Thinking of Cancelling European Cruise June 2020 - Am I the only one?

[DCGuy64]

I posted this on another thread, but we are booked on the MSC Preziosa embarking 19 May from Le Havre and have no cancellation plans. As we've already booked our flight to Paris, we could always "settle" for a holiday in Normandy instead. But I agree with @Beardface above, if it gets so bad that all flights and cruises are cancelled, I have full confidence we'll be refunded.

[XLVIII]

6 hours ago, Beardface said:

By June if this is still going on, it'll be everywhere in the US and the travel industry will be shut down internationally.  No flights, no cruises, no border crossings.  If that comes to pass, its not a matter of if you will come down with coronavirus, but when, and at that point, you're just as likely to catch it by walking outside of your house than to be anywhere else.

 

 

I agree, except that once it's everywhere, what's the point of shutting down flights, cruises and border crossings? The opportunity to contain has passed. 

[CruiseIreland]

9 hours ago, Beamafar said:

It was easy for us to make the decision.  Had it been this time last year, before DH’s diagnosis, we would have played it by ear, though the uncertainty for you (and others in similar situations) must be very stressful and I empathise with your plight. 

Good to see you back here, Bea, but shame about your cruise. I emailed you but perhaps you have not checked your Yahoo account. I think you're wise not to travel. 

I heard today that an MSC cruise ship had been denied docking in India.  This is on a 29 day cruise from Singapore.  I think Cruisinfox may be on  it!

 

[Beamafar]

1 minute ago, CruiseIreland said:

Good to see you back here, Bea, but shame about your cruise. I emailed you but perhaps you have not checked your Yahoo account. I think you're wise not to travel. 

I heard today that an MSC cruise ship had been denied docking in India.  This is on a 29 day cruise from Singapore.  I think Cruisinfox may be on  it!

 

 

Hi Ken ... I rarely check that account, but I did now and again on my old phone.  Haven't added Yahoo to my new one so haven't seen your email.  I'll reply with my regular email account so you'll have that.

 

Yeah ... Foxy is on that cruise.  I got an email from her on the 17th but haven't heard anything since.  The cruise was going well up til then.

 

We're not too upset about not doing the cruise, surprisingly enough.  I'm hoping that we may get some of our deposit back, or at least be able to move it to another booking, if things get any worse in Italy and MSC is forced into offering that.

[BermudaBound2014]

Hi Beam! Nice to 'see' you. Sorry for your cancelled trip, but I would have done the exact same thing in your situation. COPD is nothing to mess with. My mom suffered with it also. Hopefully you will get the opportunity to move to another booking at a later date. Good luck with the fence and all the best to you and your hubby. 

 

From across the pond,

BB

[Beamafar]

Hi BB ... thanks for the good wishes.  We're resigned to not travelling at all this year (though that may yet change lol).  Gives us the time and space to concentrate on catching up with some badly needed home maintenance.  Plus, DH has a few medical investigations and issues to deal with which came to the fore after COPD was discovered.  🙄  Thankfully he's stayed off the cigarettes - almost 6 months now  😄

 

Edited February 27, 2020 by Beamafar

[Lisa353]

We are booked on the Grandiosa in May leaving from Barcelona.  I am a bit worried because of how quickly this virus is spreading in Northern Italy but right now it is only 10 towns that have reported cases of it.  I am sure if it gets very bad then MSC will cancel cruises and all flights will be cancelled.  MSC have been updating their web site and was last updated on the 25th.  They have said that they will not allow anyone on the ship that has been to these towns or to Hong Kong, China and Macau in the last couple of weeks. 

 

They have been saying also that if you do catch it then just like normal flu, as long as you don't have any underlying health issues or very old then you will probably recover fine from it.

 

For now though I will just keep an eye on the news and MSC's web site for updates.

[Markanddonna]

3 hours ago, Beamafar said:

Hi BB ... thanks for the good wishes.  We're resigned to not travelling at all this year (though that may yet change lol).  Gives us the time and space to concentrate on catching up with some badly needed home maintenance.  Plus, DH has a few medical investigations and issues to deal with which came to the fore after COPD was discovered.  🙄  Thankfully he's stayed off the cigarettes - almost 6 months now  😄

 

I'm in the same situation.  I'm quite healthy but like your DH, mine also has COPD. We just cancelled a trip before our final payment was due and I was sort of hohum about that one anyone. We will focus on home updating.  First time in years that we don't have a cruise booked!

