Cancelling Cruises because of the C word

[Tommart]

56 minutes ago, davecttr said:

The governments delay plans are vitally important and we should all cooperate with them. Apparently about 5% of diagnosed cases need ventilators to assist their breathing, essentially intensive care. About 15% of the diagnosed will need hospital care with access to oxygen supplies. If the NHS has 170,000 beds and NHS England has 4000 intensive care beds, almost all of which are occupied do the maths and you can see the potential problem. The problem is not with the overall death rate, it is with the 20% of diagnosed who need hospital care.

I agree.  What's worrying though is that probably 80% of the population hasn't worked this out yet, and still believe all the platitudes coming out of Number 10.

[enjoysummers]

NCL allowing anyone to cancel cruise up to 48 hrs before embarkation. Get 100% future cruise credit. Starts March 10th to 30th September. Seems fair to me

[jeanlyon]

Is that with a medical certificate or just anyone at all?  I don't see that on their website?

Edited March 7, 2020 by jeanlyon

[mat5664]

if I am just outside the 90 day limit but paid in full and I now cancel, what do I get back.  It says deposit but I didn't pay one?  (My mother is 83 and I have a respiratory condition, which is why we are thinking of it).  Have a week before 90 days.

[jeanlyon]

why have you paid in full before you need to?  I would phone P&O and ask to cancel.

[staygulf]

5 minutes ago, mat5664 said:

if I am just outside the 90 day limit but paid in full and I now cancel, what do I get back.  It says deposit but I didn't pay one?  (My mother is 83 and I have a respiratory condition, which is why we are thinking of it).  Have a week before 90 days.

According to their terms, if you have not paid a deposit then you should be entitled to all of your money back. But it is odd that you have paid in full so they might be able to impute a part of your payment to a deposit in which case you would lose that. 

[jeanlyon]

I;m trying to work out whether my husband's doctor would consider him unfit to travel.  He is 81 with atrial fibrillation, but pretty fit.  Hmmmmmmmmm

[janny444]

5 minutes ago, jeanlyon said:

I;m trying to work out whether my husband's doctor would consider him unfit to travel.  He is 81 with atrial fibrillation, but pretty fit.  Hmmmmmmmmm

I am in a similar situation although my husband is slightly younger....77...but he has had 2 strokes and thinking would a doctor consider that as being unfit to travel....in the present declining circumstances

[jeanlyon]

Janny, I think we are on a wait and see approach.  We have 7 weeks to go and I think things might chnge so drastically in the next 4 weeks the decision might be made for us.

 

River cruise ship on the Nile has just been quarantined.  It's going to happen more and more,

 

and of course D Trump knows so much, he can probably fix it as it's fake news?

Edited March 7, 2020 by jeanlyon

[Eddie99]

I’ve read several apparently reliable sources saying that 9 weeks will see 95% of infections.  I don’t know if the clock is ticking on those 9 weeks yet, or if that would be, say, next week or the week after.

 

If it does pan out like that, it appears that we will have a relatively short, very sharp shock, after which time things may get back to near-normal quite quickly?

 

In cruise terms, if that is the case, far better for cruise companies to keep their friends, to allow rescheduling, possibly to mothball ships for two or three months and to come out, all guns blazing, to a brave new virus-free cruising world mid-year?

 

Here’s an article with the 95% stat

https://www.ft.com/content/e18e6d70-5fc0-11ea-b0ab-339c2307bcd4

 

 

[enjoysummers]

1 hour ago, jeanlyon said:

Is that with a medical certificate or just anyone at all?  I don't see that on their website?

I received an email.

https://www.ncl.com/uk/en/why-cruise-norwegian/book-with-confidence?cheetahid=5000004043737&cid=EM_MKD_NA_PRO_EML_im_EML_PEACEOFMIND_FBGCANCEL030620

[enjoysummers]

If i'm given this option with P&O I will take it. Due to sail next month

[janny444]

This cruise we should be sailing on in April is one that we were  really looking forward to....to see the Dutch bulb fields and the D landing beaches but my husband was getting so anxious about the present situation ....which with his health problems is a worry and one he could do without...that I decided to cancel the cruise but have delayed that action to see if P&O " soften" their approach and hopefully allow us to transfer monies paid on either of the other 2 cruises already booked.

On our part it isn't just a disinclination to travel....it is so much more than that

[mat5664]

Finally managed to get through to P&O.

 

If I cancel now outside the 90 days having paid the full amount, I will get back everything except 5%.  

 

Or I can also transfer to another date as long as I do this before the  90 days starts.  (And if the new date is cheaper, then I would get a refund of the difference - which I was surprised at).

 

Agent was really nice and helpful.  She said nearly every call is a cancellation at the moment.  

