Cruising choices with an active Pandemic

[Pushka]

It has been interesting following the saga from the viewpoint of someone onboard Crystal via Cruise Critic. There are a lot of people who have fully paid for cruises late this month as well as February through to April. As unsecured creditors, I wonder if they will receive any money back? It might depend if that money is being held in a trust account.

Viking extracts their payment 12 months out!

 

[Port Power]

Viking extracts their payment 12 months out!

Ouch!

 

[Buzzard]

Has anyone any experience with MSC cruises?

My worst experience ever.

Post automatically merged: Jan 24, 2022

Has anyone any experience with MSC cruises?

I allus thought they were somewhere about the jetstar of cruise lines but happy to be better informed…..

They're not that good.

 

[VPS]

My worst experience ever.

Post automatically merged: Jan 24, 2022

They're not that good.

care to expand on that?

 

[odysseus]

Has anyone any experience with MSC cruises?

I enjoyed my sailing with them, and was one of my favourite ones at that time (it was a few years back). But there were some downsides as well. Their service was very true to their Italian origin. The best part was their entertainment, which is much more interesting and varied than the US fare.

They're more like the Royal Caribbean of Europe. So if you like RCL and have an open mind I'd suggest you'd be fine with them. But if you're not a fan of RCL then probably they won't be appealing either.

 

[odysseus]

Meanwhile Genting is still selling cruises.

Genting Hong Kong still selling cruise tickets after appointing liquidator - Malaysian Daily News

HONG KONG: Genting Hong Kong Ltd, the biggest cruise operator worldwide which is seeking court assistance to safeguard its assets during the pandemic, is still selling tickets for its “Cruises to Nowhere”. Bookings are available on Genting’s website for two- and three-night trips on its Dream...

malaysiandailynews.com

That was from last week, when they said they would still sell Dream cruises, which has all of its ships in operation, and has been operating for over a year (they were one of the first cruise lines to restart). And is consistent with companies in liquidation where profitable/revenue earnings operation may continue.

However, after the liquidator took over, they decided to temporarily suspend Dream as well for 2 weeks, so Dream has also stopped new bookings, but continues in revenue service at this point.

 

[Anna]

I'd always thought of Crystal as a swanky, expensive line that I might like to sail on one day, but ending a cruise a day late in the wrong country to avoid the ship being arrested just doesn't send the right message to me

Cruise ship wanted in US lawsuit over unpaid bills changes course to the Bahamas

Passengers on board Crystal Cruises' Crystal Symphony were kept on board an extra day when the ship changed course after the issuance of an arrest warrant for the ship because of unpaid fuel bills.

www.traveller.com.au

 

[zig]

I'd always thought of Crystal as a swanky, expensive line that I might like to sail on one day, but ending a cruise a day late in the wrong country to avoid the ship being arrested just doesn't send the right message to me

Cruise ship wanted in US lawsuit over unpaid bills changes course to the Bahamas

Passengers on board Crystal Cruises' Crystal Symphony were kept on board an extra day when the ship changed course after the issuance of an arrest warrant for the ship because of unpaid fuel bills.

www.traveller.com.au

I cruised with Crystal once from Tokyo to Vancouver and thought they were a great line. My parents did quite a few cruises with them and it was their favourite line to cruise with. They have a very loyal passenger base, and this is a very sad ending for Crystal.

 

[odysseus]

I'd always thought of Crystal as a swanky, expensive line that I might like to sail on one day, but ending a cruise a day late in the wrong country to avoid the ship being arrested just doesn't send the right message to me

Cruise ship wanted in US lawsuit over unpaid bills changes course to the Bahamas

Passengers on board Crystal Cruises' Crystal Symphony were kept on board an extra day when the ship changed course after the issuance of an arrest warrant for the ship because of unpaid fuel bills.

www.traveller.com.au

Exceptional circumstances. And given they treated the passengers well and got them to their intended destination, I suspect most would be fine with it.

 

[Anna]

It's not the treatment of the pax. It's that I don't normally associate with people/entities that are actively avoiding an arrest that they know is coming Call me a snob

 

[Pushka]

It's not the treatment of the pax. It's that I don't normally associate with people/entities that are actively avoiding an arrest that they know is coming Call me a snob

Nah. It would be kind of fun. An extra day onboard and knowing they will make good at the end. So likely nothing to do with being a snob but, an occupational hazard.

