More Cancellations, Island and Diamond Princess!!!

[LACruiser88]

 

August 25, 2021 12:45 PM EDT Princess Cruises Announces Updated Return to Cruise Operations Timing for Island Princess and Diamond Princess

SANTA CLARITA, Calif., Aug. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Princess Cruises, the world's leading international premium cruise line is announcing updated restart timing for Island Princess and Diamond Princess. Island Princess will now return to service with a series of cruises to the Caribbean in spring 2022, prior to its 14-day Panama Canal Ocean to Ocean voyage on April 27, 2022. Diamond Princess will also return to service in spring 2022 with a season of Japan sailings. Details of both new programs will be announced shortly.     Island Princess and Diamond Princess join eight MedallionClass™ ships - Majestic Princess, Grand Princess, Ruby Princess, Enchanted Princess, Sky Princess, Regal Princess, Caribbean Princess and Emerald Princess—which have returned to service or are scheduled to restart by November 28, 2021, taking guests to Alaska, the Caribbean, Panama Canal, Mexico, Hawaii, and the California Coast. "Following our successful restart in Alaska and the UK, we look forward to welcoming our guests back on board as we continue our return to cruise operations, keeping the health and safety of our guests and teammates our top priority," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. As a result of these changes, Princess Cruises is cancelling its 2021-2022 South America & Antarctica Program on Diamond Princess, and its 2022 World Cruise along with two December 2021 Island Princess cruises.

[azbirdmom]

Yes, I've been waiting for this announcement on the Diamond.  Tough but right decision.  Here's the announcement.  https://www.princess.com/downloads/pdf/plan/impacted-and-cancelled-cruises/cancelled-cruises-world-south-america-ip-di-apr-2022.pdf

[LACruiser88]

We are really sad about this one.  We were on the March 5th (2022), 31 day, Buenos Aires to LA voyage.  We were looking forward to returning to South America.  This makes 14 cancellations for us!

[franktown]

I might of missed it but I don't see anywhere that princess is offering any bonus FCC this time.

[LACruiser88]

3 minutes ago, franktown said:

I might of missed it but I don't see anywhere that princess is offering any bonus FCC this time.

I believe you are correct, I do not see any either!

[azbirdmom]

6 minutes ago, franktown said:

I might of missed it but I don't see anywhere that princess is offering any bonus FCC this time.

Which kind of stinks as these are expensive cruises. 

[kiwimum]

11 minutes ago, franktown said:

I might of missed it but I don't see anywhere that princess is offering any bonus FCC this time.

They have not offered it for some time when they price protect on another cruise.

 

Fortunately we are already booked on the 2022 LA- Buenos Aires and with the price protect it saves well over $4K.

 

Now what to do for Christmas 2021.

Edited August 25, 2021 by kiwimum

[piper28]

Figured the Island christmas cruise was inevitable the way things were looking.  Personally, I'm getting real concerned about the chances that the 30 days we have booked on the Island for late June will happen in a manner that I'm willing to put up with (ie, no restrictions on excursions, no masks).  Realistically, there aren't many european trips it's going to be doing before our cruise, and I have to wonder if those countries involved are going to be ready and willing to take cruise ships in - with as many different countries as those trips hit, all it takes is for various countries along the route to require tests for entry, and it becomes completely impractical.  And I'm especially concerned that we won't really know enough to make a reasonable decision before final payment is due on that cruise.

[lesnpatty]

The price protection to move your cruise is well worth not getting  FCC.  I don't blame Princess for increasing their prices in 2022 and 2023, they have to recoup their losses. We have had to move 4 cruises to future dates and keeping our prices locked in has been great.  

[LACruiser88]

1 hour ago, piper28 said:

Realistically, there aren't many european trips it's going to be doing before our cruise, and I have to wonder if those countries involved are going to be ready and willing to take cruise ships in - with as many different countries as those trips hit, all it takes is for various countries along the route to require tests for entry, and it becomes completely impractical. 

We were booked on the 2020 World cruise, but for the reasons you mentioned, we have decided to wait until 2024 for the World cruise.

[beg3yrs]

Had a great cabin on the Diamond Princess for the Dec 1 sailing. Not much available on the replacement cruise. Probably won't take it. Sad.

[LACruiser88]

38 minutes ago, beg3yrs said:

Had a great cabin on the Diamond Princess for the Dec 1 sailing. Not much available on the replacement cruise. Probably won't take it. Sad.

We already have another replacement cruise booked during the same time of the replacement cruises they offered!

[azbirdmom]

1 minute ago, LACruiser88 said:

We already have another replacement cruise booked during the same time of the replacement cruises they offered!

 

Us too.  So we opted for a refund since there were no bonus FCCs.  And we were paid in full too as this was a casino booking that included a free cabin + upgrade fee.

[beg3yrs]

3 hours ago, LACruiser88 said:

We already have another replacement cruise booked during the same time of the replacement cruises they offered!

Yeah, we had three booked at the same time as well. All three have now fallen to the cancellation curse. Club Med anyone?

