Your Next Cruise: Are you Having Second Thoughts Due to Fears of Pandemic?
Mar 7, 2020, 5:38 am
#106
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 1,278
This is a good point. I’m in China now, I entered using e channel. If I exit and travel to Korea there will be no record stamped in my passport. I could then exit Korea and fly to Japan and use my japan frequent traveler card to avoid the Japan stamp then fly to the USA and use global entry to enter. China to Korea to Japan to the USA all with no stamps. Using passport stamps to track travel is an outdated idea. But since the virus is everywhere there’s really no sense in discriminating against certain countries or regions. Either decide to take the risk or cancel all cruises for 3 months.
Last edited by RetiredATLATC; Mar 7, 2020 at 6:07 am
Mar 7, 2020, 5:09 pm
#108
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: GRR
Programs: Delta Plat & Million Miler
Posts: 1,376
Cruise Lines
Most of the main US cruise lines are now offering flexible cancellation for at least a short while. For example, Celebrity will let a fully-paid cruiser cancel if at least 48 hours out from the cruise. Refund is a future cruise deposit for full amount good for two years.
Others have similar policies. Carnival and Princess are giving those who do NOT cancel extra on board credit.
Others have similar policies. Carnival and Princess are giving those who do NOT cancel extra on board credit.
Mar 7, 2020, 7:59 pm
#109
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,145
Seabourn has a new cancellation policy. It appears to be very weak compared to Silversea, requiring a 30-day notice, and only then getting a future cruise credit.
https://www.seabourn.com/en_US/book-...onfidence.html
So glad I booked my flights with miles!
https://www.seabourn.com/en_US/book-...onfidence.html
So glad I booked my flights with miles!
Mar 7, 2020, 11:59 pm
#110
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,786
Most of the main US cruise lines are now offering flexible cancellation for at least a short while. For example, Celebrity will let a fully-paid cruiser cancel if at least 48 hours out from the cruise. Refund is a future cruise deposit for full amount good for two years.
Others have similar policies. Carnival and Princess are giving those who do NOT cancel extra on board credit.
Others have similar policies. Carnival and Princess are giving those who do NOT cancel extra on board credit.
Mar 8, 2020, 4:45 am
#111
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,229
I assume CPB knows everywhere I’ve been. My comment was in reference to Royal Caribbean or another cruise line using passport stamps to deny people boarding based on recent travel to affected areas.
Mar 8, 2020, 2:11 pm
#112
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,786
From US State Dept:
Passengers on Cruise Ships
U.S. citizens, particularly travelers with underlying health conditions, should not travel by cruise ship. CDC notes increased risk of infection of COVID-19 in a cruise ship environment. In order to curb the spread of COVID-19, many countries have implemented strict screening procedures that have denied port entry rights to ships and prevented passengers from disembarking. In some cases, local authorities have permitted disembarkation but subjected passengers to local quarantine procedures. While the U.S. government has evacuated some cruise ship passengers in recent weeks, repatriation flights should not be relied upon as an option for U.S. citizens under the potential risk of quarantine by local authorities.
This is a fluid situation. CDC notes that older adults and travelers with underlying health issues should avoid situations that put them at increased risk for more severe disease. This entails avoiding crowded places, avoiding non-essential travel such as long plane trips, and especially avoiding embarking on cruise ships. Passengers with plans to travel by cruise ship should contact their cruise line companies directly for further information and continue to monitor the Travel.state.gov website and see the latest information from the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/cruise/index.html.
U.S. citizens, particularly travelers with underlying health conditions, should not travel by cruise ship. CDC notes increased risk of infection of COVID-19 in a cruise ship environment. In order to curb the spread of COVID-19, many countries have implemented strict screening procedures that have denied port entry rights to ships and prevented passengers from disembarking. In some cases, local authorities have permitted disembarkation but subjected passengers to local quarantine procedures. While the U.S. government has evacuated some cruise ship passengers in recent weeks, repatriation flights should not be relied upon as an option for U.S. citizens under the potential risk of quarantine by local authorities.
