Am I (we) going to be sorry I did not book cruises,trips and flights at these prices.

[drsel]

 
Is that really true though?  Didn't virtually all lines provide the opportunity for a 100% refund when cancellations occurred?  I'm not aware of any line that offered no choice; but many pax "chose" to take the higher value Future Cruise Credit.
 
Perhaps I'm wrong -- if so, enlighten me.

Costa offered me
100 % refund
or
30% discount on a future Cruise before 30th November 2020
or
10% percent discount on a future Cruise after 1 December 2020.

[EscapeFromConnecticut]

On 6/5/2020 at 9:50 PM, navybankerteacher said:

I propose you wait a couple of weeks - by then a resurgence of COVID infections may, or may not have put things in perspective.  The fact that close to twenty states are right now seeing an uptick in infections - perhaps because of overly optimistic re-openings or the mass demonstrations of the past week: who knows?

 

The first sailings are scheduled for early August — around the end of this month you will have a little more data on which to base your decision - and the lines will have had a little more time to come up with some specifics about their new protocols (so far, all they have provided is empty blather).

 

This proved to be solid advice. A tip of the hat to you.

[EscapeFromConnecticut]

On 6/20/2020 at 9:51 AM, calliopecruiser said:

Well, I have had 2 cruises booked in the future for a while now, so they already have have some of my money.  My only gamble is whether or not they go bankrupt -- if it's just a case of "non-operations", I can always get credit for that amount for a future cruise.

 

Of course "they set the rules and execute the policies"!  Didn't you know that?  Doesn't everyone know that?  That's what all companies do, and always have.  We all know that when we sign on.  You make it sound like some huckster trick, when in reality it's just doing business like every other consumer-directed company.   If you buy gas, a streaming video service, or a washing machine -- all those companies set the rules and execute the policies.  So what?

The difference is that I'd actually get the gas, the streaming videos or the washing machine.

The cruise lines right now are engaged in a shoddy & shameless Ponzi scheme of pocketing money for cruises that they already know won't be sailing ... then trying to discourage refunds by either 90-day schedules or through FCC & OBC offers. Since the cruise lines have no sailings, the customers' cash is going to debt service and this month's home office overhead (including the stupendously oversized compensation for the hack executive teams).

If anyone is excited about giving the cruise lines another interest-free loan, they should go right ahead. Wise people will pass on that, though. 

[clo]

On 6/5/2020 at 4:23 PM, clo said:

110,000 dead Americans and states that have reopened are seeing spikes already. Until there's a tried and true vaccine, not for us.

Wow, just saw this again. Nineteen days later and look at the numbers. 

[RonOhio]

26 minutes ago, EscapeFromConnecticut said:

The difference is that I'd actually get the gas, the streaming videos or the washing machine.

The cruise lines right now are engaged in a shoddy & shameless Ponzi scheme of pocketing money for cruises that they already know won't be sailing ... then trying to discourage refunds by either 90-day schedules or through FCC & OBC offers. Since the cruise lines have no sailings, the customers' cash is going to debt service and this month's home office overhead (including the stupendously oversized compensation for the hack executive teams).

If anyone is excited about giving the cruise lines another interest-free loan, they should go right ahead. Wise people will pass on that, though. 

Wow, sounds like someone is still bitter that Carnival passed over their employment application back in ‘92. I looked at Royal Caribbean’s 10K and their entire executive team didn’t make as much last year as a middling MLB starting  infielder, so that seems like a pretty good deal for managing a profitable multi billion dollar international enterprise. 
Predicting the future doesn’t involve wisdom, it involves speculation. Will Cruises occurs, will you want to be on them and, if both A and B are Yes, will it be cheaper now than later? If you can’t afford to lose your deposit, don’t book, but if you’re in decent financial shape, it will be cheaper now than later.

[EscapeFromConnecticut]

6 minutes ago, RonOhio said:

Wow, sounds like someone is still bitter that Carnival passed over their employment application back in ‘92. I looked at Royal Caribbean’s 10K and their entire executive team didn’t make as much last year as a middling MLB starting  infielder, so that seems like a pretty good deal for managing a profitable multi billion dollar international enterprise. 
Predicting the future doesn’t involve wisdom, it involves speculation. Will Cruises occurs, will you want to be on them and, if both A and B are Yes, will it be cheaper now than later? If you can’t afford to lose your deposit, don’t book, but if you’re in decent financial shape, it will be cheaper now than later.

