Plan B

3 hours ago, shipgeeks said:

Our TA has booked us on "Group" rates a number of times.  Good price, no further obligations.

Did you get a confirmation from the TA?  Can you log in on MSC, using your booking number?

Thanks for the info.   We have the TA's own confirmation but not from MSC - no booking number so I can't access my booking with MSC on their website.   It's the same with the airline.  I'm slightly worried because the balance is due shortly.  

7 hours ago, alyssamma said:

Your TA should be able to send you the MSC booking confirmation.

 

Of course, you need to weigh this against your Voyager discount...if it isn't worth it, have the TA remove you from the group.

Thanks for the info.   No, he hasn't sent the MSC booking confirmation which is one of the things that I'm slightly worried about.   I think we probably have a better deal with the group booking than with our discount, but I was hoping MSC would apply it 🤣🤣

Advice required please.  We have booked a 5 night cruise from Malaga to Barcelona via Morocco and Lisbon with a local independent travel agent for a good price with flights, transfers, tips and "Easy" drinks package included, leaving on 31 October 2021.

I have the correct confirmation from the travel agent but that is it - nothing from MSC or Vueling 😌  When I queried it, this is the reply I received:   

"You will not receive any paperwork from any other source until the tickets are issued between 15 and 30 days prior to departure"

This can't be correct, can it?  Also, we have cruised with MSC quite a few times previously so I asked for my discount to be applied only to be told that it wasn't applicable because this is a "group booking" but we haven't actually booked as a group???  I find it all very odd.  I want to double-check my booking with MSC and Vueling - the agent has all our details surely he has passed them on?  Can anyone shed any light onto this for me?   

Thanks for any help

Thank you so much for your review 🙂

I have been looking at cruises from Barca for next Easter, can't go any other time due to working 7 days a week April to October and uni holidays.  We have to be home for Easter Sunday which is 4 April.  I looked a few weeks ago and there was only the Smeralda which we should have sailed on this April 😒  (I have credit to spend)  Now, there is the Pacifica and Firenze and I am torn between them both!

Sardinia, Sicily, Rome, Florence and Marseille or

Marseille, Genoa, Florence, Naples, Valencia (half day) 

Ideally I would like to swap Rome (been 4 times) for Naples or Valencia 🤣

But, my major reason for not actually booking, even though the prices are fantastic, is not Covid as such but the fact that we won't be allowed to wander around at will 😥

I'm struggling to find a positive and I'm not even sure that our daughter will want to come with us anyway - she doesn't actually enjoy being on the ship (motion sickness) and the thought of being quarantined on one would "be a living hell" her words not mine!

I am guessing that a lot of people have similar misgivings 🤷‍♀️

Thank you for your video.   

I am so missing cruising now 😒

Thank you so much for taking the time to post - it is most appreciated 🥰   

Our cruise on this ship from Barca in April was understandably cancelled and I've been trying for a refund ever since but your post has made me want to book!  I love cruising.   

Take care and stay safe 

30 minutes ago, drsel said:

Almost everyone advises me to take the full refund of my deposit and not to transfer it to any future Cruise regardless of the discount

Wish we were only talking about a deposit 🤨   Paid in full for 3 adults at peak Easter holiday time

Just as we were expecting Costa have cancelled our 6 April cruise on Smeralda from Barca.  Email received today from Logitravel - our agent ........

7 hours ago, gerryuk said:

I don't think so, I live on one of the Spanish islands and we are in lockdown. All the beaches are closed, all bars, restaurants and shops are closed. You can only go outside to get food or visit the pharmacy or doctors. All hotels have been ordered to close.

There is not a cat in hells chance that any cruises will be sailing from April, no matter what Costa are saying on their website.  

We live in Spain too and completely agree with your comment.  We have known for a few weeks that the Smeralda won't be sailing and don't understand why Costa can't be pro-active!   3 adults in a balcony cabin at Easter - it wasn't a cheap deal 🤨

We are supposed to be going on Costa Smeralda 6th April from Barcelona.  Ryanair (outbound) and Vueling (inbound) have emailed today to say that my flights have been cancelled, which I was obviously expecting, both Ryanair and Vueling offered refunds or re-booking.  We can only holiday between mid November to early April so decided to ask for a refund because we want the flexibility to book what we want when we want.  The Ryanair email says that the refund should show in my account in the next 5 to 7 days.  

But, when the confirmation email arrived from Vueling it states "If your request is for a refund, you will receive an email in the next 10 days, which will include a VOUCHER for the value of your booking to use on your next trip. The voucher is valid for all purchases via the Vueling website until 31 December 2020."   What?  Why can't I have my money back ??  Anyone else have this problem?

I booked Costa through Logitravel and the only thing I hear from them is that they haven't heard anything from Costa - I have my fingers crossed that Costa cancel and I receive my full refund in cash.  We did look at re-booking (not that it is actually being offered to us) for next Easter but the Smeralda is not visiting La Spezia which is the main reason we picked this cruise line and ship.  Really wish Costa would just bite the bullet and get on with it!!!