This is a fluid situation. CDC notes that older adults and travelers with underlying health issues should avoid situations that put them at increased risk for more severe disease. This entails avoiding crowded places, avoiding non-essential travel such as long plane trips, and especially avoiding embarking on cruise ships. Passengers with plans to travel by cruise ship should contact their cruise line companies directly for further information and continue to monitor the Travel.state.gov website and see the latest information from the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/cruise/index.html.
Mar 8, 2020, 4:42 pm
#113
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 698
So I am going to guess that because its not outright banned, Cruise companies will take it as a suggestion, and still not issue actual refunds.
Part of me wonders how much cash some of these Cruise companies have on-hand and if they had to refund would they be completely out-of-business
Part of me wonders how much cash some of these Cruise companies have on-hand and if they had to refund would they be completely out-of-business
Mar 8, 2020, 7:28 pm
#114
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If they cancel a cruise, there are no expenses (other than parking somewhere), so I would expect any loss to be relatively low.
Last edited by mahasamatman; Mar 8, 2020 at 8:17 pm
Mar 8, 2020, 7:44 pm
#115
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Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,145
I would beg to differ. There are enormous expenses related to ongoing maintenance (personnel and equipment), as well as financing charges. Sure, you can release most of the housekeeping and entertainment staff, but you need your maintenance and engineering personnel, as well as the ship's leadership team.
Mar 8, 2020, 8:16 pm
#116
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I would beg to differ. There are enormous expenses related to ongoing maintenance (personnel and equipment), as well as financing charges. Sure, you can release most of the housekeeping and entertainment staff, but you need your maintenance and engineering personnel, as well as the ship's leadership team.
Mar 9, 2020, 6:48 am
#117
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 698
there are TONS of expenses
i am going to guess the biggest expenses is loans aka notes they took out to pay for the ships...
what i was insinuating was if they had to give refunds / lost significant cash in-flow due to drop in bookings, could they pay basic things such as notes, dockage, etc.
i havent looked into how much cash on hand these companies keep or if they basically live month-to-month. they are public companies so it might actually be easy to figure out...
Mar 9, 2020, 10:18 am
#118
Moderator, SkyTeam and Germany
Join Date: Sep 2001
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We'll hopefully board Celebrity cruises Eclipse on March 15 from Chile to California. "Hopefully" because airlines or cruise line might change their offerings or deny boarding if the virus spreads more in Europe (Germany for me) or in the US. I've also booked a cruise in July from Toronto. I will not change my private life based on risks due to Corona. I hope that with better weather in spring the virus will go away mostly and that soon there will be vaccines available.
Mar 9, 2020, 11:26 am
#119
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Join Date: Nov 1999
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Posts: 21,808
Well, we had some business meetings with italian partners and customers (not from regions with corona infections), but as celebrity added the whole of Italy to the denied bording statement we have to cancel our Chile to SAN trip next sunday. Hope I can use the resulting credit for a cruise in 2021.
All guests who are denied boarding due to these restrictions will receive full refunds in the form of a Future Cruise Credit.
Adding:
Also wondering if this is the equivalent of the May 1937 Lakehurst event for large cruise ships (i.e., a Hindenburg event).
Last edited by YVR Cockroach; Mar 9, 2020 at 2:56 pm Reason: Addendum x 2
Mar 10, 2020, 5:58 am
#120
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I'm sure a lot of posters already know this, but one of the best places to learn about the cruise lines' cancel policies (aside from the cruise lines' own websites, which may or may not have the detailed info) is the forums ("Boards" aka "Cruise Critic Community") on cruisecritic.com. Look under "Cruise Lines" and also under "ROLL CALLS" -- both headings have a list of the cruise lines.
Princess has, of course, been cancelling some of its upcoming cruises (at least on its COVID-19-affected ships, i.e., Diamond Princess and Grand Princess). There are active discussions on this.
Princess has, of course, been cancelling some of its upcoming cruises (at least on its COVID-19-affected ships, i.e., Diamond Princess and Grand Princess). There are active discussions on this.