Alaska 2021 - Full Celebrity Letter

[mitchmagi]

Could someone post the full letter they received from Celebrity regarding Alaska 2021 bookings ... specifically what are the restrictions in terms of moving the cruise to 2022 ... date / vessel / itinerary restrictions ? A week either side ? A month either side ?

 

Many thanks

Edited February 14, 2021 by mitchmagi

[colliercruiser]

2 hours ago, mitchmagi said:

Could someone post the full letter they received from Celebrity regarding Alaska 2021 bookings ... specifically what are the restrictions in terms of moving the cruise to 2022 ... date / vessel / itinerary restrictions ? A week either side ? A month either side ?

 

Many thanks

Here is the complete text of Celebrity's email.  Note that there are no details of the possible "Lift & Shift"... just a comment about it being to the same destination.  When I contacted Celebrity to do this, the rep had some specific requirements to follow (e.g., within one sailing before & after the same date as 2021), and since I could only be accommodated by moving two sailing ahead, he had to request an exception from "above" (who I'm not sure).  He didn't expect to contact me with a final answer for about a week, but did add a temporary reservation on the new sailing to hold our specific cabin request.

 

Dear Guest,

 

We are reaching out to provide an update on the status of your 2021 cruise vacation. The Government of Canada has recently announced continued port closures for all cruise ships through February 28, 2022. In order to comply with these closures Celebrity Cruises has placed your cruise on hold. Currently, we are working to determine if it may be possible to operate your sailing without a call to a foreign port. However, until a decision has been rendered in this matter, the sailing will remain closed, but your reservation will continue to be valid.

 

At this time, we would like to offer you the opportunity to keep your reservation until a final determination on the status of your sailing can be made or be re-accommodated on another Celebrity Cruises vacation in 2022. You will also have the option to receive a 125% Future Cruise Credit (FCC) or a 100% Refund. If you are booked on a May 2021 sailing and choose to keep your reservation, your final payment date will be extended by 45 days. If you would like to keep your cruise vacation plans to the same destination and reschedule for next year, please contact us or your travel partner and your reservation will be shifted at the same rate including any promotion you currently have on the booking.

 

If you prefer not to rebook your cruise vacation for a 2022 sailing, you will have the option to cancel and receive 125% Future Cruise Credit (FCC) or a 100% Refund. The value of the FCC would be calculated based on the amounts paid toward your cruise and processed by April 16, 2021 via email. If you prefer a 100% refund to your original method of payment, you may contact us anytime up until June 30, 2021. To avoid waiting on the phone to cancel, please contact your travel partner or click here and we will get the process started for you. You can expect to receive a refund within at least 30 days after you submit your request. Cruise taxes and fees would be refunded separately. With choice of cancellation, guests with air travel and hotel booked through Flights by Celebrity will be refunded automatically. You will not need to call in to initiate the process. Guests with independent air arrangements must contact their air carriers directly to make all required cancellations.

 

First and always, please take care of yourselves and your family. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through these unique circumstances. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Celebrity Cruises at 1-844-418-6824 in North America or (316) 554-5961 worldwide. We look forward to welcoming you aboard soon for an amazing Celebrity Cruises vacation.

 

Sincerely,

Celebrity Cruises

[colliercruiser]

FYI, the email I received above is due to our 2021 Canada/NE sailing, but I believe it is the same email sent for 2021 sailings.  Perhaps someone with a 2021 sailing could confirm.

[colliercruiser]

Additionally (to my postings above), Celebrity added the following statement to the "Travel Alert" section of their website.

 

Friday, February 12^th, 2021

The Government of Canada has recently announced continued port closures for all cruise ships through February 28, 2022.  In order to comply with these closures, Celebrity Cruises has placed all sailings with an embarkation or port of call in Canada, on hold while we explore itinerary options.  While this news is certainly disappointing, we certainly respect their decision and appreciate that they have their own set of COVID-19 circumstances to manage.  As we work on potential alternatives, we hope that guests will keep their existing vacation reservation with us. However, any guests who desire to adjust their booking will be provided the option to be re-accommodated on another Celebrity Cruises vacation in 2022, or they may cancel for a 125% Future Cruise Credit (FCC) or a 100% Refund.  While we are exploring alternatives, for guests who choose to maintain their booking, reservations approaching their final payment due dates will be adjusted to 45 days prior to departure.  We will continue to work with health and transportation officials around the world, and focus on what we can do to support our guests, the people who rely on the tourism industry and the regions in which we operate.

 

[colliercruiser]

Celebrity has also added a new "Sailings on Hold" section to the Travel Alerts portion of their website, and it includes both a list of sailings "on hold" as well as FAQs which give more details... including Lift & Shift.

 

[mitchmagi]

Thank you!

[mitchmagi]

"

Impacted guests will be able to “Lift & Shift” their 2021 sailing to 2022 to retain their current rate and promotions.  However, the new 2022 sailing must remain on the same ship, same itinerary length, same stateroom category, and within one week pre/post the original sailing date.

Bookings including a Celebrity Alaska or Canadian Rockies Cruisetour may also “Lift & Shift” to the same tour next year, based on availability.

To “Lift & Shift” the booking, contact Celebrity Cruises at 1-844-418-6824 in North America or (316) 554-5961 worldwide.  Note, there is currently not a deadline set to “Lift & Shift” bookings placed “ON HOLD”."

From the Celebrity site

[colliercruiser]

19 minutes ago, mitchmagi said:

"

Impacted guests will be able to “Lift & Shift” their 2021 sailing to 2022 to retain their current rate and promotions.  However, the new 2022 sailing must remain on the same ship, same itinerary length, same stateroom category, and within one week pre/post the original sailing date.

Bookings including a Celebrity Alaska or Canadian Rockies Cruisetour may also “Lift & Shift” to the same tour next year, based on availability.

To “Lift & Shift” the booking, contact Celebrity Cruises at 1-844-418-6824 in North America or (316) 554-5961 worldwide.  Note, there is currently not a deadline set to “Lift & Shift” bookings placed “ON HOLD”."

From the Celebrity site

Since our Sept 10, 2021 Canada/NE sailing is a 12-day itinerary... and similar sailings in 2022, the "one week before or after" was interpreted by our Celebrity rep as the prior & next sailings.  The one closest to Sept 10 was fewer days, the one before was also few days and the 2022 one immediately following was sold out of our cabin category... so the only option was the Oct 3 sailing.  This is why the rep had to request an "exception" which I assume will be approved.  If not, we'll just take the refund and be done for now.

[TX JAM]

I was only offered a lift and shift on the same ship same sail date for 2022.  We took the lift and shift offered, we had wanted to move to 2 weeks earlier with the same itinerary, but not available.   The process was pretty smooth, and we definitely would rather wait and be sure sailings are up and running and also see Vancouver as opposed to a potential shift to Seattle.  This is our 3rd reschedule on this trip, but the price is really great and we did not want to take a chance on losing the price and definitely did not want wait as there have been a large number of bookings already shifted to this cruise.