Celebrity looks after passengers after Millennium cruise cancelled

[MMDown Under]

That cruise was pretty well sold out, and now I believe is completely gone. Anyway what was left price wise was :eek:

 

If you don't mind driving on the wrong side of the road, you might consider spending the nine days driving along the Coast, on minor roads, through Washington State, Oregon and California to Seattle. I love this drive, which has it all - small town America, National Parks, and spectacular coastal scenery.

[MicCanberra]

If you don't mind driving on the wrong side of the road, you might consider spending the nine days driving along the Coast, on minor roads, through Washington State, Oregon and California to Seattle. I love this drive, which has it all - small town America, National Parks, and spectacular coastal scenery.

There are first class bus tours if driving is not your pleasure. :D

[MMDown Under]

There are first class bus tours if driving is not your pleasure. :D

 

I did it by bus also, but it was on a 3 month Greyhound Bus Pass, certainly not first class. :)

[yatchet]

Millennium is still tied up at Ketchikan.

 

http://www.kroooz-cams.com/portcams/us/ketchikan.php

[MicCanberra]

I did it by bus also, but it was on a 3 month Greyhound Bus Pass, certainly not first class. :)

I was thinking of travel tour mobs like Trafalgar and Globus that do those land tours.:D

[MicCanberra]

Millennium is still tied up at Ketchikan.

 

http://www.kroooz-cams.com/portcams/us/ketchikan.php

Looks like a typical ketchikan day as well, it rains a lot there, something like 320 days a year.:D

[The_Big_M]

X will cover the costs of the cruise (100% refund) and some perifery costs, insurance should cover the rest.:D

 

Again, the flights and accommodation are the main other costs and substantial, and there can be other costs as well. Celebrity is not reimbursing these, and insurance may well not either.

[The_Big_M]

That is no good, the price would be shocking with everyone rushing at that cruise instead.:D

 

The surprising thing is that Celebrity didn't block that off immediately they made the decision and blocked their other cruises off. So that they could transfer interested people across as best as possible.

 

They are your customers so you should want to minimise disruption as much as possible. Of course it's never going to be whole, but that was an opportunity that went begging.

[The_Big_M]

There are first class bus tours if driving is not your pleasure. :D

 

Although a 9 day bus tour matching the dates is very unlikely.

 

Driving yourself gives you more flexibility - which you need in situations like this.

[The_Big_M]

Millennium is still tied up at Ketchikan.

 

http://www.kroooz-cams.com/portcams/us/ketchikan.php

 

Passengers are going to be unloaded through to tomorrow, so won't be leaving for a while yet.

[The_Big_M]

Looks like a typical ketchikan day as well, it rains a lot there, something like 320 days a year.:D

 

You can also see the tanker there currently, which is doing regular trips to keep unloading grey water, since they can't discharge into the port, and their tank is filling up.

[MicCanberra]

Although a 9 day bus tour matching the dates is very unlikely.

Driving yourself gives you more flexibility - which you need in situations like this.

Yes, but of course a tour could be any length shorter than the 9 days. they have lots leaving Vancouver every day that go for 7 days.:D

You can also see the tanker there currently, which is doing regular trips to keep unloading grey water, since they can't discharge into the port, and their tank is filling up.

Interesting, does that mean they mix their grey water with the rain water?:confused:

[bobhsv]

Again, the flights and accommodation are the main other costs and substantial, and there can be other costs as well. Celebrity is not reimbursing these, and insurance may well not either.

 

Read this thread from the main Celebrity boards, particularly the one reference from a fellow aussie. I find this revelation re insurance bothering. Wondering if there are any aussie companies out there that do cover for mechanical cancellations re cruises or flights. Imagine flying (or about to fly) overseas a week or so before a cruise, the cruise is cancelled due to mechanical....it appears insurance companies will not cover for anything even slightly related to this eg your flights, your excursions etc etc. This could cost individuals or families untold thousands of out of pocket expenses.

 

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1901455

[MicCanberra]

Again, the flights and accommodation are the main other costs and substantial, and there can be other costs as well. Celebrity is not reimbursing these, and insurance may well not either.

