Cruising choices with an active Pandemic

[Pushka]

One after another...

Coronavirus: Cruise ship turned away from Malta amid doctor threats

The Maltese government says the decision was taken after a "misleading" report raised public alarm.

www.bbc.com

This one isn't a surprise to me. Malta was another port on our Italian cruise and I had thought ages ago that it was at risk. A wonderful place but can understand why it just doesn't want to take any chances. So now we have just 3 ports, in Greece. They have their own refugee issues currently. At the moment in July, according to Celebrity website, we won't be allowed to embark on the ship because it starts and ends in Rome, we won't be allowed to berth in any of the Italian ports because the cruise line has banned Italy, and Malta just got scrubbed, and then there is Greece. Id say they think it's going to be all over and done with by July with their summer but the ships have to get to the Med first from the USA next month. They just need to pull the plug and be done with it. Our final payment is mid May and there's no way in hell they are getting any more money with all this flux.

 

[Pushka]

And just like that - our cruise is on 27th July so we are included. I won't be taking up their offer as we have no cruise intentions next year except for Egypt in December. I will extract the FCC though just In case but they aren't getting any more money.

Dear Travel Partner,

As the situation with Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to evolve, we understand your clients may be concerned about booking new cruises or about their upcoming travel plans. So, we're introducing a new, temporary change to our cancellation policy that gives your clients the flexibility to make the best choice for their vacation. All new and current bookings for sailings on or before July 31st, 2020 can now cancel up to 48 hours prior to departure with our new Cruise With Confidence policy.

As always, thank you for your support and partnership!

CRUISE WITH CONFIDENCE

We're happy to introduce a new, temporary change to our cancellation policy that gives you the flexibility to make the best choice for you and those in your party. All guests who are currently booked on sailings on or before July 31st, 2020 can now cancel their reservation up to 48 hours to departure.

If you cancel outside of final payment:

• If you booked a Non-Refundable Deposit program - you'll receive a Future Cruise Certificate in the value of your deposit and a refund for all other funds paid.
• If you booked a standard promotion - you'll receive a full refund of all amounts paid.

After final payment, if you cancel up to 48 hours before your sailing:

• You'll receive credit for any funds held in penalty to use on a cruise sailing before December 31st, 2021.
  • You can expect to receive your credit via email within 1 week of when you cancel your booking.

We hope that this new policy provides you with comfort - knowing you can choose to sail as planned or at a later time. Either way, we want you to have the perfect cruise vacation. Since this policy is new, we've included some answers to questions you may have below. Please note that this policy is subject to change.

The health, safety, and comfort of our guests and crew remain our highest priority. To learn more about how we are keeping our ships in tip top shape and for insights into our travel regulations, click here.

Thank you for choosing Royal Caribbean International. We look forward to seeing you onboard very soon!

Sincerely,

Aurora Yera-Rodriguez

AVP | Guest Experience

Royal Caribbean International

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

 

[drron]

Reports that others on the Grand Princess on the previous voyage have tested positive to Covid 19.However the 6 in total were all on the same shore excursion I assume in Mexico.
"In addition to a 71-year-old man who died from coronavirus after sailing on the ship's previous voyage, The Associated Press reports health authorities disclosed that at least six other people who were on the same excursion were also found to be infected – four cases in Northern California and two in Canada. And some passengers from that trip stayed aboard for the current voyage."

21 test positive for coronavirus on cruise ship off California coast, Pence says

Vice President Mike Pence said that 46 people had been tested for coronavirus on the Grand Princess cruise ship, and 21 tested positive for the virus.

www.jsonline.com

The rest now onboard are still waiting for test results done Thursday.

 

[Pushka]

Reports that others on the Grand Princess on the previous voyage have tested positive to Covid 19.However the 6 in total were all on the same shore excursion I assume in Mexico.
"In addition to a 71-year-old man who died from coronavirus after sailing on the ship's previous voyage, The Associated Press reports health authorities disclosed that at least six other people who were on the same excursion were also found to be infected – four cases in Northern California and two in Canada. And some passengers from that trip stayed aboard for the current voyage."

21 test positive for coronavirus on cruise ship off California coast, Pence says

Vice President Mike Pence said that 46 people had been tested for coronavirus on the Grand Princess cruise ship, and 21 tested positive for the virus.

www.jsonline.com

The rest now onboard are still waiting for test results done Thursday.

Princess have called to people on the ship requiring any prescriptions that need to be filled......and that they are now testing more people than the original bunch. 3500 people onboard. Nightmare.

Update.
Far out. . Of the approx 40 people tested, 21 are positive and 19 are crew members. Just announced by Pence.

The ship is being moved to port and all 3500 people onboard will be tested. Probably more tests than the US has done to date knowing their record on this.

VP Pence says 21 coronavirus cases on California Grand Princess cruise ship

Vice President Mike Pence said Friday 21 people aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship idled off the coast of California have tested positive for COVID-19.

www.cnbc.com

 

[amaroo]

And just like that - our cruise is on 27th July so we are included. I won't be taking up their offer as we have no cruise intentions next year except for Egypt in December. I will extract the FCC though just In case but they aren't getting any more money.

Dear Travel Partner,

As the situation with Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to evolve, we understand your clients may be concerned about booking new cruises or about their upcoming travel plans. So, we're introducing a new, temporary change to our cancellation policy that gives your clients the flexibility to make the best choice for their vacation. All new and current bookings for sailings on or before July 31st, 2020 can now cancel up to 48 hours prior to departure with our new Cruise With Confidence policy.

As always, thank you for your support and partnership!

CRUISE WITH CONFIDENCE

We're happy to introduce a new, temporary change to our cancellation policy that gives you the flexibility to make the best choice for you and those in your party. All guests who are currently booked on sailings on or before July 31st, 2020 can now cancel their reservation up to 48 hours to departure.