Edited February 27, 2020 by Markanddonna

[Sam Ting]

On 2/26/2020 at 3:41 AM, GatorMomInNC said:

I have had a cruise on MSC Orchestra booked for almost a year for my family of four (2 children in their teens).    We also have plans to spend a week in Paris before hand.  The cruise leaves out of Venice on June 20th and goes to Italy, Greece, Albania and Dubrovnik.  I've been so excited and have loved planning it and looking forward to it.

 

I started to get worried a few days ago due to the spread of COVID-19 to Italy, and specifically Venice.   I am concerned that at some point I will be unable to travel to (or from) Venice or maybe even Europe, if the virus spreads and travel bans are put in place.   So worried that I woke up thinking about this and can't get back to sleep.

 

I went online and cancelled most of the excursions I pre-booked. I figure that if I go I can always re-book and likely there would be availability.  But in case there is a lot of cancellations I would like the money back now.

 

I have about 3 more weeks to cancel the cruise and get a refund. 

 

I bought insurance for the package I bought for Disneyland Paris, but I don't know if it would cover cancellations unless we actually got sick.

 

Stupidly, I didn't buy insurance for my flights to/from US/Paris, or to and from Paris to Venice, so without those being cancelled by the airlines, I would be out about $3,000.

 

If there are no travel bans I would like to go, but I would feel bad possibly exposing my kids to the virus.

 

I would also be afraid I would not be allowed back in the US.

 

Is anyone else booked for European cruises this summer thinking about this, or am I just panicking/over-reacting??

I would just cancel the whole thing. You have nothing to lose. If this whole thing blows over it’s not like there will be a mad rush for people to  cruise anytime soon so the prices will probably be even better when you rebook. 

[panamapd]

It is such a dilemma and I do wish the cruise lines/airlines would just refund on request!

 

We just made our own decision and cancelled our Easter cruise.  We were due to sail on Costa Smeralda last week but had changed it to Easter.  We are not timid travellers but with a 10yr old and the thought of being quarantined on a ship for 14 days, or longer, was too big a risk to take.

 

Also what is the vibe going to be like on the ships and in the ports?!! Will you want to use the hot-tubs, the swimming pool, the casino, see a show,etc?  Also will all the museums, shops, attractions at the ports be open?  Will there be angry/panicky locals, hassle with local  buses/trains, food shortages?!!

 

We have taken the hit with our loss of deposit and am looking forward to upcoming cruises from the UK that do not require a flight (so eliminating the costs of flights).  We have the Preziosa booked and MSC Virtuosa, one for October and December and hope the situation will have "resolved" by then as the Virtuosa does require flights to Barcelona!)

 

ps. Hi Beamafar!! Sorry to hear about your DH.  Were you planning on the sailing the Virtuosa?

 

 

 

[Cruising89143]

For those of you booked through MSC U.S I suggest contacting MSC directly to see what your options are. You’re going to receive all kinds of advice here on Cruise Critic but in the end the cruise line should be your contact.

 

I called earlier this week to cancel our April Grandiosa cruise and I will only say that I was very happy with the outcome. I also have no idea how MSC is handling each case or outside of the U.S which is why I’m not going to give details on my booking. I just suggest calling and asking to be transferred to the Crisis team. Good luck. By the way, my call was answered by a rep quickly but the hold time for the Crisis team could be up to several hours. They’re very busy as expected. Patience and being kind is key. 

[CelebrationFamily]

Thanks for the info, gator. 👍

[GatorMomInNC]

On 2/26/2020 at 2:00 PM, DCGuy64 said:

I posted this on another thread, but we are booked on the MSC Preziosa embarking 19 May from Le Havre and have no cancellation plans. As we've already booked our flight to Paris, we could always "settle" for a holiday in Normandy instead. But I agree with @Beardface above, if it gets so bad that all flights and cruises are cancelled, I have full confidence we'll be refunded.

 

 

Well, for the week in Paris before our cruise we are of course flying in/out of CDG, which I just read today is what French authorities are considering ground zero for the outbreaks they have had in their country so far, including the poor man who just died as France's first fatality.  So my thoughts are that at some point flying into and out of CDG will be problematic.  See below from The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/28/an-epidemic-is-coming-europe-struggles-to-contain-coronavirus

 

The situation in France, where 38 cases have been identified, more than double the number on Wednesday, has underlined the difficulties in tracing and managing the new coronavirus once infections have begun to take hold.