Brrrrp: Wrong.    Nope, I never auditioned for "If I were not upon the sea."

I'll take the infielder over Fain or Del Rio right now. Given how hideously Princess and HAL dealt with the COVID fiasco in February and March, I'd gladly trade Donald for two hot dog vendors and a Gatorade tank.

So far, CC is filled with people who've lost at Casino Carnival's 2020 roulette wheel. They're either crying about their latest cancellation and ruined plans, or else gritting their teeth at month 3 of waiting for a refund. The smart ones are wondering if their FCC and OBC will soon go "poof" in a restructuring.

But for all who wish to bet on the guinea pig cruises, have at it. Bon voyage.

Edited June 25, 2020 by EscapeFromConnecticut

[iancal]

I believe that the FCC gig is a mugs game.  I also believe that cruise lines have done their utmost to delay cancelling cruises that they know will never happen.  They need to convert fees for cancelled cruises to FCC's. They will do their best to churn those FCC booking as cruises booked with FCC's are cancelled.   

 

In a similar manner I think this business about cruise lines claiming future bookings are up as are prices in the hope that some patsies will believe that and book or accept an FCC on a cruise where the nothing is really known about the true itinerary or the on board environment.  Really, all they have to do is tweek the price files.  It won't matter because so few people are booking.  It  is an illusion to persuade cruisers to get on the book, cancel, FCC, book, cancel....treadmill.

 

Think about it.  Ask some experienced TA's if they have a line up outside their respective offices to book? Or what their personal opinion is.   We are fairly average cruisers who travel extensively.  We are not about to commit or spend dime one until we believe that it is safe and we know what the end product will be. We cannot be that much different from the average cruiser or the average buyer of travel products/services.   I simply cannot imagine anyone being happy with a cruise line holding their money at an uncertain time like this.

Edited June 25, 2020 by iancal

[ilikeanswers]

5 minutes ago, iancal said:

I also believe that cruise lines have done their utmost to delay cancelling cruises that they know will never happen.  

 

I was reading a thread here on CC and poster was saying that their cruise was not cancelled till about two weeks before sailing, despite the fact the country they were meant to start the cruise closed their border and all flights had been cancelled. Talk about trying to hold onto the money 🙄

 

5 minutes ago, iancal said:

Think about it.  Ask some experienced TA's if they have a line up outside their respective offices to book? Or what their personal opinion is.   

 

Sadly our travel agents are closing. We had about seven in our area four are gone😔. 

[RonOhio]

20 minutes ago, iancal said:

I believe that the FCC gig is a mugs game.  I also believe that cruise lines have done their utmost to delay cancelling cruises that they know will never happen.  They need to convert fees for cancelled cruises to FCC's. They will do their best to churn those FCC booking as cruises booked with FCC's are cancelled.   

 

In a similar manner I think this business about cruise lines claiming future bookings are up as are prices in the hope that some patsies will believe that and book or accept an FCC on a cruise where the nothing is really known about the true itinerary or the on board environment.  Really, all they have to do is tweek the price files.  It won't matter because so few people are booking.  It  is an illusion to persuade cruisers to get on the book, cancel, FCC, book, cancel....treadmill.

 

Think about it.  Ask some experienced TA's if they have a line up outside their respective offices to book? Or what their personal opinion is.   We are fairly average cruisers who travel extensively.  We are not about to commit or spend dime one until we believe that it is safe and we know what the end product will be. We cannot be that much different from the average cruiser or the average buyer of travel products/services.   I simply cannot imagine anyone being happy with a cruise line holding their money at an uncertain time like this.

Travel agents are calling it the “do over trip” booking the vacation planned for 2020 in 2021 instead. Check the Wall Street Journal “Booking Next Summer Now” 24June2020. While the cruise industry isn’t mentioned and the article is focused on higher end, it appears there is high demand for 2021 travel in general. 

