How are things where YOU are? (in relation to the Corona Virus)

[Aus Traveller]

2 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

I'm furious!

Yesterday Crystal announced that our 26 night cruise from Rome on May 24th was cancelled. Now they have changed the cancellation. The cruise is sold in several segments:

- Rome to London

- Rome to Barcelona (first sector)

- Barcelona to London

- Barcelona to Lisbon (second sector)

- Lisbon to London (third sector)

So our cruise consists of the B2B2B of all three sectors.

Now they are saying that on the Rome to London cruise only the first sector is cancelled and a new embarkation port will be announced.

Then they go on to say that on the Barcelona to London cruise only the first sector is cancelled and a new embarkation port will be announced.

Ah! Hang on a minute! The cancelled first sector of the Barcelona to London cruise is the second sector on the Rome to London cruise which they are claiming isn't cancelled. 

I guess we'll just have to leave it to our TA to sort out. I suspect too many people are requesting refunds instead of taking the FCC offer and Crystal are panicking. I'm seriously pissed off with Crystal and will not ever consider cruising with them again.

Are they just cancelling the May segment, hoping that everything will be OK by early June? Or are they avoiding Italy, but what about Spain? I wouldn't want to go there soon.

 

Crystal is now trying to keep you as a passenger by changing your cruise. However, if you booked one cruise, presumably 26 nights from Rome to London on May 24th and the sailing from Rome on that date is cancelled, surely your cruise is cancelled. You bought 'an orange' and they want to give you 'a lemon' instead???

[Russell21]

6 hours ago, MicCanberra said:

Are you referring to vasovagal syncope, if so I have that as well.

Not sure what type of Syncope he has but he does have a nice pirate scar from forehead to chin from one of his earlier falls, 58 stitches I'm told, his face slid down the edge of a door as he went down.

[GUT2407]

1 hour ago, VK3DQ said:

Hi Folks

 

Things are not so good with me, I have nasty pain which my cocktail of pain killers is not doing much to shift...oh dear back t the quack on Monday because of an open wound on my leg, darn thing just wont heal up ...

 

No cruise therapy to help and none likely for years to come now our cruise ship hating government has kicked its first ship out , no all the public will remember is RUBY PRINCESS PLAGUE SHIPS and  it will be a very long time until we cruise again 

 

It used to be that a good look round some deck plans would help me .... Darn you Darned virus!!

 

 

BTW  one of my Issues is D.I.S.H  ......(a bad back)

Regards

John

 

Sorry to hear that John it is hard when the drugs stop working, at least till then you get some relief.

 

[GUT2407]

2 hours ago, NSWP said:

Welcome back to the nut house old son, have 2 of these daily, fix you up quick smart...ye olde potato pie.

Mrs Gut got me a couple from Aldi, not bad.

[VK3DQ]

1 minute ago, GUT2407 said:

Sorry to hear that John it is hard when the drugs stop working, at least till then you get some relief.

 

Wanna buy a cruise ship ... very cheap!  (Grin)

[GUT2407]

22 hours ago, Docker123 said:

My laminectomy etc was going to be moved to today. Spoke at length to GP. Said the particular hospital I was booked would probably be the safest place to be at present.

 

Of course, it was cancelled until whenever.

 

Sorry to hear that, hopefully it will go ahead soon,

[NSWP]

53 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

I'm furious!

 

Yesterday Crystal announced that our 26 night cruise from Rome on May 24th was cancelled. Now they have changed the cancellation. The cruise is sold in several segments:

- Rome to London

- Rome to Barcelona (first sector)

- Barcelona to London

- Barcelona to Lisbon (second sector)

- Lisbon to London (third sector)

So our cruise consists of the B2B2B of all three sectors.

Now they are saying that on the Rome to London cruise only the first sector is cancelled and a new embarkation port will be announced.

Then they go on to say that on the Barcelona to London cruise only the first sector is cancelled and a new embarkation port will be announced.

Ah! Hang on a minute! The cancelled first sector of the Barcelona to London cruise is the second sector on the Rome to London cruise which they are claiming isn't cancelled. 

I guess we'll just have to leave it to our TA to sort out. I suspect too many people are requesting refunds instead of taking the FCC offer and Crystal are panicking. I'm seriously pissed off with Crystal and will not ever consider cruising with them again.

Sad news, they probably have run out of money to refund.  Buckleys chance of a cruise operating in Western Europe by May, it is still pandemic central.  Good luck with it all, hope something works for you.

Edited April 4, 2020 by NSWP

[NSWP]

My best wishes to all the 'crook people on here, Gut, John etc.  Take your 'stay alive pills'. The world as we once knew it will return one day.  Those who can cruise will be able to.

Edited April 4, 2020 by NSWP

[Aus Traveller]

4 minutes ago, NSWP said:

My best wishes to all the 'crook people on here, Gut, John etc.  Take your 'stay alive pills'. The world as we know it will return one day.  Those who can cruise will be able to.