Since Tuesday night, when a 60-year-old teacher from the Oise department of northern France died in a Paris hospital – the first local transmission with no links to China or Italy – a dozen other cases have emerged in the area linked to a military airbase in Creil.

Attention has also increasingly focused on Europe’s second busiest airport, Paris Charles de Gaulle, as a potential source of other infections.

All of which has sparked political leaders to warn that the continent is on the brink of an epidemic. On Wednesday, it was the French president, Emmanuel Macron.

Flanked by clinicians as he visited La Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital in Paris, after the first French death, Macron said: “We are facing a crisis, an epidemic that is coming. We know that we’re only at the beginning.”

 

 

[Hootss]

10 hours ago, GatorMomInNC said:

 

 

Well, for the week in Paris before our cruise we are of course flying in/out of CDG, which I just read today is what French authorities are considering ground zero for the outbreaks they have had in their country so far, including the poor man who just died as France's first fatality.  So my thoughts are that at some point flying into and out of CDG will be problematic.  See below from The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/28/an-epidemic-is-coming-europe-struggles-to-contain-coronavirus

 

The situation in France, where 38 cases have been identified, more than double the number on Wednesday, has underlined the difficulties in tracing and managing the new coronavirus once infections have begun to take hold.

Since Tuesday night, when a 60-year-old teacher from the Oise department of northern France died in a Paris hospital – the first local transmission with no links to China or Italy – a dozen other cases have emerged in the area linked to a military airbase in Creil.

Attention has also increasingly focused on Europe’s second busiest airport, Paris Charles de Gaulle, as a potential source of other infections.

All of which has sparked political leaders to warn that the continent is on the brink of an epidemic. On Wednesday, it was the French president, Emmanuel Macron.

Flanked by clinicians as he visited La Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital in Paris, after the first French death, Macron said: “We are facing a crisis, an epidemic that is coming. We know that we’re only at the beginning.”

 

 

An excellent source of info is the Johns Hopkins University site.  Not sure who is reporting that Paris is Ground Zero, here is the map of France as of 5 minutes ago, nothing reported in Paris.  

 

[GatorMomInNC]

1 hour ago, Hootss said:

An excellent source of info is the Johns Hopkins University site.  Not sure who is reporting that Paris is Ground Zero, here is the map of France as of 5 minutes ago, nothing reported in Paris.  

 

 

 

I guess the map must be out of date, because as you can see, the first death in France was in Paris.  The cases are popping up at a military base north of Paris, and they believe that the infections are related to people who have traveled through CDG.

[WH_Cruise]

You are definitely not the only one. Given the statements on MSC's website i think all of their customers have a large cause for concern.

[teddyd33]

I will add my comment in another thread here, incase anyone was instead in learning about MSC's response to my situation for a 7 night cruise sailing on the MSC Grandiosa leaving Feb 29th. 

 

We were due to embark in Genoa (Northern Italy) yesterday, with a flight to Milan. Based on the based outbreak there was last week, we decided it was going to be very hard to want to travel through those areas to reach the port - plus if we pick up something, we wouldn't have wanted to infect others on the ship. Plus, the thought of the ship doing the same route every week (which may have picked up guests from those regions the previous week), and people leaving, departing all the time made this a very risky situation for us.

 

Sadly, although I have cruised many times before, this was due to be my first time on MSC with the newest ship, MSC Grandiosa. We had been looking forward to the trip for months, but sadly it just wasn't meant to be. MSC were not forthcoming in offering a credit to move at all, so I doubt I would sail with them given how inflexible they were given this situation. We will be massively out of pocket for this one from the cruise, flights and paid transfers.

[Hootss]

1 hour ago, teddyd33 said:

I will add my comment in another thread here, incase anyone was instead in learning about MSC's response to my situation for a 7 night cruise sailing on the MSC Grandiosa leaving Feb 29th. 

 

We were due to embark in Genoa (Northern Italy) yesterday, with a flight to Milan. Based on the based outbreak there was last week, we decided it was going to be very hard to want to travel through those areas to reach the port - plus if we pick up something, we wouldn't have wanted to infect others on the ship. Plus, the thought of the ship doing the same route every week (which may have picked up guests from those regions the previous week), and people leaving, departing all the time made this a very risky situation for us.

