Is anyone actually booking new cruise holidays now?

[Mattg]

Every time I read the weekend newspapers, there are full page ads encouraging people to lock in cruise trips for 2021, 2022 or even 2023.

Yesterday’s Canberra Times even had a 32-page lift-out brochure of cruise trip itineraries to book now.



I personally don’t understand the appeal. We have no idea yet when the virus will be under control and when we’ll be allowed to travel overseas. Granted, that will presumably happen by 2023 - but 2021 is still anybody’s guess. And what happens when your 2021 cruise gets cancelled - will you be left with yet another travel credit or will they actually refund you?

There’s also no guarantee that some cruise companies will even still be in business by 2023. Not to mention, following the Ruby Princess debacle, cruise holidays are currently about as unappealing to me as they ever have been.

Even if you might get a few hundreds dollars discount by booking now, I just don’t see the point. What am I missing?

 

[mrsterryn]

I actually like cruising . Only done it a couple of times but I love the concept of going to sleep one place and waking up in another . For example with river cruises. The long stretches of sea sailing does not appeal in the slightest.
The ability to move ones "hotel " and not the luggage is great

 

[VPS]

I would love to get on a cruise again - I had hoped to do this one at Christmas which of course is no longer running

Literature Festival Transatlantic Cruise - Southampton to New York, 1 December 2020 | 7 Nt | Queen Mary 2 | 01 December 2020 | Cunard | IgluCruise

www.iglucruise.com

There is no way I am tying up my money on something that may never happen - I too am bombarded with emails but just putting them straight into the deleted box

 

[tgh]

I just don’t see the point. What am I missing

Cruise lines are actively pre-selling to help finance their massive cash draw down while not trading .. thats plan A
If they are able to survive and attempt to restart , they will try to borrow enough to fulfil the cruises they pre sold in plan A.. ..thats Plan B
There is no Plan C...
It Is all an enormous , amoral Ponzi scheme that will likely end with millions of bookings abandoned in corporate liquidation

 

[Pushka]

We have a deposit on three cruises for 2021 two of which were booked 2 years ago, and the third being for a transfer from July 2020 which was cancelled by the cruise line for obvious reasons.

April 2021 - Japan booked 2018. Not going to happen.

July 2021 - Europe Med Cruise transfer - not going to happen.

December 2021 - Egypt cruise booked 2018, Jordan and Israel tour.

Booking a new cruise? 2022 but only if deposit is less than $1200 and it’s a dream cruise.

 

[Daver6]

If anyone is thinking of booking and paying for a cruise now, can I suggest that you just transfer your money to me instead. Then closer to to the time when your cruise would otherwise be cancelled, I can just give you a hard time and refund 80% of your money. You can have that same cruise experience and I'll make a today 20% profit

 

[cove]

Very reasonable offer Daver6.
i was looking at The World private apartments but a cruise ship could be a big Petrie dish.

 

[drron]

Well we have booked a cruise for next year.Out of Geraldton.
Blame @JohnM for polluting mrsdrron's mind with tales of crayfish.

 

[Fifa]

I heard on tv recently that once Australian cruises are a definite goer, they are going to book out really quickly!

 

[tgh]

Coral expeditions have just restarted with short 7nt cruises out of Cairns.
They are also selling a cruise from syd to taswegia in dec followed by a 16nt circumnavigation starting on the 01/01/21.
We could fly in for the end of the Syd Hobart race and then chance it with the Southern Ocean..Hmmmmmm

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Coral expeditions have just restarted with short 7nt cruises out of Cairns.
They are also selling a cruise from syd to taswegia in dec followed by a 16nt circumnavigation starting on the 01/01/21.
We could fly in for the end of the Syd Hobart race and then chance it with the Southern Ocean..Hmmmmmm

We have friends on the Tassie circumnavigation cruise starting 01/01/21, we were talking about it on Friday ! I was surprised the ship doesnt stop at Devonport or Burnie !!

 

[Mattg]

I just don’t see the point. What am I missing

Cruise lines are actively pre-selling to help finance their massive cash draw down while not trading .. thats plan A
If they are able to survive and attempt to restart , they will try to borrow enough to fulfil the cruises they pre sold in plan A.. ..thats Plan B
There is no Plan C...
It Is all an enormous , amoral Ponzi scheme that will likely end with millions of bookings abandoned in corporate liquidation

This is also a major concern. I suppose they wouldn't be promoting forward bookings so heavily if they weren't desperate for the cash flow...

We have friends on the Tassie circumnavigation cruise starting 01/01/21, we were talking about it on Friday ! I was surprised the ship doesnt stop at Devonport or Burnie !!

As this is a domestic cruise in Australia, there's probably a good chance it will go ahead. I hope you enjoy it!

Most of the advertisements in the newspapers are for European river cruises, though...

 

[p--and--t]

It Is all an enormous , amoral Ponzi scheme that will likely end with millions of bookings abandoned in corporate liquidation

Absolutely! Ponzi scheme. No better description.

 

[Major]

We like cruising but not even considering another one at this stage. Next year we may think about a cruise for 2022 but not before.

 

[luxury-lizard]

I think that many new bookings are from people desperate to use their cruise credit - so they already forked out the money 1-2 years ago. We are sitting on a significant credit from Ponant (requests for a refund refused, as well as chargeback form Am Ex) - so I guess I would book a cruise using this credit for a time in the future when I guessed it would be safe. I also think that once our state borders are open (and perhaps the NZ travel bubble in place) that many will feel and Australia / NZ only cruises will be safe and a very attractive cruising option. (Of course this depends on keeping CV under control in OZ/NZ).

Even with a vaccine I can't see cruising in Europe / North America being an attractive option for a very long time. But maybe the Pacific Islands, the Seychelles, some Asian countries, ??? would be an option in late 2021.

 

[SydneySwan]

No.

 

[Port Power]

We have friends on the Tassie circumnavigation cruise starting 01/01/21, we were talking about it on Friday ! I was surprised the ship doesnt stop at Devonport or Burnie !!

Burnie is often missed because of strong winds not allowing ships to make it into port. This sounds like a lovely trip. I hope they enjoy it.

 

[RooFlyer]

Coral expeditions have just restarted with short 7nt cruises out of Cairns.
They are also selling a cruise from syd to taswegia in dec followed by a 16nt circumnavigation starting on the 01/01/21.
We could fly in for the end of the Syd Hobart race and then chance it with the Southern Ocean..Hmmmmmm

Sydney Hobart race not guaranteed to to run and most Tas summer festivals canceled or scaled back.

Plus with El Niño, it might be rainy ( definitely if mrs.dr.Ron turns up ( runs ).

I was surprised the ship doesnt stop at Devonport or Burnie !!

I’m not ( sprints)

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Sydney Hobart race not guaranteed to to run and most Tas summer festivals canceled or scaled back.

Plus with El Niño, it might be rainy ( definitely if mrs.dr.Ron turns up ( runs ).

Well, in that case = northern tassie is in for a wet xmas and new year, dry for 3 weeks and then wet from end of January to the middle of Feb !!

 

[Anna]

No, but to be completely fair I'm not booking any travel atm unless the cost is an amount I could afford to lose. It's not just cruising I'm sceptical about.