

X-ray check of any small bags, etc when leaving the ship and going ashore?

My reason for this strange request: I had some camera film which I was bringing ashore, and if my bag containing the film went through an X-ray machine, the film are literally toast. If not, the film, which were not in an

X-ray protective bag, would still be OK.

I can't remember whether there was an exit X-ray check or not. I was dropping off the film at my home (I live in HK), but then returning to the QE to continue onto Singapore; thus would not be submitting the film to any further X-ray check. Surprisingly, when checking in for QE, the small security check machine onboard QE at gangway, does not burn camera film. I guess its strength is very low.

TIA

Thru March/April 2017, QE and QM2 on Asian routes, the special tables set up in the corridors just outside the arcade shops had watches, jewelry, bags, gold chains, t-shirts, etc all specially priced to sell. Doing a roaring business usually. Plus all the marked down items in the shops themselves, even the Cunard branded knick knacks like key chains, paper weights, ship models, books, so many items had special pricing on them.

More than you can shake a stick at -- cocktail of the day, X$ per bag of laundry prior to disembarkation, $10 - $50 for watches or $1 per inch of gold chain from shopping arcade, Royal Spa specials of the day, $10 - $20 for blackjack or Texas Hold'em tournament. If you took in all the special sales, you can go broke.

Was your compensation due to flight delay calculated according to EC 261 regulations? I recently had a 10 hour flight delay due to operational issues of a flight from Hong Kong to Osaka, Japan, and all I got from my annual travel insurance policy was 30 pounds sterling per 8 hours delay, and from the airline about 16 pounds sterling as food coupons to eat at various restaurants in the airport.