There is not much point having insurance if it doesn't cover the aspects of your trip when required.

 

The surprising thing is that Celebrity didn't block that off immediately they made the decision and blocked their other cruises off. So that they could transfer interested people across as best as possible.

 

They are your customers so you should want to minimise disruption as much as possible. Of course it's never going to be whole, but that was an opportunity that went begging.

In regards to the cancelled Galapagos cruises, X did not give people exclusive rights or preference for future sailings.:(

Edited August 22, 2013 by MicCanberra

[MicCanberra]

Read this thread from the main Celebrity boards, particularly the one reference from a fellow aussie. I find this revelation re insurance bothering. Wondering if there are any aussie companies out there that do cover for mechanical cancellations re cruises or flights. Imagine flying (or about to fly) overseas a week or so before a cruise, the cruise is cancelled due to mechanical....it appears insurance companies will not cover for anything even slightly related to this eg your flights, your excursions etc etc. This could cost individuals or families untold thousands of out of pocket expenses.

 

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1901455

This is mainly due to reimbursement being offered by the respective transport (cruiseline/airline) company.:D

Edited August 22, 2013 by MicCanberra

[The_Big_M]

Yes, but of course a tour could be any length shorter than the 9 days. they have lots leaving Vancouver every day that go for 7 days.:D

 

It may be suited if you can find one that fits in.

 

Interesting, does that mean they mix their grey water with the rain water?:confused:

 

Not sure why they would need to do that? :confused:

[The_Big_M]

Read this thread from the main Celebrity boards, particularly the one reference from a fellow aussie. I find this revelation re insurance bothering. Wondering if there are any aussie companies out there that do cover for mechanical cancellations re cruises or flights. Imagine flying (or about to fly) overseas a week or so before a cruise, the cruise is cancelled due to mechanical....it appears insurance companies will not cover for anything even slightly related to this eg your flights, your excursions etc etc. This could cost individuals or families untold thousands of out of pocket expenses.

 

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1901455

 

It's not so much that mechanical cancellations are not covered. For example, if your flight was cancelled due to a mechanical failure and you had to wait 24 hours for the next re-booking, I expect you would be covered for that delay.

 

However, the issue is about that one carrier along the way has cancelled their portion, it doesn't give rise to covering cancellation of the entire trip. (Even though from your perspective it may be the main purpose.)

[The_Big_M]

There is not much point having insurance if it doesn't cover the aspects of your trip when required.

 

All insurance only covers certain risks. There is no insurance that covers absolutely everything. If you believe there is, then you are running a big risk yourself! :D

In regards to the cancelled Galapagos cruises, X did not give people exclusive rights or preference for future sailings.:(

 

That's understandable as there is no defined range they could reasonably block off.

 

Here there are a couple of specific cruises that well match or fit within the bounds of those affected.

 

There's a big difference between blocking off a limited number of cruises for a short time, to blocking off every cruise!

[MicCanberra]

Not sure why they would need to do that? :confused:

In your post you said that they were pumping the grey water into the tanker and it was in reference to my post about all the rain Ketchikan gets. I thought it was odd.:D

[MicCanberra]

All insurance only covers certain risks. There is no insurance that covers absolutely everything. If you believe there is, then you are running a big risk yourself! :D

 

 

That's understandable as there is no defined range they could reasonably block off.

 

Here there are a couple of specific cruises that well match or fit within the bounds of those affected.

 

There's a big difference between blocking off a limited number of cruises for a short time, to blocking off every cruise!

The fine print is very important and you must know what you are covered for.

My post was in regards to the lady who couln't book a cruise that suited her on the Expedition.:D

[bobhsv]

It's not so much that mechanical cancellations are not covered. For example, if your flight was cancelled due to a mechanical failure and you had to wait 24 hours for the next re-booking, I expect you would be covered for that delay.

 

However, the issue is about that one carrier along the way has cancelled their portion, it doesn't give rise to covering cancellation of the entire trip. (Even though from your perspective it may be the main purpose.)

