Cruising choices with an active Pandemic

[Pushka]

I know it's the Grauniad but this is quite sobering reading

Should passengers return to cruise ships after the pandemic? No | Adrienne Matei

Cruise ships have become floating dungeons where the unlucky have been confined – ideal incubators of infectious diseases

www.theguardian.com

I didn't know cruise ship emissions in a day = 1 million cars

Unfortunately it is the ideal time for all the facts about cruising to reach a very aware audience. What would be the emissions of a plane though?

 

[SydneySwan]

There is certainly little doubt that the vast majority of cruise companies are most definitely not model corporate citizens.

 

[tgh]

There are a lot of dirty old cruise ships but there are a lot more dirty old cargo ships.
It's easy to find a particularly dirty example, however most new ships are quite environmentally kind.

 

[k_sheep]

Hmm the full payment for my August Ruby Princess cruise is due to be paid this month! I've paid $800 deposit, another $3k due.

Now we all know it won't be going ahead. But if I cancel now, I lose my deposit. I guess I just sit tight, pay the balance and hope for the full refund once it gets cancelled .... or rely on travel or CC insurance once they go bust ... urk.

 

[tgh]

For those odds, I would wave my $800 goodbye and move on…. Ymmv of course...

 

[RooFlyer]

Or the Tassie Doctors who rumour has it had a dinner party and spread the virus.

Just for the record on this thread, that's been almost totally debunked. I say 'almost totally' as a police investigation was started.

 

[JinbaIttai]

I guess I just sit tight, pay the balance and hope for the full refund once it gets cancelled

Another option might be to not pay any more than you already have - and then wait and see what happens.

If they chase you for final payment ask them what guarantee they can provide that the cruise will actually go ahead.

It's what I was planning to do with my June cruise - final payment was originally due last month, but they extended that to the 21st of April and I wasn't about to give them any more money.

Fortunately as of this morning they've cancelled all June cruises, so I should get my $300 deposit back too, eventually.

 

[k_sheep]

Unfortunately they will auto deduct the balance from my credit card which was used for the deposit. It's on my 'keeper' credit card too, otherwise I might think about tossing it!

 

[Anna]

@k_sheep does the revised Princess cancellation policy help you? Supposedly applies to voyages up to 15 October?

Princess Cruises: Refunds and Future Cruise Credits - Notices & Advisories

www.princess.com

 

[p--and--t]

Unfortunately they will auto deduct the balance from my credit card which was used for the deposit. It's on my 'keeper' credit card too, otherwise I might think about tossing it!

Check the T&Cs. Unless you have specifically authorised the additional payment, they have no right to take the final payment. I have never had a travel provider take funds without permission before.

 

[Pushka]

Check the T&Cs. Unless you have specifically authorised the additional payment, they have no right to take the final payment. I have never had a travel provider take funds without permission before.

I have seen other bookings where you can select this as an option, presumably so you don't forget.

 

[p--and--t]

I have seen other bookings where you can select this as an option, presumably so you don't forget.

Yep. Most of my bookings didn't even have that option but seen it a couple times and I've always said no if it was an option.

 

[k_sheep]

Interesting - that will give me an extra month and a bit. I booked via Qantas though who seem to have their own rules. I shall call them tomorrow.

 

[Anna]

The usual threat I used to get from Princess was if I didn't make my final payment my booking would be automatically cancelled. That was in the old days of high demand for cabins, when they were no doubt confident that they could easily resell the cabin, probably at a higher fare. I doubt they would be so blasé now about letting a booking go!

 

[zig]

The next wave of cruise cancellations thru to June 11 is starting to come through for a lot of cruise lines.

 

[VPS]

Bloomberg - Are you a robot?

www.bloomberg.com

A long read and not going to get into a debate whether it's good journalism or not but just posting it for people to read if they want

 

[Pushka]

The usual threat I used to get from Princess was if I didn't make my final payment my booking would be automatically cancelled. That was in the old days of high demand for cabins, when they were no doubt confident that they could easily resell the cabin, probably at a higher fare. I doubt they would be so blasé now about letting a booking go!

I'll let you know about Celebrity in 3 weeks when our final payment is due. Med cruise out of Rome In July.

 

[pauly7]

Unfortunately they will auto deduct the balance from my credit card which was used for the deposit. It's on my 'keeper' credit card too, otherwise I might think about tossing it!

Report your card lost/stolen and have a hold put on it, get a new card new number, they won’t be able to charge it right?

 

[TheRealTMA]

Report your card lost/stolen and have a hold put on it, get a new card new number, they won’t be able to charge it right?

Unfortunately that won’t work.

 

[tgh]

There is always a human side to tragedy.. here is a quintessential Silversea contribution.. enjoy

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10103028833954780

1.4K Views ·
5 hours ago ·

Myself and Giancarlo Spinelli worked with our amazing crew of the Silver Cloud to send a message of love to our home countries during this terrible pandemic. We made it with just two iPhones a Mac Book and recorded in an empty suite’s closet with a tiny mic. Please enjoy WE ARE THE WORLD performed by the crew of the Silver Cloud. #wearetheworld #seafarers #notcarriers #oneworld #love #family #crew #crewlife #lifeatsea #silversea #silvercloud #expedition