 

Sadly, although I have cruised many times before, this was due to be my first time on MSC with the newest ship, MSC Grandiosa. We had been looking forward to the trip for months, but sadly it just wasn't meant to be. MSC were not forthcoming in offering a credit to move at all, so I doubt I would sail with them given how inflexible they were given this situation. We will be massively out of pocket for this one from the cruise, flights and paid transfers.

I'm sorry to hear about MSC's inflexibility teddyd33.  I could understand that situation a month ago but there has been significant change to flight schedules to Milan in the past couple of days.  Many flights have been cancelled, and I believe AA has cancelled all flights to Milan.  I'm surprised they at least weren't willing to let you change dates and locations.  

[resistk]

14 minutes ago, Hootss said:

'm sorry to hear about MSC's inflexibility teddyd33.  I could understand that situation a month ago but there has been significant change to flight schedules to Milan in the past couple of days.  Many flights have been cancelled, and I believe AA has cancelled all flights to Milan.  I'm surprised they at least weren't willing to let you change dates and locations.  

 

Given the travel restrictions to Italy in effect, if MSC will not refund, put in an immediate dispute on your credit card and a BBB dispute (assuming you are in the USA).  If you used a travel agent, bend their ear.

[blueslily]

2 hours ago, teddyd33 said:

I will add my comment in another thread here, incase anyone was instead in learning about MSC's response to my situation for a 7 night cruise sailing on the MSC Grandiosa leaving Feb 29th. 

 

We were due to embark in Genoa (Northern Italy) yesterday, with a flight to Milan. Based on the based outbreak there was last week, we decided it was going to be very hard to want to travel through those areas to reach the port - plus if we pick up something, we wouldn't have wanted to infect others on the ship. Plus, the thought of the ship doing the same route every week (which may have picked up guests from those regions the previous week), and people leaving, departing all the time made this a very risky situation for us.

 

Sadly, although I have cruised many times before, this was due to be my first time on MSC with the newest ship, MSC Grandiosa. We had been looking forward to the trip for months, but sadly it just wasn't meant to be. MSC were not forthcoming in offering a credit to move at all, so I doubt I would sail with them given how inflexible they were given this situation. We will be massively out of pocket for this one from the cruise, flights and paid transfers.

 

Interesting. MSC did not allow you to chose a different sailing in the future like some have posted here saying that MSC is offering for Med sailings in March and April? I guess it was technically a Feb sailing. But, seems odd I guess if its true for March.

 

When did you cancel?

 

Maybe I  am confusing what was posted about MSC allowing for date changes for Med sailings. Oh, maybe because it was not booked via MSC USA? 

 

Edited March 1, 2020 by blueslily

[L2float]

On 2/26/2020 at 3:41 AM, GatorMomInNC said:

I have had a cruise on MSC Orchestra booked for almost a year for my family of four (2 children in their teens).    We also have plans to spend a week in Paris before hand.  The cruise leaves out of Venice on June 20th and goes to Italy, Greece, Albania and Dubrovnik.  I've been so excited and have loved planning it and looking forward to it.

 

I started to get worried a few days ago due to the spread of COVID-19 to Italy, and specifically Venice.   I am concerned that at some point I will be unable to travel to (or from) Venice or maybe even Europe, if the virus spreads and travel bans are put in place.   So worried that I woke up thinking about this and can't get back to sleep.

 

I went online and cancelled most of the excursions I pre-booked. I figure that if I go I can always re-book and likely there would be availability.  But in case there is a lot of cancellations I would like the money back now.

 

I have about 3 more weeks to cancel the cruise and get a refund. 

 

I bought insurance for the package I bought for Disneyland Paris, but I don't know if it would cover cancellations unless we actually got sick.

 

Stupidly, I didn't buy insurance for my flights to/from US/Paris, or to and from Paris to Venice, so without those being cancelled by the airlines, I would be out about $3,000.

 

If there are no travel bans I would like to go, but I would feel bad possibly exposing my kids to the virus.

 

I would also be afraid I would not be allowed back in the US.

 

Is anyone else booked for European cruises this summer thinking about this, or am I just panicking/over-reacting??

We are also booked on this cruise as well as on Lirica June 12th. We have purchased plane tickets with stays in Zurich for a couple of days before and after our cruises. As if the coronavirus wasn't enough to worry about, my DH was just diagnosed with cancer. We are sailing the Caribbean next week, with the doctor's ok. DH is in experiencing joint pain and quite fatigued, supposedly as side effects of meds,  but we plan to relax in YC. Too late to cancel and we're really looking forward to time alone together. He has an appt Wednesday and we will know more concerning how advanced his illness is. After that, we may cancel anyway. We've decided to wait and see on the June trips. My flights are non refundable, and we got a great deal on inside cabins for the Venice cruises (including application of the famous and extremely difficult to use Ocean Cay voucher!). We're in wait and see mode, like so many others. I've decided to stop planning anything ahead. After this, we plan to only do last minute cruises! Maybe I should just stop traveling. It hasn't been very relaxing over the past year!