If you cancel outside of final payment:

• If you booked a Non-Refundable Deposit program - you'll receive a Future Cruise Certificate in the value of your deposit and a refund for all other funds paid.
• If you booked a standard promotion - you'll receive a full refund of all amounts paid.

After final payment, if you cancel up to 48 hours before your sailing:

• You'll receive credit for any funds held in penalty to use on a cruise sailing before December 31st, 2021.
  • You can expect to receive your credit via email within 1 week of when you cancel your booking.

We hope that this new policy provides you with comfort - knowing you can choose to sail as planned or at a later time. Either way, we want you to have the perfect cruise vacation. Since this policy is new, we've included some answers to questions you may have below. Please note that this policy is subject to change.

The health, safety, and comfort of our guests and crew remain our highest priority. To learn more about how we are keeping our ships in tip top shape and for insights into our travel regulations, click here.

Thank you for choosing Royal Caribbean International. We look forward to seeing you onboard very soon!

Sincerely,

Aurora Yera-Rodriguez

AVP | Guest Experience

Royal Caribbean International

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

That's good news, assume the credit is open ended?

 

[Pushka]

That's good news, assume the credit is open ended?

To December 2021. Might have to do something July-ish next year.

 

[cqtiger]

Ohh after the Japanese ship, I took the chance and booked an inside cabin for my Alaska cruise in August! Gee I hope I dont live to regret my cheap-skate-ed-ness!

I reckon Alaska would be the safest destination ATM

 

[I love to travel]

I think anyone contemplating a cruise in 2020 is nuts. No ship anywhere is safe.

 

[sanne]

What are you doing re travel insurance?

 

[moa999]

I think anyone contemplating a cruise in 2020 is nuts. No ship anywhere is safe.

Think we are quickly reaching the nowhere is safe point.

The buffets on cruises might have to go.

 

[odysseus]

I think anyone contemplating a cruise in 2020 is nuts. No ship anywhere is safe.

A family member is doing a 4 night cruise out of Sydney in a week's time.

I think she'll be fine.

 

[Pushka]

Viking Sun I think was refused entry to Bali Viking is a premium line but people aged in their later years.

 

[Pushka]

Princess cannot take a trick.

In addition to the Grand Princess issue off San Francisco, Princess also just this hour cancelled another of their cruise ships departing LA. They brought in armed police to make the announcement. They let the passengers off from the last cruise then stopped the new cruisers boarding. People had already checked in and were waiting to be called on board. They had waited all day in the various halls at SF. Apparently there was a cross over crew member who had just got off the Grand and was then crewing the Royal. In reality it means that over 3000 people are now roaming SF with the possibility of exposure.

And Celebrity just cancelled a cruise they had rerouted from Singapore to Dubai (with little recompense) making for some very angry passengers having to have cancelled original Singapore flights and rebooking to DubaI. It seems that India has now banned all cruise ships from berthing. That decision by India is completely understandable.

 

[get me outta here]

It’s probably not the destination so much as the people on the ship that are the danger to the locals I would not be surprised if some of those small settlements in Alaska decide it’s too dangerous to have these people berthing because the villages don’t have the medical facilities to treat their own people. If they did refuse entry, it would be a huge economic penalty for them.

I reckon Alaska would be the safest destination ATM

 

[drron]

Wonder when Princess will take this down.announcing Medallion class cruising on Grand Princess coming March 29.

Grand Princess - Cruise Ship Information

Discover luxurious accommodations, tantalizing dining, poolside movies and much more aboard the Grand Princess®. Book an unforgettable getaway at sea today.

www.princess.com

 

[Pushka]

Wonder when Princess will take this down.announcing Medallion class cruising on Grand Princess coming March 29.

Grand Princess - Cruise Ship Information

Discover luxurious accommodations, tantalizing dining, poolside movies and much more aboard the Grand Princess®. Book an unforgettable getaway at sea today.

www.princess.com

Apparently Princess didn't stop the IT auto email that is sent to passengers the day of disembarkation (in this case on the Grand) asking for feedback about their wonderful cruise experience.

Princess are saying that the Virus was brought on by a passenger but may have had no symptoms at the time but reported respiratory distress during the cruise to the medical centre. He has recently died onshore. The issue for cruiselines and none of their procedures can pick it up no matter how much they bellow, is that this virus is undetectable via symptoms for quite some days. It's a beast.

 

[drron]

Apparently Princess didn't stop the IT auto email that is sent to passengers the day of disembarkation (in this case on the Grand) asking for feedback about their wonderful cruise experience.

Princess are saying that the Virus was brought on by a passenger but may have had no symptoms at the time but reported respiratory distress during the cruise to the medical centre. He has recently died onshore. The issue for cruiselines and none of their procedures can pick it up no matter how much they bellow, is that this virus is undetectable via symptoms for quite some days. It's a beast.

On one of the links previously it was reported that I think 6 passengers from the previous cruise ended up testing positive for the virus.They had all gone on the same shore excursion so I think we can presume it was brought on board by a passenger.

 

[I love to travel]

Does anyone have any info on how Holland America are responding to the cruising issues. Friend has Alaska cruise booked as part of a trafalgar tour in May and is wondering on the likelihood of cancellation.

 

[Pushka]

On one of the links previously it was reported that I think 6 passengers from the previous cruise ended up testing positive for the virus.They had all gone on the same shore excursion so I think we can presume it was brought on board by a passenger.

Crew members sometimes accompany on tours. I know they do on all Cunard and Viking tours. But I agree, a passenger.

 

[Anna]

Princess also sent the 'how was your cruise' email to pax who were stuck in isolation on Diamond Princess last month