Edited March 7, 2020 by mat5664

[Guest ccpm]

The most vulnerable people have already "self isolated" without any government advice, decisions on their part or any choice. They are the elderly (or not) who have issues health or otherwise that keep them isolated, have no family or friends or the means or desire to get out and about. They I admit will be most unlikely to be considering a cruise but who has been tasked with caring for them?  

[wowzz]

14 minutes ago, mat5664 said:

Finally managed to get through to P&O.

 

If I cancel now outside the 90 days having paid the full amount, I will get back everything except 5%.  

 

Or I can also transfer to another date as long as I do this before the  90 days starts.  (And if the new date is cheaper, then I would get a refund of the difference - which I was surprised at).

 

Agent was really nice and helpful.  She said nearly every call is a cancellation at the moment.  

Glad it worked out for you. Still not sure why you would pay the entire cruise fare so far in advance. There is no benefit to you.

[mat5664]

2 minutes ago, wowzz said:

Glad it worked out for you. Still not sure why you would pay the entire cruise fare so far in advance. There is no benefit to you.

Simple - I got a bonus and wanted to treat my mother to a cruise.  Figured if I kept it in the bank, I might spend it! 

[Pine Man]

1 hour ago, jeanlyon said:

I;m trying to work out whether my husband's doctor would consider him unfit to travel.  He is 81 with atrial fibrillation, but pretty fit.  Hmmmmmmmmm

 

Good luck with that. This is what is posted on my doctors web site:-

Any decision relating to a cancellation of travel arrangements already made needs to be taken by the individual concerned. Doctors will not be able to sign holiday insurance forms to state this is on medical advice.

[davecttr]

2 hours ago, Tommart said:

I agree.  What's worrying though is that probably 80% of the population hasn't worked this out yet, and still believe all the platitudes coming out of Number 10.

The information was given in a round about way in the prime ministers statement of the potential one fifth of the working population being off sick. The working population is over 30 million so that is 6 million people and not counting the non working population which of course are not immune. It is probably good that the 80% have not yet worked this out as if and when it happens the proverbial will hit the fan. Yet another reason for everyone to act on the sensible advice given.

Edited March 7, 2020 by davecttr

[bobstheboy]

Due to sail on 27th and was looking forward to it. I am not now and will cancel if I can.

[Eddie99]

Oh, charming!

But, I guess the surgeries are under incredible pressure from all sides

 

If I were affected and liable to forego a £2-3000 cruise because of fears of what might happen, and if I fell into the vulnerable group - say 70+ with ongoing medical issues - I’d find a private GP and be happy to pay £100 for a consultation and a letter.  I presume P&O/travel insurance company would accept that?

[davecttr]

34 minutes ago, ccpm said:

The most vulnerable people have already "self isolated" without any government advice, decisions on their part or any choice. They are the elderly (or not) who have issues health or otherwise that keep them isolated, have no family or friends or the means or desire to get out and about. They I admit will be most unlikely to be considering a cruise but who has been tasked with caring for them?  

I am one of them and nobody has been tasked as yet with caring for them. As the governments overwhelming priority is to ensure the wellbeing and safety of the citizens, ALL OF THEM and as far as the NHS is concerned treatment according to need.

 

I am still socialising and will continue to do so and act on government advice when it appears. As for cruising the market might well collapse for a few months. luckily for me my October and January next year cruises don't have final payment dates until late June and November. with £70 and £80 deposits I just cancel if needed.

 

This is the NHS site

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Edited March 7, 2020 by davecttr

[Pine Man]

They have just updated their site and this also now appears:-

 

Whilst it is understandable for patients feeling they ought to avoid travelling to areas currently identified as having cases of infection caused by Covid-19, at this time, the doctors at xxxxxxxx Medical Group  cannot give formal medical advice to avoid planned overseas travel (for work or holiday) to these areas or elsewhere.

[davecttr]

1 hour ago, Eddie99 said:

I’ve read several apparently reliable sources saying that 9 weeks will see 95% of infections.  I don’t know if the clock is ticking on those 9 weeks yet, or if that would be, say, next week or the week after.

 

If it does pan out like that, it appears that we will have a relatively short, very sharp shock, after which time things may get back to near-normal quite quickly?

 

In cruise terms, if that is the case, far better for cruise companies to keep their friends, to allow rescheduling, possibly to mothball ships for two or three months and to come out, all guns blazing, to a brave new virus-free cruising world mid-year?

 

Here’s an article with the 95% stat

https://www.ft.com/content/e18e6d70-5fc0-11ea-b0ab-339c2307bcd4

 

 

That link goes to a subscription site so can't read it!

[jeanlyon]

Yes I can understand doctors not issuing letters when there is no reason but you wanting to cancel, but if the patient has medical issues, then they must be able to declare them unfit at the present time.  Surely?