Im sorry for the difficulties that everyone is having. Thank you for posting so that I know I'm not the only one with concerns.

[teddyd33]

16 minutes ago, blueslily said:

 

Interesting. MSC did not allow you to chose a different sailing in the future like some have posted here saying that MSC is offering for Med sailings in March and April? I guess it was technically a Feb sailing. But, seems odd I guess if its true for March.

 

When did you cancel?

 

Maybe I  am confusing what was posted about MSC allowing for date changes for Med sailings. Oh, maybe because it was not booked via MSC USA? 

 

 

Yeah, to confirm this was booked in the UK not USA. 

 

Their main argument to me that everything was safe still - I received the following from MSC when I was asking about changing our booking, and see if we could do anything 4 days before sailing: 

 

"Your sailing isn't going any where near the quarantine places and we have taken preventative actions for more than a month to ensure the health and safety of our guests and crew and installed a strict embarkation policies."

 

From my understanding, as it was evolving so fast, with changing policies not everyone knew what was happening so we lost out.

 

I am hopefully that others on here will be able to change their booking as 1) they would have a lot longer before sailing 2) if they booked it in the USA then they are imposing bans to travel to Milan and parts of Italy, so it can be claimed on insurance. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Host Carolyn]

So that folks with bookings in June and this spring can more easily follow this please stay on topic. I am going to create a thread for general discussion of this topic

[GatorMomInNC]

2 hours ago, teddyd33 said:

I will add my comment in another thread here, incase anyone was instead in learning about MSC's response to my situation for a 7 night cruise sailing on the MSC Grandiosa leaving Feb 29th. 

 

We were due to embark in Genoa (Northern Italy) yesterday, with a flight to Milan. Based on the based outbreak there was last week, we decided it was going to be very hard to want to travel through those areas to reach the port - plus if we pick up something, we wouldn't have wanted to infect others on the ship. Plus, the thought of the ship doing the same route every week (which may have picked up guests from those regions the previous week), and people leaving, departing all the time made this a very risky situation for us.

 

Sadly, although I have cruised many times before, this was due to be my first time on MSC with the newest ship, MSC Grandiosa. We had been looking forward to the trip for months, but sadly it just wasn't meant to be. MSC were not forthcoming in offering a credit to move at all, so I doubt I would sail with them given how inflexible they were given this situation. We will be massively out of pocket for this one from the cruise, flights and paid transfers.

 

Wow, I cannot believe that MSC would not allow you to rebook given the current situation in Northern Italy!!  Even though I have insurance on this cruise, some part of me was also thinking that if I didn't cancel, MSC would work with me.  But after hearing this, I really don't see that I have any choice but to cancel before my paid in full date, and now I don't even see any reason to wait.  As my husband this morning said, let's cancel the cruise and if we can't get flight changed/refunded and we are able to travel at that time, we'll just go and do a land journey.

[GatorMomInNC]

1 hour ago, L2float said:

We are also booked on this cruise as well as on Lirica June 12th. We have purchased plane tickets with stays in Zurich for a couple of days before and after our cruises. As if the coronavirus wasn't enough to worry about, my DH was just diagnosed with cancer. We are sailing the Caribbean next week, with the doctor's ok. DH is in experiencing joint pain and quite fatigued, supposedly as side effects of meds,  but we plan to relax in YC. Too late to cancel and we're really looking forward to time alone together. He has an appt Wednesday and we will know more concerning how advanced his illness is. After that, we may cancel anyway. We've decided to wait and see on the June trips. My flights are non refundable, and we got a great deal on inside cabins for the Venice cruises (including application of the famous and extremely difficult to use Ocean Cay voucher!). We're in wait and see mode, like so many others. I've decided to stop planning anything ahead. After this, we plan to only do last minute cruises! Maybe I should just stop traveling. It hasn't been very relaxing over the past year!

Im sorry for the difficulties that everyone is having. Thank you for posting so that I know I'm not the only one with concerns.

L2float, I am so sorry for what you are going through 😞 .