I am just hoping I still young enough and fit enough to cruise when it does re-start. 🙂

[OzKiwiJJ]

50 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

Are they just cancelling the May segment, hoping that everything will be OK by early June? Or are they avoiding Italy, but what about Spain? I wouldn't want to go there soon.

 

Crystal is now trying to keep you as a passenger by changing your cruise. However, if you booked one cruise, presumably 26 nights from Rome to London on May 24th and the sailing from Rome on that date is cancelled, surely your cruise is cancelled. You bought 'an orange' and they want to give you 'a lemon' instead???

Yes, I think they are trying to string out the cancellations. Since they've cancelled the first sector of Barcelona to London I would imagine Spain isn't a viable embarkation port, and I doubt anywhere in Portugal will be in a few weeks. So, yes, they sound like they are trying to give us a lemon instead of an orange. I don't think they know what they are doing. I followed the string of changes and cancellations when their two ships were in Asia and here, and they screwed the passengers around with those itineraries too. 

[OzKiwiJJ]

10 minutes ago, NSWP said:

Sad news, they probably have run out of money to refund.  Buckleys chance of a cruise operating in Western Europe by May, it is still pandemic central.  Good luck with it all, hope something works for you.

At this stage we just want our money back and for them to stop messing us around. I suspect the problem is cash flow - from what I read quite a few Crystal passengers are opting for the refund instead of the FCC offer, probably more than they expected. So they decided to change the rules. Well, they won't be getting any more bookings from us in the future.

[NSWP]

2 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

At this stage we just want our money back and for them to stop messing us around. I suspect the problem is cash flow - from what I read quite a few Crystal passengers are opting for the refund instead of the FCC offer, probably more than they expected. So they decided to change the rules. Well, they won't be getting any more bookings from us in the future.

Indeed, cash flow, they have little.  Wrong they moved the goal posts. Good luck with it.

[MMDown Under]

2 hours ago, VK3DQ said:

Thanks Leigh ....dont worry too much sometimes it helps to verbalize against the pain , force it back into its box so to speak.. I;m used to it I having had this for 5 years or so now....the main problem is that many doctors just dont listen ...my lady doctor is quite good but a bit loath to give me too many opoids  a policy I agree with

 

Hmmm I wonder if there will be any real cheap cruise ships on the market ??? (Grin)

 

Regards

John

Yes, but will there be any buyers?  Might be a good time for Australia having its own small shipping company.  It should be a given for an island country.  I'm certainly not happy with the current lot, that is for sure.

Maybe you could go on a recky to check out what ship you'd like under the Aussie flag.  That should help ease your pain!

Edited April 4, 2020 by MMDown Under

[VK3DQ]

Under the OZ Flag .... well I suppose there is TT Line (Spirit of TAZ)  perhaps we can all get together and do a round trip when things get a little better , a sort of goodbye to cursing cruise , yep I like the idea a good meal and then a long session in the bar , a walk around the dock in Devonport and back in the bar to Melb...

 

The Cruise Critic OZ branch farewell cruise

 

Regards

John

[MMDown Under]

1 hour ago, VK3DQ said:

Under the OZ Flag .... well I suppose there is TT Line (Spirit of TAZ)  perhaps we can all get together and do a round trip when things get a little better , a sort of goodbye to cursing cruise , yep I like the idea a good meal and then a long session in the bar , a walk around the dock in Devonport and back in the bar to Melb...

 

The Cruise Critic OZ branch farewell cruise

 

Regards

John

Holland America - will CCL survive the Coronavirus?

This thread makes interesting reading and could be helpful in your research for the best vessel, at the best cost,  for the new cruise line under the OZ flag.  I'm already excited at the possibilities - cruises designed for the Aussie market and Aussie seasons - cruises which cruise north in our winter - cruises which explore our near neighbours for more than 10 mins port stops - cruises with food to suit our tastes - cruises featuring Aussie talent, Aussie sense of humour. and so on.  Have fun!

Edited April 4, 2020 by MMDown Under

[ilikeanswers]

21 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

Holland America - will CCL survive the Coronavirus?

This thread makes interesting reading and could be helpful in your research for the best vessel, at the best cost,  for the new cruise line under the OZ flag.  I'm excited at the possibilities - cruise designed for the Aussie market and Aussie seasons - cruises which cruise north in our winter - cruises which explore our near neighbours for more than 10 mins port stops - cruises with food to suit our tastes - cruises featuring Aussie talent, Aussie sense of humour. and so on.  Have fun!

 

I was thinking if there was a chance for any cruising market it would probably be something more specialised. It would certainly incentivise people to take cruises if it was something unique that you can't experience otherwise.

[MMDown Under]

15 minutes ago, ilikeanswers said:

 

I was thinking if there was a chance for any cruising market it would probably be something more specialised. It would certainly incentivise people to take cruises if it was something unique that you can't experience otherwise.