Thank you igthen for the stunning photos.  I was getting quite excited with regards to the food on offer but then I realised that you aren't in one of the normal restaurants - I'm assuming that different food is served to the "masses"  🙂

Do you know if you are allowed off in Marseilles yet?  Thanks

1 hour ago, Tim-C said:

I’m concerned - we fly to Barcelona on April 4th and board Costa Smeralda on 6th. There’s no margin if they extend the quarantine in Italy - cruise will be off.  I’d be less worried, but if it DOES go ahead, I’ll be worried about my wife who is asthmatic. I’d rather they just cancelled it now, to be honest. 

We are in the exact same position as yourself!   We booked the cruise via Logitravel, but not the flights and 2 night hotel accommodation.  Our 18 year old daughter is refusing point blank to travel.  This is the reply from Logitravel today 

Good morning,

Thank you for your email.

We, along with Costa Cruises, are closely monitoring the situation in order to keep passengers wellbeing and safety.

At today's date we have not received any official information from Costa Cruises regarding change or cancellation of your cruise.

If any information of any kind is received, you will be informed accordingly.

Thank you.

I will ring Costa direct tomorrow but they might just bat me back to Logitravel

When are you supposed to be back in Savona? 

This is taken from the Costa UK website

Costa Smeralda

The ship will arrive on 12/03 in Civitavecchia, on 13/03 in La Spezia, on 14/03 in Savona. In these ports only disembarkation operations are allowed . The ship will subsequently arrive in Marseille on 15/03 and in Barcelona on 16/03. Boarding operations will not be carried out in these ports, but other activities will be permitted. Cruises departing 14/3, 21/3 and 28/3 are cancelled. The ship will start again on 4/4 in Savona

Costa Diadema

The ship will arrive on 2/04 in Catania, on 3/04 in Naples. In these ports only passenger disembarkation operations will be carried out and excursions or any shore activity will not be allowed. The ship will start again the scheduled program on 4/04 from Civitavecchia.

https://www.costacruises.co.uk/coronavirus.html

Unless anything changes!!

9 minutes ago, drsel said:

Almost all reviews of all ships of Costa are like that

I didn't post the link for you to read the first comment but so you could read all the recent comments.  You need to read further down.  Thanks

Thank you for your comments and I am so glad that you are both well.

Just for everyone's info

Mainly the response from Peaksean

1 hour ago, Tripi23 said:

Got through to Costa - wasn’t even on hold that long!  Have changed cruise free of charge to Costa Smeralda departing 2nd April 2021 from Rome!  So relieved to have it sorted.  Now to sort my fathers (who I booked through a travel agent who are impossible to get hold of 🤦‍♀️)

Great news!  I hope you don't mind me asking and I know you say FOC but was there a difference in the cost of the old cruise and new cruise?   And do Costa get to hold on to all your money for another 12 months?  Thanks

17 minutes ago, Tripi23 said:

Yes shame I booked last year and have paid £2500!! And am going to lose 25% of that because Costa have not put in place appropriate policies for their customers.  Most other cruise lines are allowing customers to change the date of their booking or cancel  

We are booked with Logitravel on Smeralda out of Barcelona on 6 April but haven't heard anything from either Logitravel or Costa so I rung Logitravel who said the Costa will allow us to change the date/ship/region - I just have to pick which date etc etc and let Logitravel know who will then check with Costa.  Hope this helps

Surely all the ports will be closed?  BBC state that schools and universities will close until 3 April - I don't know if this applies to everything?  

All sounds positive so far.  Enjoy 

9 hours ago, dritan said:

Glad you've reached your decision.  I've email UK Costa to see if there can be any refund as I'm over 30 days until the cruise.  We shall see what they say.

Have you booked direct with Costa?  We are through Logitravel.  My daughter is point blank refusing to go - she loves cruising to all the different places but doesn't really enjoy being onboard the ship.  I am half-hoping that Costa will take away the decision and cancel the cruise.  Could you please let me know how Costa respond?  Thanks

5 hours ago, drsel said:

10 hours ago, ighten said:

At this point its hit the UK - your as likely to hit it at the supermarket

Order free home delivery of groceries to be safe

Who or what is safe to say that your deliveries will arrive Coronavirus free ????

We are in a similar position in that we are flying into Barca on 4 April to board the Smeralda which is calliing and picking up in Savona, La Spezia and Civitavecchia, as well as Majorca and Marseille.  Really wishing we hadn't paid our balance but the virus hadn't hit Italy when we did.

We own a small cafe so working at home isn't an option for us but I'm guessing that by the time we get back that the virus will have spread uncontrollably, if not before we go.

They are saying on the BBC this morning that if it follows the pattern of normal flu then it might fizzle out in the warmer months - flu is seasonal which I didn't know, but it sounds like the experts didn't know much about the virus yet  

I think the Luminosa cruise that you are talking about only ends in Marseille for US passengers - that is how I read the post, but I could be wrong!