[calliopecruiser]

8 hours ago, EscapeFromConnecticut said:

The cruise lines right now are engaged in a shoddy & shameless Ponzi scheme of pocketing money for cruises that they already know won't be sailing ... then trying to discourage refunds by either 90-day schedules or through FCC & OBC offers

None of that has anything to do with your rant about how they "set the rules" and "execute the policies" -- that's about whether or not you think their policies (and practices) are fair.  Different argument.  All I said is that your complaint about them setting rules and executing their policies was a misplaced complaint, because everyone does it and we all accept it as SOP.

[EscapeFromConnecticut]

4 minutes ago, calliopecruiser said:

None of that has anything to do with your rant about how they "set the rules" and "execute the policies" -- that's about whether or not you think their policies (and practices) are fair.  Different argument.  All I said is that your complaint about them setting rules and executing their policies was a misplaced complaint, because everyone does it and we all accept it as SOP.

 

Charming little tirade ... but you're confused. Your initial disagreement was with Ride-the-Waves.

 Also, Ride-the-Waves' original post sort of already disproved the assertion that "we all accept it as SOP."

[navybankerteacher]

7 hours ago, iancal said:

I believe that the FCC gig is a mugs game.  I also believe that cruise lines have done their utmost to delay cancelling cruises that they know will never happen.  They need to convert fees for cancelled cruises to FCC's. ...

And, as is made evident by the numbers on these boards who seem determined to get on the first ship that sails without any notion of the health precautions which might or might not be in effect— and how they might impact the quality of the experience - the cruise industry has an ample supply of mugs lining up to be fleeced.

[Ride-The-Waves]

52 minutes ago, calliopecruiser said:

None of that has anything to do with your rant about how they "set the rules" and "execute the policies" -- that's about whether or not you think their policies (and practices) are fair.  Different argument.  All I said is that your complaint about them setting rules and executing their policies was a misplaced complaint, because everyone does it and we all accept it as SOP.

 

44 minutes ago, EscapeFromConnecticut said:

 

Charming little tirade ... but you're confused. Your initial disagreement was with Ride-the-Waves.

 Also, Ride-the-Waves' original post sort of already disproved the assertion that "we all accept it as SOP."

 

Many posters receiving FCCs appear overjoyed at the opportunity to cruise at some point in the future and believe that cruise lines are dong them a big favor by offering 125 percent of their current investment (monies paid) for a cruise.  FCCs all come with caveats, be it a time limit or type of cruise restriction.  Cruise lines also know that future cruises, under the expected conditions of "reopening" and the few ships and itineraries available, will be significantly more expensive.  They have your money and they will (need) to keep it.  

 

Not everyone is as sophisticated as "Connecticut."  Buy a product in a store, buy an automobile or dishwasher, it comes with both a warranty and some consumer protections.  Airlines in the US and Europe all come under oversight.  Major ocean going cruise lines do not.  They base ships in countries offering little taxation and oversight.  They do have to abide by US safety laws for entry into US waters and do that with routine inspections.  In today's COVID-19 environment cruise lines are doing everything they can to not return funds already paid to them for any cruise.  FFC is a ruse.  Even attached to a future cruise, it does not guarantee that cruise at that price as itineraries will change, ports will change, costs for security/cleaning will change, cost of crews will increase.  They know this now and they have not been forthcoming to those they are promising FCCs to that this is the future.  I am personally in this situation.  $20K of FCC for a future river cruise which we will never be able to use as we are in our late 70s and have underlying conditions which will preclude embarkation and possibly flying in the future.  Cruise line doesn't care.  No refund - FCC only.  Sorry Charlie...you counted on us to be "fair" when you should have been very weary with your purchase.  We had to make final payment in February before the pandemic.  The US airline refunded flights within two weeks...

[c-boy]

well shucks! the above post explains many things I had wondered about.  I too would be skeptical about the future of the cruise industry,  if I had an investment sum that large and were of the age where you can't trust a fart. This is a precursor to what I may have to look forward too in the future, a lesson so to speak. Thank you for giving me/us some insight to your psyche. For both our sake's I hope we can get back to some sort of normalcy in the near future. Life is too short. 

 

                                       

[iancal]

I have a picture in my minds eye of the SS Covid at the dock during embarkation.  Prior to any vaccine or pharma remedy.

 

Dockside there  are a bunch of mugs waving their FCC documents in the air and  yelling pick me pick me, desperate to cruise ( before their FCCs expire) and prove their bravado to all who are watching!

Edited June 25, 2020 by iancal