I agree.  I already cruise to places best served by cruise ships.  I was just thinking if it was a reputable explorer company that did, say,. around the world Southern Hemisphere visiting islands south of NZ and Aust and Antarctica from Australia.

I already cruise less often so I can cruise on small ships to different exotic locations.

My dream is to cruise across the South Pacific one more time visiting the smaller SP islands.

This would be a win win for all, as South Pacific islanders need our support at this time.  

Edited April 4, 2020 by MMDown Under

[Kiwi Kruzer]

 

Edited April 4, 2020 by Kiwi Kruzer

[By The Bay]

On 4/2/2020 at 10:44 AM, MMDown Under said:

Day 13 - Happy day

 

- For those clever technical people on this thread, I'd love to know how I could rewatch these videos forever. 

 

Google "save online video to computer". There are plenty of programmes available to choose from.

[MMDown Under]

33 minutes ago, By The Bay said:

Google "save online video to computer". There are plenty of programmes available to choose from.

Thank you. 

[OzKiwiJJ]

Nice video, David.

 

I was very interested to see that all construction has been stopped. In NSW they have gone the other way - construction is now permitted seven days a week. Previously construction had to stop at midday on Saturdays, and was not permitted at all on Sundays, to give people relief from the constant noise. Now we have to live with it all the time and can't even go out for a coffee or meal to get away from it. 🤬 Another case of the NSW government pandering to their developer mates!

[mr walker]

8 hours ago, MMDown Under said:

This thread makes interesting reading and could be helpful in your research for the best vessel, at the best cost,  for the new cruise line under the OZ flag.  I'm already excited at the possibilities - cruises designed for the Aussie market and Aussie seasons - cruises which cruise north in our winter - cruises which explore our near neighbours for more than 10 mins port stops - cruises with food to suit our tastes - cruises featuring Aussie talent, Aussie sense of humour. and so on. 

 

The Aussie labour costs would be the problem. The Captain Cook Reef Endeavour went broke in Australia and was moved to Fiji. Yes smaller than regular cruiseships, but indicative of the costs here.

Certainly no-one could operate an Aussie cruiseship with fares in any way close to what we are accustomed to paying on the mass market cruiselines currently operating here.

[MMDown Under]

6 minutes ago, mr walker said:

 

The Aussie labour costs would be the problem. The Captain Cook Reef Endeavour went broke in Australia and was moved to Fiji. Yes smaller than regular cruiseships, but indicative of the costs here.

Certainly no-one could operate an Aussie cruiseship with fares in any way close to what we are accustomed to paying on the mass market cruiselines currently operating here.

I think the public will adapt to not cruising as often.  I made a choice to cruise less, so I could afford to cruise on smaller ships, which are much more expensive.  I understand with a lot of passengers the ship is the main attraction, whilst I am destination driven.  There is a cost to cruising on mass market cruiselines.  They will need to rebuild trust with their market.  I used to cruise in inside cabins, because I travel frequently and our Aussie $ has been so weak in recent years.  After Diamond Princess, I will only cruise in balcony cabins, which will be much more expensive.  Assuming Aust ships would be all inclusive, you may find they could be competitive, if all cruise ships have to pay their crew a living wage. You may find Aussies willing to pay more to cruise on a local cruise line.  I hope to cruise on the return ferry from Cairns to Thursday Island later in the year.  My future wish list includes a cruise on Australian small ship, 

[MicCanberra]

1 hour ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Nice video, David.

 

I was very interested to see that all construction has been stopped. In NSW they have gone the other way - construction is now permitted seven days a week. Previously construction had to stop at midday on Saturdays, and was not permitted at all on Sundays, to give people relief from the constant noise. Now we have to live with it all the time and can't even go out for a coffee or meal to get away from it. 🤬 Another case of the NSW government pandering to their developer mates!

This is because our PM has stated that "Anyone with a job is essential, all work is essential".

Just skyped with someone I know who is working in a supermarket in the shopping Centre and most of the shops are still open, hairdressers, nail shops, Target, Kmart, games and clothes shops, etc. Who is shopping for those things?

This where we cannot have more than 2 people in a group. or visit our son's family in the next suburb.

 

[Kiwi Kruzer]

22 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

This is because our PM has stated that "Anyone with a job is essential, all work is essential".

Just skyped with someone I know who is working in a supermarket in the shopping Centre and most of the shops are still open, hairdressers, nail shops, Target, Kmart, games and clothes shops, etc. Who is shopping for those things?

This where we cannot have more than 2 people in a group. or visit our son's family in the next suburb.

 

So far our strict lockdown in NZ appears to be working . Projections indicated 4000 cases by now, so far only 1000 . No of deaths on NZ still only 1 .

We are into week 2 of stage 4 , 2 weeks to go . Borders are closed only citizens coming home are coming through the airport and then into self isolation .