 

Glad you understood what I was talking about:) I realise that in this case, Celebrity have gone above and beyond in taking care of their clients...and this is where it stops. It is a pity we cannot get insurance to cover this flow on effect though.....which was my point ie is it available? I imagine if we could, the premiums would be extremely high. Lucky that, in perspective, not many cruises are cancelled, hence most enjoying a trouble free holiday. Always good to have a backup plan for situations like this, such as your hire car suggestion of the west coast.

[Travelmomof3boys]

We also were booked on 23rd sailing. We flew out to alaska early and had been here since the 19th. We got the news in Fairbanks and decided to at least do the few next nights as planned. Our travel insurance does not kick in until event has actually happened. We were a different situation for the cruise line because we were not on a land tour but were already here. Compensation is full refund (which is moot. Doesn't put me ahead at all. It is the least that must be done. I had to push the, to pay for our flight home. We had no flight to change because we live where the cruise was to end. We have nonrefundable hotels booked in Anchorage and Seward so we cannot cancel them. Celebrity will not pay. Insurance does not cover costs before the cause happens. They will not pay for our taxi to get from vancouver airport to the port in Vancouver where our car is. Won't pay baggage fees or upgrade us to the class on the flight that we came in. Funny little clause in our travel insurance. If it is a totally cancellation due to mechanical problem the only compensation is economy flight home. No taxi fees, no hotels even if you cannot get out on a flight, no compensation for food or anything. Absolutely nothing. And.we did have 10000 of insurance. It is a special clause due to a mechanical breakdown and a complete cancellation. No problem if it was interrupted or delayed. Then would have insurance. Celebrity will not help with the lost money. Not to mention all the phone bills and data bills for trying to fix this mess. We should get all our money back but 50 percent future cruise credit to use in 1 year does not help. Only forces y to spend more money. Anyone get anything better from them?

[The_Big_M]

In your post you said that they were pumping the grey water into the tanker and it was in reference to my post about all the rain Ketchikan gets. I thought it was odd.:D

 

No, it was just a comment about another aspect of the picture, just as you had commented about the rain in the picture.

[The_Big_M]

The fine print is very important and you must know what you are covered for.

My post was in regards to the lady who couln't book a cruise that suited her on the Expedition.:D

 

I fully agree that you should know what you are covered for.

 

However, it's a fact of life that you may not be able to get all the coverage you would wish. I challenge your response that "There is not much point having insurance if it doesn't cover the aspects of your trip when required."

 

Insurance covers a whole range of things and there are many different types. You may still for example have health insurance which is a significant one, but be fine without luggage insurance.

 

Similarly, the US, which is where this discussion emanates from has, "cancel for any reason*" insurance. We don't have it. So it's folly to suggest people shouldn't have insurance because they can't cancel for any reason, yet are still covered for the standard travel reasons that we have here.

 

It's sensible to cover what you can... and then just manage the remaining risks as best you can. Nothing in life is certain. :D

 

Regarding the situation with Expedition bookings, again, it wasn't reasonable to block out all future cruises. In this case, there are similar cruises running at the same time, so that is more manageable.

Edited August 22, 2013 by The_Big_M

[The_Big_M]

Glad you understood what I was talking about:) I realise that in this case, Celebrity have gone above and beyond in taking care of their clients...and this is where it stops. It is a pity we cannot get insurance to cover this flow on effect though.....which was my point ie is it available? I imagine if we could, the premiums would be extremely high. Lucky that, in perspective, not many cruises are cancelled, hence most enjoying a trouble free holiday. Always good to have a backup plan for situations like this, such as your hire car suggestion of the west coast.

 

Yes, that's the issue. It costs companies to do the research, come up with risk models, have actuaries calculate premiums, then complete the legalities and do the marketing e.g. print brochures, have training so sales/CSRs understand the product and manage it. And then they wear that risk so there is a financial impact to them as well.

 

There have been far fewer cruisers here than in the US, so such specialist insurance hasn't been worthwhile - it would be very expensive for the low volume (and then you'd get complaints about Aussies being ripped off again! ;):D).

 

If cruise numbers continue to grow - or the number of incidents increase as you mention, and insurers or lines see it as a market, then it'll probably become available locally.