[hpeabody]

I was booked on the Diamond, Antarctica South America.  The cancellation comes as no surprise.  In fact I got an email from Nyree from Estancia Excursions In the Falkland Islands telling me how bad their situation is.  Near as I can tell my "compensation" from Princess is NOTHING AT ALL.  I should get back my FCD that I paid for on board ship used as deposit and that's it.  I was not paid in full, so no real money was ever put towards the cruise, so I am expecting to get nothing in return. At first look nothing in that announcement seemed to apply to me.

[kiwimum]

9 minutes ago, hpeabody said:

I was booked on the Diamond, Antarctica South America.  The cancellation comes as no surprise.  In fact I got an email from Nyree from Estancia Excursions In the Falkland Islands telling me how bad their situation is.  Near as I can tell my "compensation" from Princess is NOTHING AT ALL.  I should get back my FCD that I paid for on board ship used as deposit and that's it.  I was not paid in full, so no real money was ever put towards the cruise, so I am expecting to get nothing in return. At first look nothing in that announcement seemed to apply to me.

The compensation is price protection on the 22/23 cruises.   Take a look at the prices for next season, definitely more expensive.  We are definitely taking advantage of the offer.   I had already booked the LA to Buenos Aires for 2022.  The fare will be regarded to 2021 with all promos and OBC.    We are well ahead price wise, just need to wait.

[caribill]

11 hours ago, kiwimum said:

They have not offered it for some time when they price protect on another cruise.

 

 

Recent cancelled cruises have had three options to pick from:

1) Replacement cruise that is price protected and no bonus FCC.

2) FCC for money paid towards fare plus a bonus FCC which has varied from 100% of money paid to just $25 and now with this announcement to $0.

3) Cash refund for money paid towards cruise with no bonus at all.

[Ombud]

6 hours ago, caribill said:

Recent cancelled cruises have had three options to pick from:

1) Replacement cruise that is price protected and no bonus FCC.

2) FCC for money paid towards fare plus a bonus FCC which has varied from 100% of money paid to just $25 and now with this announcement to $0.

3) Cash refund for money paid towards cruise with no bonus at all.

No wonder. They have to return to profitability some time if they are to survive 

[disneyochem]

We had our 14 day Panama Canal Cruise cancelled (1/5/22) on the Island Princess—again!!  Had it booked originally for January 2021.  We got so much FCC on cruises that we had booked a mini suite.  Had OBC, specialty dining, casino credit and Princess Plus.

 

Rebooked one of the replacement cruise—January 5, 2023.  Was able to get the same room category but inventory was very limited!  Our PVP said she only had 10 cabins to choose from……unless, of course, we wanted to pay for an upgrade!  She tried to get me to book a cabin on the Dolphin deck, but because I follow these boards, I said no thanks!  It was one of those mini suites that weren’t covered and didn’t have much privacy on the balcony (D312).

 

Was able to keep all of our perks (after gently reminding her of them!).  Cost of the cruise is now $2500/pp more than what we paid so am very happy about the price protection!

 

 

[Ombud]

I'm on the Emerald Princess Panama Canal cruise just 3 days before the Island was supposed to sail. Is that one in jeopardy? Or just smaller / older ships?

[Travlin grrl]

I''m just guessing that something like a 30 day or longer cruise isn't going to happen until they are 110% sure it will go smoothly. I think they will keep the 7 days and monitor them. And like someone said above, I think the covid is probably worse down there. I'm sure they don't want to cancel it, and sorry to the people that had their cruise cancelled. Hoping sailings will go smoothly so we can all get back to somewhat normal vacations. 

[disneyochem]

2 hours ago, Ombud said:

I'm on the Emerald Princess Panama Canal cruise just 3 days before the Island was supposed to sail. Is that one in jeopardy? Or just smaller / older ships?

Not sure.  Our Panama Canal Cruise was a segment in the 2022 World Cruise on the Island Princess.  So when it was cancelled, so was our segment.

[lindberg]

I was booked on the Diamond Princess March 5 2022, Buenos Aires to Los Angeles and according to Princess I could do a 'Move Over" to one year later.  But I've already booked two Princess cruises to Australia during  March 2023.  Has Princess shown any flexibility on the "Move Over" offer.  I could make the Los Angeles to Buenos Aires Cruise on December 2, 2022.  Essentially the same cruise in reverse order.  Is there any chance of Princess allowing this?

[Ombud]

1 hour ago, lindberg said:

I was booked on the Diamond Princess March 5 2022, Buenos Aires to Los Angeles and according to Princess I could do a 'Move Over" to one year later.  But I've already booked two Princess cruises to Australia during  March 2023.  Has Princess shown any flexibility on the "Move Over" offer.  I could make the Los Angeles to Buenos Aires Cruise on December 2, 2022.  Essentially the same cruise in reverse order.  Is there any chance of Princess allowing this?

That's the 1st one on the list!! So go for LA -> BA 12/02/22 on the Sapphire Princess

[lindberg]

8 minutes ago, Ombud said:

That's the 1st one on the list!! So go for LA -> BA 12/02/22 on the Sapphire Princess

Oh that would be great.  Just wasn't sure if you had to accept the recommended replacement or if you could select a different cruise from the list.