 

[Anna]

If they haven't got the money to pay their fuel bills or even negotiate a resolution with the fuel supplier, I wouldn't feel comfortable that 'they will make good at the end'. I'd be worried about being stranded in the Bahamas and having to arrange my own transport out and maybe find accommodation in the meantime, not to mention being annoyed about the inconvenience of rearranging my flight home. But YMMV obvs.

 

[Pushka]

If they haven't got the money to pay their fuel bills or even negotiate a resolution with the fuel supplier, I wouldn't feel comfortable that 'they will make good at the end'. I'd be worried about being stranded in the Bahamas and having to arrange my own transport out and maybe find accommodation in the meantime, not to mention being annoyed about the inconvenience of rearranging my flight home. But YMMV obvs.

Good point.

 

[Limewood]

Booked 2021 Cruise on Princess who use Cruse Guru, was Brisbane to NZ return, Qantas extended our final payment due Sept by two weeks, cruise was cancelled, so used deposit for same cruise Feb 2022 it was cancelled got our deposit back, very impressed by this excellent service by Cruise Guru.

 

[odysseus]

If they haven't got the money to pay their fuel bills or even negotiate a resolution with the fuel supplier, I wouldn't feel comfortable that 'they will make good at the end'. I'd be worried about being stranded in the Bahamas and having to arrange my own transport out and maybe find accommodation in the meantime, not to mention being annoyed about the inconvenience of rearranging my flight home. But YMMV obvs.

They came up with the solution to the pax to get them back to their intended destination when they made the change, and informed them at the same time the diversion was announced. So there was no uncertainty about being left stranded in a different country or needing to organise accommodation, and it's a fairly straightforward ferry ride, so not something overly complicated. And given they'd delivered on everything else to that point, I wouldn't see any reason to distrust them. Obviously the circumstances are exceptional, as are the consequences so it's not as though it's typical poor business behaviour.

Yes, it did require flight rebooking if leaving within 24 hours of expected arrival (but many don't book flights back straight away), but again for many as based in the US it's just rebooking a domestic flight to the next day, so not a big deal.

 

[odysseus]

Booked 2021 Cruise on Princess who use Cruse Guru, was Brisbane to NZ return, Qantas extended our final payment due Sept by two weeks, cruise was cancelled, so used deposit for same cruise Feb 2022 it was cancelled got our deposit back, very impressed by this excellent service by Cruise Guru.

Cruiseguru is on my no use list following their treatment of customers after covid cancellations. They were one of the strongest in taking advantage of it for their benefit, charging cancellation fees on customers who wanted a refund when cruise lines cancelled cruises. This is despite them also getting paid by the cruise lines their regular commission, so charging cancellation fees where the customer hadn't cancelled is unconscionable.

They would only allow customers to accept a future cruise credit at no loss, even though the cruise line was giving full refunds.

 

[Buzzard]

care to expand on that?

Our shower kept flooding.
Broken seats in the theatre.
Running out of some foods, example water melon so couldn't make some mocktails.
Running out of some wines and refusing to refund drinks package vouchers instead demanding you accept wine you don't like*
Food offerings were ordinary.
On boarding, you had to go and pick up vouchers pre purchased for alcohol and other drinks. There were 2 separate lines, one for alcohol and one for other. You had to queue twice as they couldn't give you both vouchers at the same time even though you were effectively at the same table. You had to line up again for the other staff member.
*This was eventually resolved to my satisfaction following a heated discussion I had with our wine water whilst I had a knife in my hand.

 

[tgh]

A sad end..

CRYSTAL SERENITYS LAST ACT
Our wonderful butler escorted us to the gangway about 5pm whereupon we said our goodbyes to the captain, Hubert and the magnificent crew.
We walked to the ferry where we waited for 2 hours. I looked outside and saw the Rabbi and his wife waiting in the cold in a line that was not moving. Werner and Norma were half frozen when they arrived. The ferry ride was 2 more hours. Take off luggage, 1 hour.
Five hours in, we get off the ferry only to find all the luggage dumped everywhere, colors and numbers NOT together, luggage falling down, no porters and NO CRYSTAL REPS. NONE. No one giving instructions. No one helping the older folks. It was a shameful sight.
The one shining star was Sarah Hayes who was running her @&%#£ off to help every guest she could! Love that woman!!!
Then out to the busses. NO CRYSTAL REP. What a shameful end! #noexcuses
And to add insult to injury, some guests who were bussed to the Intercontinental at 12:40am are being told there are NO reservations for them?!?!!!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

In a 180… saw that Cunard has started advertising on television. Looks well swanky!

 

[odysseus]

In a 180… saw that Cunard has started advertising on television. Looks well swanky!